Antarctic News Archives - People

A collection of older (2003-2004) news items that relate to people, expeditions and pertinent goverment issues in the Antarctic. All links will take you to sites outside of PRISM. Use your back button to return.

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People News - 2004

• Dec. 14, 2004 - Electronic Lines On An Epic Voyage... - Scotsman
  Simon Faithfull, an artist, uses a Palm Pilot to draw things that he sees while on an ice-breaker in the Southern Ocean.He then e-mails the drawings to his subscribers.
  
  
• Dec. 11, 2004 - Scientists Study Antarctic Life - BBC
  A German-led expedition is studying life forms that live in and on ice to determine how life might evolve on frozen planets. (Read Dr. Thomas' journals as the expedition progresses and see earlier story from the BBC on the expedition).
  
  
• Dec. 8, 2004 - Faizabad Scientist Bound For Antarctica Expedition - Times of India
  An environmental scientist from Avadh University has left to join the 24th Indian Scientific expedition to Antarctica. This expedition will investigate how organisms have adapted to the recent depletions of the ozone hole.
  
  
• Nov. 29, 2004 - Hillary Opposed to Highway to South Pole - The State
  Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to drive a vehicle to the South Pole, characterized the U.S. Highway to the pole as "terrible." Construction work on the road continues for the third season.
  
  
• Nov. 29, 2004 - Plane Found After 25 Years - News 24
  Melting snow has revealed the wreckage of an Air New Zealand sightseeing plane that crashed into Mt. Erebus in Antarctica 25 years ago.It was discovered during a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the anniversary of the crash. (Related story from The State).
  
  
• Nov. 29, 2004 - Ed Hillary Names New Scott Base Station - Scoop
  The newest building in the Antarctic was named the Hillary Field Centre by Sir Edmund Hillary who is visiting the new center at Scott Base, the home of the New Zealand Antarctic program.
  
  
• Nov. 21, 2004 - Scientists In A Cold War Over Antarctic Lake - Cox
  While a Russian team is determined to drill to the bottom of Lake Vostok in Antarctica to search for isolated microscopic life forms, other scientists worry that the drilling may contaminate the lake and ruin the possibility of getting important information from the lake.
  
  
• Nov. 16, 2004 - Mawson Pioneers Gather for 50-Year Reunion - ABC
  The men who helped establish Australia's Mawson station in the Antarctic will have a reunion in Melbourne this year.
  
  
• Nov. 11, 2004 - South Pole Quest Ends As Temperatures Plunge to -53 C - Scotsman
  One member of a Scottish expedition to the South Pole has quit due to some of the worst Antarctic weather seen in a decade. Her partner has decided to continue.
  
  
• Oct. 19, 2004 - Scientists Set Sail On Greenhouse Study - ABC
  A joint French and Australian team has set out to take a look at carbon dioxide levels in the Southern Ocean.
  
  
• Oct. 18, 2004 - Chinese Scientists To Explore Highest Icecap in Antarctica - Space Daily
  A group of Chinese scientists will depart October 25 to explore Dome A, the highest icecap point in Antarctica. The group is preparing the way for a third Chinese scientific research station. (Update and expanded story from China.org - Nov. 6.)
  
  
• Oct. 14, 2004 - Young Britons To Cross Antarctica - BBC
  Four British adventurers hope to become the youngest and fastest team to ever cross Antarctica. They plan to use skis and kite-surfing to propel them on their way. (Similar story from The Scotsman.)
  
  
• Oct. 12, 2004 - Polar Research Comes In From the Cold - Swiss Info
  Switzerland has gained admission (after 20 years of Antarctic research) into the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). This allows them to lead international research projects in Antarctica.
  
  
• Sept. 28, 2004 - Historic Huts Survived May Storm - 70 South
  Historians have finally been able to reach and examine two of the huts established by Robert F. Scott's team and found them to have survived a very bad storm that occurred in May.
  
  
• Sept 27, 2004 - China To Build 3rd Research Station At Antarctica - China Daily
  China is planning an October expedition to determine a suitable location for a third Chinese research station. They are hoping to be allowed to build somewhere between Dome A and Zhongshan Station. The site would have to be approved by the Antarctic Treaty nations.
  
