Cape Roberts Project

Drill site of CRP on the sea ice, Ross Sea, Antarctica.

Between 1997 and 1999 the international Cape Roberts Project (CRP) has recovered up to 1000 m long drill cores in the Ross Sea, Antarctica to reconstruct the glaciation history of Antarctica. Scientists from various institutes in seven countries have participated: Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Italy, New Zealand, and USA. After a seismic pre-site survey the area off Cape Roberts in the Ross Sea at the margin of the Transantarctic Mountains (77°S 163°43'E) was found to be suitable.

Drilling was performed using a conventional core wireline system with a drill derrick, protected by a cover against the rough climate. Sea ice was 2 m thick with a water depth of 150-300 m below. Four overlapping drill cores at three sites reflect in excellent quality the geological history and glaciation of the Antarctic during the last 34 Million years.

As a logistic and scientific basis the American McMurdo Station and Scott Base of New Zealand were used. Supply of the drill site was performed with motor sledges and snow mobiles, exchange of personal with helicopters. The costs for the logistics were around four Million US dollar.

• 
  Peter Barrett, chief scientist
• 
  CRP drill derrick on sea ice
• 
  CRP Logo

References

• Barrett, Peter J; Fielding, Christopher R; Wise, Sherwood W (1998): Initial report on CRP-1, Cape Roberts Project, Antarctica, Terra Antarctica, 5(1), 187 pp
• Fielding, Christopher R; Thomson, MRA (1999): Studies from the Cape Roberts Project, Ross Sea Antarctica, Initial Report on CRP-2/2A, Terra Antarctica, 6(1/2), 173 pp
• Barrett, Peter J; Sarti, M; Wise, Sherwood W (2000): Studies from the Cape Roberts Project, Ross Sea, Antarctica, Initial Reports on CRP-3, Terra Antarctica, 7(1/2), 209 pp
• The first scientifc results have been published in Articles of the Journal Terra Antarctica (ISSN 1122-8628) publiziert; siehe Bände 5(3) 1998, 7(3+4) 2000, 8(4) 2001
• Further publications can be found in international journals, e.g. at Cold Regions Bibliography Project; (search for "Cape Roberts Project").
• Core analysis data are accessible via the information system PANGAEA.

External links

• Cape Roberts Project, Antarctica (official Website)