*AIMS

A model to explain the occurrence of ground ice in glacial sediments and bedrock at high altitudes (>1000m) throughout the Dry Valleys where liquid water is rare was developed from work on Table Mtn. (Dickinson, 1997; Dickinson and Rosen, 2002). Although this model may apply at Table Mtn. for the very old glacial sediments of the Sirius Group, it has yet to be tested at other locations in the Dry Valleys. Massive ground ice was discovered for the first time in Pearse Valley during the field season 2001/02.

The sampling programme of the 2002/03 season aims to 1) clarify the nature and origin of massive ground ice in Pearse Valley, 2) gain a better insight into the glaciomorphological history of Columnar, Pearse and Victoria Valleys, and 3) clarify the evolution and occurrence of sand dunes in Pearse and Victoria Valleys.

*PERSONNEL

*PLANNING

*PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIELD

i.	Reception and planning for your event: The K047 primary objective supported by Antarctica NZ was to carry out sampling of the sand dunes in the Pearse and Victoria Valleys, and to undertake reconnaissance glaciomorphological mapping and sampling of massive ground ice in Pearse Valley. Because there were only 4 people associated with the event, logistical planning was minimal. Selection of actual campsites in each of the valleys was accomplished largely by relying on previous year's campsites. Scott Base personnel provided excellent support. There was a minor incident during the first fly-out of event personnel when the second load of passengers and equipment was allocated a US helo transport in the last minute. The straight-pole polar tent had to be exchanged to a foldable polar tent due to the restrictions by the US helo programme (transport of polar tents on the skids is not permitted) and there was no time to put the tent up to check it – this particular tent turned out to be very difficult to put up due to a problem in one of the supporting poles.
ii.	Availability and condition of equipment received: page 2 The equipment made available to K047 from Scott Base was in good condition and performed well in the field with the exception of two primus stoves (box type). All Scott Base equipment was tested and repacked at Scott Base. However, it was difficult to obtain equipment that was not on the original request list, prepared 3 months in advance. The reason is largely because of the limited resources at Scott Base and the large number of field parties that must be supported. Obtaining equipment (because of an altered situation) at the last minute is always problematic.
iii.	Field training: AFT was undertaken by Nicola Wilson Camilla Colebatch Joe Trodahl and Daniel Pringle; Cliff Atkins and Warren Dickinson had a refresher course.
iv.	Delays at Scott Base, whatever the cause: There was a one day delay (only for Colebatch) for the flight out from Scott Base on 10 December, this was due to the weather conditions.
v.	Safety and Risk Management Processes: These processes were discussed with Jim Cowie, operations manager, prior to departure for the field.

