- Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition
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Antarctic expeditions International agreements 1932–33 International Polar Year
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1959 Antarctic Treaty SystemBritish Empire / Commonwealth 1901–04 Scott's first expedition
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1938–39 New Swabia expeditionJapan 1910–12 Japanese Antarctic Expedition Norway 1910–12 Amundsen expedition Sweden 1901–04 Swedish Antarctic Expedition United States 1928–30 Byrd's first expedition
1946–47 Operation Highjump
1947–48 Operation Windmill
1947–48 Ronne expedition
1955–56 Operation Deep FreezeNorwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition (also known as NBSX or NBSAE) (1949 – 1952) the first Antarctica expedition involving an international team of scientists. The team members came from Norway, Sweden and the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Contents
History
The Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition was the first expedition to Antarctica involving an international team of scientists. The expedition was led by John Schjelderup Giæver, a Norwegian scientist. The expedition had the goal of establishing whether climatic fluctuations observered in the Arctic were also occurring in the Antarctic. A base known as Maudheim was established on the Quar Ice Shelf in February 1950. This expedition laid the groundwork for the following Australian expeditions to Antarctic from 1954 to the early 60s.[1]
Transportation
The expedition was transported aboard a 600-ton sealer named Norsel that was powered by a German U-boat diesel engine. This ship was used in conjunction with a 24,000 ton whaling factory ship named Thorshovdi. The larger ship was needed because the Norsel was too small to carry all the needed equipment and supplies for the Antarctic expedition.[2]
In addition to both ships, two light Auster aircraft intended for reconnaissance were included on the expedition. These were piloted by a five man RAF team from Britain. The Norsel made three round-trips to the Antarctic, with subsequent visits accompanied by a Norwegian and a Swedish flying unit to assist with aerial photography.[2]
Conclusions
The information obtained from the expedition helped with the further study of glaciology, meteorology, and geology. It found that the world's "sea-level was principally controlled by the state of the Antarctic ice-sheet." It also improved the understanding of the impact of the Antarctic ice-sheets on the regulation of the world's climate. It also found evidence that suggest a portion of Antarctica (Dronning Maud Land) was once joined to southern Africa.[2] Further scientific studies have also found strong evidence that eastern Antarctica was adjacent to southern Africa until the late Jurassic period.[3]
Personnel
- John Giaever Norwegian, leader of the wintering party
- Valter Schytt Swedish, chief glaciologist, second-in-command
- Gordon de Quetteville Robin Australian, geophysicist, third-in-command
- Nils Jørgen Schumacher Norwegian, chief meteorologist
- Gösta Liljequist Swedish, assistant meteorologist
- Ernest Frederick Roots Canadian, chief geologist
- Alan Reece British, assistant geologist
- Charles Swithinbank British, assistant glaciologist
- Nils Roer Norwegian, topographic surveyor
- Ove Wilson Swedish, medical officer
- Bertil Ekström Swedish, mechanical engineer
- Egil Rogstad Norwegian, radio operator
- Peter Melleby Norwegian, in charge of dogs
- Schølberg Nilsen Norwegian, cook
Additional members that joined at a later date:
- Stig Hallgren
- Leslie Quar
- John Jelbart
- John Snarby
See also
References
- ^ "Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition". Australian Antarctic Division: Leading Australia's Antarctic Programme. July 10, 2009. http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=36942. Retrieved October 8, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d Claude Cowan (September 20, 2002). "Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1949-1952". Scott Polar Research Institute. http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/resources/expeditions/nbsx/. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
- ^ Jens-Ove Naslund (2001). "Landscape development in western and central Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica" (free download pdf). Antarctic Science 13 (3): 302. doi:10.1017/S0954102001000438.
Further reading
- Giaever, J. (1969). The White Desert: The official account of the Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition. Greenwood Pub Group. ISBN 0-8371-1318-0
- Swithinbank, C. (1999). Foothold on Antarctica. Sussex, England: The Book Guild Ltd. ISBN 1-85776-406-4
External links
Categories:- Exploration of Antarctica
- 1949 in science
- 1949 in Norway
- 1949 in Sweden
- 1949 in international relations
- Antarctic expeditions
- United Kingdom and the Antarctic
- 1949 in Antarctica
- 1950 in Antarctica
- 1951 in Antarctica
- 1952 in Antarctica
- Sweden and the Antarctic
- Norway and the Antarctic
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