UCAA (Upper-ocean characteristics between Africa and Antarctica) During the 26th Indian Antarctic Expedition (IAE), data collection campaign for the above project was launched. Surface meteorological parameters from ship's AWS and density data using XCTD for the upper 1000m of the water column were collected along the ship route: Mauritius-Durban-India Bay (onward journey) and India Bay- Prydz Bay- Mauritius (return journey) on board Emerald Sea. These data are being processed and results are planned to be published by end of 2007.

ICASS VI occurred in Nuuk, Greenland 22 - 26 August, 2008. The theme was “Arctic Social Sciences: Prospects for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 Era and Beyond”. The Conference website provides excellent links to abstracts and a solid overview of the breadth of social science and humanities research in IPY.

Origin, evolution and setting of the Gamburtsev subglacial highlands
Discovered during International Geophysical Year 1957-1958, Antarctica’s Gamburtsev Mountains extend for more than 1,200 km and rise to heights of over 3,000 m. These mountains, however, have never been seen by humans because they are covered by ice up to 600 m thick. Using aircraft and field expeditions, this ambitious project will collect major new data sets – including offshore marine, gravity, magnetics, ice radar and a wealth of geological observations – to produce a four-dimensional history of the evolution of the Gamburtsev mountains. As well as recovering samples from this last great unknown region of Antarctica, the project will shed new light on the origins of the Antarctic ice sheet and its role in future climate change.