All,
OIB flew our 24th mission today (equaling the DC8 Antarctic mission record), completing the Larsen D mission successfully. There were a few cloud patches on some of the flight lines (which did cover an extensive area), but the OIB optical instruments (ATM lidars and cameras) collected data over 90% of the science lines, and the radars and gravimeter operated over all the lines.
Our science missions are now complete. OIB will observe a “hard down” day tomorrow to rest, will pack the aircraft on Sunday, and on Monday the DC8 will transit to Santiago, clear Chilean immigration and refuel, and press on to Palmdale CA, arriving Monday evening.
Thanks for following along on these sit reps! Sit reps will resume sometime in early March, as we prepare to head north to Greenland on the NASA WFF P3 aircraft.
Larsen Ice Shelf
An extensive, linear ice shelf in the northwest part of the Weddell Sea, extending along the east coast of Antarctic Peninsula from Cape Longing to the area just southward of Hearst Island. Named for Capt. C.A. Larsen, who sailed along the Larsen Ice Front in the Jason as far as 6810S during December 1893.
An extensive, linear ice shelf in the northwest part of the Weddell Sea, extending along the east coast of Antarctic Peninsula from Cape Longing to the area just southward of Hearst Island. Named for Capt. C.A. Larsen, who sailed along the Larsen Ice Front in the Jason as far as 6810S during December 1893.
Wide view of today’s mission
Detail of the Larsen D flight lines
Antarctic Peninsula on approach to the Larsen Ice Shelf
Our initial Larsen flight line
Our initial Larsen flight line
Our initial Larsen flight line
A DMS image of windswept ice
A large rift forming in the Larsen Ice Shelf
One of the Glaciers draining into Larsen
Sunlight, clouds, mountains, and snow
A final ATM T6 wide scan elevation plot as we crossed the Larsen Ice Shelf edge.