Antarctic logistic support for the Earth sciences

Abstract

United States Coast Guard, FPO Seattle, Washington 98799-3919This discussion of Antarctic logistics deals primarily with the operations of the U.S. Antarctic Program. The program makes use of all aspects of logistics which are employed throughout the Antarctic continent and surrounding oceans. In pursuing its research objectives, the U.S. program uses helicopters, Hercules (LC-130) ski-equipped aircraft, motor toboggans, tracked vehicles, hovercraft, research ships, and icebreakers. Large aircraft are universally used to transport personnel to and from Antarctica. Within Antarctica, the United States has also chosen to emphasize air transportation to carry scientific research to large parts of the continent. Logistic operations of this scale are extremely costly but are an inherent requirement of activities carried out in hostile and remote areas. Antarctic operations are not directly comparable to Arctic operations, because the north polar region has a much milder climate and inhabited centers are in relatively close proximity. In fact, Antarctic conditions are more closely comparable to those that will be encountered in future potential occupation and mining on the Moon and Mars. The U.S. approach to logistic support of Earth scientists has been remarkably successful in placing field parties of almost any size anywhere in Antarctica. These field parties have been able to work for periods of a few hours to an entire field season, with facilities and direct support that allow maximum time and effort for scientific research. Future efforts at commercial mineral evaluation and exploitation will need to look closely at the U.S. logistics effort as a possible pattern for their Antarctic operations. sciences research in Antarctica are to determine the geology, geologic history, and mineral potential of Antarctica, in the broadest sense. To accomplish these goals, every attempt has been made to develop logistic capabilities that are able to place Earth scientists anywhere in Antarctica, efficiently, safely, and productively. Over the last 30 years, most of the areas in which bedrock is exposed have been investigated in at least reconnaissance fashion. Terrestrial Earth sciences of all types are supported from permanent bases by oversnow traverses with tracked vehicles, by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and from temporary inland camps put in place and supplied only by aircraft. A wide variety of mobile bases also support Earth science research. Marine Earth sciences are conducted from aircraft, supply ships, research ships, and icebreakers. These often involve remote sensing of gravity, magnetics, reflection seismic surveys, and marine geology. They also include direct observations such as dredging and coring. Other marine Earth science research is