Research stations in Antarctica


A number of governments have set up permanent research stations in Antarctica and these bases are widely distributed. Unlike the drifting ice stations set up in the Arctic, the research stations of the Antarctic are constructed either on rock or on ice that is fixed in place.
Many of the stations are staffed around the year. A total of 42 countries, all signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal and year-round research stations on the continent.
The population of people performing and supporting scientific research on the continent and nearby islands varies from approximately 4,000 during the summer season to 1,000 during winter. In addition to these permanent stations, approximately 30 field camps are established each summer to support specific projects.

History

First bases

During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration in the late 19th century, the first bases on the continent were established. In 1898, Carsten Borchgrevink, a Norwegian/British explorer, led the British Antarctic Expedition to Cape Adare, where he established the first Antarctic base on Ridley Beach. The expedition is often referred to now as the Southern Cross Expedition, after expedition ship name. Most of the staff were Norwegian, but the funds for the expedition were British, provided by Sir George Newnes. The 10 members of the expedition explored Robertson Bay to the west of Cape Adare by dog teams, and later, after being picked up by the ship at the base, went ashore on the Ross Ice Shelf for brief journeys. The expedition hut is still in good condition and visited frequently by tourists.
The hut was later occupied by Scott's Northern Party under the command of Victor Campbell for a year in 1911, after its attempt to explore the eastern end of the ice shelf discovered Roald Amundsen already ashore preparing for his assault on the South Pole.
In 1903, Dr William S. Bruce's Scottish National Antarctic Expedition set off to Antarctica, with one of its aims to establish a meteorological station in the area. After the expedition failed to find land, Bruce decided to head back to the Laurie Island in the South Orkneys and find an anchorage there. The islands were well-situated as a site for a meteorological station, and their relative proximity to the South American mainland allowed a permanent station to be established. Bruce instituted a comprehensive programme of work, involving meteorological readings, trawling for marine samples, botanical excursions, and the collection of biological and geological specimens.
The major task completed during this time was the construction of a stone building, christened "Omond House". This was to act as living accommodation for the parties that would remain on Laurie Island to operate the proposed meteorological laboratory. The building was constructed from local materials using the dry stone method, with a roof improvised from wood and canvas sheeting. The completed house was 20 feet by 20 feet square, with two windows, fitted as quarters for six people. Rudmose Brown wrote: "Considering that we had no mortar and no masons' tools it is a wonderfully fine house and very lasting. I should think it will be standing a century hence ..."
Bruce later offered to Argentina the transfer of the station and instruments on the condition that the government committed itself to the continuation of the scientific mission. Bruce informed the British officer William Haggard of his intentions in December 1903, and Haggard ratified the terms of Bruce's proposition.
The Scotia sailed back for Laurie Island on 14 January 1904 carrying on board Argentinean officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, National Meteorological Office, Ministry of Livestock and National Postal and Telegraphs Office. In 1906, Argentina communicated to the international community the establishment of a permanent base on the South Orkney Islands.

WWII and postwar expansion

Little happened for the following forty years until the Second World War, when the British launched Operation Tabarin in 1943, to establish a presence on the continent. The chief reason was to establish solid British claims to various uninhabited islands and parts of Antarctica, reinforced by Argentine sympathies toward Germany.
, established in 1947
Prior to the start of the war, German aircraft had dropped markers with swastikas across Queen Maud Land in an attempt to create a territorial claim, see New Swabia. Led by Lieutenant James Marr, the 14-strong team left the Falkland Islands in two ships, HMS William Scoresby and Fitzroy, on Saturday January 29, 1944. Marr had accompanied the British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final Antarctic expedition in 1921 - 1922.
Bases were established during February near the abandoned Norwegian whaling station on Deception Island, where the Union Flag was hoisted in place of Argentine flags, and at Port Lockroy on the coast of Graham Land. A further base was founded at Hope Bay on February 13, 1945, after a failed attempt to unload stores on February 7, 1944. These bases were the first ever to be constructed on the mainland Antarctica.
Operation provoked a massive expansion in international activity after the war. Chile organized its First Chilean Antarctic Expedition in 1947–48. Among other accomplishments, it brought the Chilean president Gabriel González Videla to personally inaugurate one of its bases, thereby becoming the first head of state to set foot on the continent. Signy Research Station was established in 1947, Australia's Mawson Station in 1954, Dumont d'Urville Station was the first French station in 1956. In that same year, the United States built McMurdo Station and Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the Soviet Union built Mirny Station.

