It
was a glorious day to end the intensive phase of the campaign. Not a
cloud in the sky all day! At the station, it was cold (-46 C), and up
at PEARL, a slightly more temperate -32 C, with no wind.
It was a busy last day for everyone at the lab. Both Cristen and
Mareile conducted last minute training sessions for myself and the
operators, and there were a few last minute changes to documentation
and operation scripts.
In the FTS lab, we racked up a record 21 DA8, 22 Bruker and 60 PARIS
measurements before it was time to head back to the station for dinner.
The final campaign ozonesonde was launched by Jane and Kelly. The calm
winds made for a picture perfect launch. The balloon rose to 7.8 hpa
(32367 m). We bundled up warmly, and after cheering the balloon on,
went for a last walk up to the air strip. The Eureka International
Airport is busy these days. In addition to our Summit Air plane, which
had arrived late afternoon, there is a Twin Otter stationed here as the
UNCLOS team bus. A Hercules had just arrived just prior to our walk
(though it didn't stay), bringing in equipment for their sea ice
survey. The UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law Of the Sea) team will be
mapping the sea floor and defining Canada's boundaries. Over the next
two months, approximately 30 of them will be living in tents on the sea
ice. I'm grateful for our nice warm lab!
As I write this, on Wednesday morning, the rest of my team are in the
air enroute to Yellowknife, Edmonton, and finally home to Toronto. It
is great flying weather, and I have my fingers crossed for them that
their trip home will be faster than their trip here was!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the campaign team for their
hard work throughout the last four weeks. Kevin, Mike, Bernard, Andy,
Rodica and Clive left earlier, but their hard work during their time
here was very much appreciated. And to the last of the team who left
today: Cristen, Mareile and Felicia arrived as Eureka rookies, and have
all done an admirable job getting their respective instruments up and
running in record time, making lots of great measurements, and being
fun to hang out with. Tom has made many trips up here, and brings with
him a huge wealth of experience that he has gladly shared with us. I
have really appreciated being up here with all of you.
Thanks too to the CANDAC team. Pierre, who left today, and the
operators, Oleg and Matt (both still here), who have got up early each
morning, shuttled us around, and made sure that there was water, light
and everything we needed to do the work that we've been doing.
While I'm thanking people, there are a few other special mentions...
The Eureka Weather Station crew, who housed us, fed us, partied with us
and launched our balloons. We couldn't have this campaign without this
amazing facility and the people who run it! Thanks to all of you.
Also a special shout out to our funding agencies and support people,
especially the Canadian Space Agency and Environment Canada, who have
funded this, and the last 4 years of Canadian Arctic ACE Validation
Campaigns. Thanks for putting your money and your faith into such a
great project. You rock!
And last, but by no means least, thanks to all the people further south
who have kept their fingers on the pulse, supported us, answered our
emails, and been a never ending source of support. Kaley, Kim,
Florence, Hans, Richard, Annemarie, Tobias and all of you reading this
message! We're really grateful.
From here until mid-April, when I leave, I will continue to update the
daily instrument status reports, but will not write full diaries.
Pictures on the website will be sporadic.