TALDICE PROJECT

A temporary field camp (summer camp) was established for drilling activity using IT-ITASE programme vehicles, modules, and tents during the 2004-2005 season. The traverse vehicles consisted of eight sledges (four modules: sleeping-living, generator-workshop, drilling-core storage, four fuel sledges) and four vehicles. The field camp remained for the duration of the project, after which it was removed at beginning of 2008. All additional equipment was carried to the site and returned with Twin Otter and helicopter flights, starting from Mario Zucchelli Station (1 h flight).
The drilling camp was designed for approximately 12 scientists and technicians involved in the ice core project. The construction of the field camp had limited impact because it was built using the module of IT-ITASE in addition to three tents (Weatherhaven); the camp itself was temporary and was thus disassembled at the end of the drilling.
The summer camp was composed of IT-ITASE modules mounted on steel sledges, along with three tents. They were grouped by four purposes:

1. The first module was for living accommodations and included the kitchen and dining room; it contained a sleeping-living module of ITASE (eight beds) and one1 tent (four beds).
2. The second module was for a toilet and shower, diesel-electric generator, workshop, and snow-melter; it was made up of the generator-workshop module of ITASE and one tent.
3. The third module was a storage area, comprising a storage module and three fuel sledges of ITASE.
4. The fourth module was for drilling activity and a second diesel-electric generator; it was made up of the drilling-core storage module of ITASE, one tent, and a trench dug into the snow (about 4x4.5x30 m).

An enclosed passageway connected the first two groups; various electric and service connections link the three groups.

Fuel was stored in the three fuel tank sledges positioned in such a way as to simplify fuel management and minimise the possibility of spills during transfers to smaller steel tanks for day-to-day use.

Generators (2 diesel generators of 30 kW and 15 kW) were installed at the field camp to operate the drilling equipment and to supply power to the field camp. Generator waste heat was used to provide a water supply via the snow-melter. In order to operate the various vehicles, aircraft and generators, Jet-A1 fuel was required. The wastes, except for sewage were collected and taken back to Mario Zucchelli Station, then removed from the Antarctic Treaty Area. Grey and black waters were discharged into the ice via a drainage pit. An initial environmental evaluation (IEE) was carried out by the PNRA Consortium Scrl for a proposed deep ice core drilling project at Talos Dome (TALDICE), Antarctica; this IEE was prepared in accordance with Annex 1 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1998) (IEE_TALDICE.pdf).