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Station
Camp
Shelter
Laboratory
Station
Camp
Shelter
Laboratory

Background

Alfred-Faure

http://www.institut-polaire.fr/ipev-en/infrastructures-2/stations/subantarctic-islands/

Sub-Antarctic

Open

Station

France

None

1962

Year-Round

Introduction

Alfred Faure Station, (Crozet Archipelago) is owned and managed by the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF). Scientific activities are supported and implemented by the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV).

Alfred-Faure is a permanent French scientific station on Île de la Possession, one of the islands of the Subantarctic Crozet Archipelago in the South Indian Ocean. It is located at the eastern end of the island on a plateau 143 m a.s.l. Three huts are distributed in the field as support facilities for scientists. In 2006, all the islands of the archipelago were listed as natural reserve. Access to several sites of Ile de la Possession is consequently submitted to permits.

Possession Island is a small volcanic island, 150 km2 in area and culminating at 984 m a.s.l. The cold maritime climate is characterized by strong winds from W or NW, abundant rainfall (more than 2500 mm per year; it rains 300 days per year on average). Mean annual temperature is about 5°C, varying between -5°C and 15°C. Possession Island belongs to the Subantarctic biogeographical Province of the Southern Indian Ocean. Vegetation is dense below 250 m a.s.l. but sparse in altitude. Numerous sea birds breed on the coastal areas, as well as Elephant seals and fur seals. Several invertebrate species are endemic of the archipelago.

The research station was first established during the austral summer of 1963-64. It was continuously occupied since that time.

The research projects implemented at Alfred Faure station cover a large range of scientific domains: bird and mammal ecology and physiology, as well as long term Earth science observatories in seismology and magnetism. The presence of large rookery of King Penguins close to the station allows specific researches on this species, including long term studies. Some projects are related to non native species (plants, invertebrates, mammals) and their impact on the native flora and fauna.

There is no permanent population on Possession Island and the number of staff and scientists vary from about 24 in winter, up to 45 in summer.

Access to Ile de la Possession is only by ship. There are no natural ports or airstrips. The Marion Dufresne is the supply vessel operated by TAAF. It visits Kerguelen Islands 4 times per year, in April, August, November and December. The helicopter on board allows unloading equipment and disembarking passengers. The movement within the archipelago is ordinarily walk.

Operator

Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF)

Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF)

http://www.taaf.fr/

Data Source

Partner Institution

Yes

Institut Polaire Français (IPEV)

Location

CO1101

46° 25' 48'' S

51° 51' 40'' E

Sub-Antarctic islands

Crozet Islands

146

0

934

2800

2800

0

1350

Ice-free ground

Climate

None

Sub-Antarctic

Snow and Rain

2369

32

205.2

W

01/01/1974 to 31/12/2015

5.5

7.9

8.4

7.8

6.8

5.1

4

3.7

3.4

3.4

4.1

5.1

6.4

01/01/1996

26.6

07/01/2006

-6.6

January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

Features

Biological features; Bird colonies; Coast; Fauna; Plateau; Rivers; Sea; Sea ice

Disciplines

Atmospheric chemistry and physics; Ecology; Environmental sciences; Geophysics and seismology; Social science; Terrestrial biology

Human Activities

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Infrastructure

CO1101

5461

612

Biology; Geophysics

40

133

49

Yes

Yes

Fossil fuel

220

24

No

Staff Capacity

17

28

16

8

45

48

Scientific Equipment

basic equipment of laboratories : precision scales, microscopes, stove, distilled water etc..), surgery room

Earth magnetism (INTERMAGNET Network), Sismology (GEOSCOPE Network), Sea level (GLOSS Network), Birds and mammal population dynamics, Invertebrate fauna, Plant populations, Non-native species (Plants, Invertebrates)

Medical Facilities

Yes

180

Medical doctor

2

Basic; Dental; Surgery; Other

Anaesthesia; Biochemistry; Blood Transfusion Medicine; Diagnostic ultrasound; Diagnostic x-ray; Haematology; Telemedicine; Other

Echography

2860

1

1

2860

No

Yes

Vehicles

None

2 tractors, 1 forklift, 1 mobile crane, 1 pick-up, 2 mechanical digger ; Walking is the most common moving mean in the island

Workshop facilities

Mechanical; Metal workshop; Wood workshop

Communications

E-mail; Fax; Internet; Satellite phone; Telephone; VHF

Access

Sea

Aircraft landing facilities

0

Yes

Transport and freight

Helicopter; Ship

4

April; August; November; December

None

0

None

Access To The Facility

Pictures

Crozet Albatros fuligineux (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

Crozet Baie du Marin and Alfred Faure Base (Credits: IPEV)

Crozet Baie du Marin (credits: IPEV)

Crozet Base Alfred Faure (Credits: IPEV)

Crozet Biomar (Credits: Nina Marchand)

Crozet Cormoran (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

Fur seal and King Penguins (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

Geophysics shelter (Credits: Nina Marchand)

Crozet Hut (Credits: Aurore Bourguignon)

Kerguelen cabbage (Credits: Laetitia Kernaleguen)

King penguin and egg (Credits: Anne-Catherine Klein)

King Penguin colony (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

King Penguins and Marion Dufresne (Credits: François Lepage)

King Penguins from heli (Credits: IPEV)

Crozet lab (Credits: Frenot)

Meteo tower (Credits: Nina Marchand)

Ornithologist Wanderinf albatross (Credits: Laetitia Kernaleguen)

Ornithologists in King Penguin rookery (Credits: David Beaune)

Ornithologists on cliff (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

Wandering Albatross (Credits: Gildas Lemonnier)

Crozet wooden tracks (Credits: Aurore Bourguignon)

Sub Crozet paysage (Credits: Romuald Bellec)