Apply to sail on IODP Wilkes Land Margin

Application to sail can now be submitted for the IODP expedition to the Wilkes Land Margin. The application deadline is November 30, 2007. For more information see here

IODP Wilkes Land margin approved for 2009

The International Polar Year 2007-2009 is enriched with another great project now that the Intergrated Ocean Drilling Program has scheduled an expedition to the Wilkes Land margin for January-March 2009.
For more details on this Leg see here

Image: Ocean Drilling Program

Antarctic circumpolar current developed in the Late Oligocene

In a recent issue of the journal Geology Lyle et al. present new sediment core data suggesting that deep flow in the South Atlantic ocean started as late as the late Oligocene. The Antarctic circumpolar current was thought to have thermally isolated Antarctica in the Eocene, so that an ice sheet could develop. Recent modeling studies, however, suggested that the story is more complex. Lyle et al. explain that shallow circulation may have existed earlier than the late Oligocene as indicated by Nd isotope studies, but that deep flow with vertical mixing was established by 23-25 Ma. These findings have consequences for studies of the evolutionary biology of the region as well. For more information read the abstract here

Image: NASA

Publication started of online proceedings for the 10th ISAES 2007

The 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences has freely accessible online proceedings. Publication has started and will continue until the start of the symposium 26 August-31 August 2007 in Santa Barbara. Two types of contributions are available: 4-5 page peer-reviewed Short Research Papers and Extended Abstracts (not peer-reviewed). Click here to connect to the online proceedings.

Photo: Sandra Passchier, courtesy National Science Foundation

West Antarctic Ice Sheet existed more than 25 million years ago

A recent article in the journal Geology by Sorlien et al., reports on interpretations of seismic data that indicate that ice was draining into the eastern Ross Sea from Mary Byrd Land as early as the Oligocene.

For more information see the press release here or read the abstract here.

Photo: Bruce Luyendyk

Scientists prepare for 2007 ANDRILL season

After a successful drilling season in 2006, preparations for the upcoming season of the Antarctic Drilling Program (ANDRILL) are underway. In Fall 2007 ANDRILL plans to drill a deep hole through sedimentary strata in southern McMurdo Sound. On-ice scientists from the United States, New Zealand, Italy and Germany currently go through extensive medical and dental exams. McMurdo station, where most scientists will be stationed, has limited medical facilities. More about ANDRILL..

Photo: Sandra Passchier, courtesy NSF

Geologists complete second field season on James Ross Island

From January until March 2007 british geologists were carrying out field work in their second field season on James Ross Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. Their objective was to study sedimentary rocks from the Neogene period (between 2 and 24 million years old). These rocks originated during a time when climatic conditions were similar to those projected for the future. More at Visit and Learn... or in an article on their previous field season in Geology Today...

Photo: British Antarctic Survey