SIGC MET TEAM: GREENLAND

Year Published: 1959

Description:

“SIGC Met Team: Greenland” (1959) is an unedited, silent, color film offering an in-depth look at the daily operations and environmental challenges faced by the U.S. Signal Corps' Meteorological (Met) Team stationed at Camp Century in Greenland. The film documents the team's extensive data-gathering activities, including the use of radiosondes, Stevenson screens, and wind-measuring devices to monitor atmospheric conditions on the Greenland ice sheet - all while living in immense isolation and operating under extreme weather conditions.

At Camp Century in Greenland, the U.S. Army tested a range of technologies that addressed both scientific research and military strategic goals. Built in 1959 and operating through the 1960s, the camp was part of a broader Cold War initiative to explore Arctic environments and investigate the feasibility of hidden military installations under ice.

Film opens; Camera focuses on portion of globe highlighting Northern Canada and Greenland (0:08). Officers hold up “title” sign of film (0:34). Directional sign along road for “Gateway to the Ice Cap,” Camp Century (0:45). Camera pans desolate landscape, combination of patches of ice and brown soil (0:58). Willys MB Jeep parked in front of bright red Jamesway huts slightly lifted above soil (1:10). July 1960, “Site II:” Piles of snow blanket landscape, Jamesway hut contrasts white landscape (1:33). Officer sits at desk and assembles 1950s American radiosonde - device lifted by balloon into upper atmosphere to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure; Placed inside machine (1:56). Machine records data and prints data onto paper, officer uses ruler to mark points on paper (3:15). Radiosonde removed from machine and handed to another officer who brings device outside (3:35). Officer appears to be working with a meteorological slide rule or wind-rose chart (3:53). Montage scenes of officers working in lab and using recorded data to plot charts, graphs, drawings (4:17). Officer seen leaving Jamesway hut while holding radiosonde, inserts device into Stevenson screen (5:10). Officer prepares weather balloon from inside opening of make-shift ice hut (5:44). Two officers prepare radiosonde for launch with weather balloon (6:27). Officer peaks head out of Jamesway hut and makes hand signal to fellow officer, camera cuts to other officer who releases weather balloon into sky (7:03). Officer demonstrates rotating an early satellite communication ground antenna (7:26). Camera pans work site II, desolate landscape blanketed in white (7:51). Officer exits Jamesway hut wearing military parka with fur-lined hood, goes to check on Stevenson screen and various data recording instruments inside, collects data by writing figures on small notepad (8:16). Same officer walks over to spinning anemometers, part of larger meteorological station setup to study wind speed and direction; Adjusts antenna (10:03). Officer shovels snow into Jamesway hut through small hatch, likely to help with insulation or for fresh water supply; Another officer speaks on what appears to be AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" (11:33). Another shot of officer using meteorological slide rule, interpreting collected data (12:02). Officer wears military communication headphones, communicates with officer at other works station (13:44). Two officers dressed in military parkas with fur-lined hoods walk along snow carrying red ceiling balloon, track balloon’s ascent into air through Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (14:08). Close-up of officer using Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (15:13). Camera pans Site II at dusk, expansive white landscape (15:34). Footage perhaps from moving vehicle as it drives through vast, desolate landscape at night (16:07). Two officers continue to work on data collection/ interpretation in lab workstation (16:43). Shots of officer accommodations, bunk beds built into wall (17:03). Officer gets ready for day, stands in front of mirror lit by light coming in through small window (17:25). Officer talks on perhaps AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" to coordinate small rocket launch, other officers talking in background while standing by Thiokol Trackmaster vehicle (17:36). Preparing launch of what appears to be Loki or Deacon Rocket (17:51). Officer shovels fresh snow to allow for entry and exit to Jamesway hut (18:34). Recreation activities: Officers ski, horse around (18:49). Film ends (20:21).

,

This untitled, silent, unedited, color film offers an in-depth look at the daily operations and environmental challenges faced by the U.S. Signal Corps' Meteorological (Met) Team stationed at Camp Century in Greenland. The film documents the team's extensive data-gathering activities, including the use of radiosondes, Stevenson screens, and wind-measuring devices to monitor atmospheric conditions on the Greenland ice sheet - all while living in immense isolation and operating under extreme weather conditions. The film appears to use the same footage from the film “SIGC Met Team: Greenland” (1959) however the order of the clips and length of the films slightly differ.

At Camp Century in Greenland, the U.S. Army tested a range of technologies that addressed both scientific research and military strategic goals. Built in 1959 and operating through the 1960s, the camp was part of a broader Cold War initiative to explore Arctic environments and investigate the feasibility of hidden military installations under ice.

