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Report on the Eleventh Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition 1966-67: VUWAE 11
Problem No. 3 — Ice budget of Antarctic Ice Sheet
Problem No. 3
Ice budget of Antarctic Ice Sheet
Is the Polar Plateau going up or down or remaining constant?
Since the Antarctic Ice Shelf theory for Pleistocene Glaciations was proposed.
There has been much interest in this problem. The English are doing radio echo soundings on outlet glaciers to determine total ice budgets. The Russians and French have a strain set-up to measure the change directly.
It is proposed to tackle the problem another way and to examine points where the Polar Plateau pushes ice tongues into dry areas. Since the Polar Plateau ice contains salts and these remain behind when the ice evaporates it is possible to determine how long the ice tongue has been supplied by the Polar Plateau.
| 1. | A two man party go to the upper Wright Glacier area by helicopter to study this problem. |
| 2. | That a reconnaissance be made in an aircraft from the Victoria Valley and along the edge of the Polar Plateau as far south as possible looking at other critical areas. |
NB. In my view, Wilson's "Problem 2" is of fundamental importance and should be given all reasonable priority, with the proviso that it is realised Vostok may be impractical.
The remainder of Wilson's programme is sound, but the degree of support requested may be unreasonable. I would welcome discussion with Mr. Thompson on this point.
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| 12(c). | It is proposed to continue and expand the project commenced with VUWAE 11. The following are the objects:
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- Personnel required - two.
- Duration of projects -
1. 4 weeks 2. 10 days 3. 10 days Total 7 weeks