Ross Sea, Antarctica
Position:
77°25′S 176°08′W
Datemark:
December 2006Mission:
Collect multimedia material about research aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden
Under Auspices of:
National Science Foundation; National Geographic; Whole Systems Foundation
Transport:
Commercial air to Punta Arenas; icebreaker to Ross Sea
Results:
Web and radio features; radio documentary; reporter interviews
SYPNOPSIS
The Ross Sea is a huge bay penetrating deep into the southern continent, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. Most of the year it is completely covered in sea ice. McMurdo Station, the largest base on the continent, is located on the sea’s shores. Once each year, two vessels—an oil tanker and a cargo ship—supply the base with fuel and most of its food, dry goods and equipment. First, an icebreaker clears a channel in the sea ice separating the shore from open water. The Swedish icebreaker Oden accomplished this mission in 2006. I joined Oden in Punta Arenas, along with about a dozen scientists. Among other things, the researchers surveyed sea ice and studied wildlife along the Oden’s rarely-traveled route.
- Watch the video Dan produced for Audubon magazine about the voyage of the icebreaker Oden from Punta Arenas to McMurdo Station
Related Links
Ross Sea, Antarctica
- Watch the slide show Dan produced for Audubon magazine about research on the icebreaker Oden as it traveled from Punta Arenas to McMurdo Station
- Listen to Dan’s interview from the Ross Sea on The World
- Listen to Dan’s interview from the Ross Sea on Australia Broadcasting’s morning show
- Listen to Polar Meltdown Dan’s feature on melting sea ice for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation