South Pole Station Facts

  8/28/96    SOUTH POLE STATION FACTS

		History Attainment of the geographic South Pole was a primary concern of the early 20th century explorers. Tentative forays into the Antarctic region had been undertaken by several expeditions during the 19th century, but it was not until the early 1900's that t he Pole itself was considered to be a realistic goal. Two British expeditions, the "Discovery" expeditions of 1902 and the "Nimrod" expedition of 1908, were the first to depart for the continent with conquest of the Pole an expressed purpose. Robert F. Scott's "Discovery" expedition established an initial " furthest south" record, but competing expedition priorities prevented further progress. In 1908, Ernest Shackleton, a member of Scott's "furthest south" party, returned to the Antarctic as leader of the "Nimrod" expedition. In a remarkable feat of endur ance, Shackleton and several others came to within 97 miles of the Pole before returning to their base at McMurdo Sound and an eventual hero's welcome in England. Victory, it seemed, would come to the next expedition. Such, in fact, proved to be the case, but it came to a Norwegian expedition, led by the ascetic Roald Amundsen. Amundsen, perhaps the ultimate polar technician, had developed an interest in reaching the South Pole concurrent with the formation of Robert Scott's second or "Terra Nova" expedition. When Scott sailed for the Antarctic, Amundsen was not far behind and by intent or coincidence a race began. The race ended on 14 December 1911, when Amundsen and four others arrived at the South Pole after a generally uneventful and carefully managed overland journey. Their return was equally uneventful. Amundsen's almost lighthearted success contrasted stark ly with the fate of the Scott party. Scott and four companions reached the Pole a month after Amundsen, on 17 January 1912. Beset with problems from the outset and mortally weakened by the rigors of the return journey, Scott and his companions perished. The next visit to South Pole occurred on 29 November 1929 when Richard E. Byrd, Jr. flew over the Pole and threw an American flag and other mementos out the window of his Ford Trimotor airplane. The Modern Era The next surface visit was on 31 October 1956. On that date, a ski-equipped R-4D aircraft landed at the Pole. On board were Admiral George Dufek and several other personnel of the United States Navy. Their purpose was to survey the site in preparation for the establishment of a research station, one of many planned for the International Geophysical Year (IGY). Construction of the original South Pole Station began the following month and by February 1957, the station was complete. An eighteen-man Nav y support and civilian scientific crew, led by John Tuck and Paul Siple, remained for the winter, the first of the winter-over parties which have continuously occupied what became known as Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It is interesting to note that Admiral R. E. Byrd was by then the director of the U.S. Antarctic Program. The original station had been modified and expanded over the years, but by 1967 it became increasingly apparent that a new station would be needed. Construction of the new South Pole Station began during the 1970/71 austral summer. Erection of the dome, arches, and the interior modules took place over the next three summers. Finishing work was concluded during the 1974/75 season, and in January, 1975, the station was formally dedicated. The old station was abandoned and winter operations commenced at the new facility the following month. At 20 years of age, the present station is now rapidly reaching the end of its useful life, and NSF is well advanced in planning redevelopment of the station on the current site. The next station will feature extremely well insulated elevated modular str uctures to reduce fossil fuel usage and snow drifting. Alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, are expected to be widely used. Several new outlying structures which have been built in the past few years foreshadow the philosophy of future co nstruction. The South Pole Station is situated at 90 degrees South on the Polar Plateau. The station was originally constructed 400 meters from the geographic South Pole; however, ice movement, at the rate of 10 meters per year, will eventually carry the station ove r the actual Pole. The site is at an elevation of approximately 2850 meters (9300 ft) most of which is measured in ice thickness. The very low atmospheric temperatures produce an effective average pressure altitude of approximately 3230 meters (10,600 ft). The mean annual temperature is -49.3 degrees C (-56.7 F). The lowest recorded temperature is -82.8 degreees C (-177.0 F) and the highest temperature is -13.6 C (+7.5 F). An extremely arid environment limits annual snowfall; however, a relatively constant windspeed of 5-15 knots compounds the accumulation and accounts for the heavy snow drifting common to inland Antarctic stations. The surrounding terrain is completely f lat, nearly featureless snow. Station Facilities The central area of the station is located beneath an aluminum geodesic dome, 50 meters (165 ft) in diameter at the base and approximately 17 meters (55 ft) at its apex. The dome houses three two-story structures which contain living, dining, communicati ons, recreation, laboratory, and meeting facilities. The station can accommodate a crew of 28 during the winter period and a crew of up to 28 during the summer in the dome itself, with up to an additional 120 people accommodated in the facility called, " Summer Camp" 150 meters (500 ft) grid southwest of the station. One of the summer camp buildings is a modern, solar heated dormitory complete with lounge, bathrooms and laundry facilities, which was completed during the 1993/94 season. A series of steel arches runs perpendicular to the axis of the dome's main entryway and houses the garage complex, gymnasium, carpenter shop, power plant, biomedical facility, and the main fuel storage. The fuel arch contains nine 25,000 gallon bladders, giving the station a maximum capacity of 950,000 liters or 225,000 gallons of JP-8 fuel. The four-story Skylab and the balloon inflation tower adjoin the main station and are accessible through covered archways. The Clean Air Facility for atmospheric chemistry lies 100 meters upwind of the station. Other research modules are located away from the main station. Primary station power is provided by one of the three 375 kW diesel generators. Waste heat is utilized for station heating via a glycol circulation system that conducts the heated coolant through the various station structures. Another glycol loop suppl ies heat to the snow melter while yet another heat exchanger uses the exhaust heat to operate a water well melited in the ice sheet. These systems, as well as water, sewage, phone, computer, and electric lines are routed through a series of sub-surface steel utility corridors, called utilidors. Written by NOAA Officer LTJG Ricardo Ramos South Pole Station Science Leader

