Mese: Marzo 2021

The german research icebreaker Polarstern is currently anchoring at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic.

See https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:130195/zoom:10

The former Neumayer 3 wintering and summer Team is going to fly home from there.

Before the Polarstern did go back to the shelf ice coast near Neumayer 3 (WAP DEU-Ø8),  the ship took a deeper investigation of the big iceberg A-74 near the British Halley 6a Base (WAP GBR-4Ø).

Thanks and credit to:  https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/service/press/single-view/polarstern-expedition-erkundet-abgebrochenen-rieseneisberg.html

and  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56404142

TNX Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX

The planned Turkish Antarctic Research Station (TARS) is to be built in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula on Horseshoe Island. Between 24 and 50 people are to be accommodated in the station, which is to operate all year round. The graphic shows the various buildings and structures planned. (picture aside)

Horseshoe Island which is almost 12 km long and 6 km wide  is located  at 67°51’South, 67°12’ West, in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in Marguerite Bay, well below the Arctic Circle. Nearby are the British station Rothera (WAP GBR-12), the Argentine station San Martin (WAP ARG-Ø8) and at 67°48’30”South, 67°17’39” West,  the old Station Y also known as Horseshoe Base (WAP GBR-14), an inactive but relatively unaltered and completely equipped British research Refuge  of the late 1950s. It includes ‘Blaiklock’, a nearby Refuge Hut (WAP GBR-NEW), been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 63), following a proposal by the United Kingdom to the Antarctic Treaty Consulttive Meeting.

According to the Turkish Polar Institute TUBITAK MAM PRI, which is responsible for the management and operation of the station, the TARS (Turkish Antarctic Research Station) should be able to accommodate up to 50 people after completion. After a two-year trial run during the Antarctic summers, it will be eventually operated year-round and will advance the national Antarctic research program. Research areas include climate and ice science, atmospheric and space sciences, biological and earth sciences, and the impact of human activities on Antarctica. These research branches are part of the Turkish Polar Research Program, which has been in force in Antarctica since 2017.

The planned station will be built with prefabricated components produced in Turkey. Within two years of receiving the green light, the station should be ready for operation. Currently, only containers for eight people are available on Horseshoe Island to serve as a summer research camp.

Turkey is one of the youngest Antarctic nations and is hitting the accelerator. A first Antarctic expedition with Turkish participation was launched in 2016 together with Ukraine.

After Turkey ratified the Madrid Protocol on the Environment in 2017, the way was clear for its own expeditions. Just one year later, the temporary research camp was set up on Horseshoe Island. This is now to be replaced by the new Station.

Read more at: https://polarjournal.ch/en/2021/02/25/turkey-plans-its-own-antarctic-station/?fbclid=IwAR0swBe8obRVjWKH_AWq4njql4H7YoF9xeDE8Sgrehw5Eh0YwthxlZfUfF4

Located at 66°14’59” South, 100°36’12” East,  Edgeworth David is a summer-only Station, a research outpost named after Sir Edgeworth David.

The Base is sited in Northen Bunger Hill (aka Bunger Lakes or Bunger Oasis), a coastal range on the Knox Coast in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, consisting of a group of moderately low, rounded coastal hills, overlain by morainic drift and notably ice free throughout the year, lying south of the Highjump Archipelago. The reasoning behind the minute amount of ice in the area is still relatively unknown and remains under intense debate amongst scientists today. It was opened in 1986 by the Australian Antarctic Division. It is temporary visited during the summer season and used for geological, geophisical, geomorphologogical and biological research.

Edgeworth David summer Base lies about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from WNW of  Polish Antoni Dobrowolski Station (WAP POL-NEW), at 66°15′South, 100°36′ East. Australia has maintained this  summer-only station  since 1986.

So far, WAP does not have reports of  HF activity by any Hams from this site

Pakistani researchers are keen to revive scientific exploration in the Antarctic region. Officials have expressed a desire to revitalize expeditions in Antarctica by Pakistani scientists in collaboration with friendly countries.

