The Engineers have Arrived at Utsteinen
The third expedition team has made it to Utsteinen. The engineers have, as a matter of fact, already gathered inside the large mess tent. The team is composed of Johan Berte, project manager, and of 6 other people, namely the Laborelec (energy research centre of GDF SUEZ group) team and one surgeon.
Johan carried in his suitcases some spare pieces to one of the Prinoth tractors which had broken down, but also the expedition team's Christmas dinner: 2 full turkey's. The cooks will have to be creative this year...
After having dropped everyone off, the plane left with the five members of the glaciology team - first research linked to the Princess Elisabeth Station - lead by Professor Frank Pattyn. Their research involved ice drilling at the coast to be able to measure the speed at which the ice cap flows out at sea. This enables, in fine, to calibrate climate models and the rise of sea levels.
Picture: Basler at Utsteinen - © International Polar Foundation