The NISAR Project - Exploring the King Baudouin Ice Shelf

The NISAR project, led by researchers from UC Irvine, focuses on studying the King Baudouin Ice Shelf and its interaction with the ocean beneath. Using a radar-equipped sledge, powered by solar panels designed by the IPF engineering team, scientists map the ice shelf’s structure in high detail.

The team also drills access holes into the ice shelf using a hot-water drill to reach the underlying ocean. Instruments such as CTD devices are lowered into these holes to measure salinity and temperature profiles, helping researchers understand how the ocean influences ice shelf stability and contributes to ice mass loss.

By combining radar mapping with in-situ measurements, the NISAR project provides crucial insights into Antarctic ice-ocean interactions and the future behavior of the ice sheet.