Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

one skua were the only other birds around. The bright sunshine continued, but the
wind increased somewhat. Some people went up to the base and others came down
from base to visit the ship.
Nelson conducted a slow-scan television experiment to establish whether we
could transmit X-rays, photographs etc by satellite to Aberdeen, where they could be
seen by consultants and advice be sent back to the doctors in the field. It went well,
but a digital system would be better. I agreed with Nelson that we look into the
possibility of lease-purchase (cost $2,000 for the first two systems; additional costs
would be $3000 each). I went out on the ice for a couple of hours. Sadly there were
three Antarctic petrels that had flown into mooring lines. One was killed and the
other two dazed - sitting on the ice and allowing a close approach. There was also a
number of emperor penguins moving over the ice and stopping to watch our
activities. Having just emerged from the sea, they were particularly clean and glossy.
I took some photos of them and of the hummocked ice in the low sun. Again (I had
noticed this before) it seemed to lighten and become finer just when we went to bed
about midnight. (position: 75°29'S, 27°03'W).
The weather continued fine. The main events of the next day were the loading of
the AIS caboose from Halley and the discharge to the ice of the new interferometer
caboose. The course across the sea ice was quite tortuous, wending through the ice
hummocks. The AIS caboose was moving down the ramp from the shelf, then it
came into sight, pulled by an IH tractor and a snocat. Mounted on cargo skis, it had
little clearance and from time to time bogged down in the soft snow; there was
special difficulty at corners along the route. However, the 'motorcade' eventually
reached the ship, the caboose was winched nearer and lifted aboard. Soon the
interferometer caboose was lowered to the sea ice and the reverse occurred. All this
took until 12.30 pm.
Then we looked for transport to the base, but there was none until after 3 o’clock
when we took a snowcat up to base, all except the driver travelling across the sea ice
on a cargo sledge behind it for safety, then transferring to the cab at the ramp. We
left the ship about 3.10 pm but took 80 mins to reach base. Mick Roscoe (BC) was
waiting to receive us at the entrance and we had an initial tour of the base, first over
the top where the prevailing wind had deposited a mound of snow over the tubes to
the west of the main shafts. Down to the garage ramp, now quite impressive and
into the base via the garage. It was really very spacious and well fitted-out and it was
sad to hear more at first hand of problems that were developing. We inspected the
voids (between the outer wooden tubes and the huts inside) and noted how the
panels of the tubes were failing. It was particularly bad over the living block where
the roof was being forced downwards by the relatively small weight of overlying
snow. Pressure from the failing tubes was affecting the inner buildings, so that the
floor of the living room was tilted.
It was good to see the recreational area being used: we had provided a very good
containing multigym, exercise cycle, table-tennis table and 'squash court'. The storage
area was not being fully used. Two big cold chambers were working well. Mick said
the dry-toilets worked quite well and we were later to try them out ourselves! The
science labs were packed with equipment and computers. What a transformation
since my first visit to Halley in l974! Nelson was most impressed! We had a drink at
the bar, which now had a mahogany top and panels inlaid with the brass map of
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