ITP 9 Deployment Operations
ITP 9 was the third ITP with IMB in three days deployed from the "Akademik Federov" in September 2007. The expedition had yet to find an appropriate site to install Russian North Pole 35 (NP-35) drifting ice camp for IPY, so was still accompanied by the powerful nuclear icebreaker "Rossiya." As previously, the field party, deployment apparatus, and instruments were flown to a selected ice floe using the MI-8 helicopter. The helicopter then departed to continue searching for an NP-35 ice floe while the two buoys were deployed. By now, the field party expected the long wait for the return of the helicopter after the deployment operations, so were prepared with working tent to shelter from the elements and provisions to snack on.
Just prior to ITP deployment operations, the helicopters on the stern helicopter deck of the research vessel "Akademik Federov" are prepared, with the nuclear icebreaker "Rossiya" following in the distance. Photo by John Kemp.
After unloading ITP 9, deployment apparatus, and field party on the multiyear ice floe, the Russian MI-8 helicopter prepares to depart while the ITP is deployed. Photo by John Kemp.
Most of the way drilling the 10.5" diameter hole through the 2.7 m thick floe, Brian Hogue watches Sergey Unovidov adjust the chainfall to the ice auger suspended from the tripod. Photo by John Kemp.
The field party on the ice congregates around the working tent behind the surface buoy of ITP 9 shortly after the profiler instrument and mooring were deployed. Photo by John Kemp.
The Ice Mass Balance Buoy (IMB) as deployed. Photo by John Kemp.
Time for a post-deployment snack and cup of tea while waiting to be retrieved by the helicopter of the Federov. Photo by John Kemp.