List of research stations

The United States maintains the southernmost Base and the largest base and research station in Antarctica, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. The second-southernmost base is the Chinese Kunlun Station at 80°25′02″S during the summer season, and the Russian Vostok Station at 78°27′50″S during the winter season.
Station
name
LOCODETypeCountryYear
Est.
Administered byLocationStatus &
Activities
CoordinatesTime zoneAverage Annual Temp °C
AboaAQ ABASummer1988Finnish Antarctic Research ProgramQueen Maud LandActive
Aguirre CerdaAQSummer1955Instituto Antártico ChilenoDeception IslandClosed
1967
Amundsen–Scott South PoleAQ AMSPermanent1957United States Antarctic ProgramGeographical South PoleActiveUTC+12*-49.5
ArctowskiAQ ARCPermanent1977Polish Academy of SciencesKing George IslandActive
Arrival Heights LaboratoryAQPermanent1959Antarctica New ZealandRoss IslandActive
Arrival Heights Satellite StationAQPermanent1959Antarctica New ZealandRoss IslandActive
ArtigasAQ ARTPermanent1984Uruguayan Antarctic InstituteKing George IslandActiveUTC−3
Arturo ParodiAQSummer1999Instituto Antártico ChilenoEllsworth LandClosed
Relocated to
Union Glacier
2014
Arturo PratAQ APTPermanent1947Chilean NavyGreenwich IslandActiveUTC−3-2
AsukaAQSummer1985National Institute of Polar ResearchQueen Maud LandClosed
Unmanned activity
Beaver LakeAQSummer1995Australian Antarctic DivisionBeaver LakeActive
Belgrano IAQPermanent1955Instituto Antártico ArgentinoFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfAbandoned
1980
UTC−3
Belgrano IIAQ BELPermanent1979Instituto Antartico ArgentinoCoats LandActiveUTC−3-13.3
Belgrano IIIAQPermanent1980Instituto Antártico ArgentinoBerkner IslandAbandoned
1984
UTC−3
BellingshausenAQ BHNPermanent1968Russian Antarctic ExpeditionKing George IslandActive-2.3
BharatiAQPermanent2012National Centre for Polar and Ocean ResearchLarsemann HillsActive
BorgaAQSummer1969South African National Antarctic ProgrammeBorg MassifClosed
1976
BrocktonAQSummer1965United States NavyRoss Ice ShelfAbandoned
1972
BrownAQSummer1951Instituto Antártico ArgentinoParadise HarborActiveUTC−3+2
ByrdAQPermanent
Summer
since 1972
1957United States Antarctic ProgramMarie Byrd LandClosed
2005
-28.1
CámaraAQSummer1953Instituto Antartico ArgentinoHalf Moon IslandActiveUTC−3
Carvajal
AQSummer1984Instituto Antártico ChilenoAdelaide IslandActive
CaseyAQ CASPermanent1957Australian Antarctic DivisionVincennes BayActiveUTC+8-8
