Working in the Antarctic | All media content | DW | 18.01.2017

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Science

Working in the Antarctic

With temperatures dropping to -55°C and constant darkness for much of the year, working as a researcher in Antarctica can come with notable challenges. But there are also plenty of positives.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    Science on the move

    When Halley VI first arrived in Antarctica it became the world's first relocatable research facility. Despite offering living accommodation and state-of-the-art laboratories, the huge construct can be moved around the continent with relative ease.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis Schelfeis-Bruchkante (British Antarctic Survey)

    Clear signs of change

    Halley VI has been forced to move due to a new crack in the Brunt Ice Shelf that has been growing in size just north of the facility. Although the base is in no immediate damage, they believe it could lead to further cracks and large icebergs breaking off from the sheet.

  • Antarktis Britische Antarktis-Forschungsstation (picture-alliance/AP Photo/British Antarctic Survey/S. Burrell)

    A space weather station

    The Halley VI is in the Antarctic to provide information on a wide variety of topics such as space weather, ozone depletion, polar atmospheric chemistry and of course climate change. Famous for being the first research facility to detect holes in our ozone layer, the project is perfectly placed below the auroral zone to study the skies.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    An Antarctic town hall

    The large red container in the middle of the facility is used as a communal area for the research scientists. With 70 staff during the summer and just 16 over the winter, it allows those working in the remote location to socialize and take their mind off work from time to time.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    Best seats in the house

    Due to it's location the Halley VI facility is tasked with working through 24-hour darkness for 105 days of the year and is often cut off from the rest of the world. However that doesn't sound so bad when you have regular viewings of the spectacular Aurora Australis just above.

  • A connected effort

    The research facility is made up of eight modules. Each of these modules is built upon hydraulic legs and specially designed skies. When moving the facility each module is capable of being towed individually, making it much easier to get across the continent.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    A chilling prospect

    Despite the glorious views and exciting research, the climate is often extremely dangerous for humans to live in. At Halley VI the winter months can often see temperatures drop below -20°C and even fall as far as -55°C as the nearby sea freezes over entirely.


  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    Science on the move

    When Halley VI first arrived in Antarctica it became the world's first relocatable research facility. Despite offering living accommodation and state-of-the-art laboratories, the huge construct can be moved around the continent with relative ease.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis Schelfeis-Bruchkante (British Antarctic Survey)

    Clear signs of change

    Halley VI has been forced to move due to a new crack in the Brunt Ice Shelf that has been growing in size just north of the facility. Although the base is in no immediate damage, they believe it could lead to further cracks and large icebergs breaking off from the sheet.

  • Antarktis Britische Antarktis-Forschungsstation (picture-alliance/AP Photo/British Antarctic Survey/S. Burrell)

    A space weather station

    The Halley VI is in the Antarctic to provide information on a wide variety of topics such as space weather, ozone depletion, polar atmospheric chemistry and of course climate change. Famous for being the first research facility to detect holes in our ozone layer, the project is perfectly placed below the auroral zone to study the skies.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    An Antarctic town hall

    The large red container in the middle of the facility is used as a communal area for the research scientists. With 70 staff during the summer and just 16 over the winter, it allows those working in the remote location to socialize and take their mind off work from time to time.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    Best seats in the house

    Due to it's location the Halley VI facility is tasked with working through 24-hour darkness for 105 days of the year and is often cut off from the rest of the world. However that doesn't sound so bad when you have regular viewings of the spectacular Aurora Australis just above.

  • A connected effort

    The research facility is made up of eight modules. Each of these modules is built upon hydraulic legs and specially designed skies. When moving the facility each module is capable of being towed individually, making it much easier to get across the continent.

  • Halley VI Station Antarktis (British Antarctic Survey)

    A chilling prospect

    Despite the glorious views and exciting research, the climate is often extremely dangerous for humans to live in. At Halley VI the winter months can often see temperatures drop below -20°C and even fall as far as -55°C as the nearby sea freezes over entirely.


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