History

Attainment of the geographic South Pole was a primary concern of the early 20th century explorers. Tentative forays into the Antarctic region had been undertaken by several expeditions during the 19th century, but it was not until the early 1900's that t he Pole itself was considered to be a realistic goal.

Two British expeditions, the "Discovery" expeditions of 1902 and the "Nimrod" expedition of 1908, were the first to depart for the continent with conquest of the Pole an expressed purpose. Robert F. Scott's "Discovery" expedition established an initial " furthest south" record, but competing expedition priorities prevented further progress. In 1908, Ernest Shackleton, a member of Scott's "furthest south" party, returned to the Antarctic as leader of the "Nimrod" expedition. In a remarkable feat of endur ance, Shackleton and several others came to within 97 miles of the Pole before returning to their base at McMurdo Sound and an eventual hero's welcome in England. Victory, it seemed, would come to the next expedition.

Such, in fact, proved to be the case, but it came to a Norwegian expedition, led by the ascetic Roald Amundsen. Amundsen, perhaps the ultimate polar technician, had developed an interest in reaching the South Pole concurrent with the formation of Robert Scott's second or "Terra Nova" expedition. When Scott sailed for the Antarctic, Amundsen was not far behind and by intent or coincidence a race began.

The race ended on 14 December 1911, when Amundsen and four others arrived at the South Pole after a generally uneventful and carefully managed overland journey. Their return was equally uneventful. Amundsen's almost lighthearted success contrasted stark ly with the fate of the Scott party. Scott and four companions reached the Pole a month after Amundsen, on 17 January 1912. Beset with problems from the outset and mortally weakened by the rigors of the return journey, Scott and his companions perished.

The next visit to South Pole occurred on 29 November 1929 when Richard E. Byrd, Jr. flew over the Pole and threw an American flag and other mementos out the window of his Ford Trimotor airplane.

