Antarctica Mawson Station becoming isolated due to increasing sea ice

            Rob Wooding the operation manager of the Australian Antarctic Division has told the media that growing sea ice around Antarctica is creating serious problems for scientists and the Antarctica longest continuously operated outpost Mawson Station.  Increasing sea ice is blocking access. He said that in the 2013-2014 season it was not possible to get anywhere near Mawson due to sea ice. Fuel had to be brought in by helicopter.  Antarctic sea ice extent hit a new record in September 2014 with the US based National Snow and Ice Data Center reporting that the ice averaged 20.0 million square kilometres (7.72 million square miles) during the month.  The strong winds produced by the Southern Ocean are believed to be affecting sea ice conditions which push the ice out from the continent.  (Report by Thomas Richard www.examiner.com  13 May.  Also see www.notrickszone.com).  Mawson Station looking towards David Ridge