  
• Sept 24, 2004 - Royal Opening In Antarctica - Aftenposten
  A new Norwegian research station in Queen Maud's land will be opened by Queen Sonja in February.
  
  
• Sept 23, 2004 - Polar Venture To Reach Icecap - China Daily
  China is sending a team whose major goal is to conduct scientific experiments on Dome A, the highest point on the icecap. The weather in this area is incredibly harsh.
  
  
• Sept 4, 2004 - Scots Duo To Take On South Pole - BBC
  A Scottish team of two is ready to depart for a 730 mile trek across Antarctica to the South Pole in November.
  
  
• August 22, 2004 - Shackelton Photos - 70 South
  The last living crew member of Shackelton's expedition says that Frank Hurley, the expedition's photographer, used a great deal of "artistic license" in his photographs.He says Hurley used superimposition of different images to enhance the background and staged reconstructions of events.
  
  
• August 17, 2004 - Group Tries To Save Antarctic Cabin - Aftenposten
  Early Antarctic explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink, and his crew were forced to be the first to overwinter in Antarctica when his ship became iced in. The cabin which he built 105 years ago needs repairs right away and a group in New Zealand is trying to raise money for its preservation. (Read newspaper reports from 1888 & 1889 about Borchgrevink's expedition).
  
  
• August 11, 2004 - Tempers Are Rising In Antarctica - Timesunion
  Lake Vostok in central Antarctica is becoming a source of contention between Russian and U.S. scientists. Russia wants to drill completely through the ice into the lake and be the first to study it in depth, but U.S. scientists are worried about contamination. The Russians plan to start drilling again in December. (Photo and more information on Lake Vostok).
  
  
• July 29, 2004 - Antarctic Summit Gets Underway - DW-World.DE
  850 experts are meeting in Bremen to discuss the newest findings of Antarctic researchers in climate change and other environmental issues. Particular focus will be on new methods of evaluation the impact of global warming on Antarctica, the state of the ozone layer over Antarctica and ways to measure and stop trends that may affect world wide climate negatively.
  
  
• July 29, 2004 - Exploring Nations Asked For Help - BBC
  Restoration of historic sites takes a great deal of cash, so the New Zealand-based Antarctic Heritage Trust has asked the United Kingdom and Norway to help in planning and raising of money for the preservation and restoration of huts built over 100 years ago by the Robert Scott and Carsten Borchgrevink exploring parties.
  
  
• July 27, 2004 - Polar Legend's Flaws Exposed - Scoop
  A new book about Sir Ernest Shackleton blames him for planning errors that led to the death of 3 men in his Ross Sea Party. This is in contrast to most books about this explorer which have lionized him for his incredible efforts to rescue the men.
  
  
• July 22, 2004 - Rescue At Last For Scots Explorer - Guardian Unlimited
  An almost forgotten Scottish polar explorer, William Spears Bruce, will be remembered in a re-enactment of the return of his expedition in 1907. Bruce's group mapped a previously unknown section of the Antarctic coast.
  
  
• July 15, 2004 - "Crocodile Hunter" Cleared of Charges - AustralianFauna
  The Australian Government has cleared Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, of charges that he had harassed penguins, seals and a whale in Antarctic waters.
  
  
• July 6, 2004 - Icebergs Revealed Under Cook Painting - Discovery Channel
  A painting of icebergs has been revealed by x-ray under a tropical scene painted by William Hodges. It is the first known oil painting of Antarctica, painted on Captain Cook's second voyage of discovery.
  
  
• June 14, 2004 - Croc Star's "Whale Swim" Probed - BBC
  Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, is being investigated after it was reported that he was riding whales as part of a documentary film. Australian law prohibits close contact with Antarctic wildlife. He denies the allegations.
  
  
• June 1, 2004 - Polar Adventurer Heading For Mt. Tyree - Explorers Web
  American Doug Stroup is heading for Antarctica's Mt. Tyree, after going to the North Pole. He is taking detailed readings related to climate change.
  
  
• May 28, 2004 - Major Boost for Shackleton Hut Funding - Scoop
  American Express has given a $100,000 grant to help restore Shackelton's Hut on Cape Royds, Antarctica.
  
