Yes, the point of the expedition was to see all the melting ice from climate change.
Oh, well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25558853
More on the mission
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531159/Antarctic-crew-build-ice-helipad-help-rescuers.html
Oh, well.
31 Dec
A planned helicopter rescue of 74 passengers and crew stranded on an Antarctic research ship for a week has been delayed by bad weather.
The Akademik Shokalskiy has been stuck in pack-ice since Christmas Eve. So far three rescue missions have been unable to reach the vessel because of poor weather conditions.
On board the Russian vessel is Andrew Luck-Baker from the BBC's Science Unit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25558853
They went in search evidence of the world’s melting ice caps, but instead a team of climate scientists have been forced to abandon their mission … because the Antarctic ice is thicker than usual at this time of year.
The scientists have been stuck aboard the stricken MV Akademik Schokalskiy since Christmas Day, with repeated sea rescue attempts being abandoned as icebreaking ships failed to reach them.
Now that effort has been ditched, with experts admitting the ice is just too thick. Instead the crew have built an icy helipad, with plans afoot to rescue the 74-strong team by helicopter.
More on the mission
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531159/Antarctic-crew-build-ice-helipad-help-rescuers.html