- Picture Galleries in Science, Logistics

Drilling for Answers in Antarctica: The IceCon & Be:Wise Projects

Photographs just in from Antarctica - our field team has journeyed 254km away from Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, for the IceCon and Be:Wise projects, both of which are investigating the movement of Antarctica's ice cap - and the implications. IceCon aims to gain a better understanding of the rate of the loss of ice – now and in the past - from the Antarctic ice sheet in the Dronning Maud Land area. The Be:Wise project aims to improve understanding of ice-shelf flow dynamics by focusing on the buttressing role of ice rises and pinning points – small offshore mountains which support Antarctic ice shelves from underneath.

  • Morgane Philippe and Jean-Louis Tison checking the new drilling equipment used by the Icecon scientific team at the Field Camp. - International Polar Foundation

    Morgane Philippe and Jean-Louis Tison checking the new drilling equipment used by the Icecon scientific team at the Field Camp.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • IceCon and Be:Wise traverse convoy heading to the coast from Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, - it takes 23h to complete the 254km. - International Polar Foundation

    IceCon and Be:Wise traverse convoy heading to the coast from Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, - it takes 23h to complete the 254km.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Field guide Raphael Richard planting flags along the way to mark a safe route for the convoys from Princess Elisabeth Antarctica to the IceCon and Be:Wise field camp. - International Polar Foundation

    Field guide Raphael Richard planting flags along the way to mark a safe route for the convoys from Princess Elisabeth Antarctica to the IceCon and Be:Wise field camp.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Glaciologists Jean-Louis Tison and Bryn Hubbard carrying our drilling operations on Antarctica's Derwael Ice Rise, as part of the IceCon project, based at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during November-December 2012. - International Polar Foundation

    Glaciologists Jean-Louis Tison and Bryn Hubbard carrying our drilling operations on Antarctica's Derwael Ice Rise, as part of the IceCon project, based at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during November-December 2012.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • A view into an IceCon drilling hole -the top of the drill is visible. - International Polar Foundation

    A view into an IceCon drilling hole -the top of the drill is visible.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Convoy departs for the Be:Wise scientific project. - International Polar Foundation

    Convoy departs for the Be:Wise scientific project.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Glaciologist and InBev-Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship recipient Reinhard Drews installing a GPS station on the Roi Baudoin ice shelf as part of the Be:Wise scientific project. - International Polar Foundation

    Glaciologist and InBev-Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship recipient Reinhard Drews installing a GPS station on the Roi Baudoin ice shelf as part of the Be:Wise scientific project.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Glaciologists Morgane Philippe and Bryn Hubbard measuring ice core length and taking temperature measurements for the Icecon scientific project, based at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during November-December 2012. - International Polar Foundation

    Glaciologists Morgane Philippe and Bryn Hubbard measuring ice core length and taking temperature measurements for the Icecon scientific project, based at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during November-December 2012.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Permanent GPS Station placed on the Derwael Ice Rise for the IceCon project. - International Polar Foundation

    Permanent GPS Station placed on the Derwael Ice Rise for the IceCon project.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • The IceCon team

    The IceCon team "hot-drilling" into the Derwael Ice Rise in Antarctica, as part of the "coffee can" method to work out movement of the ice sheet.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Skidoo Passing between two walls of ice near the coast of Antarctica - International Polar Foundation

    Skidoo Passing between two walls of ice near the coast of Antarctica

    © International Polar Foundation

  • A Skidoo negotiates difficult ice conditions to get to reach the Antarctic coast. - International Polar Foundation

    A Skidoo negotiates difficult ice conditions to get to reach the Antarctic coast.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Emperor penguins gliding on the ice. This penguin colony of about 9000 individuals is situated about 50km from the Derwael Ice Rise. - International Polar Foundation

    Emperor penguins gliding on the ice. This penguin colony of about 9000 individuals is situated about 50km from the Derwael Ice Rise.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • The colony was detected by satellite via fecal stains survey conducted by British Antarctic Survey, National Environment Research Council in 2009. - International Polar Foundation

    The colony was detected by satellite via fecal stains survey conducted by British Antarctic Survey, National Environment Research Council in 2009.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Emperor penguins: adults and chick. This penguin colony of about 9000 individuals is situated at about 50km of Derwael ice rise. - International Polar Foundation

    Emperor penguins: adults and chick. This penguin colony of about 9000 individuals is situated at about 50km of Derwael ice rise.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • A closer view at the penguin colony. - International Polar Foundation

    A closer view at the penguin colony.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Field guide Raphael Richard, drilling 15 meters into the ice to take samples for measuring snow density, during the IceCon field work. - International Polar Foundation

    Field guide Raphael Richard, drilling 15 meters into the ice to take samples for measuring snow density, during the IceCon field work.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Scientist Kenichi Matsuoka, of the Norwegian Polar Institute saving radar data on his toughbook for the IceCon project. - International Polar Foundation

    Scientist Kenichi Matsuoka, of the Norwegian Polar Institute saving radar data on his toughbook for the IceCon project.

    © International Polar Foundation