  
• May 24, 2004 - More Money For Antarctic- News24.com
  South Africa has announced it plans to double its spending on Antarctic research and to remain part of the Antarctic Treaty. South Africa hopes to become another "gateway" to the frozen continent.
  
  
• May 18, 2004 - New Zealand's Antarctic Base Damaged in Winter Storm - ABC
  Scott Base was hit with winds up to 200 km/hour, causing damage to the hanger, windows, and parts of the roof. No one was injured. (More from New Zealand Herald.)
  
  
• May 5, 2004 - Choice That Ended My Polar Dream - BBC News
  Solo pilot, Polly Vacher, wanted to be the first person to fly solo around the world via both poles in a single-engine aircraft. She talks about why she turned around when she was close to her goal.
  
  
• April 11, 2004 - US Plane Rescues Antarctic Three - BBC
  Three sick workers have been successfully evacuated by plane from McMurdo.
  
  
• Mar. 31, 2004 - Pilot Wins Life Saving Medal - BBC
  An Antarctic adventurer whose helicopter crashed has been awarded a medal for saving the life of a companion in spite of his own serious injuries.
  
  
• Mar. 23, 2004 - Scientists In Shackelton's Steps - BBC
  Two British scientists will go with a German Expedition to the Weddell Sea to look for life in the ice. The ice will be sampled throughout the spring and summer giving a look at changing organisms in different seasons.
  
  
• Feb. 14, 2004 -Japanese Yachtsman Rescued... - Asia Pacific News
  A British cargo ship rescued a badly injured Japanese Yachtsman after his yacht foundered in a storm in the Southern Ocean off Antarctica.
  
  
• Jan. 15, 2004 - Joint Israeli-Palestinian Expedition Conquers Antarctic Mountain - Scotsman
  A team of Israeli and Palestinian explorers have climbed a previously unconquered mountain in Antarctica and named it the ’Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian Friendship.' The expedition was organized by the group, "Extreme Peace Missions" as a way to help the two groups work on achieving shared goals.
  
  
• Jan. 8, 2004 - Soaring Cost of Saving History - NZ Herald
  It is estimated that it will cost $2.6 million (US) to restore Shackelton's wintering over quarters at Camp Royds. A century earlier, Shackelton's entire expedition cost £20,000. The current expense is, in part, due to the desire to also preserve all the artifacts that were left behind.
  
  

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People News - 2003

• Dec. 20, 2003 - Antarctic Crash Pilots Found Safe - BBC News
  Two British helicopter pilots, who were attempting to be the first to fly a helicopter around the globe, crashed in Antarctica. They have been located and flown to Chile for hospitalization. At least one of the pilots had serious injuries. (Dec. 21 update from BBC.
  
  
• Dec. 15, 2003 - Stranded Pilot Leaves Antarctica - New Zealand Herald
  Australian pilot, Jon Johanson is on his way to Invercargill after being stranded on the ice for a week after running out of fuel and making an unauthorized landing at McMurdo Base.This landing caused controversy because it appeared he was quite ill-prepared for his flight. The U.S. and New Zealand refused to refuel him because they did not want to encourage adventurers.He was finally sold fuel by a British expeditioner. (Rebuttal from pilot on his preparations in NZ Herald).
  
  
• Dec. 9, 2003 - Searchers Find South Korean Researchers... - Go Asia Pacific
  Helicopters have rescued three South Korean researchers. Four other members of the expedition were rescued earlier and another was found dead after the capsizing of two boats.
  
  
• Dec. 8, 2003 - Eight South Koreans Missing At Sea... - Go Asia Pacific
  Eight South Korean expeditioners, based in t he the South Shetland islands for research, are missing. Their rubber boats used in the research are believed to have capsized. Sea searches are ongoing.
  
  
• Nov. 7, 2003 - Polar Expeditions Face Cash Freeze - Japan Times
  Japan may have to suspend their Antarctic Program due to inability to allocate money to replace their aging icebreaker. A new icebreaker would take four years to build at a cost of approximately 40 billion yen.
  
  
• Nov. 2, 2003 - Medevac Patient Home and Well - Antarctic Sun
  The man who was evacuated from the South Pole for a medical condition last month has had surgery and is recovering well.
  
