Antarctic GPS Project - 2002-2003 fieldwork

In the 2002/03 summer campaign our field party will visit each of our three remote GPS sites: Beaver Lake (BVLK), Landing Bluff (LDBF) and Dalton Corner (DALT) as well as installing a new site at Komsomolskiy Peak (KOMS). The map to the right shows the location of the field party (indicated by the red dot) as well as the locations they have visited (green triangles). This map will be updated regularly and the information below will reflect what actually gets done at each site during the season.
 
 
Click on the map to see a larger version ------------------>>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Landing Bluff

The equipment at Landing Bluff is currently operational and transmits GPS and diagnostic data files back to RSES on a daily basis. It should continue to operate unattended until May 2003 at which time it will hibernate again.

Diagnostic data can be plotted here.

Photo J. Hyslop, 2000.
 
 
 
 

Beaver Lake

The Beaver Lake equipment worked as planned during the summer/autumn of 2002. There is a leak in the insulation somewhere which led to the system operating in a colder environment than planned. This will be fixed in the 2002/03 season.

The site was visited in November 2002 and the GPS receiver required an internal reset before it commenced recording. Also, it was found that the Satcom-B satellite phone has suffered an internal software failure. This will be fixed - either when the next field party arrive at the site in January or automatically by the DSCC reloading the phone firmware on 2 January (100 days after the last successful phone call).
At this stage we believe that the GPS receiver is recording data and that it is being stored locally on the flashdisk of the computer. Daily data transmission should recommence in January 2002 and continue until May 2003 at which time it will hibernate again.
 

Dalton Corner

On 7 December 2002 the installation at Dalton Corner was upgraded to the same capacity as the BVLK and LDBF sites. The upgrade included the installation of an Iridium satellite modem, fully automated computer system, Ashtech micro-Z GPS receiver and insulated equipment housing. The system currently installed at DALT will be removed and returned to Canberra.
Daily data transmission of GPS and diagnostic data files have been occurring since 7 December 2002. Diagnostic data can be plotted here.

Photo P. Digny, 2001.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Komsomolskiy Peak

In the 2002/03 season we will install our fourth and final site at the most southerly outcrop in the PCMs: Komsomolskiy Peak. The installation will be exactly the same as at DALT - including an Iridium satellite modem to permit daily transmission of the data back to Canberra. The installation will be performed by Anya Reading (RSES) who will assemble the solar panels prior to the arrival of V2, Gary Johnston and Paul Digny (GSA) who will install the batteries and GPS receiver and Ian Harman (RSES) who will connect the electronics system, satellite modem and ensure that the system is working normally.

Photo M. Woolridge, 2002.
 
 
 
 
 

For further information please contact     pault@rses.anu.edu.au

Page last updated 11 December 2002.