Palmer-Station

The Palmer Station on Anvers Island is the only U.S. Antarctic research station north of the Antarctic Circle. Construction was completed in 1968.

Description of Station

The station was named after Nathaniel B. Palmer, which is generally regarded as the first American who saw the Antarctic. The maximum population that can accommodate the Palmer station, 46 people. The quota for a normal southern summer varies, but is usually about 40 people. However, Palmer is open all year manned, the population falls in the winter to 15-20 people take over the maintenance work after the end of the summer research. There are scientific laboratories, a pier and a helipad.

The facility is the second Palmer Station, " Old Palmer " was about 1.5 kilometers northwest close to the British " Base N", which was built in the fifties. Old Palmer was built around 1965 and served as the basis for the construction of the new station, which was opened in 1968. Old Palmer should also serve as a refuge for the population of the new station in the event of a disaster, although this need disappeared with time. In the early nineties Old Palmer was dismantled as part of environmental cleanup of the National Science Foundation and removed from Antarctica.

Science

The majority of the scientific research is conducted in the Palmer station relates to the marine biology. The station is home to continue year-round monitoring equipment for global seismic, atmospheric and UV monitoring networks and a radar receiver who studies lightning over the western hemisphere.

The Palmer Station is located near some penguin colonies - Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins in the summer are available in abundance, but in the field they can throughout the year occur in smaller numbers. Next home for a diverse species of seals: fur seals, elephant seals, crabeater and leopard seals. Also, minke, and humpback whales sword often swim in the waters around the station.

From the research vessel R / V Laurence M. Gould from, a ship with a reinforced hull, further research is undertaken, including oceanography, marine geology, and marine biology. The ship also brings research groups to field work at locations anywhere on the Antarctic Peninsula to study glaciology, geology and paleontology.

Supply to the station and transport

The supply of Palmer Station is also ensured by the R / V Laurence M. Gould. The R / V Nathaniel B. Palmer, the second research vessel of the United States Antarctic Program, now and then bring goods over - the bay in which the pier is, however, is too shallow for Palmer.

There is no routine air access to Palmer Station. Over the years, are now and then small, equipped with skis aircraft on the east of the station glacier landed.