Last night I dreamed I was trying to find a baler connector. A baler is a large data storage drive. It connects to the digital receiver via an orange cable, and the digital receiver translates data into files and also runs the entire array system. It needed to go into the MEVO box after demobilizing the huddle test, or de-mob for short. And I am happy to report that I indeed located it in the dream. I think this means progress in terms of developing my science identity and knowing more about the technology we are working with to learn about glacier dynamics and velocity of meltwater.
Pre-Field Logistics
We did not get off the flight in Greenland and take off for the ice sheet the next day. I have gotten a lot of questions about if and when I will be on the ice sheet. There is prep to do first, logistics to work out with helicopters, and weather. As of yet, I am not out on the ice sheet, however, weather pending, tomorrow may be the day. So let us take a look at what has been keeping us very busy during 10 hour long work days instead.
How To Huddle
The MEVO box is a short duration seismic station for cold weather environments. Inside we find a bunch of things that need to be hooked up and tested to ensure that they are working properly before bringing them all the way out to the ice sheet in a sling load carried by a helicopter. The following are images taken during the huddle test which is the name for what we have been doing.
Huddle test set up included a step by step process of attaching wires and connectors along with charting data including serial numbers, voltage readings, and data processing. Each MEVO box, or station took anywhere from an hour to two hours depending on how things went.
Sling Load Prep
Today was spent demobilizing, or taking down the huddle test, repacking all of the gear and getting it organized and ready by array (or set of stations) to be sent out to the ice sheet to be set up. Once the set up is complete, the arrays will stay throughout the summer collecting data and sending it back to scientists to view and process. Remember students, they are using this tech to detect what is going on below ice that is about half a mile thick.
Field science is physically demanding, before and during deployment to an ice sheet. Even though it is light outside all night and sometimes is hard to fall asleep, I sleep quite soundly here thanks to all the activity. It is like a semi-intense Crossfit workout only all day long.
Student Corner
Have you ever tried to set up electronics or a science lab that required a lot of steps and moving parts? What skills did you use to focus and how did you work through obstacles and figure things out?
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