TX5K, Clipperton Island, March 2013

http://www.cordell.org/CI/index.html

TX5K, Clipperton Isl, March 2013

Clipperton Island is an uninhabited 3.5-square-mile coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico and west of Central America, at 10°18′N 109°13′W. It is an overseas possession of France under direct authority of the Minister of Overseas France. The island is low-lying and largely barren, save for scattered grasses and a few clumps of coconut palms. A small volcanic outcrop rising to 95 ft on its southeast side is referred to as “Clipperton Rock”. The atoll has been occupied at various times by guano miners, would-be settlers or military personnel, mostly from Mexico, which formerly claimed it until international arbitration awarded it to France in 1931. However, Clipperton has had no permanent inhabitants since 1945. It is still visited on occasion by fishermen, French Navy patrols, scientific researchers, film crews, and shipwreck survivors. It has also proven a popular site for transmissions by ham radio 

Watch it in real time with DXA!

This is a simulated image of the DXA window for TX5?.

OVERVIEW

For a complete Project Description, click here.

Cordell Expeditions is pleased to announce ascientific expedition to Clipperton Island, March, 2013. We will use the vessel Shogun from San Diego.

The goals of the project are:

Conduct amateur radio operations to enable amateurs to make a contact with Clipperton;

Implement an advanced version of the real-time online log website DXA;

Carry out activites in support of the wildlife sanctuary and facilities on Clipperton Island.

The first goal of the DXpedition is to enable as many contacts with Clipperton for as many different radio amateurs as possible. To this end we will field a highly experienced team of up to 24 operators and up to 7 active stations. The motivation for this is to participate in the worldwide activity of amateur radio, using it as a tool for fraternity and information. We expect to make more than 50,000 contacts with up to 20,000 different stations during the expedition. We will favor making contacts with stations needing Clipperton for the first time, but all DXers are welcome to contact us.

The callsign for the operation will be TX5K.

The second goal of the radio operation is to deploy and use DXA (version 2). Developed by KK6EK for the 2005 Kure Atoll DXpedition K7C, this system comprises a satellite link from the DXpedition site to a land-based server, and software to enable quasi-real-time communications between the DXpedition site and the server, including direct interaction with DXers. The system is described in various documents available at www.cordell.org/DXA and is available in a working simulated expedition mode on this website (click here). The purpose of DXA is to provide a nearly real-time presentation of the radio log as an aid to DXers wanting to make a contact with the DXpedition. The system reduces the need for duplicate (insurance) contacts, provides an engrossing view of the ongoing operation of the DXpedition, and enhances the integrity and accuracy of the log.

The third goal is to contribute to ongoing research and monitoring of the environment at Clipperton. The team will carry out several scientific projects, including:

Search for possible infestation by the extreme pest ant Pheidole megacephala (the big-headed ant). 

Collection of representative specimens of marine algae for colleagues the Jepsen Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. 

Study of vortex winds generated by the island

Collection of airborne insects

Search for transitional meiofauna between the ocean and lagoon.

Observation of deformed masked boobies

Observation of invasive rats.

This project is being managed by Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research group based in Walnut Creek, California. The group has fielded expeditions to remote sites for more than 25 years. Among other projects, Cordell Expeditions provided the scientific basis for designation of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

The principal organizers of this project are: Dr. Robert W. Schmieder, KK6EK; Christian Janssen DL1MGB; and Carlos Nascimento NP4IW.

It is policy of this project to observe and operate within all permits, regulations, and recommendations of the various agencies with interest in Clipperton Island, with particular attention to minimizing impact on the ecosystem. Safety and minimal impact to the Clipperton Island environment have priority in this operation.

CORDELL EXPEDITIONS

Cordell Expeditions is an independent nonprofit research/educational organization.

Founded in 1977, the group has carried out a series of research expeditions every year since 1978. The work involves exploring and describing remote sites, principally offshore submerged marine sites that support extensive biological communities. The motivation for the work is to carry out field work to generate primary information about the sites, so that they can be protected and rationally managed.

The first project of Cordell Expeditions was to explore and describe Cordell Bank, a shallow rocky feature about 50 nautical miles NW of San Francisco, California. As a result of this 10-year project, the U. S. Department of Commerce designated it as the Cordell Bank National Sanctuary.

Other expeditions by the group have been to the Farallon Islands, Noonday Rock, and Fanny Shoal (northern California); the coast near Pt. Sur (California); Rocas Alijos and Guadalupe Island (Baja California); Peter I Island (Antarctica); Roqueta Island (Mexico); Galapagos (Ecuador); Easter Island/Salas y Gómez (south Pacific); Heard Island (South Indian Ocean); San Felix island (Chile); and Kure Atoll (Pacific Ocean).

Books that resulted from the these expeditions include:Ecology of an Underwater IslandEdward Cordell and the Discovery of Cordell BankRocas Alijos. Scientific Results from the Cordell Expeditions3YØPI Peter I Island: The 1994 DXpeditionDX-Aku: Messages from the Easter Island ExpeditionVKØIR: The 1997 Heard Island ExpeditionXRØX: The 2002 San Felix Island Expedition

The work has resulted in the discovery of more than 20 new species, significant uncharted topographic features, and many first observations of environmental conditions. Altogether more than 1000 new records (range and depth extensions, and first observations) have been recorded. A large collection of specimens, and photographic archive, and a large number of popular articles are additional results of the expeditions.

Cordell Expeditions is also involved with ongoing research programs associated with educational institutions, including Diablo Valley College, the California Academy of Sciences, St. Mary’s College, and the Shorebird Nature Center in Berkeley. Additionally, the expeditions have embraced radio science, with extensive involvement in amateur radio used on expeditions, particularly to remote sites such as oceanic islands.

HONORS

Southwest Ohio DX Association: DXpedition of the Year (1994, 1995, 1997)

 
QST: Best Magazine Article: Peter I 1994, Heard Island 1997
Chiltern DX Club: Certificate of Merit for Heard Island DXpedition 1997

Central Arizona DX Association:Honorary Lifetime Membership KK6EK 1997
International Underwater Foundation:Environmental Enrichment Award 1995
Underwater Photogaphic Society:OPEN VIDEO Second Place 1985

SCHEDULE
We will use the vessel Shogun from San Diego. This vessel was used for numerous previous trips to Clipperton, includingTX5C in 2008.

QSL MANAGER

QSL manager for the 2013 Clipperton DXpedition:

Bob Schenck N2OO and the SJDXA QSL team
QSL VIA N2OO INFO: http://www.qsl.net/n2oo/history/qsl-n2oo.htm

For this DXpedition, we will be developing new software to make the process significantly more efficient. This will be done principally by

Dean Davis N7XG of Alpinesoft

Please read our Policy for QSLing.

http://www.cordell.org/CI/index.html