Author Archives: Tom

About Tom

Tom Sharpe is Curator of Palaeontology and Archives in the Department of Geology of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. He is currently preparing an exhibition about Captain Scott's 1910-13 British Antarctic Expedition, its links with Wales and the scientific work of the expedition. The exhibition, Captain Scott: South for Science, opens on 14 January 2012.

Farewell to the Antarctic

Posted on December 8, 2011

Seeing the huts of these early expeditions and experiencing in a slight way what the weather can be like here, even at the height of summer, brings a new dimension to, and a deeper appreciation of the achievements of the Scott and Shackleton expeditions. Continue reading →

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The Ross Sea Ice Shelf and beyond

Posted on December 1, 2011

Extending east from Cape Crozier, the front of the Ross Ice Shelf is a 30 metre high vertical wall of ice. It’s a remarkable feature, especially when you realise that it’s fresh water, it’s floating, and about 90% of it … Continue reading →

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The most southerly ship on the planet

Posted on November 28, 2011

On Friday, back in our harbour in the fast ice between Capes Royds and Evans on Ross Island, we realised we are the most southerly ship on the planet. To get here this early in the season we’ve had to … Continue reading →

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Scott’s hut on Cape Evans

Posted on November 24, 2011

So far, the geology on this trip has faced some stiff competion from history and penguins, but on tuesday it came into its own. We moved across McMurdo Sound overnight and into the fast ice on the west coast, ready … Continue reading →

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Reaching Shackleton’s expedition hut

Posted on November 23, 2011

Taking a circuitous route through the pack ice, we finally made it to Frankin Island at 76 degrees south. We got the ship to within 5 miles, then flew in by helicopter, landing on the sea ice at the southeastern … Continue reading →

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Land ahoy!

Posted on November 21, 2011

Monday 21st November Our captivity in the ice didn’t last as long as we expected. After an hour or so, just as we were beginning to discuss who to eat first, we were released from the ice. We pressed on … Continue reading →

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Stranded on the ice floes

Posted on November 18, 2011

Tom Sharpe continues his journey in the footsteps of Captain Scott, on the 100th anniversary of Scott’s journey to the South Pole… Friday 18 November As the ice charts showed, we reached the edge of the pack ice on schedule, … Continue reading →

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Breaking through the Ross Sea ice

Posted on November 17, 2011

We’re breaking through the Ross Sea pack ice at the moment – the ice shelf was named after Captain Sir James Clark Ross who first discovered it in 1841. The Ross Ice Shelf was a popular starting point for early … Continue reading →

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Sharpe of the Antarctic

Posted on November 16, 2011

Following in the footsteps of Scott It’s a hundred years since Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill fated expedition to Antarctica, and the anniversary is being marked by many events this year and next. I’m currently on my way to visit … Continue reading →

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