Photo: Wojciech J. Miloch

In Thale fjord. Photo: Wojciech J. Miloch

Finishing our work in Antarctica

We thought that everything was going according to our plan, but then the message came: “You are leaving earlier".

Av Forskerbloggen
Publisert 7. mars 2022

28 February 2022, Thala Fjord, Larsemann Hills, Antarctica

We were supposed to leave the station on 14th of February. We started packing the containers already one week earlier. After more than one month of work and collecting data, our next task was to prepare the station for winter.

When we had arrived at Bunger Hills full of enthusiasm and energy, we knew that we had to do a lot of work in a very short time. By the end of our stay, we could see that the station was getting ready for welcoming future expeditions. We managed to repair and seal the walls, parts of the roof, doors and windows. New furniture, beds, chairs, tables, and shelves were installed in the main building. Next to it we set up a small workshop. In the second building we established a laboratory and storage room. Now we could feel that the station turned into a nice and cosy home, but also a great platform for geophysical monitoring. All our instruments were working as they should, and even more instruments could be installed in the future.

It is important to keep Antarctica clean. It is the most pristine land on the Earth. The air, water, and snow are extremely clean, and the ecosystem sensitive to external impacts.  During our stay, we started cleaning the surroundings of the station. The previous expeditions had to leave in a hurry, and over the last 40 years the winds and harsh climate made their impact on what was left behind. We packed more than 300 kg of waste into containers to take it out of Antarctica. Glass, metal and mixed waste were packed in separate bags. About 400 kg of old instruments and furniture were also packed.

Main station house. Photo: Wojciech J. Miloch

We thought that everything was going according to our plan, but then the message came: “You are leaving earlier. Get ready for the helicopter tomorrow!” This was quite unexpected. A number of questions appeared in our heads: Is this because of the weather forecast or other helicopter operations? Is this the fate of all Antarctic expeditions? Will we manage?

All the work that was carefully planned for two days had to be done within less than 24 hours. Fortunately, the weather was good, and we started packing the containers and preparing them for travel immediately . The time was short, we had to quickly close all the windows, chimneys, vents and doors. The night before the departure we slept for two hours, just to catch some breath. In the morning, the helicopter transported the first container while another flight took the boxes and two of us. I stayed with my colleague to finish closing the second container and securing the station. After the second container left, we emptied the water tanks and rushed to close the doors and to make sure that all buildings are secure. We heard the helicopter coming, when we were still standing with a drill and saw. After the last screws were put in, we grabbed the luggage and run to the helicopter. Just in time! We made it. This was the last flight from the Bunger Hills this year.

We flew over the hills, glaciers and deep crevasses. The ice was slowly turning yellow and red while the sun was setting down. Sitting in the helicopter and looking at an empty horizon, we were exhausted but happy. We did all we could to revitalise the station. Before departure, we heard from many people that it was an impossible task, but now the station is reborn, in a very good shape, and it is awaiting the next expedition. We also collected great data that we will be working on in the next months.

Ice cap over Bunger Hills. Photo: Wojciech J. Miloch

Our colleagues on the ship did not recognise me at once. I left the helicopter in a quite worn working jacket and with different tools in my hands. With beard, moustache, and a bit longer hair. Tired and empty of energy, like after running a marathon. But then we heard good words all around: “welcome back”, “good to see you again”! Shaking hands, hugs. Dinner. We were back.

In the following days, we sailed west, stopped at other stations and visited several other places, including some remote outcrops surrounded by glaciers. We are now in the Thala fjord in Larsemann Hills, right by the ice-cap of Ingrid Christensen Coast. I heard that this area was first visited by the Norwegian explorers, and indeed there are many familiar names on the map. The helicopter has just left the ship and will stay on the continent for about one month, until the ship returns.

The autumn is coming. It is getting colder every day, and in the evenings strong winds from the ice-cap blow through the deck. It is now getting dark at night. Last midnight we saw beautiful southern lights dancing on the sky over the fjord. I have just received a message that there are now fantastic auroras over Svalbard. Are they similar or much different, and why? What are the differences in the processes in the upper atmosphere at both poles? We will work on these problems with data that we collected both in Svalbard and here in Antarctica.

It is soon the end of this Antarctic adventure. Tomorrow we will be heading east by the coast of Antarctica, and after sailing through the Cosmonaut Sea, we will turn north to cross again the furious 50s and then roaring 40s. The air and water temperatures will slowly rise on our way to Cape Town, and if all goes well, in about two weeks I will be back in Oslo. I hope to see you soon there!

Wojciech J. Miloch

Department of Physics, UiO

Professor Wojciech Miloch, at the Department of Physics, UiO, is participating in the scientific expedition to the A.B. Dobrowolski station in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica. The goal of the expedition is to revitalise the research station and restart geophysical observations in Bunger Hills. Miloch writes a blog from the journey.

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The 4th PARE is organised by the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences from the funds provided by the Ministry of Science and Education of Poland. The research program of WJM is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 866357, POLAR-4DSpace), and in part by the Research Council of Norway Grant number 267408.