This week at Mawson
15 October 2010
This week, the second trip to Ledingham’s Depot was completed. The first trip left to perform the penguin census at nearby Fold Island, while this trip was to perform hut maintenance and replace the aging fuel drums at the site. Conditions for this trip were outstanding; four days of as close to perfect weather as one could hope for at this time of year firmed up the track and ensured a relatively easy going trip.
15 October 2010
8 October 2010
Fold team 1 (Mick, Annette, Ian, Geoff, Doc-Jim & Dan) regaled Fold team 2 (Pete, Maria, Scott, Rob & Ewan) with tall tales some true of their legendary trip (reported last week) somehow failing to frighten them off an attempt of their own. Therefore much of the week was spent preparing equipment and exchanging information and advice on what to, and more importantly what not to do. Training video sequences and practical advice from Ian of how to extract bogged vehicles were very educational.
8 October 2010
1 October 2010
In This Week at Mawson, we have a look at the epic field trip recently completed by a dedicated group of volunteers to survey by photograph the Fold Island emperor penguin colony.
1 October 2010
24 September 2010
Expeditioners travelled to Bechervaise Island to have a look at some malfunctioning penguin monitoring equipment. Following some straight forward troubleshooting instructions, the guys think they found the problem, but discovered the difficulties of low temperature soldering. Soon the island will be teeming with Adelie penguins as their breeding season draws ever closer.
24 September 2010
17 September 2010
The Fold Island census team snowed in after a successful trip, station blizzard creates conditions for play and 'international' golf day.
17 September 2010
10 September 2010
The annual Mawson pool competition concluded this week. Preparations for the Fold Island penguin census reached their crescendo. Photos of penguin chicks; and a fire-breathing dragon...
10 September 2010
3 September 2010
This week, Ewan, Ian, PJ and Maria headed out on a day trip to Auster Colony to ensure the emperor chicks were still growing.
3 September 2010
27 August 2010
This week has been one of weather extremes with days either spent indoors avoiding a blizzard or skiing and snowboarding aroung the station on a perfect, calm and sunny afternoon.
27 August 2010
20 August 2010
Volleyball, a new radar unit, Inflatable rubber boat maintenance and an introduction to 'Wombat', a workplace for visiting scientists.
20 August 2010
13 August 2010
Continuing the weekly trips to Auster emperor penguin colony, Maria, Dan, Rob and Mick took their turn this week, spending three frosty nights out with birds and `bergs. Their trip fortunately coincided with an extra burst of auroral activity, thanks to a recent Coronal Mass Ejection from Sol (ie, the sun let rip with an extra dose or radiation in our general direction).
13 August 2010
