The Willis Resilience Expedition was a scientific and exploratory program that took place in Antarctica from November 2013 to January 2014, with the goal of better understanding the changes in Earth's climate by global warming, in addition to weather-related risk. Announced in August 2013,[1] the expedition was led by explorer Douglas Stoup and Parker Liautaud, a teenage polar adventurer and environmental campaigner.[2] The expedition was underwritten by Willis Group, a global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker.

The communications team, including driver and mechanic Eyjolfur Teitsson, communication manager Nathan Hambrook-Skinner, and cinematographer Paddy Scott[3] trailed the team in their 6x6 expedition truck.[4]

The expedition consisted of three main components:

  1. Science. Liautaud and Stoup conducted an isotope transect of Antarctica by collecting snow samples on which stable isotope analysis will be conducted in the hope of providing a valuable contribution to human understanding of the Antarctic climate and potential for climate change.
  2. World Record Attempt. Parker Liautaud attempted to ski 640 km unsupported from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole in 22 days, setting a “coast to Pole” speed record.[5] At 19 years old, he also broke the record of the youngest person to ski to both the North and the South Poles.
  3. Live Communications. The Expedition was accompanied by the custom-built truck,[6] outfitted with equipment that provided 24/7 global connectivity. As such, it enabled Paddy Scott to document Liautaud and Stoup's journey in real-time. Scott facilitated the Antarctic end of the live broadcasts from the Antarctic Plateau and the first live broadcast from the South Pole.[7]

The Science: Antarctica as a Source of Environmental Information

While one of the harshest environments on the planet, Antarctica offers scientists important clues about environmental change. Its ice sheet contains a record of past climates, chronicling changes in temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere stretching back hundreds of thousands of years.

According to the British Antarctic Survey, the Antarctic Peninsula is also one of the fastest-warming parts of the planet. Melting of Antarctica's ice sheets could cause sea levels to rise much more than already predicted.[8] According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sea levels are expected to rise by 18–59 centimeters (7.1–23.2 inches) over the next hundred years.[9]

Weather Station Deployment

Liautaud and Stoup deployed a lightweight weather station that was developed at the Delft University of Technology, by the name of ColdFacts-3000BX, previous models of which had primarily been deployed on the Artic Ocean. The weather station was deployed near Union Glacier camp and tested for five weeks, relaying meteorological data every 30 minutes.

Isotope Hydrology Sampling

The Expedition also undertook a “coast-to-Pole-to-coast” survey of Antarctic stable isotope trends, covering hundreds of kilometers of previously unstudied territory. These observations provided new information on the rate of change in Antarctic temperatures in recent years. Samples were sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency Isotope Hydrology laboratories for analysis.

Transcontinental Tritium Study

The team conducted a transcontinental study of the deposition rate of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, across Antarctica. The relatively short half-life of tritium means it can be used to date snow and ice up to around 150 years old. The data can then be used to better understand the global water cycle, which is intrinsically linked to changes in climate. This was the first large-scale study of tritium in Antarctica since tritium returned to normal levels following the spike caused by thermonuclear tests in the 1960s. The samples were sent to GNS Science, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, for analysis.

World Speed Record Attempt

After the scientific survey was complete, the Willis Resilience Expedition set off on December 3, 2013, from the Ross Ice Shelf where Liautaud and Stoup began their journey skiing 640 km to the South Pole, crossing the Transantarctic Mountains, which ascend to 4,500 meters at the summit.

They set an unsupported “coast to Pole” speed record.[5] Breaking the record set in 2011 by Norway's Christian Eide,[10] via a different route. Liautaud also became the youngest person to reach both the North and the South Poles.[11]

Live Communications

The expedition truck that was used as transport during the sample-taking portion of the expedition was also used to transmit live video and data online during the speed race. The communication system employed two Iridium Pilot systems and a remote camera rig.[12] The truck did not provide expedition support during the race to the Pole.

Another aspect of live coverage was interactive visualizations, provided by global IT provider EMC Corporation, of data gathered on the expedition.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Willis Resilience Expedition".
  2. ↑ "Douglas Stoup biography".
  3. ↑ "The Willis Resilience Expedition Arrives in Antarctica".
  4. ↑ "2013 – Antarctica Willis Resilience".
  5. 1 2 Setting A New 'Coast-to-Pole' Speed Record, WillisResilience.com, 2013-10-07, retrieved 2013-10-07
  6. ↑ Correne Coetzer (2013-09-30). "South Pole 2013-14: Doug Stoup and Parker Liautaud for Leverett Glacier route". explorersweb.com. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  7. ↑ "Expedition Cameraman & Photographer | Willis Resilience - Antarctica". 11 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ice Sheets Programme Summary". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  9. ↑ "IPCC Working Group I assessment report, Climate Change 2013: the Physical Science Basis" (PDF). www.ipcc.ch. 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  10. ↑ Correne Coetzer (2011-01-13). "Breaking news: Christian Eide bags the South Pole solo speed ski world record". explorersweb.com. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  11. ↑ "Teenager sets record for fastest trek from Antarctic coast to south pole". TheGuardian.com. 25 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "A Custom-Built Communications Centre On Six Wheels". WillisResilience.com. 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
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