Photographs

This page includes photographs from Bethan Davies’ and colleagues various research trips and expeditions.

The video below by Andy Mumford shows some beautiful photography from Iceland.

Rothera Research Station

Map showing Rothera research station, Alexander Island and Palmer Land. Note George VI Ice Shelf.

Our November 2012 field season to Alexander Island (Ablation Point Massif and Fossil Bluff) operated out of Rothera, a research station of the British Antarctic Survey. We flew to Rothera from Punta Arenas airport in a Dash-7 aircraft, and were quickly inducted.

You can explore Rothera Research Station through the Google Map below.

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: Rothera base station, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula

: A twin otter approaches Rothera

: The view of the Antarctic Peninsula from the Dash-7 on our flight in

: The view of the Antarctic Peninsula from the Dash-7 on our flight in

: A twin otter plane lands on the Rothera runway

: Walking Around The Point at Rothera, with the base in the background

Fieldwork training

Our first task was to complete the mandatory training for deep fieldwork. This involved spending a night camping out at Vals as well as walking Reptile Ridge with our field assistant, Ian Hey. This meant that we could practise using crampons and ice axes, get to know each other, and Ian could assess our fitness and abilities.

: Ian Hey and Mike Hambrey about to ascend Reptile Ridge

: Climbing Reptile Ridge

: Reptile Ridge

: Ian Hey leads the way, kicking in steps in the snow

: Footprints in the snow

: Ian Hey

: Rothera sits just behnd Reptile Ridge

Wildlife at Rothera

When we arrived at Rothera it was still ice-bound with no wildlife. However, when we returned in mid-December, the sea ice had blown away and the seals and penguins had returned. You can see them in this video showcasing some of the wildlife around Rothera:

: Blue eyed shags

: Seal, iceberg, Antarctica.

: Iceberg

: Big skies Around the Point

: Big skies behind the Comms Tower

: Out on the boat trip

: Iceberg

: Tamsin leads the way

: Elephant seals fighting

: And again

: And again…

: This one looks a little deflated

: Sizing each other up

: Posture is everything

: Hello! An Adelie penguin

: Elephant seals

: Just checking you out

: Iceberg

Working at Rothera

Many people conduct science and research from Rothera research station. There is a long-term environmental monitoring and research project, investigating marine ecology around Rothera Point. In December, the divers were out in full force.

: Paul putting on his neoprene hood

: Phil assists Bel

: Bel with her underwater camera

: Going down

: The topside team (including Bethan in the yellow drysuit, left). Photo credit: Belinda Vause

: Bel measures sediment depth and takes core samples underwater. Photo credit: Belinda Vause

: Benthic communities at the West of Rose Garden site, with a nudibrach (sea slug). Photo credit: Belinda Vause

: The underwater world has a surprisingly diverse assemblage. Starfish at the West of Rose Garden dive site. Photo credit: Belinda Vause

: A Ctenophore, similar to a jelly fish, swims in the cold water. It lights up with flashing lights down its side. Photo credit: Belinda Vause

Recreation at Rothera

Rest and recreation on your days off at Rothera includes skiing, walking, or persuading a field assistant to take you down a crevasse.

: Roger the Field Assistant guides a novice through the art of abseiling

: Adam the Pilot

: Bethan descends down into the dark

: The fixed line and narrow passageway

: Safety equipment from last year is well frozen in!

: Blue light filters through the snow bridge (don’t step on it!)

: Adam the pilot amonst the icicles

: Cheese is belaying people down into the deeper chamber

: It’s a tight squeeze!

: Navigating the chambers, following the fixed line

: Descending into the depths of the crevasse

: The main channel and fixed line. Note the flat floor, made of re-frozen water ice.

: The main passageway with icicles

: Huge icicles grow down from the ceiling

: Brilliant icicles

: Some of the icicles rotate as the ice around them deforms

: You’re not serious.

: Adam the Pilot

Wildlife at Rothera

Posted on 19/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Wildlife at Rothera

Belinda Vause is a marine biologist at Rothera

Rothera sees a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year. All of the large animals around Rothera rely on the ocean and particularly on krill as a basis for their diet; there is very little that grows on land.

Seals, penguins and whales form the majority of the wildlife seen at Rothera during the short summer season. During the winter, Rothera is ice-bound with very little wildlife. Continue reading →

Flying through the air

Posted on 18/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

An interview with a pilot

A twin otter (note two propellors) lands on the runway

Rothera has four twin-otter aeroplanes and one larger Dash-7. The twin otters land on skis and are the robust little landrovers of the Antarctic. They can land anywhere that is flat and snowy, and they can raise their skis to land on blue ice or gravel. Versatile and compact, they also have an extremely short take off and landing. They do, however, have a smaller payload when compared to the Baslers used by some other nations. Continue reading →

Interview with the Doctor

Posted on 17/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Many people are needed to keep base life running smoothly. There are mechanics and electricians, chippys and project managers, chefs and field assistants, radio (comms) operators, meteorologists and weather forecasters, pilots and plane engineers, base assistants (who drive the heavy machinery) and so on. And in order to keep all these people happy and healthy, there are two doctors on base in summer. This summer, Rothera has Dr Rose Drew and Dr Jen Hine. In this blog post, I conduct an Interview with the Doctor at Rothera Research Station. Continue reading →

Down into the Dark

Posted on 17/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Crevasses open up when the glacier is stretched (under tensile stress)

On Saturday, the field assistants Cheese and Roger laid on a recreational trip down our local crevasse. Crevasses open up as glaciers move, and are the result of brittle failure of the ice as it slips downslope. Crevasses are a significant hazard on any glacierised terrain, and can extend all the way down to the bottom of the glacier. They also trap surface water, and can divert surface streams to the base of the glacier. Surface streams aren’t, however, too much of a problem around Rothera at the moment! Continue reading →

Diving through the ice

Posted on 16/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Marine biology at Rothera

Apart from visiting field scientists, there is a lot of science that is done right out of Rothera. Marine Biologists work out of the base all year round, diving through the ice if need be. I went out on the dive boat on Friday to help out and see what happens. Continue reading →

Part 2: Training and preparation

Posted on 08/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Thursday 1^st November

We use skidoos to get around. This one is named after my sister Sian!

Today our training for deep field began in earnest. We were given a more extended tour, taught how to safely drive skidoos, how to avoid being eaten by aeroplane propellers (Rothera is a busy airport with one of the few gravel strip runways in the area), how to use the items in the field medical boxes, and how to light and prime a tilly lamp and primus stove. Continue reading →

Part 1: Arrival at Rothera

Posted on 08/12/2012 by Bethan Davies

Introducing the Antarctic Diaries. This series of blog articles is about my exploits at Rothera and Alexander Island with Michael Hambrey, a professor at Aberystwyth University. Continue reading →