WISE-ISODYN

WISE-ISODYN:  Aerogeophysical survey of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica

Start date
9 November, 2005
End date
27 January, 2006

The WISE-ISODYN (WISE: WIlkes Basin/Transantarctic Mountains System Exploration; ISODYN: Icehouse Earth: Stability Or DYNamism?) science programme was joint UK-Italian project between the British Antarctic Survey and the Italian Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide (PNRA).

The aim of the programme was to provide new boundary conditions to input into ice-sheet and paleoclimate models predicting the past and future stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet as part of the BAS GEACEP (Greenhouse to Ice-House Evolution of the Antarctic Cryosphere & Paleo-environment) Programme. The Italian component of this survey aimed at improving our understanding of the crustal composition and tectonic evolution of the Transantarctic Mountains and Wilkes Subglacial Basin region. In total, this field campaign collected ~61,000 line-km of aero-geophysical data (including gravity, magnetics and radar data) over the poorly-surveyed Wilkes Subglacial Basin, Dome C, the TransAntarctic Mountains, George V Land, and Norther Victoria Land.

 

Diagram
WISE-ISODYN survey flight coverage
Avatar photo

Hugh Corr

AprEs Radar Engineer

A man in front of a research station

Carl Robinson

Head of Airborne Survey Technology

Antarctic marine engineering team


Twin Otter aircraft

The Twin Otter is a high-wing, twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft. They are used all over the world and are known for their rugged construction, reliability and short take-off and landing performance. …

Aerogravity system

BAS has developed an aerogravity system that can be mounted in one of its aircraft. The system has been used to collect over 100,000 km of data since it was …

Polarimetric Radar

The radar system is composed of a complex waveform generator, signal processor, data handler and data store. It includes a high power transmitter (up to 66dBm or 4kW), a low …