Palmer Station SitRep for Period Ending 14 Feb 79

1. Fuel Consumption: 1383 /Tank one 78,971/Tank two 116,699/Total DFM on hand (less day tanks) 195,670/Day tanks 6,000.
2. Station population 21/Hero 18
3. Power Readings: High 99.7VA/Low 48.0 KVA/ Avg 70.9 KVA.
4. Weather: High temp 5C(12)/Low temp -2C(9,10)/Avg temp 2C/High pressure .991.5 MB (11)/ Low pressure 961.0 MB (8) / Avg pressure 981.8 MB/peak wind 15 m/s at 40 deg (11)/ Avg wind 6 m/s prevailing wind dir 40 deg/avg cld cvr 8/10 nmbr of clear days 0.33/ nmbr prtly cldy days 2.0/ nmber cldy days 4.66 / nmbr days visibility less then 400 mtrs 0.
5. It was a windy week at Palmer. There is a definite change of season in the air. Six station personnel left aboard R./V Hero on Sunday, bringing the station population to nearly half of what it had been just five days before. From all reports it was a memorable crossing of the Drake Passage. Palmer upheld its reputation as a major Antarctic seaport with visits from M/V World Discoverer on Saturday, and the Chilean transport ship Aquiles on Sunday. About 125 passengers from the World Discoverer toured Palmer and R/V hero on Sunday morning. The officers and crew of Aquiles, about 115 in number, visited the station for several hours Sunday afternoon. The ship left Arthur Harbor just in time to miss an extremely windy storm which cut visibility to zero.
   Monday was a day of cleanup at Palmer. Everyone pitched in and by afternoon the station looked great.
   The absurd problem of refrigeration in Antarctica reared its head this week when the main chill box refrigeration unit succumbed to chronic shaft troubles. Pat Kraker and Robbie Fraser constructed a simple system which ducts in outside air with a thermostatically controlled fan that cured the problem until next years resupply. An electric hot water heater in the GWR building developed a leak and was replaced with a new unit.
   As the level of the fresh water melt pond grows visibly lower Pat Kraker has begun a complete over haul of the desalinators.
   Jerry Kiewatt and the Station Manager make a fire safety inspection station wide. New extinguishers were installed where needed and inspection cards were checked. A map of fire extinguisher and scott air-paks were pm’ed and preventative maintenance cards were originated for each of the eight units.
   Don Wiggin installed lithium batteries in three of the S-205 (Ackley) bouys which are to be deployed by R/V Hero near Joinville Island. John Wells did troubleshooting on both ham and regular communications gear.
   The sauna bath has become a fashionable place to combat cook Allen Cull’s efforts to fatten us all up.
   Belated valentine’s day greeting to all.
   Konecki