Projects that are trying to understandthe region and its ecosystem
Population in summer
100
Miles
Goals of research projects(based on describtion of NSF
U.S. Antarctic Program)
Projects that are uncovering the regions’effect and repsonse to global processessuch as climate
Projects that using the region as a platform to study the upper space and atomosphere
Population in winter
70˚ S
60˚ S
80˚ S
90˚E90˚W
0˚
180˚
South Pole
T r a n s a n t a r c t i c M
o un
t a i ns
An t a r c t i c P e n i n s u l a M A C R O B E R T S O N L A N D
C O A T S L A N D
D R O N N I N G M A U D
E N D E R B Y
K E M P L A N D
P R I N C E S S E L I Z A B E T H L A N D
Q U E E N M A R R Y L A N D
W I L K E S L A N D
Q A T E S L A N D
G E O R G E V L A N D
V I C T O R I A L A N D
E L L S W O R T H L A N D
M A R I E B Y R D L A N D
PALMER LAND
GR
AH
AM
LA
ND
Berkner
Ellsworth Mountains
Walgreen Coast
Prince Charles
Napier
Princess Martha
P r i n c e s s A s t r i d Princess Ragnhild
R i iser_Larsen
Edward VII Peninsula
Flood Range
Joinville Island
James Ross Island
Adelaide
Ross Is lan d
Abbott Ice Shelf
Fimbul Ice ShelfLazarev Ice Shelf
Filchner Ice Shelf
Ronne Ice Shelf
Larsen Ice Shelf
Riiser
-Lar
sen
Ice
Ross Ice ShelfGetz Ice Shelf
Amery Ice Shelf
Palmer Station (USA)
Mizuho Station (Norway)
Casey Station (Australia)
SANAE IV Station (South Africa)
Mid Point Station (Italy)
Davis Station (Australia)
Edgeworth David Base (Australia)
Arturo Parodi Station(Chile)
Signy Station (UK)
Troll Station (Norway) Syowa Station
(Japan)
Russkaja Station (Russia)
Mawson Station (Australia)
Sitry Station (Italy)
Halley Station (UK)
Belgrano II (Argentina)
Mirny Station (Russia)
Vostok Station (Russia)
Dumont d'Urville Station (France)
Molodezhnaya Station (Russia)
Orcadas Station (Argentina)
Kunlun Station (China)
South Pole Station (USA)
Zhongshan Station (China)
Dome Fuji Station (Japan)
Jang Bogo Station (South Korea)
McMurdo Station (USA)
Scott Base Station (New Zealand)
San Martin Station (Argentina)
Rothera Station (UK)
Melchior Station (Argentina)
Great Wall Station (China)
Marambio Station (Argentina)
King Sejong Station (South Korea)
Sky Blu Station(UK)
This map categorizes the most recent research projects into three
groups based on the goals of the projects. The three categories
are: projects that are developed to understand the Antarctic
region and its ecosystems, projects that use the region as a
platform to study the upper atmosphere and space, and
projects that are uncovering Antarctica’s effects on (and
responses to) global processes such as climate. The
goals are based on National Science Foundation’s
explanation about the United States Antarctic Pro-
gram. Information about the projects and population
at the research station are found on each country’s
Antarctic program website. The categorization is
based on the reviewing the title and overview of
the projects listed.
Num
ber o
f res
earc
h pr
ojec
ts
14 projects
3 projects 2 projects
75%
25%
Percentage of seasonal populationat the research station
Ch
ile
Cl a
i mU
K C
l ai m
Ar g e n
t i n a Cl a i m
Au
stralia
Cla
im
France Claim
New Zealand Claim
N o r w a y C l a i mA categorization of the most recent
research projects in Antarctica
Research stations
Antarctica has only been discovered around 200 years
ago, but this continent has been formed for 250 million
years. This region has the most hostile environment on the
planet: its lowest temperature reached −129 °F, and approxi-
mately 98% of the region is covered by thick ice sheets. On
average, it’s also the windiest and driest place on earth. But with
less than 150 years of exploration history, we have limited under-
standing of this continent comparing to the extensive knowledge we
have on other continents. Some people say that the main goals of
researching this hostile environment are to benefit other part of the regions
by monitoring the climate change or testing new technology in this extreme
environment, since no one will live here in the long run, actually understanding
the geography, geology, or ecosystem is not very necessary. However, based on the
literature review of 12 Antarctic research stations’ projects summary, the result shows
that most research stations in Antarctica have most amounts of projects on understanding
the Antarctic region. Because, driven by strong curiosity to uncover the unknown, and also for
further understanding of the role Antarctica plays in relation to other part of the planet, the initial
step to understand the region is still the main trend of Antarctic research as reflected from the number of
projects developed.
WHY RESEARCHING THE ANTARCTICA?
BASIS OF THE CATEGORIZATION
Kunlun station is the second newest Chinese station built in 2009. It lo-cates in Dome A, which is the highest location in Antarctica. One of the most important projects Kunlun station has been conducting is drilling the core of the oldest ice sheet in Antarctica at where the station is located. Taking into account of Dome A is the one of the windiest and coldest area in Ant-arctica, the construction of the project will be ex-tremely challenging. However, the extreme condition did not stop Antarctic researcher’s eager to uncover the myth hidden under the ancient ice sheet, and discover more about the continent.
McMurdo station is the largest research station in Ant-arctica, established in 1956. It is now a major communi-ty with developed infrastructures such as airports and manufactures that supply and support other research sta-tions in Antarctica. It is now also a sightseeing town for the annual visitors from all over the wrold. This commu-nity is also a great example of how the cooperation among Antarctic researchers cooperate under extreme conditions to conduct research about Antarctica. It also demonstrates how understanding the region and the pos-sibility of the harsh environment is a key to the further research of the relation between Antarctica and the rest
of the planet.
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