New Journal page during climbing

During climbing to Kilimanjaro, Please visit the Xpedition’s web page (www.xpeditiononline.com) to gain access to and learn more about the GLOBE Seasons & Biomes Project and Protocols, as well as the science being conducted on the mountain. Follow the action of this walking classroom on the Xpedition Journal and experience the Beauty of Africa through the eyes of GLOBE’s young explorers on the Xpedition’s Members page.

HERE: Quick jump to New Journal page during climbing

http://xpeditiononline.com/globe09.html



 


Flying over Africa

When we go to Africa, most likely indirect flight available. At first, I left Fairbanks this morning to Seattle, then flying for Amsterdam (crossing Atlantic Ocean). This makes almost one day trip. Then I need fly from Europe to Tanzania where kilimanjaro is located. Over 30 hours of flying trip, I join my Japanese two friends at Amsterdam. We are ready to GO now flying over Africa!

After the long immigration line, we finally get out and safely arrived drill equipments!But custom problem! They want to ask tax for little Tanaka engine. We left engine at airport tonight then going to Arusha where we stay tonight.

Arusha is base town for Kilimanjaro mountaineering. We eat Ugali as typical east African dish.

We stay nice hotel and to meet Mike. Mike is nice guy high school science teacher from US. We are going up high together. He show us his solar power system.

Is this good or bad??! We always minor problem to connect internet.

We discuss guide for our route and availability of the water for diamond core drilling.

Tactics for Kilimanjaro drilling

Well… I still have not 100% sure to bring what kind of drill system we should use upthere!!

So far I learned

1, gas powered percussion (hammer) drill is not good to bring, because under power even here in Fairbanks. When in to thin air (higher altitude), engine will start but no power (or decrease power significantly). That why “turbo” system for air plane but not my two stroke drill…

2. electric drill will be a good one for high altitude, or cold environment. But it’s not easy to charge battery, Solar panel, hand charger is not enough time to full charge.

3. Propane gas powered generator is available and good for cold region. But hard to get gas cylinder.

So, we try to test last several weeks. My best bit is using 1″ diameter diamond core tube with high speed rotation. This system is not require high torque as well as pressure. But most likely need water. It’s not just a little, we need a lot of water almost 1 litter per minute!! I try to use dry type which is not require water at Thompson Pass. This is best way up there. But it makes big vibration, it make break engine…

Rebuilding core tube!

Dry diamond core bit is ideal at Kilimanjaro, but a lot of vibration…

Small systems are in general, weak under power. It’s hard to operate gravelly condition.

Copper Center

It was a bit busy day. I download and meet Jenny at Valdez High School this morning. Then heading back to Fairbanks, I have to arrive  at UAF before business hour (5:00pm). Because of I am leaving for Africa Sunday night!

It was deep fog at Valdez this morning. But Thompson Pass is beautiful weather!!!

Weather stays perfect, all the way to Glennallen!

Paula’s class at Copper Center is sweet! 6 graders teaches how to measure frost tube to the 5th graders!

Homer

Another long day! I stay at spit in Homer last night to catch up 8:30 at school.

Sheryl’s class (6 grader) is very good students and I love to stay here longer, but I have to drive more than 10 hours today.

Then I left 9:30 am heading to Anchorage.

At Anchorage, I stop Kathryn’s (Polaris K12) school to maintain frost tube and datalogger then visiting Robert (Aquarian school). We need reinstall frost tube.

After here, I stop Chugiak, then Glennallen, Kenny Lake and Valdez..

Whittier, Seward, Kenai

I left Anchorage this morning. Weather is not great as yesterday, actually gail at Cook Inlet and Prince william Sound.

I paid $12 for tunnel fee to Whittier. The school staff is same good. Stephanie told me remodeling school roof and location of the datalogger. After visiting school, I quickly back and try to catch tunnel time.

At the Seward, Park service staff “CJ” coordinate and prepared very well. Principal already knows I am coming.

We are very smooth to pick the site and install frost tube.

After the installation, we eat lunch and to discuss about outreach program. I have very impree about outreach program in National Park Service!

I head up to Kenai Middle School.

When I reach there 3:00pm. Allan (science teacher) did coach cross country to his students.

we rebuild frost tube and install datalogger.

Cantwell

I am driving down to Anchorage today. The way going down, I stop Healy (download and to meet Mark), Denali Park, Cantwell, and Wasilla. At Cantwell, we have new principal and science teacher (Caitlin). I need explain our program and protocol. I am grad, they are very welcome to measure frost depth during winter! I will have Cantwell to continue third years now!