CharcotAQPermanent1957French Polar InstituteAdélie LandClosed 1959
Abandoned
CollinsAQSummer2006Instituto Antártico ChilenoFildes PeninsulaActive
Comandante FerrazAQ CFZPermanent1984Brazilian Antarctic ProgramKing George IslandActiveUTC−3-1.8
ConcordiaAQ CONPermanent
2005National Antarctic Research Program
and
IPEV
Dome C
Antarctic Plateau
ActiveUTC+10-51.7
Dakshin GangotriAQPermanent1984National Centre for Polar and Ocean ResearchDakshin Gangotri GlacierClosed
1990
Support base
DallmannAQSummer1994Alfred Wegener InstituteCarlini StationActive
DavisAQ DAVPermanent1957Australian Antarctic DivisionPrincess Elizabeth LandActiveUTC+7-13.0
DeceptionAQSummer1948Instituto Antartico ArgentinoDeception IslandActiveUTC−3
Dirck Gerritsz LaboratoryAQSummer2013British Antarctic SurveyRothera StationActive-5.3
Dobrowolski
AQSummer1959Polish Academy of SciencesWilkes LandClosed
1998
Dome FujiAQ DMFSummer1995National Institute of Polar ResearchQueen Maud LandClosed-54.3
DrescherAQSummer1986Alfred Wegener InstituteQueen Maud LandClosed
2004
DruzhbaAQSummer1960Soviet Antarctic ExpeditionZavadovskiy IslandClosed
1960
Drúzhnaya 1AQSummer1975Soviet Antarctic ExpeditionFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfClosed
1986
Lost
AQSummer1982Soviet Antarctic ExpeditionLassiter CoastClosed
1986
Drúzhnaya 3AQSummer1982Soviet Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Maud LandClosed
1986
AQ DRZSummer
1987Soviet Antarctic Expedition
Russian Antarctic Expedition
Princess Elizabeth LandClosed
1995
Dumont d'UrvilleAQ DDUPermanent1956IPEVAdélie LandActiveUTC+10-11.1
E BaseAQSummer1985Fimbul Ice ShelfActive
East BaseAQPermanent1941United States Antarctic Service ExpeditionStonington IslandClosed
1948
Eco-NelsonAQPermanent
1989Private stationNelson IslandActive
Eduardo Frei
and
Villa Las Estrellas
AQPermanent1969Chilean Air ForceKing George IslandActiveUTC−3-2.3
EightsAQPermanent1963National Science FoundationQueen Maud LandClosed
1965
EllsworthAQPermanent
1957United States Navy
Instituto Antártico Argentino
Filchner-Ronne Ice ShelfTransferred to Argentina in 1959
Closed 1962
-22
Elichiribehety
AQSummer1997Uruguayan Antarctic InstituteHope BayActive
EscuderoAQ ESCPermanent1994Instituto Antártico ChilenoKing George IslandActiveUTC−3
EsperanzaAQ ESPPermanent1953Instituto Antartico ArgentinoHope BayActiveUTC−3-4.6
FilchnerAQSummer1982Alfred Wegener InstituteFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfAbandoned
and lost 1999
Fossil Bluff

