Research stations in Antarctica

Many countries have built permanent research stations in Antarctica. These stations are spread out across the continent and are built on solid rock or thick ice that stays in place. Unlike some stations in the Arctic, which move with the ice, Antarctic stations stay put.

Most of these stations have people living and working there all year long. As of 2023, 55 countries operate research stations in Antarctica. The number of people at these stations changes with the seasons. During the summer, there are about 4,800 people, but this drops to around 1,200 in the winter. Each summer, about 30 special field camps are also set up to help with specific science projects.

History

First bases

During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration in the late 19th century, the first bases on the continent were set up. In 1898, explorer Carsten Borchgrevink led the British Antarctic Expedition to Cape Adare, where he built the first Antarctic base on Ridley Beach. This expedition is now called the Southern Cross Expedition after its ship's name. Most of the team were Norwegian, but the money came from Britain. The expedition's hut is still in good shape and is often visited by tourists.

The hut was later used by a group led by Victor Campbell in 1911. They were part of an attempt to explore the eastern end of the ice shelf.

In 1903, William S. Bruce led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition to Antarctica. One goal was to set up a weather station. After not finding land, Bruce decided to go to Laurie Island in the South Orkneys. The islands were a good spot for a weather station, and they were close to South America. Bruce set up a full program of work, including weather checks, collecting sea samples, and gathering plants and rocks.

The main job during this time was building a stone house called "Omond House". It was made from local stones without using any special tools or cement. The house was 20 feet by 20 feet square (6m × 6m), with two windows, and could hold six people. Bruce later offered to give the station and tools to Argentina if they agreed to keep doing science there.

Expansion

Little happened for the next forty years.

The United States, led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, built five bases near the Bay of Whales named Little America between 1929 and 1958. All of them have since drifted away on icebergs.

Before the Second World War, German planes dropped markers across Queen Maud Land to try to claim the land (New Swabia).

In 1943, Britain started Operation Tabarin to set up a presence on the continent. The main goal was to strengthen British claims on some islands and parts of Antarctica, especially because Argentina supported Germany.

Led by Lieutenant James Marr, a team of 14 left the Falkland Islands in two ships, HMS William Scoresby and HMS Fitzroy, on January 29, 1944. Marr had gone on an earlier Antarctic trip with explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. They set up bases near the old Norwegian whaling station on Deception Island, at Port Lockroy on the coast of Graham Land, and at Hope Bay in 1945. These were the first permanent bases built on the main part of Antarctica.

After the war, many countries set up more research stations. Chile started its First Chilean Antarctic Expedition in 1947–48. The UK's Signy Research Station was set up in 1947, Australia's Mawson Station in 1954, and Dumont d'Urville Station was built by France in 1956. In 1956, the United States built McMurdo Station and Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the Soviet Union built Mirny Station.

The Antarctic Treaty

Main article: Antarctic Treaty System

The Antarctic Treaty was signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 countries. It says that science work in Antarctica can continue, but all findings must be shared. The treaty also says Antarctica can only be used for peaceful reasons and that things like mining are not allowed. So, only science research can be done there. As more countries set up research stations, more joined the treaty. By 2023, 56 countries were part of it, and 55 of them use their rights to run research stations in Antarctica. Some countries have claimed parts of Antarctica, planning to do more research there in the future. But research stations have also been set up in areas claimed by other countries.

Permanent active stations

Many countries have set up research stations in Antarctica. These stations are always staffed by people who live there year-round. The United States has the southernmost base, called Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the largest base, McMurdo Station. Other countries also have important stations, like China’s Kunlun Station and Russia’s Vostok Station.

Subantarctic stations

See also: Subantarctic region and List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands

The sub-Antarctic zone is a special area in the Southern Hemisphere, located just north of Antarctica.

Summer-only active stations

Maps of active stations

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Indian Ocean

Southern Ocean

Antarctic Peninsula

↑
Chile

↑
South Africa

↑
India

New Zealand
↑

!Jinnah

Jinnah

!Svea

Svea

!Sobral

Sobral

!Tor

Tor

!Dobrowolski

Dobrowolski

!Signy

Signy

!Law-Racoviță

Law-
Racoviță

!Kohnen

Kohnen

!Taishan

Taishan

!Kunlun

Kunlun

!Molodyozhnaya, Vechernyaya

Molodyozhnaya, Vechernyaya

!Elisabeth

Elisabeth

!Nordenskiöld

Nordenskiöld

!Union Glacier

Union Glacier

!Zucchelli, Gondwana

Zucchelli, Gondwana

!Bird

Bird

!King Edward Point

King Edward Point

!Belgrano

Belgrano

!Vostok

Vostok

!Orcadas

Orcadas

!Mawson

Mawson

!Troll

Troll

!Mirny

Mirny

!Neumayer

Neumayer

!Halley

Halley

!Concordia

Concordia

!Qinling, Jang Bogo

Qinling, Jang Bogo

!Davis

Davis

!Dumont d'Urville

Dumont d'Urville

!SANAE

SANAE

!Casey

Casey

!Novolazarevskaya,Maitri

Novolazarevskaya,
Maitri

!Showa

Showa

!Amundsen–Scott

Amundsen–Scott

!Progress,Bharati,Zhongshan

Progress,
Bharati,
Zhongshan

!McMurdo, Scott

McMurdo, Scott

Active research stations in Antarctica, except the Antarctic Peninsula. Red squares represent summer-only stations.

Southern Ocean

South Shetland Islands

Antarctic Peninsula

!ECARE

ECARE

!Gerritsz

Gerritsz

!Matienzo

Matienzo

!Melchior

Melchior

!Primavera

Primavera

!Mendel

Mendel

!Videla,Brown

Videla,
Brown

!Yelcho, Lockroy

Yelcho, Lockroy

!Petrel

Petrel

!TARS

TARS

!Carvajal

Carvajal

!San Martín

San Martín

!Vernadsky

Vernadsky

!Palmer

Palmer

!O'Higgins

O'Higgins

!Esperanza

Esperanza

!Rothera

Rothera

!Marambio

Marambio

Active research stations on the Antarctic Peninsula, except the South Shetland Islands. Red squares represent summer-only stations.

Southern Ocean

Antarctic Peninsula

!Risopatrón

Risopatrón

!Mann, Shirreff

Mann, Shirreff

!Cámara

Cámara

!Maldonado

Maldonado

!Juan Carlos, Ohridski

Juan Carlos, Ohridski

!Castilla, Deception

Castilla, Deception

!Eco-Nelson

Eco-Nelson

!Prat

Prat

!Arctowski

Arctowski

!Ferraz

Ferraz

!Sejong

Sejong

!Carlini

Carlini

!Frei,Bellingshausen,Escudero,Artigas,GreatWall

Frei,
Bellingshausen,
Escudero,
Artigas,
Great
Wall

Active research stations in the South Shetland Islands. Red squares represent summer-only stations.

Inactive stations

Impact and pollution

Further information: Climate change in Antarctica

In 2023, a study by scientists from Australia showed that pollution from research stations in Antarctica was as heavy as in very busy ports around the world.