NASA’s Operation IceBridge flew over an iceberg that is three times the size of Manhattan – the first time anyone has laid eyes on the giant iceberg, dubbed B-46 by the U.S. National Ice Center, that broke off from Pine Island Glacier in late October.
1900 Science/Weather Brief: Mini-theater on 3rd floor of the hotel.
0600 Breakfast Opens
0800 Power On
0900 Flight brief
0930 Doors close
1000 Take off
0600 Breakfast Opens
0800 Power On
0900 Flight brief
0930 Doors close
1000 Take off
Mission: Pine Island Glacier 5
Priority: Baseline
Mission: Bellingshausen 2
Priority: Baseline
Today IceBridge completed the baseline mission Bellingshausen 2, which targeted the transition from open water to marginal ice to full ice pack over the Bellingshausen Sea. The mission was modified to fly from the west to the east to allow time for potential cloudy conditions to dissipate by afternoon closer to the Antarctic Peninsula. The forecasted clear skies unfortunately only lasted until about midway through the mission, compromising data quality and collection in some instances later in the day.
Mission: Foundation-Academy IS-2 A
Priority: High
Mission: Hamilton Line – Amery Sector
Priority: High
The forecasts last night gave IceBridge hope of completing its 3rd baseline mission in a row, but deteriorating conditions over Pine Island and Thwaites led us back to the far south: Hamilton Line – Amery Sector. Cloudy conditions over the Bellingshausen Sea and Antarctic Peninsula gradually transitioned into clear blue skies as we approached the start of the 1.3-hour long survey at nearly 88°S.
Mission: Smith-Pope-Kohler IS-2
Priority: Baseline
The successful completion of the Smith-Pope-Kohler IS-2 baseline mission ends our Punta Arenas deployment on a very high note! All forecasts agreed that all cloud cover should dissipate by mission arrival, and after staring into thick clouds over Eights Coast and near Pine Island Bay, a slow clearing and quick peek of the Thwaites shelf in the distance were a welcome sight.
Mission: Hamilton Line – Ronne Sector
Priority: Baseline
Today, IceBridge successfully completed its 4th baseline priority flight: Hamilton Line – Ronne. Clouds shrouded most of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Amundsen Sea Embayment today, making the Hamilton Line – Ronne a straightforward (and ultimately wise) choice. As expected, the thick coastal clouds gave way to bright blue skies by the time we reached the survey line.
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