During 1991 and 1993, Pakistan established two scientific research stations: Jinnah Antarctic Station I and II (WAP PAK-NEW), and an automatic weather station called Iqbal Observatory on Sor Rondane Mountain. This achievement earned Pakistan the associate membership of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in 1992. More recently, Pakistani scientists have also participated in Chinese expeditions in Antarctica.

Pakistan’s Antarctic Program started nearly three decades back after the country sent its first expedition to the South Pole, backed by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) that was established in 1981 by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In the early 1990s,.

No independent expedition was sent by Pakistan after 1993 reportedly due to lack of funds and the government’s attention. “Scientific research in Antarctica is a future investment for any government that offers manifold opportunities and benefits technologically, economically and even diplomatically” explained Dr Hina Saeed Baig, Director General of NIO. “Pakistan’s Antarctic Programme is more than just a national achievement as it offers long-term benefits, elevates the country’s status and helps improve local expertise and technology.”

Jinnah Antarctic Station (JAS) – (WAP PAK-NEW) is an Antarctic scientific research Station operated by the Pakistan -Antarctic Programme. Pakistan signed the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in 1991.
Location: Sør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud Land, in Eastern Antarctica
Established: 1991 Launch: National Institute of Oceanography
Led: Pakistan Navy Support: Ministry of Science & Technology
2001: Data operational system was linked to the Badr-B satellite
2002: SUPARCO scientists installed supercomputer-equipped Facility
2005: Pakistan Air Force engineers and scientists built a small airstrip and a control room to monitor Flights to and From Pakistan
2010: Pakistan’s government approved a plan to expand the JAS Facility into a permanent operational Base

More info at: https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-eager-to-revive-antarctic-expedition-1.74813273

Hope one day some Pakistani Ham radio will  performing HF activity from there!

Bob, K4MZU has just received all the logs from Buzz W3EMD (pic aside on his operation site when aboard),  for  the activity as VP8DPC/m and C6AMD/mm.

The reason he used VP8DPC/m  (instead of /MM, according to his thinking) is because he was right off shore in South Georgia territorial waters. In a way, he is correct as here in the US you can only use /MM  in international waters. «In this case,  we know he was /MM off shore from South Georgia»  said Bob K4MZU.

Buzz did operate from febr/16 – march/11 2016 aboard the Antarctic M/V Orion, cruising around South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands.

M/V Orion  is listed on WAP-WACA Directory (under call VP8DPC/MM), therefore is valid for WAP Awards. Callsign C6AMD/MM will be add accordingly on the Directory.

QSL(s) is now to be requested through Bob K4MZU at:

ROBERT HINES,  1978 SNAPPING SHOALS RD, MC DONOUGH, GA 30252, USA

Starting October 15, 1956, the Soviet Union built a Scientific Station by the name of Oazis (Оазис) at the shore of the Algae (Figurnoje) Lake in the center of Bunger Lakes or Bunger Oasis’s area.  The Oazis Base located at 66° 16′ 29″ South, 100° 44′ 49″ East, consisting of two wooden houses ca. 20 m² each and a few smaller buildings, was able to accommodate  eight people. The station was handed over by the Soviet Accademy of Sciences to Poland on January 23, 1959, and was renamed Antoni  B. Dobrowolski Station. It continued to be occupied for a few weeks only thereafter.

The still in place magnetic observatory building (“Oasis Station Observatory”), along with a plaque commemorating the establishment of Oasis Station in 1956, has been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 10) following a proposal by Russia to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM).

WAP does not have evidence of any Ham Radio activity from there so, the Soviet Union’s  Oazis Station (aka Bunger Oasis Station) at  66° 16′ 29″ South, 100° 44′ 49″ East, remains unnumbered as WAP RUS-NEW.

The Base,  63°33’07” South, 57°22’40”West (a small Chilean Antarctic Refuge located in Duse bay, Trinity Peninsula, Antarctic Peninsula.)  is a cabin with a machine house, bathroom and storage. It is located about 36 km away from another Chilean base, General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme Station (WAP CHL-Ø2) on which it heavily depends.

