On a smooth wave in the icy cold. The international research project BEAMISH is investigating the current behaviour of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the flow of the fast "ice streams" that drain it. This requires measurements on the surface of the ice as well as drilling into the bed of the Rutford Ice Stream. The ice of the Rutford Ice Stream is well over two kilometres thick and drilling directly to the bed is a major challenge.

A large hot-water drilling machine is used for this, which takes up to two days to melt down to such great depths. The machine was built especially for this application. The largest parts weigh up to 7 tonnes and lie on the ice. The gigantic special drill, which is used on open ice, has to function perfectly even at -30°C and withstand driving snow and other adverse weather conditions to enable the polar explorers to do their work properly. Antarctica and Greenland have the potential to trigger an irreversible rise in sea levels that could last for many centuries to come. Current results from precise measurements are therefore of enormous importance for research.