Weather station excavation

Today's task was to excavate the weather station that has provided firn temperature profiles throughout the project. The last time I dug it out was in 2006, so we estimated it to be about 2 meters below the surface.

I was very lucky to have the able assistance of Chris, the camp medic, who was willing and even keen to dig for the weather station. I won't mince words- Chris dug the whole thing out! I spent most ot the time disassembling the weather station instruments, and we were even able to excavate the thermistor string which had been lowered 10 meters into a borehole made in the 2004 summer surface. Quite a lot of digging!

Chris at the bottom of the hole. He's moved about 900 kilograms of snow to get there!