1. Dome Charlie Station

ID#: 
	8904
Date: 	
	21 November 1980
Time: 
	Departed McMurdo 0030 Z.  Arrived Dome Charlie 0330 Z.  
	Departed Dome Charlie 0415 Z.  Arrived McMurdo 0730 Z.

Background:  
	The AWS unit was installed during the 1979-80 season and has been working fine.  The station is located on the featureless Antarctic Plateau at an elevation in excess of 3,000 meters.  Ours was the only visit to the now-abandoned field station this season.

Equipment:  
	A snowmobile and a Nansen sled were brought along in order to facilitate movement of personnel and equipment from the landing site to the AWS, a distance of about one-half mile.  Also brought spare boom with sensors, aerovane, prop, tools, VOM meter, shovels, and camera.

Weather:  
	Clear skies with unlimited visibility.

Trip:  
	Ski-equipped C-130 departed McMurdo with Paschal, Smith, Evans, Savage, and about 15 "tourists" aboard.  Open field landing rough due to presence of sastrugi.  Pilot advised us to limit ground time to 45 minutes since aircraft engines had to remain running and feul supply was limited.

	Lt. Evans conducted radiation survey and declared safe.  Aerovane replaced.  Using VOM meter found that aerovane output now going to wrong terminals indicating mismatch between aerovane and boom.  Replaced boom.  Now all connections ok.  Temperature readings taken but altitude too great to use microbarometer.

Observations:  
	Two uncalibrated thermometers were used.	

	time	height	thermometer 1	thermometer 2
	0345 Z	0.3 m	-32.0 C		-30.9 C
	0355 Z	1.0 m	-31.9 C		
	0401 Z	0.3 m	-32.0 C		-30.0 C
	
	estimated wind speed:  10-12 knots
	estimated wind direction:  not recorded

AWS Output:
	time		temperature	pressure	wind
	0330 Z		-31.7 C		654.1 mb	136 deg at 13.7 kt
	0320 Z		-31.2 C		654.0 mb	
	0310 Z		-30.9 C		653.8 mb
	0300 Z		-28.8 C		653.8 mb
	0250 Z 		-28.9 C		653.8 mb

	mean wind speed:  12.7 kt
	mean wind direction:  141 degrees true
	signal strength:  -123 dbm

Notes:  
	1. Temperature observations agree well with AWS output.
	2. The unit is in good physical shape and has not been significantly buried.
	3. Pressure of 654 mb is equivalent to an altitude of approximately 3250 meters (10,660 feet).

Recommendations:
	1. Bring calibrated instrument to measure wind speed.
	2. Note wind direction for comparison against AWS output.

How to Find:  
	The AWS unit is easily visible from the aircraft landing site.