Weather is great today! I can see very detail for Denali. Our monitoring station (Denali Pass) is just between North (right peak) and South (left peak) summits.

I also download and replace battery at borehole site.

Anderson

I visited Anderson. Anderson is small town next of air force base “clear”. It is not really native village but people there are interesting, live with nature. The main reason of this visiting is fixing frost tube and test Kilimanjaro prototype drill set. Because Anderson was covered gravel layer which is not easy to drill.

Once I reach to Anderson school, Science teacher (Uwe ) was assist me to set up! He is great guy from Germany!

We made two frost tube this year! The drill rig still need some improvement but at least I know what I should do…

Also don’t forget meet students with fun time!

Permafrost News

Dear Science Teachers and Principals,

Thank you for supporting our program. Hopefully, you have great new semester starting now! We had a great summer filed season and trying to back village trips.

Here is a recent update of our program:

1. Google Earth KMZ file is updated  and available (attached) to download from

our web site (www.uaf.edu/permafrost). This is the frame work for our

all monitoring station information under Geographical Information

System (GIS).

2.  “Tunnel Man” episode 4 (geomorphology- somewhere over the rainbow-) is on the   web (www.uaf.edu/permafrost for high resolution).  This will explain several permafrost features and periglacial geomorphology.

During my music survey in the villages, many of the students like rap

(e.g. Episode 2), we will return to rap for this episode!

Address for YOUTUBE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjKhxxiDgY

Address for TeacherTube (most of school is not block this site!):

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=125823&title=Tunnel_Man_Episode_4&vpkey=

3. The ice cellar monitoring program that measures temperature of native ice cellars in the permafrost. We did set up data loggers all of the whaling villages: Kaktovik, Barrow, Nuiqsut, Wainwright, Pt. Lay, Gambell, Savoonga, Wales and Pt. Hope. This will be a great corroboration  of our activities with that of the local communities. If your village has a cellar, or is using any permafrost related storage in the ground, let me know.

4. During summer season, Ricky (Husky pilot) was visit most of the

villages to download data, replace battery, maintain site etc. You do not need maintain datalogger following villages:

Circle, Ft. Yukon, Eagle (safe logger above flooding!), Venetie, Chalkyittik, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, Golovin, Teller, Brevig Mission, Wales, Shishmaref, St.Micheal, Stebbins, Kotlik, Emmonak,St.Mary’s, Russian Mission, Marshall, Holy Cross, Anvik, Grayling, Shageluk, Aniak, Kalskag, Taktna, McGrath, Nikolai, Kivalina, Barrow, Wainwright, Nuiqsut, Noatak, Selawik, Buckland, Noorvik, Kiana, Ambler, Shegunuk, Huslia, Allakaket, Tanana, Beaver

We will keep visiting other villages (LKSD etc.) to maintain logger too. You will able to access temperature data at these villages soon.

5. I will be going to Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in all of Africa this week until October 5 to drill summit permafrost. All of the Teachers and Students are invited to interact with us via e-mail while on the mountain. The Team will answer questions about our research as well as our experiences climbing the tallest free standing mountain on earth. Visit the Xpedition’s web page (www.xpeditiononline.com) to gain access to and learn more about the GLOBE Seasons & Biomes Project and Protocols, as well as the science being conducted on the mountain. Follow the action of this walking classroom on the Xpedition Journal and experience the Beauty of Africa through the eyes of GLOBE’s young explorers on the Xpedition’s Members page.

6. For frost tube schools, it is time for maximum active layer now. If you have a chance to check frost tube, you will see how far the ground thawed (e.g. maximum active layer). This will be great information for science classes and the local communities!

Again, thank you for your participants.

Have a nice new semester!

Kenji

Kenji Yoshikawa

Water and Environmental Research Center

Institute of Northern Engineering

University of Alaska Fairbanks

PO Box 755860 Fairbanks Alaska 99775-5860

Phone & Fax 907-474-6090

E-mail ffky@uaf.edu

http://www.uaf.edu/permafrost

skype: kenji.yoshikawa

(See attached file: permafrostnet.kmz)

Tunnel Man Episode 4 on air!

Tunnel Man Episode 4 is finally on air!

Melody is back to up beat! Alaskan rapper Matt arrange beat and tempo.

We will update our web site this weekend as high quality movie file, but you can see youtube or teachertube now!!

Address for YOUTUBE:

Address for TeacherTube (most of school is not block this site!):

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=125823&title=Tunnel_Man_Episode_4&vpkey=

Enjoy!