Update 15 Feb          "Well the time is marching by and the ship arrives in ~ 2 weeks. Winter is on its way, with night time temperatures (my shift) almost down to -20C and the sun setting for the first time today.   I've got about a week of testing time left.   I've kept pretty busy with about 75 CPTs completed; the last week I've been trying to do some snow shear tests so that I can compare tip resistance values with another strength index.     I might get out to the Halley VI site this week with the 'box' and the GPR, we'll see. Then it will be time to pack things up ready for shipping home.     We're expected back in the UK mid March or so, and the kit should arrive by early May.        Regards     Adrian"         Update 28 Jan - 1st Antarctic CPT data                 "We have some data!  Some problems with rod slip and with depth encoder not reading under excessive vibration but otherwise OK. Sorting these out. Otherwise four tests done and all OK.   Getting higher resistances than expected (circa 10MPa). Will deliver combined 1st four tests shortly.   Best wishes,    Adrian".

1st test data
   
  

"Good repeatability in the first 4 tests (see graph below). Just grooming the Test Area then will do some more at different rates and with flat tip.     Best wishes Adrian".

    

test 1 blue, test 2 red, test 3 yellow, test 4 green
  
   

Update, 13 Jan  -  1st CPTs in the Antarctic !   Adrian and UK11 on completion of the 1st CPT              "It's been pretty busy down here since we finished Relief on Friday.    I'm now working nightshift and although the 'box' has been here for almost a week, it's been a battle to get time to sort things out. We'd fitted it to a similar tractor in Rye before it was shipped but a few modifications were required to the tractors here to provide power, and to allow the fitting of two rear links etc.   I finally had this afternoon to finish things and after carefully checking connections etc. we powered everything up and away we went. I was ably assisted by 'Shifty' my co-night-worker.   We initially tried without the rigid link, but at ~3m depth the box was lifted and we had to insert the link.   We only went to ~5m but all went well - quite a lot of vibration in the last 2m and readings of up to 4.5MPa - yet to cx the data. Cone offsets appeared stable and consistent at start/finish. I had some fears of the cone/rods freezing in, but no problems thus far.   We've kept the rig on the tractor, and I should be able to do some more testing tomorrow.   Thank you to everyone who's contributed to getting the equipment and me down here.   Although there's not too much to analyse just yet, a successful first test is a great start!   Best wishes to you all,   Adrian"        Adrian isn't the first one in the Antarctic! - Our very own Brian Georgious was there in the '70s. Spot the differences!     Brian's tent        Update, 05 Jan 2010   Main building, the Laws building. Science building in the background. Skidoo park to the right.          "Happy New Year!     We've been working 12 hr shifts over the last 5 days and we've managed to empty the large Russian cargo ship, the Igarka, of ~ 1000 tonnes of building materials for the new base, Halley VI. Therefore tomorrow we start emptying the BAS ship the Ernest Shackleton which has the CPT kit onboard. So, although I haven't laid my eyes on it yet, within 3-4 days hopefully I should have my hands on our 'box' and will be able to see if everything works!     I'll keep you posted and send some pictures when I can!   Best wishes     Adrian"      Update, 23 December 2009

Local penguin colony 20km from base          "The majority of time thus far has been spent preparing for 'Relief', the term used to describe the resupply of the Station by the ship. Two ships are due this year (due to the construction of Halley VI), hence Relief is expected to last up to a month or so. The first ship is due on Christmas day although by last accounts it was recently in heavy ice managing only 1.5 kts.   Although I've spent most of my time driving tractors and grooming snow, I've managed to mark out my test area, and have also done some initial Ground Penetrating Radar assessment of the snowpack in order to identify major stratigraphy. I've also looked briefly at the variation of my pressure sensors with temperature.    The CPT equipment is on the ship and as soon as Relief is over I hope to be assigned a tractor and I'll be out there performing much CPT!    Best wishes for Christmas and New Year.      Regards     Adrian"             Update,  01 December 2009          Troll base, en route to Halley                                                         Runway at Novo                 "I'm now in Halley after flying in from Cape Town to the Russian blue-ice runway, Novolazarevskaya and then via the Norwegian Base, Troll. The ship carrying the CPT equipment is delayed and is not expected until mid January. In the meantime I will be becoming familiar with the tractors we plan to mount the CPT on, and also maybe do some initial snow density and stratigraphy work, as well as some Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) work to determine the spatial extent of any subsequently identified 'weak' layers. I may also do some 'pressure bulb' experiments in the field to try and determine how far ahead the cone will 'sense' in snow. Best wishes Adrian"

   
Update, September 2009   
   
   
LHS image displaying the 3-point linkage
RHS image shows the rams, rod rack (left) and workbench (right)