Research stations in Antarctica

Antarctica is a very cold and dry continent. Many countries have built research stations there. These stations help scientists study the weather, animals, ice, and space. Research stations are places where scientists live and work. They have special buildings to keep warm and safe from the cold. The stations have laboratories, living areas, and communication tools. As of 2023, 55 of the 56 countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty have research stations in Antarctica. Some stations are open only in summer, and some are open all year.

 History 
The first people to explore Antarctica were explorers in the early 1900s. They wanted to learn about the cold continent and its secrets. The first research stations were built in the 1940s and 1950s. At first, only a few countries had stations. These stations were small and used for short trips during the summer.

In 1959, many countries signed the Antarctic Treaty. This treaty made Antarctica a place for peace and science. It stopped countries from fighting over land there. After the treaty, more countries built research stations. The stations became bigger and better. Some now work all year round, even during the cold winter. Today, there are more than 70 research stations in Antarctica. Scientists from many countries live and work there to study the environment and help protect the Earth.

 Geography 
Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. It is almost completely covered by ice. The continent is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Many research stations are built along the coast because the weather is less extreme there. Some stations are also built inland, in high areas like the Antarctic Plateau, where it is much colder.

The land is made of mountains, ice sheets, and glaciers. The South Pole is near the middle of the continent, and it is one of the coldest places on Earth.

 Climate 
Antarctica has the coldest climate in the world. It is a polar desert, with very little rain or snow. Most of the continent is always below freezing.

In summer (October to February), temperatures near the coast can reach around 0°C, but in winter (March to September), temperatures can drop below −60°C inland. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was −89.2°C at Vostok Station.

Winds can be very strong, especially near the coast. Almost all of Antarctica get days of 24-hour darkness (polar night) in winter and 24-hour sunlight (midnight sun) in summer.

 Demographics 
Antarctica has no permanent population. No one lives there all the time. People who live and work in Antarctica are mostly scientists and support staff. They come from many different countries and stay for weeks, months, or up to a year.

In summer, about 4,000 to 5,000 people live in research stations, but in winter, this number drops to around 1,000 people, because of the harsh weather. Most stations have fewer people in winter. Only the strongest and best-equipped stations stay open all year.

 Research 
Scientists study Antarctica to learn about:
Climate change and how the Earth's weather is changing
Ice sheets and glaciers
Animals like penguins, seals, and whales
Space and astronomy because the sky is very clear
Geology and history of the Earth

 Types of research stations 
There are two main types of research stations:
Year-round stations: Scientists live and work here all year, even during the cold winter. These stations have more equipment and supplies.
Summer stations: These are open only during the Antarctic summer (about October to February). Scientists stay for a few months and then leave when it gets very cold.

 Countries with research stations 
Many countries have research stations in Antarctica. Some of the main ones are:
United States (e.g., McMurdo Station, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station)
Russia (e.g., Vostok Station)
Australia (e.g., Davis Station)
United Kingdom (e.g., Rothera Research Station)
Argentina (e.g., Esperanza Base)
Norway (e.g., Troll Station)
China (e.g., Great Wall Station)

 Maps of research stations 

 List of research stations in Antarctica 
The United States has the southernmost base, called Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, and the biggest base, called McMurdo Station. The second-southernmost base in summer is China’s Kunlun Station, and in winter it is Russia’s Vostok Station. This is a list of research stations in Antarctica:

Permanent stations

NameLocationCountryAdministrationYear Max. SummerWinterpop.UTC offsetMean annual(°C)Amundsen–Scott South PoleGeographic South PoleUnited States Antarctic Program195715315049+12−49.5ArctowskiKing George IslandPolish Academy of Sciences1977404016−3−1.6Arrival Heights LaboratoryRoss IslandAntarctica New Zealand1959+12−19.7ArtigasKing George IslandUruguayan Antarctic Institute19846098−3−0.9Arturo PratGreenwich IslandChilean Navy194730308−3−2.0Belgrano IICoats LandInstituto Antartico Argentino1979202419−3−13.3BellingshausenKing George IslandRussian Antarctic Expedition1968404020−3−2.3BharatiLarsemann HillsNational Centre for Polar and Ocean Research2012474623+5:30−10.2CarliniKing George IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino1953808029−3−1.6CaseyVincennes BayAustralian Antarctic Division1957999921+8−5.9Comandante FerrazKing George IslandBrazilian Antarctic Program1984643515−3−1.8ConcordiaDome C, Antarctic PlateauNational Antarctic Research Program, IPEV2005807013+8−51.7DavisPrincess Elizabeth LandAustralian Antarctic Division1957919117+7−7.3Dumont d'UrvilleAdélie LandIPEV1956909024+10−11.1Eco-NelsonNelson IslandCzech Antarctic Foundation 1988855−3−2.3Eduardo Frei and Villa Las EstrellasKing George IslandChilean Air Force196915015080−3−2.3EscuderoKing George IslandInstituto Antártico Chileno199590602−3−2.3EsperanzaHope BayInstituto Antartico Argentino19539011656−3−4.6GARSCape LegoupilGerman Aerospace Center199110−3.9General Bernardo O'HigginsCape LegoupilChilean Army1948605224−3−3.9Great WallKing George IslandPolar Research Institute of China1985606013−3−2.5HalleyBrunt Ice ShelfBritish Antarctic Survey2013527017−3−18.5Jang BogoTerra Nova BayKorea Polar Research Institute2014626223+11−15.1King SejongKing George IslandKorea Polar Research Institute1988686822−3−1.8MaitriSchirmacher OasisNational Centre for Polar and Ocean Research1989654525+5:30−9.7MarambioMarambio IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino196916516570−3−8.1MawsonMac. Robertson LandAustralian Antarctic Division1954535315+6−8.3McMurdoRoss IslandUnited States Antarctic Program195612001000153+12−17.3MirnyDavis SeaRussian Antarctic Expedition1956505025+6−11.3Neumayer IIIAtka BayAlfred Wegener Institute2009606090−16.0NovolazarevskayaQueen Maud LandRussian Antarctic Expedition19617070400−10.3OrcadasLaurie Island, South Orkney IslandsInstituto Antartico Argentino, Argentine Navy1903653517−3−3.0PalmerAnvers IslandUnited States Antarctic Program1968464413−3−1.8ProgressPrydz BayRussian Antarctic Expedition1988505025−5−9.4QinlingInexpressible Island, Terra Nova BayPolar Research Institute of China2024808030+12RotheraAdelaide IslandBritish Antarctic Survey197513616027−3−5.3San MartínBarry IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino1951211921−3−4.6SANAE IVVesleskarvet, Queen Maud LandSouth African National Antarctic Programme19978011015+2−16.5Scott BaseRoss IslandAntarctica New Zealand1957867811+12−19.6ShowaEast Ongul IslandNational Institute of Polar Research195713017040+3−10.5TrollQueen Maud LandNorwegian Polar Institute1990704570−18.0VernadskyGalindez IslandNational Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine1994243012−3−3.3VostokAntarctic Ice SheetRussian Antarctic Expedition1957303015+6−55.2ZhongshanLarsemann Hills, Prydz BayPolar Research Institute of China1989606017+7−11.2

