Situation Report #4, 23. December 2019

Little Dome C - Beyond EPICA Drilling Site (75.29917 degS, 122.44516 degE)

Personnel: Saverio Panichi (ENEA), Michele Scalet (ENEA), Luc Piard (IPEV), Jakob Schwander (unibe), Thomas Stocker (unibe), Remo Walther (unibe)

Weather at 8 am: sunny, cloudy towards Dome C

The Radix firn drilling has reached 73 m when downward progress of the drilling decreased and the motor current started to fluctuate. After a few attempts we decided to disassemble the drill and one of the electrical motors with the gear box was replaced, as well as a chip duct which became lose. Continuation of firn drilling is scheduled for tomorrow. 

Luc, Michele and Saverio installed the fine othogonal grid on top of the foundation platform, made room for the ventilation pipe. Luc filled the remaining gaps with the snow blower. Saverio has finished the planning of the Christmas dinner for the BELDC team.

LDC, 23.12.2019