AQPermanent intermittently
Summer
1961British Antarctic SurveyAlexander IslandActive
Gabriel de CastillaAQ GDCSummer1989Spanish National Research CouncilDeception IslandActive
Marine biology
General Bernardo O'HigginsAQ OHGPermanent1948Chilean ArmyCape LegoupilActive
Logistics
UTC−3-3.9
Georg ForsterAQPermanent
1976

1990
Alfred Wegener InstituteFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfClosed
1993
German Antarctic Receiving StationAQPermanent1991German Aerospace CenterCape LegoupilActive
Giacomo BoveAQ BGBSummer1976Private stationItalia ValleyTaken apart by the Argentine Navy 1976
GondwanaAQSummer1983Alfred Wegener InstituteTransantarctic MountainsActive
González VidelaAQSummer1951Chilean Air ForceWaterboat Point
Graham Land
Active
Great WallAQ GWLPermanent1985Polar Research Institute of ChinaKing George IslandActive
Guillermo MannAQSummer1991Instituto Antártico ChilenoCape ShirreffActive
HallettAQPermanent
Summer since 1964

1956International Geophysical YearHallett PeninsulaClosed 1973
HalleyAQ HLYPermanent
Temporary Summer
1956British Antarctic SurveyBrunt Ice ShelfActive
relocated inland
-18.5
ITU PolReCAQSummerTurkey2019Istanbul Technical University Polar Research CenterHorseshoe IslandActive
Jang BogoAQ JBSPermanent2014Korea Polar Research InstituteTerra Nova BayActiveUTC+11
JinnahAQSummer1991Pakistan Antarctic ProgrammeSør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud LandActive
Juan Carlos PrimeroAQ JCPSummer1988Spanish National Research CouncilSouth Bay, Livingston IslandActiveUTC−3
Jubany
AQ JUBPermanent1953Instituto Antartico ArgentinoKing George IslandActiveUTC−3
Julio RipamontiAQSummer1982Instituto Antártico ChilenoArdley IslandActiveUTC-3
King Baudouin
AQPermanent1957National Center for Polar ResearchPrincess Ragnhild CoastClosed 1961
Abandoned
King Baudouin
AQPermanent
1964National Center for Polar ResearchPrincess Ragnhild CoastClosed 1967
Abandoned
King SejongAQ KSGPermanent1988Korea Polar Research InstituteKing George IslandActiveUTC−3
KohnenAQ KHNSummer2001Alfred Wegener InstituteQueen Maud LandActive
KomsomolskayaAQPermanent1957Arctic and Antarctic Research InstituteQueen Mary LandClosed
1962
-52
KunlunAQSummer2009Polar Research Institute of ChinaDome AActive
LawAQ LAWSummer1986Romanian Polar Research InstituteLarsemann Hills
Princess Elizabeth Land
Active
LázarevAQPermanent1959Russian Antarctic ExpeditionLazarev Ice ShelfClosed 1961
Abandoned
LenieAQSummer1985United States Antarctic ProgramAdmiralty BayActive
LeningradskayaAQSummer1971Russian Antarctic ExpeditionOates Coast
Victoria Land
Closed 1991
-13
Little AmericaAQPermanent1929Ross Ice ShelfLost
1987
-22
Little RockfordAQSummer1958Marie Byrd LandClosed 1965
Abandoned
Machu PicchuAQSummer1989Instituto Antártico PeruanoAdmiralty Bay
King George Island
Active
MaitriAQ MTRPermanent1989National Centre for Polar and Ocean ResearchSchirmacher OasisActive
MaldonadoAQSummer1990Instituto Antártico EcuatorianoGreenwich IslandActive
MarambioAQ MRBPermanent1969Instituto Antartico ArgentinoMarambio IslandActiveUTC−3-8.1
Mario ZucchelliAQ MZUSummer1986National Antarctic Research Program
ENEA
CNR
Terra Nova BayActiveUTC+12*
MatienzoAQSummer1961Instituto Antartico ArgentinoGraham LandActiveUTC−3-11.6
MaudheimAQPermanent

1949Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Maud LandClosed
1952
MawsonAQ MAWPermanent1954Australian Antarctic DivisionMac Robertson LandActiveUTC+6-8.3
McMurdoAQ MCMPermanent1956United States Antarctic ProgramRoss IslandActiveUTC+12*-19.7
MelchiorAQSummer1947Instituto Antartico ArgentinoMelchior IslandsActiveUTC−3-3.6
MendelAQSummer2006Masaryk UniversityJames Ross IslandActive
MirAQSummer1958
Meteo
Russian Antarctic ExpeditionDrygalski IslandClosed
1960
MirnyAQ MIRPermanent1956Russian Antarctic ExpeditionDavis SeaActive-11.3
MizuhoAQSummer1970National Institute of Polar ResearchMizuho PlateauActive
occasionally
transhipment station
-31
MolodyozhnayaAQSummer1962
reopened
in 2007
Russian Antarctic ExpeditionThala Hills
East Antarctica
Closed 1990
Active
Meteorology
-11.0
Neumayer IAQ NEUPermanent1981Alfred Wegener InstitutePrincess Martha CoastClosed
1993
Neumayer IIAQ NEUPermanent1992Alfred Wegener InstituteQueen Maud LandClosed
2009
Neumayer IIIAQ NEUPermanent2009Alfred Wegener InstituteAtka BayActiveUTC
NorwayAQPermanent1957Sixth Norwegian Antarctic ExpeditionFimbul Ice ShelfClosed 1960
Transferred to
South Africa
NovolazarevskayaAQ NOVPermanent1961Russian Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Maud LandActive-10.3
Oasis
AQSummer
1956

