Frozen, Floating, Camping

Call them the frozen, voluntary castaways. Or call them crazy. On an ice floe adrift in the Antarctic Weddel Sea, 55 scientists from 11 nations have been camping out since Nov. 27.

The glaciologists, biologists, oceanographers and meteorologists are part of the expedition "Ispol" (Ice Station POLarstern). The icebreaker "Polarstern" brought them there and is moored to the floating hunk of ice, which is about 2.5 miles square (4 kilometers).

The scientists are taking all manner of measurements of ice temperature, thickness and contents, including algae and plankton.

They plan to stay until Jan. 5.

-- LiveScience Staff

Credit: I. Arndt