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Rothera Station

Rothera Research Station
Research outpost
Rothera Research Station1.jpg
Flag of Rothera Research Station
Flag
Official seal of Rothera Research Station
Seal
The Rothera Research Station is located within the British Antarctic Territory in Antarctica
The Rothera Research Station is located within the British Antarctic Territory in Antarctica
Rothera Research Station is located in Antarctica
Rothera Research Station
Rothera Research Station
Location of Rothera Research Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 67°34′S 68°08′W / 67.567°S 68.133°W / -67.567; -68.133Coordinates: 67°34′S 68°08′W / 67.567°S 68.133°W / -67.567; -68.133
Country United Kingdom
British Overseas Territory British Antarctic Territory
Location in Antarctica Adelaide Island
Administered by British Antarctic Survey
Operational 1975 (1975)
Population
 • Total 22
  Seasonal
Website www.antarctica.ac.uk
Summary
Serves Rothera Research Station
Location Antarctic Peninsula
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2,950 900 Crushed rock

The Rothera Research Station is a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) base on the Antarctic Peninsula, located at Rothera Point, Adelaide Island. Rothera also serves as the capital of the British Antarctic Territory, a British Overseas Territory.

Being located just South of the Antarctic Circle, the weather is cold year round. Temperatures in summer barely go over freezing.

Rothera station was established in 1975 to replace Adelaide station (1961-1977) where the skiway had deteriorated.

The opening of the Bonner Laboratory in 1996/1997 marked the start of new activities in biological sciences in the Antarctic peninsula. These included scuba diving and experiments conducted in the Bonner Laboratory throughout the year. The first Bonner Lab burned down in the winter of 2001 after an electrical fault; it was rebuilt and opened in December 2003. Meteorological research using satellite data intercepted at the Rothera ground station also continues year round.

In January 2017, it was announced that the Rothera Research Station will receive £100m in funding from the government. The money will be used by the British Antarctic Survey to build new living quarters, storage and a new wharf. Tim Stockings, its director of operations called the investment “an exciting moment for polar science”. A portion of the money will also be used to fund the modernisation of facilities and buildings at the British Antarctic stations in Signy, Bird Island and at King Edward Point.

Fieldwork is concentrated in the summer months from November until March. Once in the field, the parties travel using skidoos and sledges for up to four months, and, being in daily HF radio communication with Rothera, they can be resupplied when necessary by air.

The station is open throughout the year with a maximum population of 130 in the summer and an average winter population of 22.


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