IGY to IPY, the U.S. Antarctic oversnow and airborne geophysical-glaciological research program from 1957 to 1964 from the view of a young graduate student

When 12 countries established scientific stations in Antarctica for the 1957-58 (IGY), the Cold War was at
its height, seven countries had made claims in Antarctica, and the Antarctic Treaty was in the future. The only major
field project of the U.S. IGY Antarctic program was series of oversnow traverses, starting in 1957, making seismic
reflection ice soundings (and other geophysical measurements) and glaciological studies. The U.S.S.R. and France made
similar traverses coordinated through the IGY. Although geology and topographic mapping were not part of the IGY
program because of the claims issue and the possibility of mineral resources, the oversnow traverse parties did geologic
work, during which unknown mountains were discovered. The oversnow traverses continued through 1966 and resulted
in an excellent first approximation of the snow surface elevation, ice thickness and bed topography of Antarctica, as
well as the mean annual temperature of that era and snow accumulation.