News Release

Unprecedented Antarctic ice calls for twice the normal icebreaking muscle

Video, stills available

Peer-Reviewed Publication

U.S. National Science Foundation

A variety of natural factors, including the presence of an enormous iceberg dubbed B-15A, caused the sea ice near McMurdo Station, the National Science Foundation’s logistical hub in Antarctica, to be far more extensive and much thicker during the 2001-2002 research season than previously recorded in the history of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

As a result, two U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers were dispatched to Antarctica to clear a channel into the station so that crucial resupply and refueling operations could be carried out. Usually, that work is done by only one icebreaker.

NSF is making available to the media video of the icebreakers Polar Sea and Polar Star at work and escorting the ships through the ice. The tape also includes interviews with Coast Guard and NSF officials explaining the challenges and the importance of the successful operation as well as animations of the sea ice extent and of how an icebreaker breaks a channel. Polar Star is scheduled to return to its homeport of Seattle next week. Polar Sea is scheduled to return in April.

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Editors: Video news release includes footage of both Polar Sea and Polar Star escorting ships through ice; aerials of B-15A; interviews with Coast Guard and NSF officials. Available via C band satellite on Wed., March 13 and Thurs., March 14 from 1-1:15 p.m. ET on Telstar 5, Transponder 16, DL 4020. Video is also available on Betacam SP. Contact Dena Headlee/dheadlee@nsf.gov. For digital photographs contact Peter West, (703) 292 8070/pwest@nsf.gov

For more information about the logistical challenges of conducting science in the Polar Regions, see: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/media/01/fslogistics.htm

For a list of significant scientific breakthroughs produced by the U.S. Antarctic Program, see: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/media/01/fssigsci.htm


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