1. INTRODUCTION 
A. Purpose 
Operation DEEP FREEZE 61 (1960-1961) was a continuation of United States 
support of scientific endeavors in the Antarctic; it was the seventh consecutive year 
of U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office participation in marine geophysical research in 
this area. The National Science Foundation supported the scientific effort, the 
results of which are presented in this report . 
Research was conducted during ships' transits to and from the Antarctic and in 
the Ross Sea, Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas, South Atlantic Ocean, and the region 
of the Antarctic Convergence. 
B. Summary of Operations 
Marine geophysical observations were conducted aboard USS STATEN ISLAND 
(AGB-5), USS EDISTO (AGB-2), and USS GLACIER (AGB-4). Bathythermograph 
(BT) soundings were made by USCGC EASTWIND (WAGB-279). Oceanographic 
stations were occupied by HANZS ENDEAVOUR along Victoria Land Coast in 
cooperation with EDISTO. 
Tracks made by the icebreakers during survey operations are shown in Figure 
1, and locations of marine geophysical stations in the Ross Sea and Amundsen- 
Bellingshausen Seas, in Figure 2. Basic obervations at these stations consisted of 
vertical temperature measurements and collection of water, bottom, and biological 
samples. Also, geomagnetic and bathymetric measurements were made. While 
underway, between stations, and in transit from one area to another, continuous 
total intensity geomagnetic profiles and precision bathymetric soundings were recorded. 
In addition, BT lowerings and ice and meteorological observations were made. Table 
1 summarizes these observations by ship. 
BT lowerings with 900-foot instruments were scheduled on an hourly basis aboard 
the four icebreakers and on a 4-hour basis on other ships of the Task Force. Prints of 
the BT slides and the accompanying weather observations are on file at the National 
Oceanographic Data Center. 
Bottom samples were collected with Phleger and Hydroplastic (PVC) corers. All 
samples obtained were transferred to the Department of Geology, Florida State 
University, Tallahassee, Florida, for analyses and publication of the resulting data. 
The pertinent field data of these samples are summarized in Appendix B. 
