Sunday, March 25, 2012

A trip to the new Indian Base

 Flying adjacent the the ocean as it slowly starts to freeze with winter approaching. Our destination was 120km from our base. You can see the ship moored in the harbour of the Indian Base base getting ready to sail for home that night.

 The choppers (our taxi service) landing at the Indian Base.

 It was a hyde of activity as the last of the cargo heading home was being loaded on the ship.

 The new base a bit like the spaceship Enterprise from Star Trek.

 The ship.

More ship and background. The harbour is very deep which works out well  as the ships can park up close unlike Davies which have to stay out some 2km.

 The chopper landing on the ship.

 A view from the deck on top of the new building.

 A different angle at the same location.

 Heading home.

 Heading home.

 Heading home.

Back at base with the sun setting. Was a great day checked out the all the plant rooms that make the building function including power generation, waste water, heating and fresh water. Our host's where very accommodating and treated us with some local snacks and drinks.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Auroa's and Lidar beam ( pictures from Tim New )







Winter on the way and seals

 Elephant seals doing not to much.

Sea ice is starting to form.

 Catching a seal to tag and place a recording device.

 A seal just chilling.

Sea ice forming just about as you watch.

The same seal chilling in the distance.

 Weighing the seal it was a small one only 565 kg.

Getting ready to roll the seal after being sedated.

 More seals.

 Random working on the roof.

 Letting this bully who is the boss.


The tracking device in place stuck to the fur with some epoxy. The seals have been recorded diving to depths of 2000 metres