Project Title

Operation and Maintenance of a CTBT Class Infrasound Array at Windless Bight and Palmer Station

Summary

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

NSF Contact:
Ms. Jessie Crain

ASC POC/Implementer:
Allison Barden / Jenny Cunningham / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

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

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

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station, Palmer Station
Research Locations: Windless Bight, Palmer Backyard, Terra Lab, Bonaparte Point

Description

This project operates, maintains, upgrades, calibrates, and services the joint US 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. This season will also include the installation of an infrasound array at Palmer Station which consists of four infrasound sensor sites (elements) and a communication hub. The sensor sites will be distributed over approximately two square kilometers. The communication hub, known as the Central Recording Facility (CRF), will be located in Terra Lab at Palmer Station.

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 such as 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

Four participants will deploy from late October to mid-December to perform servicing of the infrasound array and hybrid power system at Windless Bight. The team will camp at the field site for 5 weeks, with occasional trips back to McMurdo Station for resupply. The field camp, consisting of two Polarhavens and an outhouse, will be set up by the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) and accessed by ground vehicles. Major service work will include excavation and raising of system components, performance of power system service, 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-ISO container at the station is used for year-round cold storage of supplies and spare parts. ASC will provide year-round research associate support and deliver JP-8 fuel to the field site. This season, team members will also provide assistance to the G-078-M Bertrand Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) team performing maintenance of their hybrid power systems at Mount Newall and Bull Pass in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

CTBT is utilizing two chartered vessels to install the first four infrasound array systems at Palmer Station. The first ship will arrive in January to drop off cargo at Bonaparte Point and the Palmer Pier. Five participants will arrive in February to install the equipment. The Palmer Research Associate will assist with installation at the four field sites and Terra Lab.

Deploying Team Members