  
• Oct. 24, 2003 - Grandmother Heading For Both Poles - New Zealand Herald
  An English grandmother and her co-pilot have begun their journey to try to be the first to fly a helicopter around the world, over both the North and South Poles. This expedition is sponsored by World Wildlife Fund.
  
  
• September 17, 2003 - Swimming to Antarctica - CBS News
  Lynn Cox, a champion swimmer, is the first to swim a mile in Antarctic waters, wearing only a swimsuit, cap and goggles.
  
  
• September 15, 2003 - Snow Grounds South Pole Rescue - News.com.au
  A storm which reduced visibility has grounded a rescue flight for a Raytheon employee who is seriously ill at the South Pole station.
  
  
• September 5, 2003 - Funeral for Seal Attack Victim - BBC
  Funeral rites were held for Kristy Brown, a diver for the British Antarctic Survey, who was killed by a leopard seal in late July. A fund has been set up in her honor.
  
  
• August 25, 2003 - Search for South Pole Hero - BBC
  Norway is considering sending a submarine to search for the remains of a seaplane belonging to explorer, Roald Amundsen. Amundsen, whose expedition was the first to reach the South Pole, disappeared in 1928 when on a rescue mission for an Arctic airship crew.
  
  
• July 28, 2003 - Estonians Eye NZ's Antarctic Patch - New Zealand News
  Estonia wants to build a research base near the New Zealand base in the Ross Sea region. While scientists welcome new nations joining the Antarctic Treaty, there is concern about building too many stations.
  
  
• July 24, 2003 - Antarctic Scientist Dies In Seal Attack - BBC
  A British marine biologist snorkeling near Rothera Research Station was attacked by a leopard seal and died in spite of valiant efforts by colleagues to save her. (More from the British Antarctic Survey. Update from NewScientist.com)
  
  
• July 16, 2003 - Antarctic Features Sport New Names - NSIDC News
  The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names has proposed naming several geographic features after several glaciologists who have been studying West Antarctica for the past 20 years.
  
  
• July 7, 2003 - Antarctic Scott's Lasting Legacy - BBC
  Fossils found by the bodies of Scott and his South Pole party have recently been used as evidence to overthrow a popular theory about why deciduous trees shed their leaves.
  
  
• March 25, 2003 - Rescue Plan for Shackelton Hut - BBC News
  A plan has been put forth by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust to conserve and protect the hut at Cape Royds used by Shackelton's party in 1909.
  
  
• March 10, 2003 - Americans Return On Emergency Flight - Antarctic Connection
  Fifty Americans were evacuated from McMurdo and Scott stations by an emergency military airlift from New Zealand. They had been stranded because they were completing a complicated fuel delivery to the stations. The delivery had been slowed by unusually thick sea ice.
  
  
• March 4, 2003 - Russia Abandons Ice Station Vostok - BBC.com
  Vostok, the most isolated manned research outpost in Antarctica will be closed this winter due to inability to deliver enough fuel and supplies. Staff have been transferred to Mirny. Researchers will return in the spring.
  
  
• Jan. 23, 2003 - Ice Patrol Ship Strikes Uncharted Rock - 70South News
  The HMS Endurance, a British ice patrol ship struck a submerged rock in Antarctica. Damage is relatively minor, but the ship's ice-breaking capability may be limited due to a hole in one portion of her double hull.
  
  
• Jan. 17, 2003 - Helicopter Crashes in Antarctica - NSF
  Support helicopter for National Science Foundation (NSF) crashed near McMurdo Station. Two people were injured.
  
  
• Jan. 7, 2003 - U.S. Scientists Conclude Journey Across Antarctica to South Pole - VOA News
  U.S. scientists have completed the first overland sled trek across Antarctica to the South Pole in 45 years. It took them 26 days to complete the journey.
  
  
• Jan. 6, 2003 - Team Aims To Crack Antarctic Ice Secrets - BBC News
  The Pine Island Glacier, one of the biggest on Antarctica, may be on the verge of slipping into the sea far faster than anyone previously thought, so a group of Chilean scientists are studying the continent even more closely. (See a satellite view of Pine Island Glacier from NASA)