Palmer Station

Palmer Station is a United States research station in Antarctica. It is located on Anvers Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula. Palmer Station is one of three U.S. research stations in Antarctica and is the only one located north of the Antarctic Circle.

 Geography 
Palmer Station is on the coast of Anvers Island, which is part of the Palmer Archipelago. It is near the Southern Ocean, and the station looks out over Arthur Harbor.

 History 
Palmer Station opened in 1968. It was built to replace an older U.S. base called "Old Palmer," which was too small and not safe in bad weather. The station is named after Nathaniel B. Palmer, an American sealer who may have been one of the first people to see Antarctica in 1820.

 Climate 
Palmer Station has a cold polar climate, but it is not as cold as stations deeper in Antarctica. The weather includes:
 Snow and ice for much of the year
 Short summers with temperatures sometimes above 0°C (32°F)
 Strong winds and cloudy skies
 The average temperature for the year in Palmer Station is -1.8ºC (28.8ºF). The warmest month, on average, is January. The coldest month is August.

 Research 
Palmer Station is used for scientific research, especially in:
 Marine biology – studying animals in the sea, like krill, penguins, and seals
 Glaciology – the study of ice and glaciers
 Climate change – understanding how warming affects the polar environment

Scientists often use small boats and scuba diving to study the ocean and marine life.

 People 
The station usually has about 20–45 people living there, depending on the season. In summer, more scientists arrive, while in winter the crew is smaller. Supplies and people are brought in by ship from South America (usually from Chile). 

Category:Antarctica
Category:Research stations in Antarctica