Palmer Station SitRep for Period Ending 31 Jan 79

  1. Fuel Consumption: 1466 /Tank one 78,971/Tank two 119,548/Total DFM on hand (less day tanks) 198,519/Day tanks 6,000.
  2. Station population 39/Hero 12/at faraday BAS 4 (S-252/S-260)
  3. Power Readings: High 103.3 KVA/Low 51.1 KVA/ Avg 82.7 KVA.
  4. Weather: High temp 4C(30)/Low temp -2C(28)/Avg temp 1C/High pressure .992.5 MB (27,29)/ Low pressure 982.5 MB (31) / Avg pressure 987.9 MB/peak wind 5 m/s at 220 deg (25)/ Avg wind 4 m/s prevailing wind dir 30 deg/avg cld cvr 6/10 nmbr of clear days 1.33/ nmbr prtly cldy days 3.33/ nmber cldy days 2.33 / nmbr days visibility less then 400 mtrs 0.
  5. Crystal clear weather ost of the week provided a welcome contrast to the wetness of the previous seven days.
    Dr. Warburton (S-252/260) held a meeting of personnel versed in radio and electronics and presented their preliminary findings and suggestions on solving electrical interference problems to the station meeting Thursday evening. Rock drilling began on Friday in front of the GWR building. Two days of jackhamering produced a hole approx 12 ft deep. A copper grounding pipe has been installed in the hole. Other measures outlined in Dr. Warburton’s proposal are within the scope of equipment and resources currently on station. Work on the Zodiac boating ramp was completed. The light pole was removed from the pier to provide an obstruction-free landing area for helicopters.
    Major overhaul of the number two D-343 generator engine was completed on 26 Jan. A new wiring harness was installed and the unit was put on line. A 5 min power failure early the next morning was the result of a valve vibration open in the cooling system. The over-temperature cutoff shut down the generator. Number one was started up and took the load while glycol was added to number two and the valve was safely wired closed. A 10 min breakdown of the salt water pumping system occurred when a rubber hose blew off the new PVC manifold in the pumphouse. Repairs were facilitated by shunting the flow around the broken hose with the new valving system. The problem with the rubber hose was remedied.
    Hero departed on 26 Jan with Dr. McWhinnie (S-008) and members of her Krill program aboard. They visited Arctowski Station and trawled for Krill in the vicinity of Smith Island, returning to Palmer on 30 Jan. Lindblad Explorer called at Palmer Station on 27 Jan. The ship held a cookout for the passengers and station personnel on the dock in front of the station. The next morning one hundred passengers toured Palmer. On 29 Jan. the AGS Yelco, a resupply vessel of the Armada de Chile visited Palmer. Off-duty crewmen were invited ashore for movies and refreshments while the crew on watch helped station personnel load scrap metal from the Palmer dump on board for transport to Chile. Yelco also took drums of whte gasoline and avgas which could not be used a the station were a potential leakage problem.
    The 44 ft Belgian yacht Williwaw arrived at Palmer in the afternoon of 30 Jan, A shot time before Hero’s return. Skipper Willy Deroos and his partner presented a movie and slide show Wednesday night of Williwaw’s transit of the northwest passage.
    Drums of waste oil which were being burned at the dump bubbled over on Wednesday and flames threatened Hero cargo staged on the old helo pad. There were no losses however, and the incident provided an opportunity to test Palmer’s fire fighting equipment. Fire extinguishers used to control the fire were recharged and Scott Air Packs were inspected. Mike Pavlak held a meeting with Pat Kraker and Drane Ness to discuss the preventive maintenance program he has been working on. Jerry Kiewatt treated two members of the Yelco crew for minor infections. A station wide cleanup was held on Saturday. All available science and support personnel took part and most of the wind-blown trash around the station was collected.
    Sunday’s weather was absolutely perfecdt. Nearly everyone took advantage of the day to go seal and bird watching.
    The new station pastime is watching the map pins that mark Polar Star’s progress towards the peninsula.
    Regards, Konecki