Nothing like short sleeve weather at the U.K. Rothera station when you can compare it to bad weather back in London. Photo from 2013 at the http://www.dailymail.co.uk
The Halley Station on the Antarctic continent is one of four year-round stations operated by the U.K. on the continent. One can also see why the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia Islands are part of the bigger picture of U.K. presence in the region. Map from thewe.cc
At Halley Station itself, though, researchers are enjoying and reminiscing over the first full year of living in new facilities. A unique station design is one which has captured everyone's attention.
The Halley VI Research station - a series of modules, built on "skis" so they can be moved as needed. No, they don't walk by themselves ... Photo from www.building.co.uk
The units were built, tested, and put together over a four-year period finishing in 2013. (Apparently workers can only link the modules during a 9 week outside working window each year...) Last June-August was the first "winter" test. And at one point the power did go off for 19 hours, and researchers had to move into an emergency module that had its own generator. But with brutal winter conditions, these things happen, and apparently the design is proving itself.
The big red center module is for everyone - it has a dining room, bar and a gym (and library one hopes ...)
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Still, as with sasquatch in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, one hears stories, of moving, somewhat angry modules that roam the loneliest continent ...
Yes, this was found on the internet, so it must be true. At www.dailymail.co.uk
A couple pictures of the brief Antarctic summer, complete with tourists and sunshine. Photo from www.thehindu.com
There may be sunshine, but its always pretty low on the horizon ... Photo from www.antarcticstation.org
1 comment:
This was fascinating...and Awesome!
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