Melting an outhouse

Busy day in the field.

We are helping the field coordinators with an outhouse burning problem. They use hot air to make 5 m deep holes in the ice for the outhouses, but all of their machines have developed problems. We took the melting probe we use to drill holes for calibration and made a pattern in the ground to help get their holes started. Never before have they been able to burn an outhouse hole so quickly.

We spent most of today in the field continuing our calibration work. We make holes and put things in them in order to measure the refractive index of the ice. 

Saturday night marks the weekend for non-science Summit people, so we are going to have a few drinks and relax over boardgames.

The holes we drilled for the outhouse burner

Melting holes with the melting probe