McMurdo Ice Shelf Study Done

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32037, 11 July 1969, Page 1

McMurdo Ice Shelf Study Done

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 10. The comprehensive study of the McMurdo Ice Shelf was almost completed, said the annual report of the Ross Dependency Research Committee contained in the annual statement of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, tabled in Parliament today. Apart from the scientific value of this, the report said, the data related to ice breakout was of value to the logistics support programme be-

cause the McMurdo airfield was in this area. Glaciological and hydrological work was also started in the area of Vanda Station to meet the needs of other scientific studies such as meteorology and the special study of Lake Vanda.

The report said that throughout the summer Vanda Station proved its value as, a staging centre operating within the Dry Valley region. Scientists from the United States, Russia, Sweden, Japan and Italy made use of New Zealand’s new facilities.

Services and equipment were installed for the scientific programme to be undertaken by the winter party of five which included a United States exchange scientist from the University of Wisconsin.

“Apart from making measurements throughout the year of the climate of this unique Dry Valley area and of the ‘hot’ lake near the

station, the winter party will also carry out upper atmosphere physics and earthquake observations in conjunction with Scott Base.” Already, this had resulted in the location of the first recorded earthquakes originating in the Antarctic continent.