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Operational Summary:
* 8 x barge loads of general cargo discharged;
* Approx. 50 pallets of concrete discharged;
* Outer island seabird rookery monitoring and counting supported from vessel watercraft crews;
* 11 summer expeditioners returning to Australia brought aboard the vessel;
* Aurora Australis crew and round-trip expeditioners shore visits undertaken.
This morning the Aurora Australis made its way back towards Mawson station after having sheltered from strong winds and blizzard conditions amongst the relative calm of the pack ice fields through Monday and overnight. While the low pressure system responsible for yesterday's blizzard had since moved well away from Mawson station, the morning katabatic winds flowing strongly from the ice plateau and out to sea had well and truly returned, another sign that nights were becoming longer and the Austral summer season was fast approaching its end.
Katabatic winds can often be very localised, with their effect at times restricted to only a few kilometres of the coastline. This morning however, the strength of a much larger katabatic influence could be seen clearly to the East and West of Kista Strait, with drifts of snow being carried off the steep ice cliffs of the glacial tongues all along the coast, giving them the appearance of the dense clouds of mist you might otherwise find around powerful waterfalls. Somewhat ironically, these conditions were perfect for the recently re-commissioned wind turbine at Station, which was turning steadily as the winds rolled down the slopes of the ice plateau which tower above the small section of exposed glacial rock that Mawson Station calls home. The skies were also deceptively clear, allowing the morning sun to throw shadows on the peak of Mount Henderson, revealing previously unseen features on its higher slopes and giving the usually ominous mountain a more inviting quality.
The waters of Kista Strait had also been driven into a regular, angry peaks and troughs – which would have easily swamped the smaller inflatable rubber boats (IRBs). Though we had arrived off the station around 0900 Mawson local time (1500 Hobart time / AEST) in anticipation of the winds abating by 1000, they persisted until well after midday, and the first cargo runs ashore on the jet barge weren't underway until around 1330.
Perhaps it was more than just a coincidence then, that the katabatic wind conditions - so typical of the Mawson area, but rarely encountered at Casey or Davis - were out to greet us this morning, for today was the anniversary of the founding of Mawson station several decades ago. The Aurora's own body of expeditioners contributed to the auspicious occasion, sending Mr Daniel Mawson – the voyage's Communications Technical Officer – ashore to visit Antarctica and the station sharing his name, for the first time. Daniel hails from South Australia and has been providing daily technical support to the voyage, both for essential operational purposes (confirming radio and satellite links between the vessel, stations and our Kingston headquarters), and to assist his fellow expeditioners and crew with accessing email, the ship's wifi service and satellite phone accounts which enable them to call family and friends at home. Daniel was joined ashore by two other expeditioners who, like him, were experiencing life at an Antarctic Station for the first time.
Our stations aren't really comparable to any other habitat or environment, except perhaps another Antarctic station! As the stations are established to support science and exploration on and around the icy continent, they're set up for practicality over aesthetics. Despite the regular presence of snow, the stations are nothing like ski villages - there's no hotels, shops, sealed or groomed roads to be found and lighting is used sparingly to identify exits / entrances and access ways for the darker months. Many surfaces remain rough and challenging for personnel and station vehicles to traverse even without snow or ice covering them. Key station buildings are distinctively coloured for ease of recognition, and scattered over a relatively small area, with station accommodation (the 'Red Shed'), operations and meteorological facilities (yellow buildings), stores / warehousing (the 'Green Shed') and mechanical / powerhouse (blue buildings) located centrally, for ease of access all year round. Essential pipe work and cabling often snake between buildings on specially designed raised platforms to assist with maintenance and prevent them becoming 'locked' beneath ice and snow over the winter. The buildings are comfortable for those working in them however, most being heated and having triple-glazing or specially designed 'cold porches' (small entrance rooms adjoining the main buildings often used for storing coats, boots and hats - which separate the thermally sensitive internal spaces from the bitter conditions outside) to prevent heat loss.
The Aurora remained in position a short distance from the entrance to Horseshoe Harbour as cargo operations continued, periodically circled by the Royal Australian Navy's IRBs conducting survey work of the deep waterways around Mawson station. This work will continue throughout tomorrow, with the ships' crew, watercraft operators and station personnel working hard to make the most of the few good weather days remaining before we're due to depart for Davis Station and then home.
Cheers
Mark & Fred
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.