Depth Of Antarctic Icecap

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28490, 21 January 1958, Page 9

Depth Of Antarctic Icecap

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PARIS, January 18.

Seismic soundings taken by the French expedition in Adelie Lpnd in 1957 have shown that in places the Antarctic icecap is 3000 metres thick.

A brief report of the expedition’s activities published in Paris today said the icecap rested on a rock foundation which in some places was below sea level. The soundings were taken by a team of scientists and explorers who have been in Antarctica for a year and are now being relieved by a new expedition headed by Major Gaston Bouillon. The relief party arrived at Pointe-Geologie, Adelie Land, on January 7 in the polar ship Norsel, which will leave early in February to bring home the 1957 expedition. Two helicopters are being used to help in the changeover. The main French base is at Durmont d’Urville—named after the French pioneer Antarctic explorer who reached Adelie Land 118 years ago—and a team has wintered at Charcot Station 320 kilometres away near the South Magnetic Pole.