Surface and sub-surface

Snow pits

By digging beneath the snow surface of Antarctica, the expedition will reveal the climate of the past. Each season the snow that falls in Antarctica forms a fresh layer on the ground. By digging a deep pit, the expedition will be able to see each layer of snow that has fallen in years past and be able to gather information about how the amount of snow that falls each year has changed. In turn, this information provides a clue to how Antarctica’s climate has changed in recent years.

Albedo

The expedition will be able to measure the reflectivity of different snow surfaces that they encounter, a characteristic known as albedo, which plays a crucial role in the delicate balance of the earth’s climate. The experiment will illustrate how the type of snow that falls in Antarctica has a direct impact on the rest of the world.