ANTARCTIC SURVEY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30066, 26 February 1963, Page 15

ANTARCTIC SURVEY

Movement Of Beardmore (N.Z. Press Association) McMURDO STATION, February 24. Topographical engineers of the United States Geological Survey, leap-frogging from peak to peak by helicopter, have completed a 1500-miile geodetic survey aimed at providing accurate mapping of more than 80,000 square miles of Antarctica.

Measurements by , t>he engineers showed the Navy weather station at Beardmore to be moving northward at 934 ft a year: The station, on ice near the foot of the Beardmore glacier, is being forced northward by the pressure of glacial ice. After' completion of this project, known as Topo East and West, the group flew to the South Pole, where the engineers made a multiple star observation to locate accurately the position of the South Pole station. The measurement will be repeated in .the- future to determine whether the station is also moving, and if so, the direction and rate of movement. .

Working on wind-swept mountain tops with temperatures as low as 25 degrees below zero, the engineers established 68. ground control points which, combined with aerial photography, will en. able cartographers to compile highly accurate maps of the area covered. Seven times major storms interrupted the work, pinning the men in their tents for as long as seven days at a time. The area covered by the project included 40,000 square miles in north-eastern Victoria Land west of Hallett station, and an equivalent area extending from the foot of the Beardmore glacier eastward through the Queen Maud and Horlick mountains , This project was a continuation of Topo North and South, which last season established mapping control for more than 100.000 square miles of Antarctica. Together comprising' the world’s longest electronically measured geodetic traverse, the projects were carried out under grants from the National Sc'enae Foundation

This topographic programme is part of a larger project aimed at providing maps for scientific field parties and for aerial navigation in the area. It will also cootribute to the eventual mapping of geographically important areas of Antarctica.