FROID - Antarctic Research Project - BELARE 2024-2025 season
Scientific Projects
2025
FROID - Antarctic Research Project - BELARE 2024-2025 season
The BELSPO funded FROID research project with support from the International Polar Foundation and its staff spent 5+ weeks by the Nils Larsen blue ice field in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica. The research project's primary objec...
FROID - Antarctic Research Project - BELARE 2024-2025 season
The BELSPO funded FROID research project with support from the International Polar Foundation and its staff spent 5+ weeks by the Nils Larsen blue ice field in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica. The research project's primary objective this season was to scout various locations in search of the World's oldest ice, drilling many shallow ice cores in the process The air bubbles trapped within these cores can be analyzed and used to reconstruct the Earth's past climate which simultaneously lends insight as to where the climate is heading in the future. Additionally, the team also ran ground penetrating radar to see all the way through the ice to the bedrock as well as carrying out high precision GPS measurements to determine the speed at which the ice is moving.
Space & Astronomy
2025
Research in Antarctica - ULTIMO - Meteorite Hunters
Space & Astronomy
2025
Research in Antarctica - ULTIMO - Meteorite Hunters
The BELSPO-funded ULTIMO project with support from the International Polar Foundation and their team spent over a month in close proximity to the Belgica mountain range in East Antarctica searching for meteorites. The logistically...
Research in Antarctica - ULTIMO - Meteorite Hunters
The BELSPO-funded ULTIMO project with support from the International Polar Foundation and their team spent over a month in close proximity to the Belgica mountain range in East Antarctica searching for meteorites. The logistically challenging expedition was well worth the effort: the team of researchers found 115 meteorites as well as countless micro-meteorites that could potentially help scientists answer questions about the origins of life on Earth as well as shine a light on other big questions about the origins of our solar system.
Space & Astronomy
2025
Climbing Antenna at PEA for EPFL-CRYOS project
Space & Astronomy
2025
Climbing Antenna at PEA for EPFL-CRYOS project
In January 2025 part of the IPF team climbed the antenna at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica to install instruments for the EPFL-CRYOS project.
In January 2025 part of the IPF team climbed the antenna at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica to install instruments for the EPFL-CRYOS project.
Landscapes and Nature
2025
Utsteinen Nunatak Windscoop Melting
Landscapes and Nature
2025
Utsteinen Nunatak Windscoop Melting
During the height of summer at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, temperatures can sometimes climb above freezing, which is warm enough to melt ice in the nearby Utsteinen Nunatak windscoop!
During the height of summer at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, temperatures can sometimes climb above freezing, which is warm enough to melt ice in the nearby Utsteinen Nunatak windscoop!
2024
Filling and Launching the First Weather Balloon with Hydrogen Produced at PEA
2024
Filling and Launching the First Weather Balloon with Hydrogen Produced at PEA
On December 24th, 2024, the first hyrdrogen produced at PEA from renewable energy was used to fill a weather balloon that takes radiosonde measurements as it rises into the atmosphere. It marks a huge milestone in making the Princ...
Filling and Launching the First Weather Balloon with Hydrogen Produced at PEA
On December 24th, 2024, the first hyrdrogen produced at PEA from renewable energy was used to fill a weather balloon that takes radiosonde measurements as it rises into the atmosphere. It marks a huge milestone in making the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica more self-sufficient and sustainable as it is not longer required to bring large canisters of helium to the station every season to fill the weather balloons that are lunched into the atmosphere.
Zero Emission Target Philosophy
2024
First Weather Balloon filled with Hydrogen Produced at PEA Launched
Zero Emission Target Philosophy
2024
First Weather Balloon filled with Hydrogen Produced at PEA Launched
On December 24th, the first weather balloon filled with hydrogen was launched from the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station. This milestone marks the firs time hydrogen produced at the station has been put to practical u...
First Weather Balloon filled with Hydrogen Produced at PEA Launched
On December 24th, the first weather balloon filled with hydrogen was launched from the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station. This milestone marks the firs time hydrogen produced at the station has been put to practical use.