Summer-only stations

NameLocationCountryYear Max. Summer UTC offsetMean annual  (°C)AboaQueen Maud LandFinnish Antarctic Research Program19881713−15.3BrownParadise HarborInstituto Antártico Argentino19511212−3−2.4CámaraHalf Moon IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino19532220−3−2.4CarvajalAdelaide IslandInstituto Antártico Chileno19844646−9.8CollinsFildes PeninsulaInstituto Antártico Chileno20066DallmannCarlini StationAlfred Wegener Institute19941616−2.4DeceptionDeception IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino19483618−3−3.0Dirck Gerritsz LaboratoryRothera StationBritish Antarctic Survey, Netherlands Polar Programme20131010−5.0DobrowolskiBunger Hills, Wilkes LandPolish Academy of Sciences19561010−9.1ElichiribehetyHope BayUruguayan Antarctic Institute194587−4.8Gabriel de CastillaDeception IslandSpanish National Research Council19893633−0.7GondwanaTransantarctic MountainsAlfred Wegener Institute1983González VidelaWaterboat Point, Graham LandChilean Air Force19511515−6.7Guillermo MannCape ShirreffInstituto Antártico Chileno1991880.4JinnahSør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud LandPakistan Antarctic Programme1991Juan Carlos ISouth Bay, Livingston IslandSpanish National Research Council19885027−3−1.2Julio RipamontiArdley IslandInstituto Antártico Chileno19824-3KohnenQueen Maud LandAlfred Wegener Institute2001286−42.2KunlunDome APolar Research Institute of China20092626−51.4Law-Racoviță-NegoițăLarsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth LandRomanian Polar Research Institute198613LenieAdmiralty BayUnited States Antarctic Program19852Machu PicchuAdmiralty Bay, King George IslandInstituto Antártico Peruano19893030−2.1MaldonadoGreenwich IslandInstituto Antártico Ecuatoriano19903432MatienzoGraham LandInstituto Antartico Argentino19611212−3−5.0MelchiorMelchior IslandsInstituto Antartico Argentino19471512−3−2.9MendelJames Ross IslandMasaryk University20072020−6.8MolodyozhnayaThala Hills, East AntarcticaRussian Antarctic Expedition19621515−11.0PetrelDundee IslandInstituto Antartico Argentino19674525−3−7.1Port LockroyGoudier IslandUnited Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust19444PrimaveraGraham LandInstituto Antartico Argentino19771818−3−3.0Princess ElisabethQueen Maud LandInternational Polar Foundation20074022−18.0RisopatrónRobert IslandInstituto Antártico Chileno19496−2.3ShirreffCape ShirreffNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration19966SignySigny Island, South Orkney IslandsBritish Antarctic Survey1947814−2.1SobralFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfInstituto Antártico Argentino196576−3St. Kliment OhridskiEmona Anchorage, Livingston IslandBulgarian Antarctic Institute19882222−3−1.0SveaQueen Maud LandSwedish Polar Research Secretariat19885TaishanPrincess Elizabeth LandPolar Research Institute of China20142020−30.3TARSHorseshoe IslandTurkish Polar Research Program20195026TorQueen Maud LandNorwegian Polar Institute19937Union GlacierUnion GlacierChilean Army, Chilean Navy, Chilean Air Force, Instituto Antártico Chileno201470−3VechernyayaMount Vechernyaya, Thala HillsNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus20071211WasaQueen Maud LandSwedish Polar Research Secretariat19892013−15.3YelchoSouth Bay, Doumer IslandInstituto Antártico Chileno196228282.0ZucchelliTerra Nova BayNational Antarctic Research Program, ENEA, CNR1986120120+12−14.0

 Life 
Life in Antarctica is hard because it is very cold and isolated. Scientists wear warm clothes and work inside heated buildings. They communicate with their home countries using radios and internet. They do important work to help people understand the Earth better.
Category:Antarctica