ESA - Eduspace EN - Global Change - Visiting a research station in Antarctica

Visiting a research station in Antarctica


Radar image of Davis Station (r) and icebreaker (l)

Davis Station is one of the many research stations our scientists visited. Look at the ASAR image on the left. It is a small section of a 400 km x 400 km radar image. There is one visible ship, represented by the red arrow.


	Davis Station and two visiting ships

Now look at this image taken by our student during the Davis Station visit. We recognise the station in the foreground, a trail, and people coming and going towards TWO ships in the background. In fact, the 'Kaptain Khlebnikov' icebreaker left the Station shortly before the satellite passed over this area. Unfortunately we missed this opportunity. Now it will be difficult to spot a ship in the rough sea or among the icebergs.


Trail of icebreaker in fast ice

It would have been easy to spot a ship on a radar image sailing in calm waters or trapped in fast ice.

This type of ice is very smooth, and consequently very visible as a dark area in the radar image. A penetrating ship leaves a trail behind.


	Trail of the passing icebreaker in ice floes

Compare the trail on the satellite image with the two 'real' photos.

Why is the trail dark in the photo, whereas it is grey or white in the satellite image?

Last update: 18 April 2013


Antarctica 2003 expedition
•	Introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMVG70YDUF_0.html)

•	Background (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMON70YDUF_0.html)

Accompany a classmate - Exercises
•	Introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMNX70YDUF_0.html)

•	The coast of Africa (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMC1AZVNUF_0.html)

•	High sea near the Crozet Islands (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMH3AZVNUF_0.html)

•	The Islands of Kerguelen (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMN5AZVNUF_0.html)

•	The harsh climate of Heard Island (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMT8AZVNUF_0.html)

•	Entering the icy waters (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMP9AZVNUF_0.html)

•	Observing the solar eclipse (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMOEAZVNUF_0.html)

•	Nearly caught by a severe storm! (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM1RAZVNUF_0.html)

•	Arrival in Tasmania (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMPRAZVNUF_0.html)

•	Chlorophyll concentration exercise (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMETAZVNUF_0.html)

Exercises
•	Introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM1V70YDUF_0.html)

•	Exercise 2 - Guide the icebreaker through the ice using images and maps (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMFDC0YDUF_0.html)

•	Exercise 3 - Guide the icebreaker through the ice using a computer (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM0HC0YDUF_0.html)

•	Exercise 4 - Help, the icebreaker is stuck! (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMJ7G0YDUF_0.html)

Links
•	Australian Antarctic Division (http://www.aad.gov.au/)

•	Maps Larsemann Hills (http://www.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/display_name.cfm?gaz_id=686)

•	Davis station - webcam (http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/webcams/davis/default.asp)

Eduspace - Software
•	LEOWorks 3 (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/LEOWorks3.exe)

Eduspace - Download
•	Resultats-meteo-xls.zip (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/Resultats_meteo-xls.zip)

•	Resultats-chimie.zip (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/Resultats-chimie.zip)

•	MERIS031102_ 0742.zip (1.0 Mb) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/MERIS031102_0742.zip)

•	ASAR031121 _fullgeo.zip (0.6 Mb) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/ASAR031121_fullgeo.zip)

•	ASAR_sun-eclips _position.zip (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/ASAR_sun-eclips_position.zip)

•	Chlorophyll.pdf (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/Chlorophyll_B.pdf)

•	MERIS_031110-0655 _Ocean.zip (3.4 Mb) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/MERIS_031110-0655_Ocean.zip)

•	MERIS_031114-0451 _Kerguelen.zip (3.4 Mb) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/meris_031114_0451_Kerguelen.zip)