Antarctica

First scientific BELARE expeidtion to the Princess Elisabeth Station

• Launching the research programme.
• Scientific programme

Constructing the Princess Elisabeth Station, Antarctica

• The Belgian government decided to construct a new scientific summer station in Antarctica. This station is located at the foot of the Sør Rondane Mountains in Dronning Maud Land. A website is dedicated to the construction of the station. Find here background information of the site of the new Belgian research station in Antarctica with an introduction to and geographic setting of the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, and pictures taken during the JARE-32 expedition (Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition).
• A first reconnaissance expedition was carried out to the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, November - December 2004 to select a potential site for the new Belgian research station on Antarctica (BELARE 2004). During this period we installed an automatic weather station, did D-GPS measurement of the site, ice radar sounding, and measured accumulation/ablation and ice velocity in the vicinity of the construction site.
• During a second expedition to the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica in November - December 2005 (BELARE 2005), we collected the data from the weather station and did additional measurements on the site.

Scientific expeditions to Antarctica

• Expedition to Wright Lower Glacier, Dry Valleys, Antarctica, December 2006 - January 2007. Collaboration with Dr. S. Fitzsimons, Antarctica New-Zealand: Radio-echo sounding and GPR measurements for study of basal characteristics and contact with proglacial Lake Brownsworth.
• Participation in the 41st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-41) during the austral summer 1999-2000 to Langhovde and Heito Glaciers, Lützhow-Holmbukta, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Measurement of glacier motion and ice thickness and study of the dynamics of coastal outlet glaciers.
• Participation in the 32nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-32) during the austral summer 1990-91 to the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Measurement of glacier motion and ice thickness.

Other glacier field work

• Expedition to Tuni Glacier, La Paz, Bolivia, July 2008. Surveying of glacier using ice-penetrating radar. Collaboration with University of La Paz (Prof. Ramirez, Bolivia) and the IRD.
• Expedition to McCall Glacier, Brooks Range, Alaska (USA), August 2006. Surveying of glacier using ice-penetrating radar. Collaboration with University of Alaska Fairbanks (Dr. Matt Nolan; UAF, USA).
• Expedition to McCall Glacier, Brooks Range, Alaska (USA), August 2005. Surveying of glacier using ice-penetrating radar. Collaboration with University of Alaska Fairbanks (Dr. Matt Nolan; UAF, USA).
• Expedition to McCall Glacier, Brooks Range, Alaska (USA), August 2003. Surveying of glacier using ice-penetrating radar. Collaboration with Arctic Environment Research Center (Prof. F. Fujii; NIPR, Tokyo, Japan) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (Dr. Matt Nolan; UAF, USA).
• Expedition to the Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia, July 2000. Surveying of glaciers in South Chuya Range, i.e. measurement of glacier velocities, radio-echo sounding, and accumulation / ablation rates. Research results of the Altai Glacier Project can be found here.
• Expedition to the Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia, summer 1997. Surveying of glaciers in South Chuya Range, i.e. measurement of glacier velocities and accumulation / ablation rates.
• Expedition to the Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia, summer 1996. Survey of glaciers in South and North Chuya Range for potential glaciological monitoring.
• Expedition to the Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia, July 1995. Determination of frozen cavities in archeological burial mounds.

(© F. Pattyn, 1991-2004)