The absence of thick old floes may be an aspect of the recent submarine observations that the average ice thickness has decreased from over 3 m to slightly less than 2 m in the last 25 years. Twin Otters flew to the North Pole Environmental Observatory site with camp equipment. One carried a group of tourists, and the other was supporting a National Geographic adventurer, Gus McLeod , flying an open cockpit Stearman biplane to the Pole . J-CAD Hut and buoy site at deployment camp. The camp area layout at 89 23'N 176 W is illustrated below.
X indicates ice thickness measurement sites.
Hatakeyama arrived with the remaining camp gear and the J-CAD buoy. The J-CAD buoy was moved to its deployment site and Hut 2 was erected. Ice holes were drilled and buoy equipment was assembled at both the Floe A and Floe B sites. Buoy installation continued. One Twin Otter brought a replacement ice auger out to the site, and the other was released and departed to Resolute.