Iceberg Aerial Dye "Bombed" for Tracking. An iceberg off the coast of Labrador is labeled with large streaks of bright vermillion dye imbedded between its two peaks for future identification and tracking by means of a calcium chloride-rhodamine "B" dye bomb from the rear cargo doorway of a Coast Guard HC-130-B Ice Patrol plane (underpart seen overhead). The indelible stain enables Coast Guard observers to more accurately determine rate of drift and measure rates of ice deterioration over a long period. This method of iceberg marking, developed by the Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit, Washin
Iceberg Aerial Dye "Bombed" for Tracking. An iceberg off the coast of Labrador is labeled with large streaks of bright vermillion dye imbedded between its two peaks for future identification and tracking by means of a calcium chloride-rhodamine "B" dye bomb from the rear cargo doorway of a Coast Guard HC-130-B Ice Patrol plane (underpart seen overhead). The indelible stain enables Coast Guard observers to more accurately determine rate of drift and measure rates of ice deterioration over a long period. This method of iceberg marking, developed by the Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit, Washington, , was used for the first time on the 1966 Ice Patrol. The bombs used were one-gallon glass jugs containing a mixture of calcium chloride pellets and rhodamine "B" dye. The calcium chloride melts grooves into the berg allowing the bright vermillion rhodamine dye to penetrate from one-half to one full inch deep, so that it remains detectable for a long period (unless the berg tumbles during melting stages). Though sometimes more than two weeks lapsed between the "Bombing" of a berg target and the first aerial tracking, the vermillion dye on the berg was readily identifiable.
Size: 5697px × 4758px
Photo credit: © NB/USC / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 17-a2-187, 26-, coast, guard, history, job, rdss, rg
