Palmer Station SitRep for Period Ending 28 March 79

  1. Fuel Consumption: 1341 /Tank one 78,929/Tank two 90,466/Fuel to Hero 8,279 / Total DFM on hand (less day tanks) 169,395/Day tanks 6,000.
  2. Station population 21/Hero 14
  3. Power Readings: High 96.9 VA/Low 51.6 KVA/ Avg 73.6 KVA.
  4. Weather: High temp 5C(26)/Low temp -2C(22)/Avg temp 1C/High pressure .1015.8MB (22)/ Low pressure 967.5 MB (26) / Avg pressure 993.8 MB/peak wind 10 m/s at 20 deg (26)/ Avg wind 3 m/s prevailing wind dir 240 deg/avg cld cvr 9/10 nmbr of clear days 0/ nmbr prtly cldy days 1.33 / nmber cldy days 5.66 / nmbr days visibility less then 400 mtrs 0.
  5. The last week of austral summer at Palmer Station was a week of good weather with colder temperatures, preparation for the departure of R/V Hero and station closing occupied many station personnel. John Heg submitted an extensive inventory and map of materials in the outside storage areas to simplify digging out later this winter. Don Wiggin returned from his Hero cruise and moved much of the stations lumber supply into the upper jamesway for better protection and accessibility. He also finished up his antenna work and did a cleanup of Bonaparte Point. Rob Fraser installed an inside door in the sauna to boost its efficiency. Trim painting on the KARL buildings, and a new end cover on the Biolab day tank tidied up that area of the Station. Hero returned from the final krill cruise of the summer on Sunday morning. Station personnel helped load the remainder of her provisions and topped off Hero’s fuel tanks. Jerry Kiewatt inventoried and restocked Hero’s medical supplies, and operated heavy equipment during provisioning. The repairs on the dock were suspended while Hero was in port. Earlier in the week wooden cross-members where bolted into place which firmed up that structure considerably. Duane Ness performed last minute repairs on the Gallon crane’s boom, and the accumulation of Palmer’s biodegradable waste was then loaded aboard the ship. Duane also repaired one of the switchgear sets on the station’s generators. A meeting of winterover personnel was held on Tuesday. Meal, housemouse, and watch schedules were discussed and set up. All ten winterovers agreed to stand the facilities watches which have run round the clock since early December. Pat Kraker familiarized the new volunteers with watch procedures. Stay tuned for winter! Sitrep reruns begin next week.
    Regards, Konecki