Signy Research Station

- 60.716666666667 - 45.6Koordinaten: 60 ° 43 '0 "S, 45 ° 36 ' 0 " W

Signy Station is an Antarctic station of the United Kingdom. Signy was built in 1947 as a meteorological station. It was used on 18 March 1947 to 13 April 1996. Until 1995 Signy station center for biological research by the British Antarctic Survey was ( BAS). In 1995, the maritime part of the research was moved to Rothera Station. Since the summer of 1996-97 Signy is only used in the summer season.

Location

The station is located on Signy Iceland, a small sub-Antarctic island in the South Orkney Islands. It is located on Berntsen Point and overlooks the Factory Cove.

History

The original building was built on Berntsen Point and was named " Clifford House", named after Sir Miles Clifford, Governor of the Falkland Islands 1947 until 1954. During the first years of its existence, the station was systematically expanded. By 1950, several laboratories as well as the main lodge were built.

In the summer of 1955, the main house was built, the Tønsberg House, named after the whaling company Tønsbergs Hvalfangeri and built on the site formerly stood the old whaling station of the company at the. New residential rooms, laboratories and diving facilities have also been added.

The diving and laboratory facilities were renovated in the summer of 1980 again. For this purpose, a completely new building was erected, the Sørlle House. It is named after the family Sørlle. Petter Sørlle was a whaling captain who explored the southern Orkney Islands and Signy- Iceland, named after his wife. The Sørlle House was demolished in May 1995.

From 1996 to 1997, finally was the last conversion to pure summer station for natural gas and freshwater biology. The new main building, which was re- named Sørlle House, has living rooms, laboratories and offices.

Current usage

Signy base (that is during the Antarctic summer ) currently open from November to April and accommodates a maximum of eight to ten people. Automatic cameras record the whole year on the ice conditions in Factory Cove, to continue the 50 -year-old records that were started during the previous year-round use of the station.

The station also collects data on seal and penguin biology for CCAMLR.

To power two generators are used, which are operated with oil. Signy is supplied by vessels that land five times per season there, with supplies and materials.