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Testing the Ice

November 28, 2015

An ice axe is an indispensable tool for navigating on ice. Scientists often use them to probe the snow ahead to see how deep it is, to stop themselves when sliding down a slope, or to steady their bodies when leaping across a meltwater stream on top of a glacier, as WHOI geophysicist Mark Behn is doing here. They are also handy for chopping steps in the ice or as a crutch when hiking up a hill. (Photo by Chris Linder, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)