This week, one of our plumbers, Ryan, describes his continuing discoveries here at Mawson, while the spell of beautiful weather continues to allow us to enjoy the outdoors.

Rocks, Rookeries, and Auroras

Try and say that five times really fast!

I can't believe it has been over eight months already since arriving here at Mawson but I must say I’ve spent a lot of time looking up, especially at the sky at night, or just gazing out the living room windows in awe of this place.

I was also lucky enough to head out in a traverse team of six to Ledingham Depot and Fold island. There were absolutely stunning views and a thick silence in the air like you’ll never experience anywhere else, except perhaps in space (I think, I haven’t been there yet).

In that trip out to Ledingham, I couldn’t help but also look down at the ground and the way millions of years of wind scouring and turbulent weather have shaped the landscape - crumbling, brittle rocks of all types, completely weathered away by the katabatic winds to the point they're just balancing in place.

If the AAD are ever looking at hiring some combination plumber/geologists, I think I could balance plumbing and rock hunting. I know a good spot too.

Ryan (Mawson Plumber and aspiring geologist)

A seal pup is laying on the sea ice next to a large adult that has its head to the side and mouth wide open.
A close up image of a rocky island showing wind weathered rocks
A rocky, ice covered, landscape with a large rock in the centre of frame which has been worn by millenia of wind
A close up photograph showing a multitude of rock types broken up on the ground
Wear lines from ice and wind action can be seen in this photograph of a rocky, ice covered, landscape.
Patterns and lines can be seen in the faces of the rocks piled into a cairn
A bright green aurora is visible in the night sky above an older building which has a red glow in the window
Three penguins aree close to the camera and looking regally up to the right. In the background are a large number of other penguins on the ice.
A large number of emperor penguin chicks are gathered together. In the background the adults are also gathered together.
Many penguin chicks are amongst adult penguins in a very large group stretching into the background.

Sunny Days for Mawson

As the station prepares for the rapidly approaching summer season, it is with great relief that the weather gods have smiled down on us this week. The long days and relatively mild conditions have allowed everyone on station to get on top of a number of tasks that have had to be delayed.

Our stores officer, Alan, has been ensuring our shipping containers are correctly accounted for, and those that are destined to return to the mainland are properly packed, weighed, and moved down towards the wharf.

Dave, our Senior Field Training Officer, has been providing extra technical training in search and rescue to a select six of the station team in preparation for a busy summer. With more people on station, and multiple field trips occurring, it is essential that we have the ability to quickly respond in the unlikely event that something does happen out on the sea ice or up on the ice plateau. He also helped me in the extraction of a 1.5 metre long ice core from the centre of Horseshoe Harbour. Each year, we take a sample of the sea ice in the harbour, which is sent back to Australia for analysis (being carefully kept at -20°C the whole way).

Also on the science front, our Communication Technical Officers, Allan and Andrew, finalised the repairs and maintenance on the penguin monitoring equipment on Béchervaise Island, 3km to the station’s northwest. As if it was planned, it was as they were completing the last installation of a penguin weighbridge that the very first of the Adélie penguins were sighted for the season! We had each nominated a 12hour period on when we thought the Adélie would be seen, and given he had performed a beautiful penguin summoning dance just last weekend, it was only fitting that Jess, one of our plumbers, had also picked the winning time slot.

Cat (Mawson Station Leader)

A group of emperor penguins are gathered near an orange Hägglunds vehicle which is parked on the sea ice. In the distance are large craggy icebergs.
A coloured station with a number of brightly coloured buildings and a large wind turbine is visible in the distance on a rocky landscape surrounded by ice. In the far distance a number of rocky mountains can be seen rising from the ice plateau.
A number of small oval shaped huts and a green Hägglunds vehicle can be seen in the distance on a rocky island. The ocean is frozen over with sea ice.
A large iceberg can be seen frozen into the sea-ice that surrounds it. In the distance are other icebergs and three small rocky islands.
A large crack can be seen in the sea ice running between two rocky islands. There are smaller cracks extending each side of the main crack.
Two icebergs locked in sea ice show signs of crumbling and pitting
A sunset reflects upon water that is lying in a crack between the sea ice and the rocky land to the left of frame.
The sunset in the distance highlights a number of station buildings on a rocky landscape. A large, three bladed, wind turbine is visible against the horizon.
A bright green and purple aurora is visible in the night sky above an iceberg that is frozen into the sea ice. The glow of sunrise is brightening the night sky.
Two men dressed in penguin costumes are dancing on a rocky landscape near a picnic table on a bright, sunny, day.
Two Adélie penguins are standing on a rocky island near a mesh fence. Frozen sea ice is in the background.
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