Film opens; Directional sign along road for “Gateway to the Ice Cap,” Camp Century (0:06). Desolate landscape blanketed in white snow and Signal Corps Met Team base (0:18). Officer walks across snowy, icy work site and enters Jamesway hut (0:42). Officer sits at desk and assembles 1950s American radiosonde - device lifted by balloon into upper atmosphere to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure; Placed inside machine (0:56). Machine records data and prints data, officer uses ruler to mark points on paper (2:13). Radiosonde removed from machine and handed to another officer who brings device outside (2:49). Officer seen leaving Jamesway hut while holding radiosonde, inserts device into Stevenson screen (3:06). Officer prepares weather balloon from inside opening of make-shift ice hut, prepare radiosonde to be attached to balloon (3:38). Officer peaks head out of Jamesway hut and makes hand signal to fellow officer, camera cuts to other officer who releases weather balloon into sky (4:53). Officer demonstrates rotating an early satellite communication ground antenna (5:14). Officer appears to be working with a meteorological slide rule or wind-rose chart; Montage scenes of officers working in lab and using recorded data to plot charts, graphs, drawings (5:25). Officer exits Jamesway hut wearing military parka with fur-lined hood, goes to check on Stevenson screen and various data recording instruments inside, collects data on small notepad (6:16). Same officers walks over to spinning anemometers, part of larger meteorological station setup to study wind speed and direction; Adjusts antenna (7:40). Officer using meteorological slide rule, interpreting collected data (8:52). Officer shovels snow into Jamesway hut through small hatch, likely to help with insulation or for fresh water supply; Another officer speaks on what appears to be AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" (10:28). Officer talks on perhaps AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" to coordinate small rocket launch, other officers talking in background while standing by Thiokol Trackmaster vehicle (10:56). Preparing launch of either Loki or Deacon Rocket (11:09). Two officers dressed in military parkas with fur-lined hoods walk along snow carrying red weather balloon, track balloon’s ascent into air through Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (11:42). Close-up of officer using Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (12:42). Officer wears military communication headphones, communicates with officer at other works station (13:00). Officer shovels fresh snow to allow for entry and exit to Jamesway hut (13:24). Camera pans Work Site II, expansive white landscape after fresh snow fall (13:36). Officer accommodations, bunk beds built into wall (14:10). Willys MB Jeep parked in front of bright red Jamesway huts (14:48). Recreational activities: Officers ski down snowy slopes, horse around in snow (15:10). Film ends (16:41).

Complete Record:

“SIGC Met Team: Greenland” (1959) is an unedited, silent, color film offering an in-depth look at the daily operations and environmental challenges faced by the U.S. Signal Corps' Meteorological (Met) Team stationed at Camp Century in Greenland. The film documents the team's extensive data-gathering activities, including the use of radiosondes, Stevenson screens, and wind-measuring devices to monitor atmospheric conditions on the Greenland ice sheet - all while living in immense isolation and operating under extreme weather conditions.

At Camp Century in Greenland, the U.S. Army tested a range of technologies that addressed both scientific research and military strategic goals. Built in 1959 and operating through the 1960s, the camp was part of a broader Cold War initiative to explore Arctic environments and investigate the feasibility of hidden military installations under ice.

Film opens; Camera focuses on portion of globe highlighting Northern Canada and Greenland (0:08). Officers hold up “title” sign of film (0:34). Directional sign along road for “Gateway to the Ice Cap,” Camp Century (0:45). Camera pans desolate landscape, combination of patches of ice and brown soil (0:58). Willys MB Jeep parked in front of bright red Jamesway huts slightly lifted above soil (1:10). July 1960, “Site II:” Piles of snow blanket landscape, Jamesway hut contrasts white landscape (1:33). Officer sits at desk and assembles 1950s American radiosonde - device lifted by balloon into upper atmosphere to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure; Placed inside machine (1:56). Machine records data and prints data onto paper, officer uses ruler to mark points on paper (3:15). Radiosonde removed from machine and handed to another officer who brings device outside (3:35). Officer appears to be working with a meteorological slide rule or wind-rose chart (3:53). Montage scenes of officers working in lab and using recorded data to plot charts, graphs, drawings (4:17). Officer seen leaving Jamesway hut while holding radiosonde, inserts device into Stevenson screen (5:10). Officer prepares weather balloon from inside opening of make-shift ice hut (5:44). Two officers prepare radiosonde for launch with weather balloon (6:27). Officer peaks head out of Jamesway hut and makes hand signal to fellow officer, camera cuts to other officer who releases weather balloon into sky (7:03). Officer demonstrates rotating an early satellite communication ground antenna (7:26). Camera pans work site II, desolate landscape blanketed in white (7:51). Officer exits Jamesway hut wearing military parka with fur-lined hood, goes to check on Stevenson screen and various data recording instruments inside, collects data by writing figures on small notepad (8:16). Same officer walks over to spinning anemometers, part of larger meteorological station setup to study wind speed and direction; Adjusts antenna (10:03). Officer shovels snow into Jamesway hut through small hatch, likely to help with insulation or for fresh water supply; Another officer speaks on what appears to be AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" (11:33). Another shot of officer using meteorological slide rule, interpreting collected data (12:02). Officer wears military communication headphones, communicates with officer at other works station (13:44). Two officers dressed in military parkas with fur-lined hoods walk along snow carrying red ceiling balloon, track balloon’s ascent into air through Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (14:08). Close-up of officer using Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (15:13). Camera pans Site II at dusk, expansive white landscape (15:34). Footage perhaps from moving vehicle as it drives through vast, desolate landscape at night (16:07). Two officers continue to work on data collection/ interpretation in lab workstation (16:43). Shots of officer accommodations, bunk beds built into wall (17:03). Officer gets ready for day, stands in front of mirror lit by light coming in through small window (17:25). Officer talks on perhaps AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" to coordinate small rocket launch, other officers talking in background while standing by Thiokol Trackmaster vehicle (17:36). Preparing launch of what appears to be Loki or Deacon Rocket (17:51). Officer shovels fresh snow to allow for entry and exit to Jamesway hut (18:34). Recreation activities: Officers ski, horse around (18:49). Film ends (20:21).