Currently the installation is regularly maintained by Chile, for use as an emergency shelter, allowing 8 people to survive in it for 20 days in the event of an accident. Initially it was the British “Station V”, erected as a satellite base of the “Station D” located in Hope bay (WAP GBR-Ø4).

Station D was then assigned to Uruguay in 1997 and renamed Ruperto Elichiribethy Station (WAP URY-NEW).

As part of a plan to remove or transfer abandoned facilities, in cooperation with the Antarctic Treaty System, on July 29, 1996, Station V was transferred to Chile, which renamed it General Ramon Cans Montalva Sub Base who later became Jorge Boonen Rivera.

The refuge consists of a hut enabled as a room and a second machine house, bathroom and storage. Currently the installation is regularly maintained by Chile, for use as an emergency shelter, allowing 8 people to survive in it for 20 days in the event of an accident. For this purpose, the station has an electric generator, as well as fuel, food, water and gas. In September 2005 three soldiers of the Chilean Army died in the vicinity of the Refuge, when their snowmobile fell into a crevasse.

It was February 2004 when WAP did launch the idea of an Antarctic Activity Week. From that time, every year several Hams and Clubs, join the annual 8-day event, which purpose  is to recognize and bring attention to the scientific communities and the work they do in the Antarctic.

Here below, just some of the comments coming from participants:

From  KØANT- Antenna Club in Johnson County, Overland Park, Kansas-USA

This is the 18^th year of the annual happening, and the 11^th year that The Kansas Antenna Club in Johnson County has supported this event.
Club founder and call sign Trustee, Jim KB­­­ØMZF did send a message to the Club members: «Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 protocols, the Kansas City authority  has indicated that are not currently allowing groups such as ours, to conduct events in our headquarters. So, our AAW outing to there, will not be available as an activity. We are disappointed, because it has always been a fun way to share HAM radio with the public, but we do of course understand their need for that policy this year.  However, if you are a Member in good standing, you still have permission to use our KØANT Club call sign to make contacts from your home station at any time during the 8-day event.  You are invited to participate and help our Club support»

From K4A, PHILIP W FINKLE, K6EID from Marietta, Georgia-USA

Just completed this years AAW, made 696 QSOS all on digital FT4 and FT8.

Here’s my annual stats since 2007: This year we had bad solar activity for 3 days that pretty much killed most propagation.

Year      QSOs
2021      696
2020      737
2019      952
2018      457
2017      776
2016      340
2015      338
2014      545
2013      473
2012      783
2011      916
2010      635
2009      699
2008      712
2007     1101
I have already reserved K4A for 2022, said Phil!

From Volker DL8JDX, Altötting, Germany

Thanks again for organizing the AAW 2021. It was fun again working many AAW Special Event Stations. During this AAW and during this Antarctic Summer Season, I could work following stations:
12 WAP SES Stations:
EH3ANT              WAP-292
EM25VER            WAP-312
IB2ANT                WAP-308
II2ANT                 WAP-030
II5ANT                 WAP-025
II8WAP                WAP-297
IR1ANT                WAP-002
K4A                       WAP-073
LZ18ANT              WAP-311
OE18AAW           WAP-309
PF88ANT             WAP-307
TM18AAW          WAP-310

7 Antarctic/Sub-Antarctic Stations:
RI01ANT              RUS-11
LU1ZG                 ARG-06
VP8LP                 GBR-25
VP8NO                GBR-25
VP8/SQ1SGB      GBR-40
ZS7ANF              MNB-12
DP1POL              DEU-08

2 Antarctic Research Ships:
RX6A/mm           Akademik Tryoshnikov
DP0POL/mm      Polarstern
Looking forward to the next upcoming season, said Volker!

Congrats to everyone who did join the 18th AAW, and don’t forget to aplly the “free” 18th AAW Award,  available online (TNX IK3GER)
See: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2021/