| Part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) | |
 | |
| Duration | 1957–1959 |
|---|---|
| Location | Camp Hazen,Nunavut, Canada |
| Coordinates | 81°49′N71°20′W / 81.817°N 71.333°W /81.817; -71.333[1] |
| Participants | Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith |
Operation Hazen was a Canadian programme ofmeteorological,glaciological andgeological work undertaken as part of theInternational Geophysical Year. The investigations took place between 1957 and 1959[2] atLake Hazen onEllesmere Island,Nunavut, Canada.[3] The programme was led by English-born geologistGeoffrey Hattersley-Smith.[4]Organised by theDefence Research Board, twenty scientists took part in the operation, including officers from theFisheries Research Board, theGeological Survey, the Human History and Natural History branches of theNational Museum, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and members ofMcGill University, theUniversity of Toronto, theUniversity of Alberta, andMichigan State University.[5]
In 1882 American polar explorerAdolphus Greely was the first European to discover Lake Hazen during his 1881–1883 expedition and named the lake in honour of GeneralWilliam Babcock Hazen who had organized the expedition. Operation Hazen took its name from the lake.[6]
Between 28 April and 3 May theRoyal Canadian Air Force flew in seven members of the party.[7] A bulldozer dropped from the first flight was used to clear nine inches of snow to form a 3,500 foot airstrip. Two tractors, two dog teams and 35 tonnes of supplies and equipment were then subsequently flown in by aC119 aircraft.[8][7]
A party of six carried out glaciological, glacial-meteorological, andseismic survey studies on Gilman Glacier between April and August 1957. Meanwhile, two geologists worked from Hazen Camp, the main camp established on the shores ofLake Hazen. The glaciological work used seismic and gravity methods to determine ice thickness.[3]
Four meteorologists wintered at the base camp from August 1957 to April 1958. From April to August 1958, studies continued on Gilman Glacier, and further studies took place on the ice cap to the north of Lake Hazen, the Lake Hazen basin and other parts of northern Ellesmere Island. Twelve members, stationed at the base camp, carried out meteorological, geological,limnological,geomorphological,botanical,zoological andarchaeological investigations.[2]
Glaciological, meteorological and botanical research was conducted on Gilman Glacier in the summer of 1959.
During the spring and autumn re-supply operations, the expedition was supported by theUnited States Coast Guard, theUnited States Navy, and theUnited States Air Force.[2]
