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and Grimmia antarctici) typically form cushions, turfs or hummocks in gravels with northerly aspects and in the path of melt water. Twenty-one species of lichen have been recorded. The most common are Buellia frigida and Xanthoria elegans.
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) are common near the station, at coastal islands and at tide cracks in the sea ice during late spring and early summer. Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are occasionally seen on the sea ice, and crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) are present in small numbers offshore. Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazelle), elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) and Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossi) have been recorded in the wider region.
Although the area is not considered a significant breeding area or access route for birds, Wilson's storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea), and emperor penguins (Aptenodytes fosteri) have bred within the station area. Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), Antarctic petrels (Thalassoica antarctica), Cape petrels (Daption capense), Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus), Antarctic fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides) and Antarctic skuas (Catharacta maccormickii) have also been reported.
 Mean monthly temperatures at Mawson range from +0.1°C in January to -18.8°C in August, with extremes of +10.6°C and -36.0°C. The mean annual wind speed is 10.9 m/sec with frequent prolonged periods of strong south-easterly katabatic winds from the ice cap. Gusts often exceed 50 m/sec. The region is characterised by high cloudiness throughout the year, very low absolute humidity, low precipitation and frequent periods of intensified winds, drifting snow and low visibility associated with the passage of major low pressure systems.

    Figure 1. Mawson (top – D. McVeigh, 2004; bottom – W. Papps, 2000).

2.2 History

Discoveries
The coast where the station is built was sighted by Sir Douglas Mawson on 1 January 1930. Mawson led the first British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Expedition (BANZARE) to the continent, aboard the Discovery, making a reconnaissance flight over the region and naming the coast after Macpherson Robertson, a chocolate manufacturer who was also a keen patron of Australian Antarctic exploration.
On 13 January 1930 a cairn and flag pole were erected on a coastal island and the area proclaimed British Territory. Mawson named the site Proclamation Island. He took similar actions during the second BANZARE voyage (1930‑31) – throwing a cylinder containing a proclamation onto the rocks at Murray Monolith on 13 February 1931. Later that day a flag was hoisted at Scullin Monolith and in the following week, Mawson's party landed at Cape Bruce and once again left behind a flag and proclamation. Two vast sectors of the Antarctic continent formally became the Australian Antarctic Territory in 1933.
In the same decade, Norwegian explorers financed by the ship owner and whaling magnate Lars Christensen were also active in