The Italian ITASE Expedition from D85 to M4 (East Antarctica)

Abstract

As a part of ITASE project (International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition; Mayewski & Goodwin, 1999), between November 2001 and January 2002, the Italian Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide made a traverse through Adélie, George V, Oates and northern Victoria Lands (Fig. l , Tab. 1). The study aimed to better understand latitudinal and longitudinal gradients along one East-West (D66 - Talos Dome) and two North-South (D85 - D59 and GV7 - Talos Dome - M4) transects, while documenting climatic, atmospheric and surface conditions during the last 200-1000 years in the eastern and north-eastern portions of the Dome C drainage area and in northern Victoria Land. During the 1998/1999 season members of the Italian Antarctic programme made the first traverse from Terra Nova Bay to Dome C (Frezzotti & Flora, 2002). The traverse in the eastern Dome C drainage area took place between 20 November 1998 and 16 January 1999, and covered about 1300 km. The traverse team consisted of eight people: three mechanics and five scientists (four Italians and a French guest). During the 2000/2001 season 69 tons of supplies (fuel, food, snow box, etc.) for the 2001/2002 ITASE campaign were delivered from Cape Prud'homme on the forward legs of the transport traverses (IPEV-PNRA) between Dumont d'Urville and Dome C; the ITASE vehicles were delivered from Dome C to D85 on the return legs of the IPEV-PNRA traverses (Patrice Godon officer in charge of the traverse, personal communication).