Written 26 Dec 2007 3670 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 25 to -33 °C Last night we packed down the Christmas tree and prepared for setting out this morning. We were rolling at 8am and made good progress without any kind of surprises, driving 86 km. Also, we passed a milestone when we crossed the 80 degrees south mark this afternoon at 3pm. We will stop for tonight and head out tomorrow morning for our next science stop which we probably reach in the afternoon. - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Lasse is leading our way towards the South Pole (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Wint...

Written 25 Dec 2007 3668 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -29 to -36 °C We had a day off today and it was well deserved after many weeks of hard work. It has been a relaxing day where some played cards, other worked on their computers or caught up with their emails. For dinner we had sheep ribs, deliciously prepared by Einar (again!). After dinner we watched a movie while Lou chose to have a ski trip instead. We are now all set to continue driving tomorrow morning. - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Lou is inspecting the lunch table (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Winther) ...

Written 24 Dec 2007 3668 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 30 to - 36 °C We have been standing still today to celebrate Christmas, which we celebrated in a traditional Norwegian way with rice porridge for lunch and pork (“ribbe”) for dinner. And of course some linie aquavit. Kjetil and Einar have also replaced another differential (#5) that broke on 23rd December. Preparations for Christmas went on all day and we had a very nice traditional Norwegian dinner in the evening. Surprisingly many gifts had found their way to the deep south. - Jan-Gunnar P...

Written 23 Dec 2007 3668 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 31 to - 38 °C An antenna on the roof of each of our vehicles continuously receives signals from several of the twenty-odd satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The time-coded radio signals from the satellites allow for very accurate distance measurements relative to the known positions of the satellites, and thus the position of the vehicles can be calculated instantly with an accuracy of a few meters. A screen shows the driver the bearing and exact distance to the point of destination. Aided by this tool, we can head for a chosen point ahead, perhaps a previous observation site marked by a single aluminum pole, and hit it spot on even after hundreds of kilometers' ...

Written 22 Dec 2007 3670 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 28 to - 36 °C With general coordinates of the abandoned station determined by satellite images of the long-buried packed snow runway, today we stopped at Plateau Station. This was the site of a US science camp from 1966-69, but had not been occupied or visited by any US field team since then. No one could tell us what evidence of the abandoned station may still exist above the drifting snow. Immediately visible upon our arrival was the tall meteorological tower, still standing solidly above five smaller towers and the top of a flag mast. To our delight, on closer inspection, also immediately visible at snow level was the clear dome of the aurora tower and the top ...

Written 21 December 2007 3619 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -27 to -36 °C One morning everybody woke up at Plateau Station due to a dramatic sound that appeared to be traveling through the camp. This was a very scary episode for the personnel that did not know what had happened. After the noise had died down, they realized that it had been a firn quake. In very cold conditions large snow crystals grow and they are very loosely bonded. Thus, this weak layer in the snow can suddenly collapse. The personnel at Plateau Station figured that the surface lowered about 1 cm duri...

Written 20 December 2007 3619 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -29 to -36 °C Today, at the traditional Christmas lunch at the Norwegian Polar Institute, Einar received the price “The Employer of the Year.” Congratulations Einar! It is very well deserved. The nomination committee especially emphasized Einar’s efforts on numerous expeditions in the Arctic and in Antarctica. Einar is going to celebrate his seventh Christmas in eight years in Antarctica in a few days. Also, his high standards for field safety and work for the union were highlighted by the committee....

Written 19 Dec 2007 3619 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -25 to -35°C No doubt, this ice core has really challenged us. We started drilling last Saturday and have encountered a series of problems since then. Today, however, it seems like we reached a turning point. The optimism is back in the hard-working drilling team and maybe by tomorrow the second 90 meter ice core is retrieved. Today, we also took part (by satellite phone) in a press seminar in connection with the visit of Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to Troll Station in January 2008. ...

Written 18 December, 2007 3619 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -22 to -32 °C All cameras were pointed towards the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launcher when Stian made his first test flight today. The UAV carries one C-band radar, temperature and pressure sensors, a digital camera and a GPS. The C-band radar is similar to the ones on satellites and to the one we have mounted on one of the vehicles. Thus, data from these three different platforms will be compared. The camera can be used for route planning and crevasse detection. Some modifications will be made before the first long ...

Written 17 Dec 2007 3619 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -22 to -36°C The medical doctor at Troll paid us a visit today to inspect the wounded finger of our chief driller. In addition, we were supplied with spare parts for the vehicles. The doctor inspected the wounded finger and put the chief driller on medication to prevent further inflammation. She is doing fine but is not allowed to use her right hand in order for the wound to heal. The remaining part of the drill team has currently reached to a depth of 50 meters. The Basler also carried spare parts for our vehicles, in particular two transfer boxes, one differential and hydraulic oil. Shallow coring was completed and Stian prepared for flying the dron...