How Jadon conquered Law Dome, with a 6-strong army of mechanics, electricians and deep field experts

Travelling in style into the Antarctic heartland

My name is Jadon, I work for the Bureau of Meteorology as the Met Tech at Casey this season.

A few weeks ago, I was due to perform the annual maintenance on the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at Law Dome, about 120km inland from Casey station.

I gathered up six of my assistants and tasked them with preparing my traverse – sleeping quarters, kitchen, workshop, ablutions and all my service staff.

Travelling in moderate comfort, we set off in August. We were not to return until September 2022.
(Editor's note: He left right at the end of August; in total we were only rid of him for 3 days.)

Upon arrival, we discovered the existing AWS buried. I can't fathom why the last group buried it so deeply. Did they not realise the solar panels are much less efficient if left half under snow?

I set my assistants to work. First, erecting the new AWS to my specifications. Then I had them knock down and salvage what they could from the old one.

They did an adequate job; I returned triumphant.

-Jadon Clews, the ever-modest Met Tech

A wide plain covered with wind-rippled snow under a sky half-veiled with high cloud. A narrow mast with a wind vane and small propeller on top stands in the centre of the picture, apparently anchored to the ground with guy wires, but the base of the mast appears to be buried deep under the snow
A narrow mast, bearing a solar panel halfway up and a wind vane with a small propeller on top, standing in a flat, snowy plain. Snow has been cleared to provide anchor points for guy wires attached to the mast
A series of cabins on sleds with a trailer at the rear, standing on a snowy plain near a narrow mast with a wind vane and a small propeller on top. The sun is shining brightly on the scene, slightly blurred behind a thin veil of high cloud
A snowy plain under a clear sky, with dawn's first light on the horizon. In the centre of the picture is the newly-erected Automatic Weather Station: a narrow cylindrical unit with a wind vane and small propeller on top, mounted on top of a narrow mast with a small solar panel attached to it, all fixed to the ground with three guy wires
A snowy plain under a clear sky, with dawn's first light on the horizon. In the centre of the picture is the newly-erected Automatic Weather Station. A man stands beside the mast looking up at the unit on the top, appearing in silhouette against the golden glow of dawn
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