ITP 15 Deployment Operations

The deployment operation for ITP 15 was conducted by German, Japanese, and Russian scientists. This particular deployment was decided upon at the last minute and was conducted in the early hours of the morning. The deployment site selected was a relatively robust 2.5-3 m thickness, which would be expected to provide a durable platform for the system (yet the surface package would later be pushed below the ice during ridging and not resurface for over 2 years). The deployment operation concluded with the as-deployed inductive modem test from the surface unit to the profiler functioning well upon the second attempt. Only paces away, a MetOcean meteorogical ice beacon was deployed which was equipped with air temperature, barometer, GPS receiver and telemetry.

More information on the buoy deployments and expedition is provided in the ARK-XXII/2 cruise report.

Here, after the anchor has been lowered, the 10" diameter ice hole is tended to by Sergey Pisarev before attaching the profiler. (Photo by Ben Rabe)

After installing the profiler, Takashi Kikuchi checks wire for abrasions as the 790 m long tether is unspooled. (Photo by Ben Rabe)

Sergey adjusts the deployment winch brake to pay out the wire at a controlled rate. (Photo by Ben Rabe)

The ITP surface package immediately after deployment with Urusula Schauer in the foreground and Polarstern in background. (Photo by Ben Rabe)

Ursula and Takashi examine the meteorological ice beacon installed nearby ITP 15. (Photo by Ben Rabe)