United States Academic Research Fleet

As required and available, research ships of the U.S. academic fleet operated by University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System have worked in ice-free Antarctic waters. These visitors have included Melville, Knorr, and Alpha Helix. Research projects generally are in the disciplines of physical oceanography, marine biology, and marine geology and geophysics. In addition, the deep sea drilling ships Glomar Challenger and Joides Resolution have taken research cores from beneath Antarctic waters.

During the 1997-1998 field season, the Roger Revelle operated in waters between New Zealand and McMurdo in support of the southern ocean component of the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study.