For the more photographically inclined of us, it was another cold hour or so out near Sacrofagen, with tripods and fleeces, taking long exposures. the photograph below is a 30 second exposure which shows some, albeit faint, sign of the rarer red Aurora. I think everyone was left cursing the almost full moon and light pollution around Nybyen.
This 15 second exposure doesn't show the red Aurora, but shows nicely the variable structure and the magnetic field lines the particles are spiralling down.
However, since the third of February, we have seen no more Aurora, despite the clear skies, heres hoping for the next few nights.
I should also mention that its got a lot colder and a lot lighter at midday here. I'm not sure that its as bright as daylight at midday, because its been so long since I saw daylight that I have no basis for comparison, But it gets brighter everyday, and is lighter for a longer time everyday, so going out to take photos of the valley is irresitable. Also, It seems to have got cold enough for ice to form on the fjord, so maybe we'll see some seals!
Other than the usual chat about the cold, the light and the Aurora, I must admit I've got quite a bit to talk about this week, its been a busy week. Theres been a Jazz festival on here; Polar Jazz (Cold place, Hot music, or so there slogan goes!) so a large group of us students attended the opening concert (which just happened to be the cheapest) at the Radisson SAS Polar Hotel down by UNIS. It was a very good and well attended night (So full I had to sit on the floor) of which the highlight (for me anyway) was a male voice choir singing Billy Joel's longest time in Norwegian! there were also some good instrumental groups and singers. After the concert it was a choice between over priced drink in the hotel bar or (relatively) early night. I (perhaps unexpectedly) opted for the earlier night so I could go to the free swimming for UNIS students down at the Sports Hall, requiring waking up at 6am!
On Friday all Geophysics and Technology students attended a snow scooter course, But I, sans driving license, was relegated to the back seat. We first learnt about vehicle maintainence and operation and packing a trailer, then after lunch came our practical experience. Because by now it was the middle of the day, it was quite light so we were afforded a fabulous view of the valley through which we rode. We crossed the Advent valley (just to the right of pictures of UNIS, the Fjord and the mountains) and into one of the valleys on the otherside, where we practiced turns and shifting our weight to keep the snow scooters balanced, as well as what to do if you become bogged down etc. On the return we were able to test the speed of the machines, but as the UNIS speed limit is 45, the less I say about that the better! we also saw the Adventdalen Auroral station and Eiscat Svalbard radar stations where we will be conducting field work in the near future. oh, and there were reindeer out in the valley, but no Polar bears!
So, that brings us to friday, which of course means friday gathering. After a few cans it was off to Huset (Bar, club etc) for another night of Jazz (and continued drinking!). this is perhaps part of the reason why I felt a quite saturday was in order! Sunday, though, is a whole different story. for we built an igloo! Well, it was already a good few feet high sunday morning, but over the course of sunday we added a roof, and L shaped entrance tunnel (so the wind doesn't get in) and dug out the floor to leave bench around the outside. We cut blocks of snow and ice out of the perma frost and wedged each layer in or poor small amounts of water in the cracks to freeze then in place. The roof, as could be expected, was the hardest part, but we did it!
Jørgen delicately shapes another roof tile with a saw!
Fellow Igloo construction experts Colin, James and Jørgen.
This picture was taken whilst it was still light. By the time it was dark the roof was finished and the last thing to do was lift two massive blocks of snow/ice (which required 4 people) to cover the entrance tunnel. I'll post some pictures of the finished Igloo in the near future, we plan to christen in with a few beers tonight (if my aching muscles allow it!)bye for now, and well done Wales!
Ash
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