international
polar
foundation

A bad storm hit Utsteinen last weekend. It hit the station on Saturday: here is a quick glimpse of how it looks and feels like.

To see more from the International Polar Foundation got to: http://vimeo.com/116200931 or http://www.polarfoundation.org Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Germany, discovered a possible meteorite impact site during an aerial geological survey mission to study the geological history of Antarctica. Copyright: International Polar Foundation / Jos Van Hemelrijck / Fares Manners Music: Dexter Britain "seeing the future" / dexterbritain.co.uk

Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Germany, discovered a possible meteorite impact site during an aerial geological survey mission to study the geological history of Antarctica.Copyright: International Polar Foundation / Jos Van Hemelrijck / Fares MannersMusic: Dexter Britain "seeing the future" / dexterbritain.co.uk

We followed the IceCon crew during their expedition in November and December. ULB glaciologists Jean Louis Tison and Frank Pattyn took the time to explain their research, what glaciology can teach us, and the difficulties and successes they had while in the field this season.

After spending over a month in Antarctica, the first group of scientists and crew members left the Princess Elisabeth station and headed back to Belgium in time to spend Christmas with their families. We met with them in Zaventem Airport.

After spending over a month in Antarctica, the first group of scientists and crew members left the Princess Elisabeth station and headed back to Belgium in time to spend Christmas with their families. We met with them in Zaventem Airport.

Our electrical engineer, Karel Moerman, brought a drone with him to Antarctica this year. We've taken aerial images of the station from an ultra light aircraft before, but this is the first time that an unmanned drone has flown over the station and shot footage.From take off to landing, this video will take you on an aerial tour of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, Utsteinen Ridge, the runway where planes take off and land, and the general vicinity of the station.A fresh perspectiveEven for those of us who are accustomed to seeing the station on a daily basis, this footage allowed us to see the station from a fresh perspective.Thank you Karel!Music: "Uncertainty" by Ian Alex Mac

Our electrical engineer, Karel Moerman, brought a drone with him to Antarctica this year. We've taken aerial images of the station from an ultra light aircraft before, but this is the first time that an unmanned drone has flown over the station and shot footage. Princess Elisabeth Antarctica from above From take off to landing, this video will take you on an aerial tour of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, Utsteinen Ridge, the runway where planes take off and land, and the general vicinity of the station. A fresh perspective Even for those of us who are accustomed to seeing the station on a daily basis, this footage allowed us to see the station from a fresh perspective. Thank you Karel! Video: © International Polar Foundation / Karel Moerman / Editing: Fares Manners - Music: "Uncertainty" by Ian Alex Mac

For the third year in a row, Alain Hubert visited the emperor penguin colony he confirmed the existence of two years ago. While counting the adult penguins and chicks in order to estimate the size and health of the colony, we had a startling encounter.Monitoring the penguin colonyAntarctica is a protected area and wildlife should not be disturbed. Only three people approach the animals to count the chicks and adults in order to evaluate the size and health of the colony, while keeping a safe enough distance so as not to disturb the colony.Information on the estimated population of the penguins is then relayed to scientists studying emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica.Startled by a leopard sealWhen we moved towards the edge of the ice shelf, our cameraman Jos Van Hemelrijck spotted a leopard seal swimming nearby. As a natural predator of emperor penguins, it was likely hunting for penguins in the area.Having probably never seen any humans in its life, the seal wasn't scared. When it spotted us, it jumped up on the ice to take a closer look. Even though we were very careful to keep our distance, the speed of the animal startled us all.