Project Title

Operation and maintenance of a CTBT class infrasound array at Windless Bight

Summary

Event Number:
T-396-M/P
NSF / DTRA Agreement

Program Director:
Ms. Jessie Crain

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Mr. Lukas J Blom
ljblom@alaska.edu
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Geophysics Institute

Project Web Site:
https://watc.alaska.edu/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, Palmer Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Station/Windless Bight

Description

This project operates, maintains, upgrades, calibrates, and services the joint United States Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Infrasound Array at Windless Bight. Windless Bight's location on the Ross Ice Shelf is unique for its low wind levels, which makes infrasound detection possible. Infrasound can detect volcanic eruptions, winds over distant mountain ranges, large storms at sea, auroral and meteor events, earthquakes, and avalanches, as well as human-caused events, like large explosions, at great distances from the sound-producing events. Detection of events occurring worldwide are routinely made at the Windless Bight site.

Field Season Overview

Deployment of four team members is planned to perform servicing of the array and hybrid power system. The team will camp at the field site for 17 to 21 days. The field camp, consisting of two Polarhavens, an outhouse, and individual mountain tents, is set-up by ASC and is accessed by ground vehicles. Major service work performed includes excavation and raising of system components, performance of power system service work, and restoration of the power system snow berm. Connectivity equipment and servers for the system are located at McMurdo Station Building 159, and a mini-milvan in McMurdo is used for year-round cold storage of supplies and spare parts. ASC will provide year-round Research Associate (RA) support and deliver 500 gallons of JP8 fuel to the field site. This season, team members will also provide assistance to the AFTAC team performing maintenance of their hybrid power systems at Mt Newall and Bull Pass in the Dry Valleys.

Deploying Team Members