Interview of Charles R. Bentley by Dian O. Belanger

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Contributors:
Belanger, Dian Olson, 1941-Subjects (LCSH):
Geophysicists -- Arctic regions -- InterviewsOperation Deep Freeze
Arctic regions -- Discovery and exploration -- Interviews
Polar regions -- Discovery and exploration -- Interviews
Antarctica -- Discovery and exploration -- Interviews
Issue Date:
2009-04-23Metadata
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Byrd Polar Research Center Archival ProgramSeries/Report no.:
Antarctic Deep Freeze Oral History ProjectAbstract:
Geophysicist Charles Bentley led a pre-IGY over-snow traverse in the summer of 1956-57 along the newly blazed tractor-train route from Little America V to the not-yet-built inland Byrd Station. Taking seismic measurements en route, the group concluded to their surprise that much of the land beneath the ice sheet lay below sea level. Bentley wintered over at Byrd in 1957 to prepare for the coming summer's traverse, to continue mapping the West Antarctic ice sheet. Excited by the work and unsure that he would ever have such an opportunity again, he signed on for a second year to repeat the entire sequence. Later he led three more traverse expeditions, spent eighteen seasons on the ice, and served as a member and leader of the National Research Council’s Polar Research Board, the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, and SCAR’s Group of Specialists on Global Change and the Antarctic (GLOCHANT).
Description:
The Antarctic Deep Freeze oral history project was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and supported by the Antarctic Deep Freeze Association. The original paper copies and unaltered tapes have been deposited in the library of the National Science Foundation.
Sponsors:
National Science Foundation
Antarctic Deep Freeze Association
Antarctic Deep Freeze Association
Type:
TranscriptOther Identifiers:
Record Group Number: 56.26SPEC.RG.56.26
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Restrictions: This item is not restricted.Collections
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