"Ice Bridge Action" focuses on the major faults of the Songdo Glacier and the 3D model is mapped by the topographic mapper.

The human interest in Antarctica stems from its mystery on the one hand, and its scientific value on the other. How does global sea level rise affect the South Pole? Last year, Songliao Glacier in Antarctica produced a crack of about 18 miles in length, which means that a new iceberg is forming.

This has also attracted the attention of scientists because the Songdo Glacier is moving very fast. On October 14, 2011, NASA launched the "Ice Bridge Action." The scientists created a 3D model and animation of large cracks using a DC-8 researcher equipped with a terrain mapper and a digital mapping system.

The digital mapping system is actually a static camera with a very high geographical positioning capability. The airborne terrain mapper is a scanning laser altimeter that can measure the change in the ice level. Currently, scientists are waiting for cracks to pass through the rest of the ice shelf and eventually “free up” the iceberg.

Scientists said that the Songdao Glacier Fracture is related to global sea level rise. The "ice bridge action" is not easy, because the DC-8 research aircraft must be careful when flying along cracks. And once the iceberg drifts away, the speed of the front edge of the ice shelf will be quite fast. However, members of the "Bridge of Ice Bridge" feel very proud because they are at the right place at the right time and witnessed some major events. Most of the time, researchers are not so lucky and it is difficult to grasp the timing.