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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r: M

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ang