Glaciological Programme

The programme included:

• A traverse map with accurate positions of temperature/barometer reading, given in the following table. The work was desirable toward the verification of satellite imagery. During the next decade it is expected that the reconnaissance phase of airborne mapping of ice thickness and the accurate mapping of surface elevation by satellite altimetry, should be completed. Our intention was that the surface positions of our observations were accurate to within one minute of latitude. Our heightings were measured as accurately as possible by means of a set of three calibrated aneroid barometers. The profile obtained, when analysis is completed, should provide finer detail of surface undulations than can be obtained by satellites at present.
• At three predetermined sites, 10-m ice core samples were retrieved and labelled as to source location and depth. A lightweight aluminium drill of Norwegian design was used comprising a one metre drill barrel with one and two metre extension rods. All the 10-m cores were sampled at a 5-m frequency and returned to base camp where they were melted and bottled. These samples were analysed for total B activity at the Laboratoire de Glaciologie at Grenoble. Mercury thalium thermometers were suspended in the drill holes overnight to help establish the mean annual temperature available at the relevant depths.
• Oxygen isotopic determination work was carried out using the same drilling equipment. At or close to each degree of latitude crossed during the traverse, a 2-m was drilled.