,

This untitled, silent, unedited, color film offers an in-depth look at the daily operations and environmental challenges faced by the U.S. Signal Corps' Meteorological (Met) Team stationed at Camp Century in Greenland. The film documents the team's extensive data-gathering activities, including the use of radiosondes, Stevenson screens, and wind-measuring devices to monitor atmospheric conditions on the Greenland ice sheet - all while living in immense isolation and operating under extreme weather conditions. The film appears to use the same footage from the film “SIGC Met Team: Greenland” (1959) however the order of the clips and length of the films slightly differ.

At Camp Century in Greenland, the U.S. Army tested a range of technologies that addressed both scientific research and military strategic goals. Built in 1959 and operating through the 1960s, the camp was part of a broader Cold War initiative to explore Arctic environments and investigate the feasibility of hidden military installations under ice.

Film opens; Directional sign along road for “Gateway to the Ice Cap,” Camp Century (0:06). Desolate landscape blanketed in white snow and Signal Corps Met Team base (0:18). Officer walks across snowy, icy work site and enters Jamesway hut (0:42). Officer sits at desk and assembles 1950s American radiosonde - device lifted by balloon into upper atmosphere to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure; Placed inside machine (0:56). Machine records data and prints data, officer uses ruler to mark points on paper (2:13). Radiosonde removed from machine and handed to another officer who brings device outside (2:49). Officer seen leaving Jamesway hut while holding radiosonde, inserts device into Stevenson screen (3:06). Officer prepares weather balloon from inside opening of make-shift ice hut, prepare radiosonde to be attached to balloon (3:38). Officer peaks head out of Jamesway hut and makes hand signal to fellow officer, camera cuts to other officer who releases weather balloon into sky (4:53). Officer demonstrates rotating an early satellite communication ground antenna (5:14). Officer appears to be working with a meteorological slide rule or wind-rose chart; Montage scenes of officers working in lab and using recorded data to plot charts, graphs, drawings (5:25). Officer exits Jamesway hut wearing military parka with fur-lined hood, goes to check on Stevenson screen and various data recording instruments inside, collects data on small notepad (6:16). Same officers walks over to spinning anemometers, part of larger meteorological station setup to study wind speed and direction; Adjusts antenna (7:40). Officer using meteorological slide rule, interpreting collected data (8:52). Officer shovels snow into Jamesway hut through small hatch, likely to help with insulation or for fresh water supply; Another officer speaks on what appears to be AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" (10:28). Officer talks on perhaps AN/PRC-6 "Handie-Talkie" to coordinate small rocket launch, other officers talking in background while standing by Thiokol Trackmaster vehicle (10:56). Preparing launch of either Loki or Deacon Rocket (11:09). Two officers dressed in military parkas with fur-lined hoods walk along snow carrying red weather balloon, track balloon’s ascent into air through Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (11:42). Close-up of officer using Pilot Balloon (Pibal) Theodolite (12:42). Officer wears military communication headphones, communicates with officer at other works station (13:00). Officer shovels fresh snow to allow for entry and exit to Jamesway hut (13:24). Camera pans Work Site II, expansive white landscape after fresh snow fall (13:36). Officer accommodations, bunk beds built into wall (14:10). Willys MB Jeep parked in front of bright red Jamesway huts (14:48). Recreational activities: Officers ski down snowy slopes, horse around in snow (15:10). Film ends (16:41).

NOTE: Two (or more) records have been merged together to create this data.