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

Situation Report #6, 7. December 2021

Personnel @LDC: Saverio Panichi (ENEA, Camp Leader), Carlo Barbante (ISP-CNR, PI), Olivier Alemany (IGE), Olivier Delanoe (IPEV), Romain Duphil (IPEV), Matthias Hüther (AWI), Calogero Monaco (ENEA), Anthony Pauty (IPEV), Philippe Possenti (IPEV), Michele Scalet (ENEA), Jakob Schwander (unibe), Thomas Stocker (unibe), Gregory Teste (IGE), Remo Walther (unibe)

Personnel @DC: Giacomo Bonanno (ENEA)

Weather at LDC 9 pm: sunny

Meteo at DC 9 pm: T = −35°C, Wind = 10 knt, Wind Chill T = −49°C

Today, all the power line trenches were filled and the sleeping tents are now equipped with power and heat. The electricians worked hard to supply all areas with power. Also the RADIX site required a dedicated power line that was placed underground because it crosses one of the boulevards of Little Dome C. The power generator was taken off grid for one hour to perform regular maintenance. Romain reinforced the floor of the drilling tent and made a wooden base to place the 2.7 ton winch for the BEOIC drilling. Saverio assembled the medical emergency equipment and prepared the rack for the satellite communication. We are much looking forward to receive and send whatsapp and email messages.

Drilling has become more challenging as the core is now in the firn-ice transition zone. Some of the ice cores broke in pieces but fortunately the ice puzzle could mostly be completed.

Drilling depth at the end of the day: 118.7 m

Thomas Stocker and Carlo Barbante