1959
Russian Antarctic ExpeditionBunger HillsActive
Oazis 2AQSummer1987Russian Antarctic ExpeditionBunger HillsClosed
1995
OrcadasAQ ORCPermanent1904Instituto Antartico Argentino
Argentine Navy
Laurie Island
South Orkney Islands
ActiveUTC−3-3.0
PalmerAQ PLMPermanent1968United States Antarctic ProgramAnvers IslandActiveUTC−3-2
PetrelAQSummer1952Instituto Antartico ArgentinoDundee IslandActiveUTC−3-6
PionérskayaAQPermanent1956Russian Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Mary LandClosed
1959
-38
PlateauAQPermanent1965United States Navy
National Science Foundation
Queen Maud LandClosed
1969
-56.7
PobedaAQSummer1960Russian Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Mary LandClosed
1960
Pole of inaccessibility1958Kemp LandClosed
1958
-58.2
Port MartinAQPermanent1950French Antarctic ExpeditionCape MargerieClosed
1952
PrimaveraAQSummer1977Instituto Antartico ArgentinoGraham LandActiveUTC−3
Princess ElisabethAQSummer2007International Polar Foundation
Energy passive station.
Queen Maud LandReopened
23 November 2017
ProgressAQ PROPermanent
1988Russian Antarctic ExpeditionPrydz BayActive-9.4
RisopatrónAQSummer1954Instituto Antártico ChilenoRobert IslandActive
Rothera

AQ ROTPermanent1975British Antarctic SurveyAdelaide IslandActive
RusskayaAQSummer
1980
reopened in 2007
Russian Antarctic ExpeditionMarie Byrd LandClosed 1990
Active
UTC−6
SalyutAQSummer1978Russian Antarctic ExpeditionQueen Mary LandClosed
1978
San MartínAQ SMTPermanent1951Instituto Antartico ArgentinoBarry IslandActiveUTC−3-4.6
SANAE IAQ SNAPermanent1960South African National Antarctic ProgrammeFimbul Ice ShelfClosed 1963
Abandoned
SANAE IIAQ SNAPermanent1971South African National Antarctic ProgrammeFimbul Ice ShelfClosed 1979
Abandoned
SANAE IIIAQ SNAPermanent1979South African National Antarctic ProgrammeFimbul Ice ShelfClosed 1997
Abandoned
SANAE IVAQ SNAPermanent1960
SANAE I
South African National Antarctic ProgrammeVesleskarvet
Queen Maud Land
ActiveUTC+2
Sarie MaraisAQSummer1982South African National Antarctic ProgrammeAhlmann RidgeClosed 1999
Dismantled 2001
Geology
Biology
Scott BaseAQ SBAPermanent1957Antarctica New ZealandRoss IslandActiveUTC+12-19.6
ShirreffAQSummer1991National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationCape ShirreffActive
Signy

