The Heard Island Project
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A Brief Description of The Cordell Expedition to Clipperton Island, Territory of France March, 2013 Written by Robert W. Schmieder, PhD, KK6EK Version 3.8 8 Jan. 2013 Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 934-3735 [email protected] www.cordell.org The 2013 Cordell Expedition to Clipperton Island Version 3.8 8 Jan. 2013 Page 1 of 64 This Document This document provides a brief description of the 2013 Cordell Expedition to Clipperton Island, Territory of France. The material herein was assembled by Dr. Robert W. Schmieder, Director and Expedition Leader for Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit scientific organization based in Walnut Creek, California. The author is responsible for the content of this document. Questions and comments are welcome. One purpose of this document is to provide a description of the project to the French authorities who will issue the permit for the visit to Clipperton Island. To that end, we present a very brief overview of the various activities we expect to carry out. More detailed information about any aspect of this project is available from the expedition leader. A second purpose of this document is to provide details of the project to the participants and to potential sponsors. For that reason, this document contains many images of Clipperton and other graphics taken from various sources, including previous amateur radio DXpeditions and scientific expeditions to Clipperton. This document is in constant revision, so please take care to have the latest version, especially if you intend to share it. For a current version of this document, please look at www.cordell.org/CI. The 2013 Cordell Expedition to Clipperton Island Version 3.8 8 Jan. 2013 Page 2 of 64 Contents This Document .................................................................................................................. 2 Contents ............................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 5 Clipperton Island .............................................................................................................. 6 Operations ......................................................................................................................... 8 Logistics .......................................................................................................................... 8 The vessel ....................................................................................................................... 9 Landing ......................................................................................................................... 10 Camp location and layout ............................................................................................. 11 Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 13 Communications ............................................................................................................. 14 Amateur radio operations .............................................................................................. 14 Antennas ....................................................................................................................... 14 Radios ........................................................................................................................... 14 6 meters ......................................................................................................................... 14 WiFi .............................................................................................................................. 14 Real-time interactive communications ......................................................................... 16 Social Networking ........................................................................................................ 18 Educational Collaboration ............................................................................................ 18 Environmental science .................................................................................................... 19 Overview: Island biogeography .................................................................................... 20 Alien ants ...................................................................................................................... 21 Cryptic algae ................................................................................................................. 22 Undiscovered meiofauna .............................................................................................. 23 Foraging by deformed masked boobies ........................................................................ 27 Foraging by invasive rats .............................................................................................. 27 Vortex winds ................................................................................................................. 28 Removing plastic debris ................................................................................................ 30 Conformance ................................................................................................................... 31 Permits and licenses ...................................................................................................... 31 Authorities .................................................................................................................... 31 Safety ............................................................................................................................ 31 Waste and sanitation ..................................................................................................... 31 Teardown ...................................................................................................................... 31 Cleanup ......................................................................................................................... 31 Landing Permit ............................................................................................................... 32 Radio Permit.................................................................................................................... 33 Documentation ................................................................................................................ 34 Website ......................................................................................................................... 34 Recordkeeping .............................................................................................................. 34 Relationship to the 2014 Heard Island Expedition ...................................................... 35 Organization of the project ............................................................................................ 36 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 37 Schedule ........................................................................................................................... 38 Budget .............................................................................................................................. 39 The 2013 Cordell Expedition to Clipperton Island Version 3.8 8 Jan. 2013 Page 3 of 64 Information for participants .......................................................................................... 41 Information for contributors ......................................................................................... 42 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 43 General .......................................................................................................................... 43 Airborne insects ............................................................................................................ 43 Ants ............................................................................................................................... 43 Birds .............................................................................................................................. 44 Island induced turbulent flow ....................................................................................... 44 Kites .............................................................................................................................. 44 Meiofauna ..................................................................................................................... 45 Plants ............................................................................................................................. 45 Radio DXpeditions ....................................................................................................... 45 Cordell Expeditions ........................................................................................................ 46 The Team ......................................................................................................................... 49 Organizer, Expedition Leader ....................................................................................... 53 Robert W. Schmieder,