The Catlin Arctic Survey is not just another polar expedition. It is an international
collaboration which incorporates pioneering, highly complex scientific and communications
equipment that has been developed specifically for this project. This technology
will enable a global audience to have access to the human and scientific story as
it unfolds on the ice.
SPRITE is the project's Surface Penetrating Radar for Ice Thickness Establishment.
Engineer: Michael Gorman
SPRITE comprises a robust and portable, ice-penetrating impulse radar. At just 4kg
in weight it is vastly lighter than previous systems that traditionally have been
attached to aircraft.
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During their time on the ice, the team will be able to communicate between themselves
and the UK HQ, thanks to a 3-Way Person-to-Person communications system, developed
especially for the Catlin Arctic Survey.
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Direct communications from polar expeditions to back home up until now have been
severely restricted, compared to communications from all other regions of the world.
This is due to the extremely low data transmission rate offered by the only available
network of communication satellites - the Iridium array.
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Hi-tech sensors are worn around the wearer’s chest, to measure heart rate, breathing
rate and volume. The Equivital Recorder/Transmitter continuously encrypts and transmits
the wearer’s physiological data, which will in turn be sent to the survey vessel’s
onboard processor before being transmitted back to the UK HQ.
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The SeaCat system has been supplied by one of our Science Advisors, Professor Tim
Stanton at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. It consists of
an ultra light weight winch system and a high resolution Conductivity Temperature
Depth sensor package (CTD) made by Sea Bird Electronics.
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Technology gallery, photos of team and scienctific equipment taken.
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And they are off
Posted by
Ian Wesley
A big day today and spirits were high. After a prolonged packing session the Ice Team are out on the ice for their first mini expedition together. They left with sleds packed high and bristling with antennas....more
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Friday, 16th January 2009
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