Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition
Encyclopedia
Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition (also known as NBSX or NBSAE) (1949 – 1952) the first Antarctica expedition involving an international team of scientist
s. The team members came from Norway
, Sweden
and the British Commonwealth of Nations
.
in February 1950. This expedition laid the groundwork for the following Australian expeditions to Antarctic from 1954 to the early 60s.
diesel engine. This ship was used in conjunction with a 24,000 ton whaling
factory ship
named Thorshovdi. The larger ship was needed because the Norsel was too small to carry all the needed equipment and supplies for the Antarctic expedition.
In addition to both ships, two light Auster
aircraft intended for reconnaissance were included on the expedition. These were piloted by a five man RAF
team from Britain. The Norsel made three round-trips to the Antarctic, with subsequent visits accompanied by a Norwegian and a Swedish flying unit to assist with aerial photography
.
, meteorology
, and geology
. It found that the world's "sea-level was principally controlled by the state of the Antarctic ice-sheet." It also improved the understanding of the impact of the Antarctic ice-sheets on the regulation of the world's climate. It also found evidence that suggest a portion of Antarctica (Dronning Maud Land) was once joined to southern Africa. Further scientific studies have also found strong evidence that eastern Antarctica was adjacent to southern Africa until the late Jurassic
period.
Additional members that joined at a later date:
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s. The team members came from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the British Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
.
History
The Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition was the first expedition to Antarctica involving an international team of scientists. The expedition was led by John Schjelderup Giæver, a Norwegian scientist. The expedition had the goal of establishing whether climatic fluctuations observered in the Arctic were also occurring in the Antarctic. A base known as Maudheim was established on the Quar Ice ShelfQuar Ice Shelf
Quar Ice Shelf is the ice shelf between Cape Norvegia and Sorasen Ridge along the coast of Queen Maud Land.-Discovery and Naming:It was mapped by the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition...
in February 1950. This expedition laid the groundwork for the following Australian expeditions to Antarctic from 1954 to the early 60s.
Transportation
The expedition was transported aboard a 600-ton sealer named Norsel that was powered by a German U-boatU-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
diesel engine. This ship was used in conjunction with a 24,000 ton whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
factory ship
Factory ship
A factory ship, also known as a fish processing vessel, is a large ocean-going vessel with extensive on-board facilities for processing and freezing caught fish...
named Thorshovdi. The larger ship was needed because the Norsel was too small to carry all the needed equipment and supplies for the Antarctic expedition.
In addition to both ships, two light Auster
Auster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
aircraft intended for reconnaissance were included on the expedition. These were piloted by a five man RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
team from Britain. The Norsel made three round-trips to the Antarctic, with subsequent visits accompanied by a Norwegian and a Swedish flying unit to assist with aerial photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
.
Conclusions
The information obtained from the expedition helped with the further study of glaciologyGlaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
, meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, and geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. It found that the world's "sea-level was principally controlled by the state of the Antarctic ice-sheet." It also improved the understanding of the impact of the Antarctic ice-sheets on the regulation of the world's climate. It also found evidence that suggest a portion of Antarctica (Dronning Maud Land) was once joined to southern Africa. Further scientific studies have also found strong evidence that eastern Antarctica was adjacent to southern Africa until the late Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
period.
Personnel
- John GiaeverJohn GiaeverJohn Schjelderup Giæver was a Norwegian author and polar researcher.-Personal life:He was born in Tromsø as the son of works manager John Schjelderup Giæver and his wife Thyra Høegh...
Norwegian, leader of the wintering party - Valter Schytt Swedish, chief glaciologist, second-in-command
- Gordon de Quetteville Robin Australian, geophysicist, third-in-command
- Nils Jørgen Schumacher Norwegian, chief meteorologist
- Gösta Liljequist Swedish, assistant meteorologist
- Ernest Frederick Roots Canadian, chief geologist
- Alan Reece British, assistant geologist
- Charles Swithinbank British, assistant glaciologist
- Nils Roer Norwegian, topographic surveyor
- Ove Wilson Swedish, medical officer
- Bertil Ekström Swedish, mechanical engineer
- Egil Rogstad Norwegian, radio operator
- Peter Melleby Norwegian, in charge of dogs
- Schølberg Nilsen Norwegian, cook
Additional members that joined at a later date:
- Stig Hallgren
- Leslie Quar
- John Jelbart
- John Snarby
Further reading
- Giaever, J. (1969). The White Desert: The official account of the Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition. Greenwood Pub Group. ISBN 0-8371-1318-0
- Swithinbank, C. (1999). Foothold on Antarctica. Sussex, England: The Book Guild Ltd. ISBN 1-85776-406-4