Weddell Sea

an arm of the S Atlantic in Antarctica

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Weddell Sea

a marginal sea indenting the coastline of Antarctica. It lies between the Antarctic Peninsula on the west and Coats Land on the east, and its southern shores form the edges of the Ronne and Filchner ice shelves. The Weddell Sea has an area of 2,796,400 sq km. Prevailing depths are 3,000 m, and maximum depths exceed 4,500 m in the northern part. The southern and southwestern parts are shallow, with depths of up to 500 m. Much of the sea is covered throughout the year by pack ice; there are many icebergs.

On the coast of the Weddell Sea are located the British Antarctic station at Halley Bay and four Argentine stations, three of which are on the Antarctic Peninsula. In late 1975 the Soviet seasonal station Druzhnaia was established on the southern shore of the sea. The Weddell Sea was first entered in 1823 by an English expedition led by J. Weddell, who named it George IV Sea. In 1900 the sea was renamed in honor of Weddell.

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References in periodicals archive

He said: "Much of our time has been spent along the edge of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf where science operations involved repeated oceanographic measurements of the water column adjacent to the ice shelf to determine the volume and rate of fresh, cold ice-shelf water formation due to the melting of the ice shelf base and the intrusion of relatively warmer water masses from the Weddell Sea under the ice shelf.

University lecturer reflects on Antarctica adventures; Dr Jeff Evans was part of special research expedition

The search team - led by Prof Julian Dowdeswell - cracked through part of the 17,000 sq mile Larson C ice shelf in the Weddell Sea.

Stranded on the polar ice with no help for 750 miles, the man who lifted spirits of Shackleton's men with a banjo and a bottle of whisky; STORY OF HERO'S HELPER AS HUNT FOR 1915 SHIP IS ABANDONED

The search team - led by Professor Julian Dowdeswell - battled towards the spot through part of the 17,000 square-mile Larsen C ice shelf in the Weddell Sea.

Stranded on the polar ice with no help for 750 miles, the man who lifted spirits of Shackleton's crew with a banjo and a bottle of whisky Great-great nephew's tribute to brave explorer; STORY OF HERO'S HELPER AS HUNT FOR 1915 SHIP IS ABANDONED; Great-great nephew's tribute to brave explorer

The team have broken through 10ft of pack-ice to reach the vessel's last-known position in the Weddell Sea.

SCIENTISTS' ANTARCTIC SEARCH FOR SHACKLETON'S SHIPWRECK; Team will search ocean floor for Irish explorer's Endurance vessel

Finding a deep-water shipwreck in the Weddell Sea when it is covered in ice - you are not going to get any harder than that."

Explorer known as 'the shipwreck hunter'

The petition, backing an Antarctic sanctuary in the Weddell Sea to protect its wildlife and habitats from damaging activities such as large-scale fishing, has been signed by two million people worldwide.

X Files marks spot for sea sanctuary

A block of ice the size of Delaware broke away from the Larsen C ice shelf and is now floating the Weddell Sea. overtime, this massive iceberg will break into smaller ones, further enhancing a spectacle that is already sparking a surge in iceberg-watching cruises, like those of French line Ponant, which uses advanced sonar for tracking t keep the ship in perfect position without dropping anchor, so as not to disturb the ocean floor.

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"I was very honoured he did that, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes gave me a quote for the cover, and I've joked I'm going to have to get the quotes tattooed on my forehead!" The photos Sue took for the book are also being used in a campaign to protect the Weddell Sea, where she spent a lot of her time.

Sue living her dream with Antarctic role; Photographer's book of penguin pics after years of working with TV legend

"I was very honoured he did that and Sir Ranulph Fiennes gave me a quote for the cover and I've joked I'm going to have to get the quotes tattooed on my forehead!" The photos Sue took for the book are also being used in a campaign to protect the Weddell Sea, where she spent a lot of her time.

SUE LIVING HER DREAM WITH ANTARCTIC ROLE; PHOTOGRAPHER'S BOOK OF PENGUIN PICS AFTER YEARS OF WORKING WITH TV LEGEND

Antarctic scientists are drawing up the technical plans for marine protected areas in the Antarctic Ocean, one of which is expected to cover around 1.8 million square kilometers in the Weddell Sea. The final decision will be taken by the CCAMLR in October 2018, when it convenes in Hobart, Tasmania.

Majority of Krill Fishing Companies Back Call to Protect Antarctic Ocean

Sea ice extent remained below average for the entirety of 2017, with record lows persisting for the first four months, followed by the re-emergence of the Maud Rise polynya in the Weddell Sea in mid-September.

6. ANTARCTICA