U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Activities in the Exploration of Antarctica: 1946-2006 Record of Personnel in Antarctica and Their Postal Cachets: U.S. Navy (1946-48, 1954-60), International Geophysical Year (1957-58), and USGS (1960-2006):Open file

摘要

Antarctica, a vast region encompassing 13.2 million km2 (5.1 million mi), is considered to be one of the most important scientific laboratories on Earth. During the past 60 years, the USGS, in collaboration and with logistical support from the National Science Foundations Office of Polar Programs, has sent 325 USGS scientists to Antarctica to work on a wide range of projects: 169 personnel from the NMD2 (mostly aerial photography, surveying, and geodesy, primarily used for the modern mapping of Antarctica), 138 personnel from the GD (mostly geophysical and geological studies onshore and offshore), 15 personnel from the WRD (mostly hydrological/glaciological studies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys), 2 personnel from the BRD (microbiological studies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys), and 1 person from the Directors Office (P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director, 2005-06 austral field season). Three GD scientists and three NMD scientists have carried out field work in Antarctica 9 or more times. This report provides a record as complete as possible, of USGS and non-USGS collaborating personnel in Antarctica from 1946-2006, the geographic locations of their work, and their scientific/engineering disciplines represented. Postal cachets for each year follow the table of personnel and scientific activities in the exploration of Antarctica during those 60 years.