continuation from March 24, 2009:
- If we get the tricone quickly, then we will penetrate the lake sediments stepwise with the HQ pipes, always followed by downhole logging of the sediments penetrated. The data would support our interpretations of the sediments cored from the upper 148 m, but also provide us with a better picture of the sediments still to be cored. Once we reach bedrock, we would also try to core parts of that using a hardrock tool in the HQ pipe.
- With some knowledge about the thickness and characteristics of the sediments beneath 148 m we would then use the remaining time to core as much as possible of the remaining record.
- Following the experience from the last week, this program has to be called very ambitious. It requires a lot of luck that nothing breaks and to get the bit and replacement parts on site in time, but it is still possible to be realized.
- Coring success in the lake sediments would probably allow us to address the major paleoclimatic science question (despite skipping D2 and the core replicate
below 117 m). As the paleolimnologists, also the impact specialists have to accept that they will in all likelyhood not get the amount of samples they were hoping for.
The next party, consisting of Julie (PI), Volker (EBA), Jochem Kueck and Martin Toepfer (ICDP-OSG), Kristina Brady (LaCore), Addie Holland (Student UMass), and Tim Martin (Teacher), today has arrived in Pevek. In a few days they will take a helicopter to Lake E. The same helicopter is planned to be used to evacuate Martin, Anders, Kenna, and Paul to Pevek for their flight to Moscow on April 7.
Cheers for now
Martin
