Antarctic Field Work - 2025/26

McMurdo Ice Shelf

We recently started a geophysical project to study the Ice Rumple Zone of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. The Rumple Zone is a compressive region of the ice shelf characterized by undulating ice. Over the next 5 weeks, we will perform Terrestrial Radar Interferometry (TRI), Autonomous Phase-sensitive Radio Echo Sound (ApRES), and Ice Penetrating Radar (IPR) to characterize the surface, englacial, and subsurface of the McMurdo Ice Shelf in this region. We will compliment these measurements with observations from Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS; aka GPS), seismometers, and time-lapse camera observations to fully characterize dynamic variations within the Rumple Zone.

Touchdown!

We arrived Dec 8 via an LC-130 (background). Our geophysical team from left to right: Ali Banwell (PI), Michela Savignano (PhD student), Ryan Cassotto (Co-PI), and Allie Berry (PhD student) posing with our NSF issued “Big Red” jackets, waiting to make the journey to McMurdo Station. We have been undergoing training and making preparations for field work scheduled to begin next week.

Penguin Count: 10 Adele Penguins

Seal Count: Dozens of Weddell Seals.