A dusty end

Side by side comparison of the HiLDA OPCs at Dreki. the instruments had to suffer different grades of sandblasting.

The last days of the campaign finally deliver what we were aiming at: different levels of dust concentrations, wind speed, and humidities. All relevant instruments are still working, so we are confident now that we will bring home a great data set – right until the end, when the last generator dies away, choked by an ultimate dust event with the highest concentrations of the campaign. A perfect ending…

The last days are split between dismounting and cleaning, packing the boxes and last calibrations, transferring the data home and sorting the tents into broken and reusable. And let’s not forget the social activities – the wardens and rangers invite all of us for a common dinner, a great evening out. In the same night, we get amazing northern lights as a parting gift – a perfect evening.

Enlightenment coming down on us or faeries dancing? The views are spectacular in any case.

While most of the team is heading home now, Thomas and Konrad plan their trips for the next days. Soil sampling of the most interesting dust spots around Iceland is the task. Bad weather and worse roads may interfere, but hey, we are used to that meanwhile. And – another window may open for the HiLDA project, but this will be another story for another time…