Special Event
2024
IPF Engineer Johan De Muylder Contributes to "Nerdland for kleine nerds" Event from PEA
Special Event
2024
IPF Engineer Johan De Muylder Contributes to "Nerdland for kleine nerds" Event from PEA
During the last week of December 2024 at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, participants in the "Nerdland for kleine nerds" (Nerdland for small nerds) events were treated to videos of IPF #engineer Johan De Muylder talking about life in ...
IPF Engineer Johan De Muylder Contributes to "Nerdland for kleine nerds" Event from PEA
During the last week of December 2024 at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, participants in the "Nerdland for kleine nerds" (Nerdland for small nerds) events were treated to videos of IPF #engineer Johan De Muylder talking about life in #Antarctica and doing experiments at the #PrincessElisabeth station such as throwing hot water in the air and freezing soap bubbles. The audience of families at the Lotto Arena were fascinated by the experiments, as you can see from the video here. We're always happy to do our part get young people interested in #STEM subjects!
Scientific Projects
2024
Leaving on a Traverse to the Coast
Scientific Projects
2024
Leaving on a Traverse to the Coast
In late December, members of the BELARE team headed to the coast to prepare the site where members of the NISAR and PASPARTOUT projects will install instruments.
In late December, members of the BELARE team headed to the coast to prepare the site where members of the NISAR and PASPARTOUT projects will install instruments.
Zero Emission Target Philosophy
2024
PEA Hydrogen Production Inauguration 24 Dec 2024
Zero Emission Target Philosophy
2024
PEA Hydrogen Production Inauguration 24 Dec 2024
Here we see IPF engineer Mathilde Renard and IPF Founder and BELARE Team Leader Alain Hubert inaugurating the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica's new hydrogen production facility, which will be used to supply weather balloons with gas...
Here we see IPF engineer Mathilde Renard and IPF Founder and BELARE Team Leader Alain Hubert inaugurating the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica's new hydrogen production facility, which will be used to supply weather balloons with gas to float up into the atmosphere as they take measurements and eventually the backup generators for the station. Mathilde explains how the process of electrolysis works in the machine.
Prof. Eric Rignot from UC Irvine discusses his work following a successful field campaign on the King Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica during the 2024-25 BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE).
Prof. Eric Rignot from UC Irvine discusses his work following a successful field campaign on the King Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica during the 2024-25 BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE).
Eric Rignot: Investigating the Melt of the King Baudouin Ice Shelf
Prof. Eric Rignot from UC Irvine discusses his work following a successful field campaign on the King Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica during the 2024-25 BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE).
The soon-to-be-released film 2050 by renowned filmmakers Eric Goens and Kristoff Van Den Bergh financed by Syensqo has been shown in a few locations to much acclaim prior to its official release date of March 5th in cinemas across Belgium.
2050: A film by Eric Goens and Kristof Van Den Bergh - Will the world listen before it’s too late?
Wildfires in California, floods in Spain and the Ardennes, Hurricane Hélène leaving a trail of destruction across the United States… The climate record of 2024 is devastating: the hottest year ever recorded, with 219 officially registered weather disasters and thousands of victims.
BELARE 2024-25 is drawing to a close. Preparations are being made to put the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica into winter mode and pack away scientific equipment.
This week the four remaining scientific teams for this season - EXPOSOILS, PASPARTOUT, NISAR, and EPFL-CRYOS - wrapped up their work and started preparing for their flight home, which is scheduled for Friday, February 14th.
Difficult Weather Hampers Return from Coast; Scientific Projects Forge Ahead
The cargo ship has been unloaded and the logistics team led by Alain Hubert has been caught in a storm on the way back to PEA. Meanwhile, the scientists continue their field work, which will finish by next week.
In Search for Million-Year-Old Ice, Belgian and International Scientists Return from Antarctica with First Clues
Belgian and international scientists from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) have returned from Antarctica with samples and data that could help them determine where to find million-year old ice, which in turn can provide information about Earth’s climate in the past.
New Group of Scientists Begin Field Work While IPF Team Prepares for Arrival of Cargo Ship
With their safety training complete, this past week the newly arrived scientists headed out into the field to begin their field work while the IPF team prepared for the arrival of the cargo ship at the coast.
Belgian-led Team of Researchers Bring Back Impressive Haul of Meteorites during Antarctic research expedition
An international team led by Belgian scientists has recovered 115 Antarctic meteorites weighing more than 2 kg during the ongoing 2024-2025 BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE).