ITP56 Deployment Operations

On April 14, 2012, our deployment team of 3 personnel, ITP 56, an AOFB, PAWS, and IMBB, plus deployment apparatus arrived at ice camp Barneo in order to deploy an Ice-Based Observatory (IBO). In order to extend the duration of the drift of the IBO before reaching Fram Strait, the plan was to use the Russian MI-8 helicopter to fly ~100 km upstream to deploy the systems while the helicopter waited, as was performed the previous year with ITP 47. On the remainder of this day, the deployment apparatus and instruments were unpacked and organized in preparation for the remote operations which were to be conducted on the following day.

However, the weather deteriorated by the next day (Russian Easter) so that visibility prohibited flying the helicopters. Hoping for a change in conditions, we waited throughout the day for a positive assessment by the pilots, which never occurred. Since we were scheduled to depart the camp the following day, it became necessary to install the IBO a few hundred meters outside of camp. With the help of our Russian scientist colleagues, the deployment operations began just after 5 PM local time (15:00 UTC). Two hours later, the AOFB buoy was deployed on 2 m thick ice, and work began on deploying ITP 56.

Approximately 25 m away the deployment hole for the ITP was augured through the 1.5 m thick icefloe, and preparations were made to lower the ITP profiler into the ocean. However, the profiler had been stored in the camp mess tent to keep it warm, but unfortunately the floor of the tent was still cold enough to cause the instrument to cease functioning when attempting to load the deployment schedule. Therefore, the profiler had to be warmed, opened and repowered, then programmed. Fortunately, it responded, and the ITP was finally deployed and successfully tested nearly 4 hours after the AOFB had been installed. Subsequently, the PAWS and IMBB were simultaneously deployed nearby by separate teams so that the installation of the IBO was completed just before midnight UTC.

Using the snow machine to haul the ITP foam and wire rope reel to the deployment site. (Rick Krishfield)

Kris Newhall clears ice from the hole, while Steve Lambert tends the AOFB sensor package just prior to deployment. (Rick Krishfield)

Newhall prepares to lower the ITP anchor through the ice hole while our Russian scientist colleagues Andrey Balakin and Alexey Gubin stand by, and Sergey Pisarev explains the deployment to the Barneo camp managers. (Rick Krishfield)

After rebooting the profiler, Steve Lambert removes the inductive modem clamp so that the profiler can be attached to the wire. (Rick Krishfield)

Just prior to the final installation, the ITP buoy and tether are laid out on the ice.

Ice Based Observatory shortly after deployment from ice camp Barneo in 2012 consisting of (from left to right) ITP56, PAWS, AOFB26, and IMB 2012-B. (Rick Krishfield)