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 and Palmer Station. Windless Bight's location on the Ross Ice Shelf is unique for its low wind levels, which makes infrasound detection possible. Maintenance will also be performed on an infrasound array at Palmer Station comprising four infrasound sensor sites (elements) distributed over approximately 2 square kilometers. The communication hub, known as the central recording facility, will be in Terra Lab at Palmer.

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 2026 to mid-December 2027 to service the infrasound array and hybrid power system at Windless Bight. The science 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. Service 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.

Two participants will service the Palmer infrasound array this season. Tasks will focus on troubleshooting and optimizing systems and finishing any tasks that were not completed during install. The United States Antarctic Program provides year-round support via the research associate, who may occasionally visit the site when conditions allow for maintenance and troubleshooting. Equipment and servers for the array are located in Terra Lab.

Deploying Team Members