Later this month teams of scientists, engineers, pilots and support staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), USA, Germany, Australia, China and Japan will join forces for one of the most scientifically, technically ambitious and physically demanding Antarctic projects yet to be undertaken.

The mission of this International Polar Year (IPY) project is to uncover secrets of the enigmatic Gamburtsev subglacial mountains that are buried by up to 4 km of ice; to hunt for the oldest ice on our planet; to study subglacial lakes and to discover new clues of past, present and future climate change.

The Gamburtsev subglacial mountains are thought to be the birthplace of the vast East Antarctic Ice Sheet. This project will reveal clues to how the mountains were formed and provide scientists with the best location for future ice core drilling campaigns.

Geophysicist Dr Fausto Ferraccioli of BAS is leading the UK science effort.  He says,

"This is both an exciting and challenging project.  It is a bit like preparing to go to Mars.  Because of IPY, scientists from six countries are working together to do the unthinkable,    to explore the deep interior of East Antarctica - one of the last frontier regions of our planet.  For two and a half months our international teams will pool their resources and expertise to survey mountains the size of the Alps buried under the ice sheet that currently defy any reasonable geological explanation. At the same time, we will hunt for ice that is more than 1.2 million years old.  Locked in this ancient ice is a detailed record of past climate change that will assist in making better predictions for our future."

Working at high altitude in temperatures of minus 40?C, science teams will operate from two remote field camps to complete the first major geophysical survey to 'map' the mysterious landscape that lies beneath the vast ice sheet.

The science teams will use a range of state-of-the-art technologies to build an unprecedented 3-dimensional view of this secret world. BAS and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) will work together with the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) to deploy two survey aircraft, equipped with ice-penetrating radar, gravimeters and magnetic sensors. US, Chinese and Japanese teams will study the deeper structure under the Gamburtsev subglacial mountains using seismology.

Mounting this scientific expedition is an enormous and challenging international effort involving six countries, nine aircraft and two deep-field science camps.  All this is supported from US Amundsen-Scott Station at South Pole, McMurdo Research Station, from the Australian Davis Station and the BAS Rothera Research Station.  Science and support teams on the Chinese tractor-train from South Pole to Zhongshan Station will sample ice cores and decommission the UK-Australian Camp.

Professor Nicholas Owens, Director of British Antarctic Survey says,

"There's an amazing history of our planet locked in Antarctica's ice and rocks.  It's only now that we have the technology to start uncovering the secrets from this unique natural laboratory.  This is really big science and it can be done only by working with partners from other national Antarctic programmes.  It's exciting, very demanding in terms of physical hardship and logistics coordination, but this joint effort will yield the kind of information that scientists need to understand our past, present and future climate.  In a changing world, with so much uncertainty about our future it is absolutely crucial for society that we find answers to fundamental questions about our Earth."
ENDS

Issued by Antarctic Survey Press Office
British Antarctic Survey media contact: Athena Dinar, Tel: +44 (0)1223 221 414; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
USA National Science Foundation, Media contact: Peter West, Tel: 001 703 292 7761; cell: 001 301 385 7140 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Germany. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Hannover, Media contact: Andreas Beuge, Tel: +49-(0)511 643 2679; Fax: +49-(0)511 643-3685; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Australian Antarctic Division Media contact: Sally Chambers Tel: 61 3 6232 3405; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Japan - National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR
Dr. Masaki Kanao, National Institute for Polar Research, Tokyo. Tel; +81(3)3962 4712, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Stunning broadcast-quality footage and stills of Antarctica as well as location maps are available from the BAS Press Office. For more information visit http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/featured/AGAP/hidden_world.php

For around two and a half months two science teams will carry out an aerogeophysical survey of Antarctica's Gamburtsev Province (AGAP). The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) - Australian Antarctic Division teams will work from one of the deep-field camps known as AGAP North.  The US-German-Japanese science teams will work from AGAP-South.

International partnerships at the heart of AGAP
UK - British Antarctic Survey
USA - National Science Foundation
USA - Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory
USA - University of Kansas
USA - US Geological Survey
USA - University of New Hampshire
USA - Elizabeth City State University
USA - Washington University in St Louis
USA - Penn State University
Germany - Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
Germany - Alfred Wegener Institute
China - National Antarctic Research Expedition and Polar Research Institute China - PANDA
Australia - Australian Antarctic Division
Japan - National Institute of Polar Research

The Cambridge-based British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a world leader in research into global environmental issues. With an annual budget of around £45 million, five Antarctic Research Stations, two Royal Research Ships and five aircraft, BAS undertakes an interdisciplinary research programme and plays an active and influential role in Antarctic affairs. BAS has joint research projects with over 40 UK universities and has more than 120 national and international collaborations. It is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council. More information about the work of the Survey can be found at:  www.antarctica.ac.uk

International Polar Year 2007-2008 is the largest coordinated international scientific effort for 50 years. Featuring more than 200 Arctic and Antarctic projects, IPY involves 50,000 people - including scientists, students and support staff - from more than 60 nations. Together, they will set out to discover more about the Polar Regions and their critical influence on the rest of the planet.

Athena Dinar
Senior Press & PR Officer
British Antarctic Survey
High Cross, Madingley Road
Cambridge, CB3 0ET
UK
Tel: ++44 (1223) 221414
Fax: ++44 (1223) 302093
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Find out more at: www.antarctica.ac.uk