IPY Traverse

Joint Norwegian - U.S. scientific ground traverse in East Antarctica. The field expedition involves scientific investigations along two overland traverses: one going from the Troll Station in Dronning Maud Land to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in 2007-2008; and a return traverse by a different route in 2008-2009. Data are collected for investigations of climate change, with the following goals: 1. Investigate climate variability in Dronning Maud Land of East Antarctica on time scales of years to a million years. 2. Establish spatial and temporal variability in snow accumulation over this area of Antarctica to understand its impact on sea level. 3. Investigate the impact of atmospheric and oceanic variability on the chemical composition of firn and ice in the region. 4. Revisit areas and sites first explored by traverses in the 1960’s, for detection of possible changes and to establish benchmark data sets for future research efforts.