New Siple Station Ready for Winter Netosphere, and Interactions Between the Magnetosphere and the Iono- Sphere
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antarctic [I OFTHE IIUNITED J ES10 U STATES March 1979 National Science Foundation Volume XIV—Number 1 I - 1 -- .. F - IN.ESTON- NSF photo waves, the plasmapause, the mag- New Siple Station ready for winter netosphere, and interactions between the magnetosphere and the iono- sphere. Eight men will spend the coming austral winter in a new facility at Siple Station in Ellsworth Land. The new station is expected to function as a VLF probing of the magnetosphere year-round U.S. research platform until the late 1980s when, like old Siple can take place at other locations, but Station, it will have been buried beneath a crushing mass of snow and ice. it is done best along the geomagnetic The completion of the new station ahead of schedule and within budget, field lines that traverse the earths less than 3 years after the decision plasmapause. It is done most effi- ciently if the transmitter is located was made to replace the old station, geomagnetic lines of force through will enable upper atmosphere re- well above the ground surface so the plasmapause and return to earth there is minimal signal loss due to search at Siple to continue without in northeastern Canada where they interruption. ground absorption. Siple Station, are picked up at Siples conjugate located on top of an ice sheet over a The U.S. has maintained a station station in Roberval, Quebec. Scien- kilometer thick and at the optimum at Siple (75055S, 83 155W) since 1969 tists at both locations record what geomagnetic latitude, is therefore because it is the single best location in happens to the signals on their ideal for VLF research. the southern hemisphere for con- passage through the plasmapause trolled very-low-frequency (VLF) and attempt to find patterns in the For this reason the United States wave investigations of the upper behavior of different kinds of VLF maintains a station at Siple in spite of atmosphere. VLF signals generated signals. Such research produces its 2400-kilometer distance from by the Siple transmitter travel along general characterizations of VLF McMurdo and local weather condi- tions that make transportation to and formed and backs up toward the an exhaust/fresh air return vent and from Siple unpredictable. Airplanes source of the obstruction. Because a snow chute leading to the snow which leave McMurdo for Siple in the transiting storm systems cause melter. Each of the penetrations is good weather are often frustrated by great variation in the wind direction, fitted with a specially designed collar the rapid onset of low ceilings or such snow drifts can cover an object 2 that restores much of the strength blowing snow, either of which can to 3 meters high in one season. Once lost by cutting through the arch. It limit visibility and force planes to snow drifting begins, it does not stop should be about 10 years—double the return without landing. until the surface is again level around life of the first Siple Station—before Blowing snow is also responsible and over the obstruction. This the new arch deteriorates under for the prime difficulty in maintain- drifting process explains why old pressure from snow and ice above. Siple Station, completed in 1972, is ing a station at Siple. Although The new arch is 14 meters longer annual snowfall is only about 1.5 now about 12 meters beneath the surface. than the arch over old Siple. The meters, Siples nearly constant winds buildings in the old station will not be move massive volumes of snow The snow that covered old Siple and that will eventually cover the moved into the replacement facility. across the surface. Anything which Instead, the new station is composed protrudes above the surface obstructs new station is not in itself a matter of concern. The arch is strong enough of 24 building modules which were the wind and creates a downwind shipped disassembled from the U.S. eddy. A snowdrift on the surface is to withstand a great deal more weight than the snow can provide. Twenty-one of the modules are 2.4 However, penetrations of the arch, meters by 7.3 meters; three of necessary for exhaust and ventilation them are 2.4 meters by 8.5 meters. shafts, weaken the structure and They provide living quarters for eight station personnel, space for CTIC allow heat to escape into the snow above. As the snow melts, its density scientific equipment, a power plant and weight increase substantially and which houses three new electric the resulting pressure attacks the generators, a communications room, arch at its weakest points, that is, a dispensary, a common dining area, a where penetrations have been made. recreation room, and showers and toilets. The power plant is separate The replacement station, designed from the science and living quarters in 1976 by Holmes & Narver, Inc., to minimize noise and