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Operation IceBridge

Operation IceBridge

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

NASA's Operation IceBridge is a six-year mission to survey land and sea ice at the poles. The program's DC-8 research plane, loaded with remote-sensing equipment, captured spectacular images of Antarctica's mountains and glaciers in October 2012, the first half of this year's campaign. Combining new measurements with previously gathered data gives researchers a more detailed view of ice dynamics. The resulting information will help improve computer models that predict how ice sheets change over time.

Mount Murphy

Mount Murphy

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

Mt. Murphy, a shield volcano in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica, seen from the IceBridge research plane as it flies over Thwaites Glacier on Oct. 12.

Bellingshausen Sea

Bellingshausen Sea

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

Sea ice in the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, seen from the IceBridge research plane 1,500 feet above ground on Oct. 12.

Tiny shadow on Bellingshausen Sea

Tiny shadow on Bellingshausen Sea

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

Sea ice in the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, on Oct. 12. The shadow of the DC-8 plane, flying at 1,500 above ground, is visible in the center of the image.

Various shades

Various shades

Credit: NASA/Digital Mapping System

This complex mixture of Antarctic sea ice was photographed on Oct. 13 in the Bellingshausen Sea with the Digital Mapping System (DMS) onboard the IceBridge research plane. Different types of sea ice in the Southern Ocean include dark black (open water), a thin grease-like covering (grease ice), and thicker grey ice.

Calving edge of Thwaites Ice Shelf

Calving edge of Thwaites Ice Shelf

Credit: NASA / Jim Yungel

The calving front of Thwaites Ice Shelf photographed from the IceBridge research plane. The water acts as a blue filter for ice visible below the water's surface. Thwaites Glacier flows into Pine Island Bay, in West Antarctica.

Mount Vinson

Mount Vinson

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

Mount Vinson is the highest peak in Antarctica, with an elevation of 16,066 feet (4,897 meters).

Shackleton Range and Recovery Glacier

Shackleton Range and Recovery Glacier

Credit: Michael Studinger

The Shackleton Range and Recovery Glacier in Antarctica as seen from the IceBridge research plane on Oct. 18.

Ellsworth Mountains Ice Fall

Ellsworth Mountains Ice Fall

Credit: NASA

Ice fall in the Ellsworth Mountains viewed from the IceBridge research plane on Oct. 22 as it flies along the grounding line of the Ronne Ice Shelf.

The Sentinel Range

The Sentinel Range

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

View of the Sentinel Range in the Ellsworth Mountains seen on Oct. 22 during an IceBridge research flight.

Embedded Iceberg in Bellingshausen Sea

Embedded Iceberg in Bellingshausen Sea

Credit: NASA / George Hale

An iceberg embedded in sea ice in the Bellingshausen Sea, photographed from the IceBridge research plane on Oct. 19. "Thickness in the Bellingshausen has increased slightly while area has decreased. We're looking at why that is," said sea ice scientist Nathan Kurtz of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Ellsworth Mountains

Ellsworth Mountains

Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica seen from the IceBridge research plane on Oct. 26. The Ellsworth Mountains are home to Antarctica's highest point, Vinson Massif (16,066 feet/4,897 meters).

Trapped Iceberg in the Amundsen Sea

Trapped Iceberg in the Amundsen Sea

Credit: NASA / Maria-Jose Vinas

An iceberg trapped in sea ice in the Amundsen Sea, seen from the IceBridge DC-8 research plane on Oct. 27.

Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctic Peninsula

Credit: NASA / Maria-Jose Vinas

View of the northern Antarctic Peninsula from high altitude during IceBridge's flight back from the Foundation Ice Stream, on Oct. 28.

Pensacola Mountains

Pensacola Mountains

Credit: NASA / Maria-Jose Vinas

Pensacola Mountains near the Foundation Ice Stream, which Operation IceBridge surveyed on Oct. 28.

Adelaid Island Ice Shelf

Adelaid Island Ice Shelf

Credit: NASA / Maria-Jose Vinas

Edge of an ice shelf in Adelaide Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula, viewed from the IceBridge research plane.

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