ITP57 Deployment Operations
The second ITP deployed during the 2012 TransArc cruise on the R/V Polarstern was ITP 57. The selected site was in a well consolidated part of a several km wide consolidated icefloe about 2-2.5 mm thick, mostly surrounded by ridges. An hour later, the ice hole had been augered, and the profiler deployed through the hole. Inductive modem communications tests were successfully conducted when the instrument was first lowered into the ocean, after about 200 m wire had been paid out, and after the system was fully deployed another hour later. After the group photo, the deployment equipment was slung back to the ship by helicopter.
The deployment apparatus and ITP instrumentation were delivered to the ice floe using the ship’s helicopter. (Kare Bakker)
Raquel Somavilla controls the winch brake to pay out the ITP wire while Hendrick Sander guides the wire with a cable counter. (BenRabe)
With the Yale grip securing the wire, the mooring load is suspended from the chainfall. Daniel Scholz prepares the slip line around the cleat on the leg of the tripod while Sander holds the line. (Ben Rabe)
The slip line through the bale at the end of the potted section of cable. (Ben Rabe)
The surface package installed in the flotation just prior to deployment. (Ben Rabe)
Stephanie Spiesecke waits for the helicopter atop the return slingload of deployment apparatus. (Ben Rabe)