You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

St. Olaf instructor among first scientists to reach South Pole in 45 years

Carole Engblom
January 16, 2003

Brian Welch
Welch
On Jan. 2, the U.S. International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (US-ITASE) team reached the South Pole after a 1,250-kilometer traverse lasting more than a month. It is the first scientific group to trek across Antarctica to the South Pole in 45 years. Among the researchers was Brian Welch, a postdoctoral research fellow and instructor in the St. Olaf environmental studies program. Welch was one of 12 scientists on the traverse acquiring continuous radar profiles of the bedrock and internal layers along the route.

US-ITASE is part of an international effort to characterize the climate record of the past 200 years over much of the Antarctic continent. Welch participated in the fourth year of the US-ITASE program using the St. Olaf College ground-based, radio echo-sounding radar system designed by Bob Jacobel, professor of physics and director of environmental studies, and six St. Olaf physics students, and funded by the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation.

Contact Carole at 507-646-3182 or leigh@stolaf.edu.