Pine Island Glacier Peppered With Scientists' "Javelins" To Record Rate Of Movement, Other Data
UK scientists have developed an air-dropped projectile to put instruments in some of the most inaccessible places in Antarctica. Twenty-five of the "javelins" are currently sticking in Pine Island Glacier (PIG), one of the continent's biggest and fastest-moving ice streams.
The PIG has many deep crevasses that are too dangerous to traverse. The British Antarctic Survey's spears have been equipped with GPS to track the PIG's progression towards the sea.
"Our javelins mean we can now instrument areas that were previously out of reach," said Dr Hilmar Gudmundsson.
"And in Pine Island Glacier, we are monitoring the region of Antarctica where the greatest changes are taking place," the BAS glaciologist told BBC News.
EDIT
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22079052