electrical Editor Richard P. Muldoon takes into account the lessons learned interference with the science equip- at old Siple. The arch is made of 12 ment. New Siple is by no means Antarctic Journal of the United gage corrugated steel. It is 13.5 spacious, but it is less cramped and States, established in 1966, reports meters wide and 80 meters long. much more comfortable than the old on U.S. activities in Antarctica and Only two shafts penetrate the arch: station. related activities elsewhere, and on trends in the U.S. Antarctic Program. It is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December) At left, a Stanford University researcher, Evans Paschal, inserts a plug-in circuit board with a fifth annual review issue in In the Jupiter transmitter at Sipie. At right, the winter paramedic, Don BihIer, stores October, by the Division of Polar supplies in the new dispensary. Programs, National Science Founda- tion, Washington, D.C. 20550. Telephone: 202/632-4076. Subscription rates are $7.50 per five issues, domestic, and $9.50 per five issues, foreign; single copies are $1.10 ($1.40 foreign) except for the annual review issue, which is $3.50 ($4.50 foreign). Address changes and subscription matters should be sent to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The director of the National Science Foundation has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business required by law of this agency. Use of funds for printing this periodical has been approved by the director of the Office of Manage- ment and Budget through 30 September 1979. U.S. Navy photos by Charles A. Hitchcock ANTARCTIC JOURNAL Two of the diesel generators will be • • alternated to supply power for the station; the third will power only scientific equipment. Waste heat From the engines, collected by fancoil units using a glycol-water mixture, will be used to heat the station and to melt snow for a fresh water supply. Heat exchangers mounted on the engine exhaust stacks will provide additional heat for the station and also limit heat escape through the ventilation shaft into the snow above. Fuel for the diesels will be stored in two 25,000 gallon bladders that will remain in old Siple Station and in an additional bladder of the same capacity in the new station. Extra diesel fuel will be stored in Irums near the existing summer construction camp, which will be restocked for emergency use should anything go wrong at the station this NSF photo winter. If necessary, ski-equipped Drifting snow eventually will make this door invaluable. Its threshhold is about 4 meters LC-130 airplanes could fly to Siple in above the current entrance to new Siple Station. winter, but continual darkness, un- prepared landing surfaces at Siple and McMurdo, characteristically poor particle interactions in the plasma- Siple dedication ceremony communications during winter, the pause and to study wave-produced tack of operating ground navigational precipitation. Lockheed Palo Alto On 14 January 1979, officials from equipment, and temperatures too Research Laboratories scientists will the U.S. Antarctic Research Program low for normal aircraft operations use a six-channel meridian scanning dedicated the new research facility at would make such a rescue flight itself photometer to study artificial aurora Siple Station in Ellsworth Land. The Jangerous. For these reasons the produced by VLF wave induced ceremony was held in a snowstorm station is designed to be self- particle precipitation. Also this with winds up to 15 meters per supporting during both normal and winter, an experiment designed by second and temperatures around emergency conditions. investigators at the University of -15°C. Science personnel this winter in- Minnesota and the University of After an invocation by Father John clude the station science leader and New Hampshire will examine the Curnow of Christchurch, New Zea- two other researchers. The Navy has effect of increased solar activity on land, John F. Katsufrakis, the Siple supplied a paramedic. Holmes & the shape and location of the science coordinator from Stanford N4arver, Inc., has provided a station plasmapause. The investigators will University, spoke of the science manager, a facilities engineer, a look for simultaneous occurrences of projects that would be conducted at communications technician, and a auroral light and ultra-low-frequency the new station and unfolded a new general maintenance mechanic. They (ULF) pulsations in an attempt to U.S. flag. Edward P. Todd, Director will be isolated at Siple from February compare ULF waves and interacting of the Division of Polar Programs at through November. In addition to particles. the National Science Foundation, conducting the science experiments dedicated the station for the United planned for the station, the crew will Equipment installed for a Bell States and raised the new flag above Telephone Laboratories experiment put finishing touches on the interior.