U.S. TO RESCUE TRAPPED ANTARCTIC RESEARCHERS

A specially equipped plane from the U.S. Antarctic Program will fly to the rescue of 30 researchers trapped at an Australian station on the frozen continent after an icebreaker poised to bring them home ran aground in a blizzard.

By the way, it’s summer in Antarctica. The average daily high temperature in February climbs to almost 32 degrees. July’s average high is a far less balmy 6 degrees.

The American plane, an LC130, is equipped with skis for ice landings. The plane will scoop up 30 expeditioners from Davis research station, the most southerly of Antarctic stations, and deposit them at an airstrip-equipped station “in the coming days” — presumably when the weather is more agreeable — the Australian Antarctica Division said.