NEW ZEALAND'S SCOTT BASE, ANTARCTICA

by National Science Foundation

Located at Pram Point on Hut Point Peninsula (77o51'S) about 2 miles from McMurdo Station is New Zealand's antarctic research station, Scott Base. Established in 1957, Scott Base was designed originally to support two events--New Zealand's research contribution to the International Geophysical Year and the Trans-Antarctic Expedition. During the austral summer of 1957-1958, the Trans-Antarctic Expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary made the first overland trip to the South Pole since the Scott trek of 1912. Travelling in several varieties of snow tractors, Hillary's party laid a supply line to the Pole from McMurdo for the first crossing of Antarctica, led by Britisher Sir Vivian Fuchs, which started on the Weddell Sea coast. The mission of laying caches en route provided the necessary support for Fuchs' eventual crossing of the continent a few weeks later, completing Shackleton's plan made 40 years before.

Since that time, the small, compact cluster of metal buildings has been continuously occupied by support staff and scientists of the New Zealand Antarctic Research Program. As the New Zealand research program expanded, managers recognized the need to upgrade the station facilities. To adequately provide for the increasing numbers of personnel participating in research activities, NZARP began a rebuilding program in 1976. The effort included the construction of a new laboratory, powerhouse, administration and accommodation facilities, a command center, a light workshop complex, and garage facilities.

An hour's hike by graded road from McMurdo Station, this base provides scientific and logistics support for more than 200 New Zealand scientists working in the Ross Sea region during the austral summer. The wintering staff consists approximately 11 personnel who maintain the station and supervise continuous laboratory recordings associated with ionospheric, meteorological, and seismic studies. Transport of supplies and personnel is accomplished in cooperation with the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Research projects focus on the Ross Island area, McMurdo Sound, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Areas of research include upper atmospheric physics, marine and freshwater biology, earth sciences, glaciology, and meteorology. Scott Base also is part of an international network of observatories used for atmospheric physics and life and earth sciences.