*Event Diary

Date	Main Activities and Location	Other Comments
10 Nov	Arrive in ChCh, kit-up
11 Mon	Depart for SB at 9:00am, boomerang back to ChCh due to weather at SB
12 Tue	Depart for SB at 8:30am, arrive at 2:30pm, briefing and AFT briefing
13 Wed	SB, NW & CC AFT; CA & WD pack field equipment	windy conditions with snow,-14C
14 Thu	SB, NW & CC complete AFT; CA & WD pack field equipment	beautiful walk on the sea ice
15 Fri	SB, testing and final packing of field equipment,repacking of food boxes
16 Sat	SB to Table Mt, NW,WD,JT&DP 1st helo; CA&CC 2nd	last minute swap of polar tents
17 Sun	TM, recon walk around the area	wind picking up,very windy night
18 Mon	TM, OSL sampling, recon Columnar Vly and reprogram temp probes	late finish
19 Tue	TM, shallow drilling on polygons in Columnar Vly, finish recon	late finish, need a bigger drill
20 Wed	TM to Pearse Valley, Pringle to SB; short recon walk around Lake House end of PV	Pearse Vly much warmer
21 Thu	PV, NW&CC dig 5 pit; CA&WD recon	late dinner at 10:30pm
22 Fri	PV, NW,WD&CC core one pit,CA recon Lake House area	late dinner at 10:45pm
23 Sat	PV, core and OSL sample another pit, dig 3 more pits	windy and cold evening
24 Sun	PV, recon of dunes, CC to Lake Joyce & Taylor glacier tongue	late dinner at 11pm
25 Mon	PV, NW&WD OSL sampling at dunes; CA&CC dig pits	cold evening −16C
26 Tue	PV, CA,CA&CC core + sample third pit, NW petrography@camp	dinner at 10pm
27 Wed	PV, CA&WD further recon, NW&CC OSL sampling; DV visit @2pm	Helo move confirmed
28 Thu	PV, walk to Lake Joyce Taylor glacier tongue, dig more pits	confusion about helo sched
29 Fri	PV to Vic Vly for CA, NW & WD; DN, HM, DW SB to VV; CC to SB	just made it to SB,weather bad
30 Sat	VV, rec, interviews by DW	early start
1 DEC	VV,recon walk to the dunes, DV visit @3:45pm, sieving of samples	DW retro SB with DV's
2 Mon	VV, surveying, pit digging and drilling at the dunes
3 Tue	VV, GPS survey of dunes, check and relocation of weather stations
4 Wed	VV, recon of Victoria glacier tongue, collect samples form sediment traps
5 Thu	VV, OSL sampling and surveying
6 Fri	VV, NW completed GPS survey of dunes, weather stations relocated
7 Sat	VV, rest of the surveys completed, filming at Packard Glacier,visit Lake Vida	Packard Stm flowing
8 Sun	VV, OSL and ice samples from Victoria glacier
9 Mon	VV to SB NW DN 1st helo & WD, CA, HM on 2end;10a start	Endura tent difficult to pack
10 Tue	SB, cleaning, sorting & packing of field equipment
11Wed	SB to ChCh-WD,HM,DN & CC	Av Wgtn 8ppage 3
12 Thu	SB to ChCh CA
13 Fri	SB to ChCh NW

EVENT MAP

Figure 1. Topographic map of Table Mountain.

The Table Mountain camp (fig. 1) was located on a small patch of snow at (altitude 1850m; S77°57.631′ E161°57.324′) and was selected for the snow patch and close location to the temperature probes. Winds during the field visit were mostly between 10 and 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots.

The Pearse Valley camp (fig. 2) was on an alluvial terrace located at the eastern edge of Lake House (325m; S77°42.101′ E161°26.924′) and was selected for its proximity to a source of water (Schlatter glacier). Wind direction and strength seems highly variable throughout the valley and diurnal variations were common. During the field visit, winds did not exceed 20 knots and seemed strongest from 2 – 5 am.

The Victoria Valley camp (fig. 3) was located on an alluvial terrace derived from meltwater off the Packard glacier and situated adjacent the dune field (400m; S77°22.082′ E162°12.720′). It was selected because of its flat nature and close proximity to the working environment. There was little snow around so water had to be obtained from the Packard glacier, a short walk up Packard Creek. The majority of winds were easterly or down valley with a few periods of stronger, reversed directional westerly winds.

Figure 2. Topographic map of Pearse Valley.

Figure 3. Topographic map of sand dunes at Victoria Valley.

*WEATHER

For most days in the field the weather was generally good. Field movements by helicopter were not constrained by the weather although it was a close call for the movement scheduled on 29 November. Field work was not restricted due to weather conditions at any time. Temperatures at Table Mountain ranged from −20°C at night to −12°C during warmer days but strong wind chill occasionally caused temperatures down to −30°C. Pearse Valley was warmer with temperatures ranging mostly from −8°C to −4°C with a few nights of −14°C. Victoria Valley was colder again with –8°C to –12°C but warmed up to –1°C with the arrival of winds of up to 25 knots in the last few days.

*ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS OR HAZARDS

There were no accidents or incidents during this field season.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

VHF radio communications at each of the valley campsites was extremely limited. At Table Mountain the VHF high-gain aerial worked in selected places and in Pearse Valley there was no VHF reception from Scott Base at the camp. Communication in Pearse Valley was possible only with the HF 'butterbox' with a very poor reception or by climbing .5 hr to a suitably high location.

Field operations in Antarctica now require reliable and quick communications with Scott Base. Because of this, I strongly recommend that satellite phones be provided to field parties that are out of VHF radio contact.

*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

page 5

Geological Material

Pit and sample locations - for more detail, see table of samples in Scientific Report