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Station
Camp
Shelter
Laboratory
Station
Camp
Shelter
Laboratory

Background

Rothera

https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/sites-and-facilities/facility/rothera/

Antarctic

Open

Station

United Kingdom

None

1975

Year-Round

Introduction

Rothera, British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

Rothera research station is situated on Rothera Point – a rock and raised beach promontory at the southern extremity of the Wormald Ice Piedmont on the south-east of Adelaide Island to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Flora mainly limited to lichen. Breeding colonies of South polar skua, terns and Imperial Cormorants in the area. Large transitory populations of other bird species (petrels, gulls etc). Regular visits from Adélie penguins although no breeding colonies close by. Occasional sightings of Chinstrap and Emperor penguins. Regular sightings of Weddell, Crabeater, Fur, Elephant and Leopard seals. Regular sightings of Minke whale and Orca, occasionally Humpbacks.

Station occupied continuously from 25 October 1975. Phased construction programme since that time. Runway and wharf constructed in 1991/92.

Marine and terrestrial biology, geology, glaciology, meteorology and upper atmospherics.

All human activity relates to scientific research or support of scientific research.

4-5 hour flight from Falkland Islands/South America.

4-5 days ship passage from Falkland Islands/South America.

Operator

British Antarctic Survey

Government

British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

http://www.bas.ac.uk/

Data Source

Partner Institution

No

Location

CO2805

67° 34.1717' 0'' S

68° 7.4933' 0'' W

Antarctic Peninsula

A - Antarctic Peninsula northern geologic

4 Central south Antarctic Peninsula

16

0

0

Ice-free ground

Climate

Continuous

Coastal Antarctica

Snow

N

-3.7

0.7

-0.6

-2.1

-1.4

-3.5

-5.6

-6.7

-8.5

-6.6

-5.5

-3.9

-0.9

6.6

-20.2

January; February

Features

Bluff; Coast; Crevasse; Ice cap or glacier; Low artificial light pollution; Low humidity; Melt streams; Mountain; Nunatak; Permanent snowpatches; Rock; Sea; Sea ice; Seal colonies; Snow

Disciplines

Atmospheric sciences; Climate studies; Ecology; Environmental sciences; Geology; Geophysics and seismology; Mapping; Marine biology; Microbiology; Oceanography

Human Activities

Yes

Station permanently occupied since 1975

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Infrastructure

CO2805

7200

450

Biology; Chemistry; Scientific diving

3600

136

yes

yes

Fossil fuel; Renewable

240

24

no

Staff Capacity

120

40

22

5

136

200

Scientific Equipment

Medical Facilities

Yes

31

Medical doctor; Non-medical trained person

2

Basic; Dental

Diagnostic x-ray; Hyperbaric Recompression Chamber; Telemedicine

100

22

No

Yes

Vehicles

Three 6.0m rigid inflatable (console), one 4.8m rigid inflatable (tiller), one 6.4m HDPE workboat (console).

Thirty eight skidoos, three tractors, four loaders (forklift/bucket capability), one snowcat, one bulldozer, one crane, six utility vehicles, one ATV, pick-up truck (fire response).

Workshop facilities

Mechanical; Metal workshop; Wood workshop

Communications

Computer; E-mail; Fax; Internet; Printer; Satellite phone; Scanner; Telephone; VHF

Access

Air; Sea

Aircraft landing facilities

2

900

40

Rwy 18/36 Mag, Elev. 13', Wheel only

Snow

No

Transport and freight

Airplane; Ship

6

January; February; March; October; November; December

Pier/Jetty

Skiway to northwest of station

January; February; March; October; November; December

Access To The Facility

Pictures

Rothera Research Station