If you are a journalist and would like to speak to any of the team who are on-ice (Dec 2024 - Jan 2025 and Dec 2025 - Jan 2026) please contact us at swaiscomms@gns.cri.nz for more information. 

Ross Shelf reports
Wednesday 20 December 2023 (part 2)

Wednesday 20 December 2023 (part 2)

20 December 2023

After years of planning and preparing and so much hard work of so many, including three weeks of set up time, trouble shooting and dry runs of hotwater drilling (HWD) and…

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Ross Shelf reports
Wednesday 20 December 2023

Wednesday 20 December 2023

20 December 2023

When the wind blows… After a beautiful day on Tuesday with sunny skies and very little windy, today started out grey and windy and it kept getting windier and colder throughout…

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Ross Shelf reports
Tuesday 19 December 2023

Tuesday 19 December 2023

19 December 2023

Once the hot water hole is completed through the Ross Ice Shelf, we will have about 12 hours to do science operations in the ocean gap between the ice and…

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Ross Shelf reports
Sunday 17 December 2023

Sunday 17 December 2023

17 December 2023

The Antarctic Intermediate Depth Drill (AIDD) has three coring systems that we can use: a hydraulic piston corer, a push corer, and a rotary corer.

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Ross Shelf reports
Saturday 16 December 2023

Saturday 16 December 2023

16 December 2023

Undertaking a drilling project of this scope in a remote area along the Siple Coast of the Ross Ice Shelf requires a lot of careful preparation and a well-designed camp.

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Ross Shelf reports
Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

15 December 2023

An important part of the Antarctic Intermediate Depth Drill (AIDD) system is the sea riser, which helps to support the drill string when drilling from floating ice.

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Ross Shelf reports
Thursday 14 December 2023

Thursday 14 December 2023

14 December 2023

Preparations are gearing up to begin operations soon.

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Ross Shelf reports
Wednesday 13 December 2023

Wednesday 13 December 2023

13 December 2023

Where do you go when you need to go on the Ross Ice Shelf?

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Ross Shelf reports
Tuesday 12 December 2023

Tuesday 12 December 2023

12 December 2023

Antarctica is the driest place on Earth, so even though it is cold, we have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated here.

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Ross Shelf reports
Monday 11 December 2023

Monday 11 December 2023

11 December 2023

Today the science team members still at Scott Base got up early and waited for the go/no-go announcement for the flight to the drill site.

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