AQ SGNPermanent
1947-1995
Summer
since 1996
1947British Antarctic SurveySigny Island
South Orkney Islands
Active-3
Site 2AQSummer1957Law DomeClosed 1966
Abandoned
Glaciology
SyowaAQ SYWPermanent1957National Institute of Polar ResearchEast Ongul IslandActiveUTC+3-10.5
SipleAQSummer1973Stanford's STAR LabEllsworth LandClosed
1988
SobralAQPermanent1965Instituto Antártico ArgentinoFilchner-Ronne Ice ShelfClosed
1968
SodrúzhestvoAQSummer1971Russian Antarctic ExpeditionAmery Ice ShelfClosed
1974
South IceAQPermanent1957Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic ExpeditionEdith Ronne LandClosed 1958
Abandoned
SovetskayaAQPermanent1958Arctic and Antarctic Research InstituteKaiser Wilhelm II LandClosed
1959
Abandoned
SoyuzAQPermanent1982Russian Antarctic ExpeditionPrince Charles MountainsClosed
1989
UTC+5
St. Kliment OhridskiAQSummer1988Bulgarian Antarctic InstituteEmona Anchorage
Livingston Island
ActiveUTC−3
Station AAQSummer1944United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage TrustGoudier IslandActive
Station BAQPermanent1944Falkland Islands and Dependencies Aerial Survey ExpeditionDeception IslandClosed
1969
Station CAQSummer1946British Antarctic SurveyCape GeddesClosed 1947
Abandoned
Station DAQPermanent1945British Antarctic SurveyHope BayClosed
1964
Station EAQPermanent1946British Antarctic SurveyStonington IslandClosed
1975
Station F
AQPermanent1947British Antarctic SurveyGalindez IslandClosed
1996
-3.3
Station GAQPermanent1947British Antarctic SurveyAdmiralty BayClosed
1961
Station JAQPermanent1957British Antarctic SurveyProspect PointClosed 1959
Removed 2004
Station NAQPermanent1955British Antarctic SurveyAnvers IslandClosed 1958
Demolished
1991
Station OAQPermanent1956British Antarctic SurveyDanco IslandClosed 1959
Demolished
2004
Station PAQSummer1957British Antarctic SurveyMateev CoveClosed
1958
Station TAQPermanent1961British Antarctic SurveyAdelaide IslandClosed
1977
Station VAQPermanent1953British Antarctic SurveyView PointClosed
1963
Station WAQPermanent1956British Antarctic SurveyDetaille IslandClosed
1959
Station YAQPermanent1955
reopened 1969
British Antarctic SurveyHorseshoe IslandClosed
1960
1969
SveaAQSummer1988Swedish Polar Research SecretariatQueen Maud LandActive
TaishanAQSummer2014Polar Research Institute of ChinaPrincess Elizabeth LandActive
TorAQ TORSummer1993Norwegian Polar InstituteQueen Maud LandActive
TrollAQ TRLPermanent1990Norwegian Polar InstituteQueen Maud LandActive
Union GlacierAQSummer2014Chilean Army
Chilean Navy
Chilean Air Force
Instituto Antártico Chileno
Union GlacierActive
VandaAQPermanent until 1974
Summer since 1976
1969Antarctica New ZealandVictoria LandActive-19.7
VechernyayaAQSummer2007National Academy of Sciences of BelarusMount Vechernyaya, Thala HillsActive
Vernadsky
AQ VKYPermanent

1994National Antarctic Scientific Center of UkraineGalindez IslandActiveUTC−3-3.3
VostokAQ VOSPermanent
1957Russian Antarctic ExpeditionAntarctic Ice SheetActiveUTC+6-55.2
Vostok IAQ VOSPermanent1957Russian Academy of SciencesEast AntarcticaClosed 1957
Abandoned
WasaAQ WSASummer1989Swedish Polar Research SecretariatQueen Maud LandActive
Weddell 1AQSummer
1992Russian Antarctic Expedition
National Science Foundation
Weddell SeaClosed
1992
World ParkAQPermanent1987GreenpeaceCape EvansDismantled
1992
YelchoAQSummer1962
reopened 2015
Instituto Antártico ChilenoSouth Bay
Doumer Island
Active
ZhongshanAQ ZGNPermanent1989Polar Research Institute of ChinaLarsemann Hills
Prydz Bay
Active

List of [Subantarctic] research stations

Station nameLOCODETypeCountryYear
Est.
Administered
by
LocationStatus &
Activities
CoordinatesTime zone
Alfred FaureTFPermanent1963Île de la PossessionActive
Meteorology
Seismology
Biology
Bird
GSPermanent1957British Antarctic SurveyBird IslandActive
Bird and seal research
CampbellNZPermanent1946MetServiceCampbell IslandActive
Meteorology
GoughSH TDCPermanent1956South African Weather ServiceGough IslandActive
Meteorology
King Edward Point
GSPermanent1950British Antarctic SurveyKing Edward PointActive
Support sustainable fishing
MacquarieAUSPermanent1948Australian Antarctic DivisionMacquarie IslandActive
Meteorology
Biology
MarionZAPermanent1948South African National Antarctic ProgrammePrince Edward IslandsActive
Meteorology
Biology
Port-aux-FrançaisTF PFRPermanent1963Kerguelen IslandsActive
Meteorology
Geophysics
Biology

Map

This map shows permanent research stations only.