Australian Antarctic Division

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD ) is an agency of the Australian Ministry of Environment, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities ( DSEWPaC, German: Ministry of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and community services).

The AAD is responsible for managing the Australian Antarctic Territory, other areas and marine protected areas in the sub-Antarctic and is not subject directly about the governments of Tasmania and Australia.

Headquarters and research stations

The AAD is based in Kingston, south of Hobart. The Agency has to perceive in their building a science laboratory, an aquarium and herbarium, an inspection station for krill, workshops, equipment and tools that duty in Antarctica.

The AAD operates three research stations in Antarctica and one on Macquarie Iceland, which occupied three full-year: These are the Casey station with a seasonal camp on the runway Wilkins Runway, Davis Station, the Mawson station and Macquarie station.

Davis Station

View from the Mawson station on the David Range

Macquarie station

Tasks

The AAD conducts science and research projects in Antarctica and the Indian Ocean, while it cooperates with international and Australian organizations such as the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia. She also holds links with universities and scientific institutions.

Furthermore, the AAD has been commissioned by the Australian Federal Government for the management of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic and responsible for the marine reserve Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Iceland.

It prepares decisions of the Australian government for the Antarctic, is the decisive source of information and is for the Australian transports with aircraft and ships in the area charge.

The AAD program includes the pursuit of Australian interests in Antarctica in terms of the Antarctic Treaty, environmental protection, climate change studies, awards and support scientific work of practical, economic and national significance in Australia.

Transportation

The AAD maintains and operates from November to February each year, a connection by jet aircraft Airbus A319 from Hobart to Wilkins Runway Runway, located about 65 km from the Casey station. Furthermore, two propeller type aircraft CASA 212-400 and three helicopters to Eurocopter AS 350 for shipments within the Antarctic are available.

The 94.9 m long and 3911 tonnes of heavy icebreaker Aurora Australis is since 1989 a chartered scientific research base, which operates the AAD. The ship can accommodate three helicopters and perform biological, oceanographic and meteorological observations and experiments.