Preliminary Results of the Glaciological Work on the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955–58

Abstract

At the inland station “Southice” (at approximately lat. 82° S., long. 29° W.) investigation in firn to 45m. included profiles of temperature, density, granularity and crystal size. Mean annual accumulation and temperature are interpolated and crystal fabric analyses briefly discussed. A study of drifting snow is outlined. Similar studies, but without crystal observations, were continued across the continent using snow cores to 11 m. depth and supplemented by Rammsonde soundings. These sub-surface observations with the sastrugi forms noted, permit the interpolation of the mean accumulation, temperature and wind direction at different heights across the continent. Radiation flux, wind speed and air and snow temperature profiles were recorded at various halts.