The British Antarctic Survey has closed its Halley 6 Base (WAP GBR-37) for another winter.
Staff departed the station, leaving about 80% of the experiments they’d normally conduct through the polar night operating on automatic. The closure is the result of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the stability of ice near Halley that is likely soon to break off into the sea.
BAS believes the base is far enough away to be unaffected, but it doesn’t want people there just in case. Sending in planes to evacuate personnel in winter darkness and in bad weather is an unnecessary risk.
This is the third winter on the trot now that Halley 6 has been closed up.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47408249