The Modern Era

The next surface visit was on 31 October 1956. On that date, a ski-equipped R-4D aircraft landed at the Pole. On board were Admiral George Dufek and several other personnel of the United States Navy. Their purpose was to survey the site in preparation for the establishment of a research station, one of many planned for the International Geophysical Year (IGY). Construction of the original South Pole Station began the following month and by February 1957, the station was complete. An eighteen-man Nav y support and civilian scientific crew, led by John Tuck and Paul Siple, remained for the winter, the first of the winter-over parties which have continuously occupied what became known as Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. It is interesting to note that Admiral R. E. Byrd was by then the director of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

The original station had been modified and expanded over the years, but by 1967 it became increasingly apparent that a new station would be needed. Construction of the new South Pole Station began during the 1970/71 austral summer. Erection of the dome, arches, and the interior modules took place over the next three summers. Finishing work was concluded during the 1974/75 season, and in January, 1975, the station was formally dedicated. The old station was abandoned and winter operations commenced at the new facility the following month.

At 20 years of age, the present station is now rapidly reaching the end of its useful life, and NSF is well advanced in planning redevelopment of the station on the current site. The next station will feature extremely well insulated elevated modular str uctures to reduce fossil fuel usage and snow drifting. Alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, are expected to be widely used. Several new outlying structures which have been built in the past few years foreshadow the philosophy of future co nstruction.

The South Pole Station is situated at 90 degrees South on the Polar Plateau. The station was originally constructed 400 meters from the geographic South Pole; however, ice movement, at the rate of 10 meters per year, will eventually carry the station ove r the actual Pole.

The site is at an elevation of approximately 2850 meters (9300 ft) most of which is measured in ice thickness. The very low atmospheric temperatures produce an effective average pressure altitude of approximately 3230 meters (10,600 ft). The mean annual temperature is -49.3 degrees C (-56.7 F). The lowest recorded temperature is -82.8 degreees C (-177.0 F) and the highest temperature is -13.6 C (+7.5 F).

An extremely arid environment limits annual snowfall; however, a relatively constant windspeed of 5-15 knots compounds the accumulation and accounts for the heavy snow drifting common to inland Antarctic stations. The surrounding terrain is completely f lat, nearly featureless snow.

Station Facilities

The central area of the station is located beneath an aluminum geodesic dome, 50 meters (165 ft) in diameter at the base and approximately 17 meters (55 ft) at its apex. The dome houses three two-story structures which contain living, dining, communicati ons, recreation, laboratory, and meeting facilities. The station can accommodate a crew of 28 during the winter period and a crew of up to 28 during the summer in the dome itself, with up to an additional 120 people accommodated in the facility called, " Summer Camp" 150 meters (500 ft) grid southwest of the station. One of the summer camp buildings is a modern, solar heated dormitory complete with lounge, bathrooms and laundry facilities, which was completed during the 1993/94 season.

A series of steel arches runs perpendicular to the axis of the dome's main entryway and houses the garage complex, gymnasium, carpenter shop, power plant, biomedical facility, and the main fuel storage. The fuel arch contains nine 25,000 gallon bladders, giving the station a maximum capacity of 950,000 liters or 225,000 gallons of JP-8 fuel. The four-story Skylab and the balloon inflation tower adjoin the main station and are accessible through covered archways. The Clean Air Facility for atmospheric chemistry lies 100 meters upwind of the station. Other research modules are located away from the main station.

Primary station power is provided by one of the three 375 kW diesel generators. Waste heat is utilized for station heating via a glycol circulation system that conducts the heated coolant through the various station structures. Another glycol loop suppl ies heat to the snow melter while yet another heat exchanger uses the exhaust heat to operate a water well melited in the ice sheet. These systems, as well as water, sewage, phone, computer, and electric lines are routed through a series of sub-surface steel utility corridors, called utilidors.


Written by 
NOAA Officer
LTJG Ricardo Ramos
South Pole Station Science Leader

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