Journal Entry

Hi, everyone! We are packed and heading out of Thule today, on our way to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. It's another beautiful day here in Thule which should make for a nice smooth flight. We'll be taking measurements along the coast of Greenland as we transit to our new location. While we head out, I'll leave you with some last looks at Thule. Enjoy!

Comments

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 17:40

Kelly McCarthy

Hi Rachel!
Taking measurements from the plane is much like working in a lab on the ground. The plane is equipped with remote sending tools (Lidar, radar, digital mapping cameras, infrared cameras). While in the air, we have to monitor that the instruments are not experiencing interference (from clouds or fog or something within the plane)). We are running these instruments from an airborne lab flying very low the terrain or sea ice. There are safety risks that come along with a flight like this, so we have done safety drills and brief safety procedures before each flight.

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 17:45

Kelly McCarthy

Hi Tanner!
The distance in miles is about 760. To fly directly may have been about 2 hours, but we decided to follow a priority science flight along the way, which made it a 6 hour flight. I think I was looking forward most to clearer skies and more science flights and that's exactly what we got!

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 17:47

Kelly McCarthy

Any time we left base we went with a group and needed to take a radio called a Tetra to let the base know we were leaving and what our estimated time of return was. The surrounding mountains were maybe 10-15 km around base which we were able to drive, hike, or snowshoe to.

Tue, 05/10/2016 - 04:20

Stanley Skotnicki

Looks like clear skies - How long will you be in Kanger? Do they have a similar base to the one in Thule?

Tue, 05/10/2016 - 16:44

Caitlin

Is the plane still Miss Piggy or are you in a different plane now?

Wed, 05/11/2016 - 17:22

Rachel Earl

What is it like taking measurements? What are the risks?

Wed, 05/11/2016 - 17:36

Kelly McCarthy

Hi Caitlin! Yes, we are still using Miss Piggy (she's here with us until the end)

On 5/10/16 10:44 PM, PolarTREC wrote:

Wed, 05/11/2016 - 17:36

Kelly McCarthy

Hello! Yes it was a nice clear flight until we were just over Kanger. Our pilots expertly navigated us through a thick deck of clouds to a
very different world here in Kanger. It is different from Thule in many
ways. Thule is a U.S. Air Force Base and we had a lot of the creature
comforts of home. Here in Kanger, we are in an airport settlment of a
few hundred people. There is a hotel in the science building (KISS),
and an annex hotel next door, one restaurant nearby, and a grocery and
cafeteria next to the hangar. I'll share some photos of the differences
in some of my next posts so you can get a feel for the change. The
weather is much different down here also. About ten degrees latitude
south of Thule, we're surrounded by brown mountains, the temperatures
are in the 40s and there is very little snow until you head 25 km toward
the interior where the ice sheet begins.

On 5/10/16 10:20 AM, PolarTREC wrote:

Wed, 05/11/2016 - 19:04

Tanner Maneval

How long is it from Thule to Kangerlussuaq? What are you looking forward to the most at your next location?

Wed, 05/11/2016 - 19:22

Tanner Maneval

Those are very nice pictures and hopefully there will be many more to come! How far are you able to travel away from the base location at your own leisure?