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At the conclusion of yesterday's SITREP we were in the final
stages of getting ready to leave Mawson. Leading up to our departure ten
Mawson expeditioners joined us for the trip to Hobart. Amongst this
group is four expeditioners returning home after spending the last 12-18
months in Antarctica. After spending so much time in a place like this,
it must be hard to say goodbye. As if to make the parting harder, Mawson
put on its best show of our visit, with a cloudless sky, light winds and
the bright sunshine showcasing its majesty. Those remaining for the
oncoming winter, lined the wharf to say goodbye to their colleagues as
the barge pulled away for the last time at 0900.
With everybody aboard, the operation to slip the mooring lines began.
Over the next forty minutes the crew orchestrated a delicate line
handling and ship manoeuvring 'ballet' as the nine lines holding the
ship fast to the shore were let go. As the last line was let go, Muz
brought the ship's bow round to port and we slowly exited the harbour.
The Mawson team all moved out to the end of West Arm to say their final
goodbyes as the ship passed through the harbour entrance. With a number
of banners unfurled and some out-of-date flares let off by those
remaining behind, we exited into Kista Strait and made good a northerly
course. A big thanks to Duk and the team for looking after us over the
five days that we were at Mawson and enjoy the rest of summer and the
oncoming winter.
After leaving Mawson, it was decided to back track along the route we
took across from Davis, in the interests of setting up for krill
catching and to take advantage of the prevailing favourable winds closer
to the coast. Speaking of the weather, the forecast looks good for the
next couple of days of our passage to Hobart, the same can't be said for
our friends at Mawson, who will probably experiencing their first major
blizzard of the season on Thursday and Friday as 50-60 knot winds are
expected. Speaking even more about the weather, Roelof, our on board rep
from the Bureau of Meteorology (I spelt it right this time!) provided
the following precis on BoM's Antarctic activities:
The Bureau of Meteorology has been an active partner in the Antarctic
programme from the beginning, and maintains installations at a number of
sites in the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT), both on the Continent
and at Macquarie and Heard Islands. This includes equipment at not only
the Bases themselves, but also at remote locations, often in support of
Antarctic aviation. Meteorological data is vital to the development of a
greater understanding of the Antarctic environment, and how it affects
weather not only in Australia, but throughout the world.
Staff at the major Bases generally maintains this equipment. However,
they also need to be regularly inspected by Observations Section staff
from the Tasmania and Antarctica Regional Office in Hobart, to ensure
they are properly surveyed to maintain optimum exposure, and all
components are performing to expected standards. On Base staff assist
with these tasks.
During this voyage, I have conducted these inspections at Davis, the
skiway at Whoop Whoop (please don’t take me to task on the spelling
here!), and at Mawson. The inspections regime includes: instrument
performance checks; updating the photographic survey – which includes
stitched, panoramic photography; and skyline surveys.
The latter is literally a survey of where the sky meets the horizon,
whether that is the land, or any construction on the land. The data is
then represented on a polar diagram that includes the calculated solar
elevation curve for the site’s latitude and longitude, and the results
reflect the degree to which any obstruction may impact on our equipment,
such as by shading or by disruption to the airstream. Gathering this
data is time-consuming, and in the Antarctic environment, can be a
rather chilly experience!
All the performance check, photography, and skyline information is then
uploaded onto the Bureau’s systems as METADATA, and is important in
maintaining an accurate, and date-specific database which is used by a
wide variety of interests, both internal and external to the Bureau, and
serves as a long-term record for any particular site.
We also conduct a standard routine observations programme on board the
Aurora Australis whilst at sea, performing and reporting conditions
every three hours. These observations are always of particular interest
to the meteorological community, both within Australia and throughout
the world, due to our course through the otherwise data-sparse regions
of the Southern Ocean.
The success of this inspection tour has in no small part been greatly
assisted by our dedicated teams at both Davis and Mawson, and by the
support of the Station Leaders, without whom certainly, the trip to
Whoop Whoop for example, would not have been possible. Similarly, the
Voyage Leadership team have been very forthcoming in ensuring our
project’s aims have been achieved.
So another successful venture to the Antarctic ends, but the work
continues, with routine observations being undertaken throughout the
voyage home. As always, it has been a privilege to visit Antarctica, and
to meet and join so many others who invest their interests in the frozen
Continent.
Thanks Roelof, your fruit bun awaits.
Since leaving Mawson, we have been once again experiencing all the
pleasures that transiting the Mawson and Lars Christensen Coasts have to
offer. Massive fields of ice bergs of all shapes and sizes have been our
constant companions for the last 12 hours. As I write this we have just
exited the Fram Bank and the horizon is free of bergs for the first time
since leaving Mawson. We have seen a number of whales and the occasional
Snow and Antarctic petrel has come to visit. There is quite a bit of low
level cloud around and we have had the odd snow storm, the first time
really on this trip that snow has fallen in any great quantity. Despite
that the sea remains relatively sedate and most people are enjoying the
chance to catch up on sleep, especially after clocks were advanced an
hour at midnight, stealing an hour from us! Only five more to go....
We are currently Krill hunting, eagerly waiting for the transducer to
pick any signs of them swarming. The rectangular mid-water trawl is
primed and ready on the trawl deck, ready to be shot over the stern at
the first blip on the echo sounder. This must be what submarine hunting
is like!
There was a kind off 'truce' last night on the Dessert war as the old
Sara Lee pre-packaged berry pies once again made an appearance. I was
informed that the light dusting of icing sugar was an original touch.
Good try Ken, doesn't cut it I'm sorry!!
All aboard enjoying the calm seas and relative stability of their bunks.
Regards
Rob, Simon and George.
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.