Radford University physics professor Rhett Herman and seven of his students traveled to Barrow, Alaska, during spring break. Herman, freshman physics majors Laura Sweat and Brian Veitz, sophomore physics major Caleigh Samuels, junior physics majors Ean Atkinson and Trevor Twyford, senior geology major Christine Ruhl and graduate student Jeremy McLaughlin researched the age of the sea ice by imaging the ice with geophysical equipment in a number of locations. They specifically mapped out the ice/water boundary that lies one to two meters below the ice surface. Sophomore physics major Elizabeth Gichana processed the data that the group sent back from Barrow. She used campus based computers to illuminate features that the group couldn’t see on a quick processing run in the field.

View photos of their trip. Click on the image to view a larger version. For more information on the trip, please see RU News Release.

Brian Veitz, Christine Ruhl, Laura Sweat and Jeremy assemble the Ground Penetrating Radar unit to use during their research.

Brian Veitz at the controls of the geophysical equipment called the OhmMapper with Christine Ruhl serving as his path spotter and survey partner.

Ean Atkinson, Caleigh Samuels and Trevor Twyford working with the OhmMapper.

Trevor Twyford taking a break on the ice to get his strength back. Walking on the sea ice is very difficult and will exhaust a person quickly.

Physics professor Rhett Herman says it was very cold in Barrow, Alaska.

Dinner at the Ilasavik College cafeteria after a long, hard day of work. Clockwise from lower left: Christine Ruhl, Caleigh Samuels, Jeremy McLaughlin, Laura Sweat, Brian Veitz, Trevor Twyford, Ean Atkinson. Standing is Rhett Herman and Barrow Arctic Science Consortium Station Manager Lewis Brower.

Research data of the sea ice/water boundary.