Halley Research Station, Antarctica – A team of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is gearing up for an expedition to the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica to unravel the mysteries behind the calving processes that result in the formation of colossal icebergs.
The floating Brunt Ice Shelf, home to the BAS Halley Research Station, has recently witnessed two significant calving events, including the spectacular A-81 iceberg, the size of Greater London, earlier this year. The team will operate out of the Halley Research Station, collecting shallow ice cores as well as deploying seismic instruments, radar and GPS receivers to delve into the evolution of cracks on the ice shelf.
Dr Liz Thomas, an ice coring expert at BAS and one of the lead scientists on the mission, explains the significance of the Brunt Ice Shelf as a prime location for the research.
Read More: British Antarctic Survey
The first year of the project involves drilling two ice cores to collect samples for laboratory testing both in Cambridge and at the Rock and Ice Physics Laboratory at UCL Earth Sciences. (Photo Credit: BAS)