Back to Antarctica – will we make the EM-bird fly again after the covid break?

The EM-bird is used for satellite validation of sea ice thickness. Suspended below a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft it is an instrument which can measure sea ice thickness directly. We used the covid break to add a snow radar, which is the instrument in the box at the back.

Photo-worthy ice cap at King George Island

King George Island, 1st of February, 2019:

There is not often opportunity to get such a nice picture of a classic ice cap! I took this one in the early morning from Agulhas II during the arrival at King George Island, at the northern tip of the Antarctica Peninsula.

Arriving in Antarctica – Wolf’s Fang runway

Wolfgang in Wolf’s Fang: On 31st December 2018 I arrive in Antarctica coming from Capetown. In the Background are the the impressive mountains of Dronning Maud Land. The name Wolf’s Fang is taken from one of the tooth shaped mountains – it is the English translation of the Norwegian name. Here we have a short break before we continue our travel to our final destination, the Agulhas II icebreaker. All very exciting!

Welcome to Argentina!

Weddell Sea Expedition, 27th January 2019: East of Seymour Island we can see the Argentine Base Marambio with the naked eye. It is almost 20 years now that I have visited this base, who would have thought… In the middle of nowhere I get now offered a $20 roaming package for my NZ cellphone, 20 years ago we were still using HF radios!

Rectangular iceberg!

This is getting out of hand… rectangular tabular icebergs are a common appearance. It seems not for everyone!

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2018/2-rectangular-icebergs-spotted-on-nasa-icebridge-flight

Tabular icebergs, many rectangular, after the disintegration of the Larsen Ice Shelf (W. Rack, 1996).

Seafarer Course in Nelson

At NMIT we learn basic safety skills for the Weddell Sea expedition. Paul has fun with the parachute rocket flare. I hope we will not need it on the icebreaker in January!

EGU conference

Last week I attended EGU in Vienna. I co-organized a great remote sensing session. 18 oral and 43 poster presentations showcasing the newest results in our important research.

Paul Morin (Polar Geospatial Centre) presenting amazing results.

Welcome to Wolfgang Rack’s Cryosphere Science Homepage

Wolfgang is a Professor for Remote Sensing and Glaciology at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Contact:
University of Canterbury
School for Earth and Environment – Gateway Antarctica
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
email: wolfgang.rack@canterbury.ac.nz
office phone: +64 (0)3 369 5960