Mese: Agosto 2023

Smyley Island is an Antarctic island lying off the Antarctic Peninsula at coordinates (72°55′South, 78°0′West). The island is 61 km (38 mi) long and from 13 to 34 km (8 to 21 mi) wide and  lies about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) north of Case Island and the island connects to the Stange Ice Shelf. Smyley island is one of the 27 islands of Palmer Land, Antarctica and  is separated from Alexander Island by the Ronne Entrance.

In 1939–1941 Smyley Island was first identified as a peninsula of mainland Antarctica by the United States Antarctic Service and was named Cape Smyley. In 1968 it was identified as an island on a U.S. Geological Survey map. The island is named after Captain William H. Smyley, the American master of the sealing vessel Ohio during 1841–42

A 497,  a site on fast ice near Scorseby Head, on the northern shore of the island, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of some 6,000 emperor penguins, based on 2009 satellite imagery.

A catastrophic die-off of emperor penguin chicks has been observed in the Antarctic, with up to 10,000 young birds estimated to have been killed. The event, in late 2022, occurred in the west of the continent in an area fronting on to the Bellingshausen Sea.

The sea-ice underneath the chicks melted and broke apart before they could develop the waterproof feathers needed to swim in the ocean. The birds most likely drowned or froze to death.

Dr Peter Fretwell, from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said the wipeout was a harbinger of things to come. The scientists tracked five colonies in the Bellingshausen Sea sector – at Rothschild Island, Verdi Inlet, Smyley Island (picture above), Bryan Peninsula and Pfrogner Point.

Read more at: Climate change: Thousands of penguins die in Antarctic ice breakup – BBC News

Inexpressible Island is a small rocky island in Terra Nova Bay on the Ross Sea.

The  attached Map of the Victoria Land coast show at the bottom, the location of Inexpressible Island very close o the Italian MZS Station (WAP ITA-Ø1)

Inexpressible Island is most notable for being where the “Northern party” of Scott’s 1910-1913 expedition had to endure an enforced winter. Their ship the Terra Nova could not pick them up as planned in February 1912 due to particularly heavy pack ice.

The six men passed a particularly miserable winter with just four weeks worth of rations which were supplemented by killing penguins or seals that they found though these were few and far between .

They dug an ice cave and built a rock shelter, though suffered greatly from frostbite, hunger and dysentery. They gave the name “Inexpressible Island” in recognition of how awful the place and time they spent there was.

They remained on Inexpressible Island until the last day of September 1912 when they set off on the 200 miles journey to Hut Point arriving on November the 5th despite great illness, discomfort and a lack of supplies.
The location of the ice cave on Inexpressible Island is a Category 1 site as classified by the Antarctic Heritage Trust and receives protection under the Antarctic Treaty.

China is building his 5th Antarctic Station just on Inexpressible island

Picture above show the Cairn and sign marking site of “Campbell’s Igloo” on Inexpressible Island. In January 1912 six men of Scott’s ‘Terra Nova’ expedition, led by Lt Victor Campbell RN, were dropped off on this small island with the aim of exploring some of the coast of Victoria Land for a few weeks.

In the next five years in order to sustain its bases in Antarctica, India aims to have its first Polar Research Vessel (PRV) as told by Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju.

He noted that in 2014, the Cabinet had approved Rs 1,051 crore to acquire the vessel. A tender was also floated for the same. The government later abandoned the project as the company which had got the order to build the ship raised certain conditions that were not part of the tender process.
“However another effort was initiated and now, we are ready with the proposal to be moved by the EFC (Expenditure Finance Committee),” Mr Rijiju said.
The cost of the vessel is now estimated to be ₹ 2,600 crore, he noted. “I am hopeful that in this financial year, we should be ready to propose this estimate and move in the Cabinet. In the next five years, we should be ready with the ship,” Mr Rijiju stated.

The PRV will play a crucial role in supporting India’s bases in Antarctica and the Arctic. India currently operates three research base stations in the polar regions, and continuous access to these stations is essential for conducting various research activities, especially those related to climate change.
Apart from logistical support, a PRV can serve as a research platform for scientists to conduct studies in the ocean realm, including the Southern Ocean. This vessel’s acquisition is crucial as it will enable India to carry out independent polar expeditions and scientific studies in these critical regions, rather than having to charter foreign PRVs for each expedition.

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India currently has three Research Base Stations in the polar region of Antarctica:
Bharati (WAP IND-Ø4), Maitri (WAP IND-Ø3), and Dakshin Gangotri (WAP IND-Ø1) and one station Himadri at 78°55 North, 11°55 East on  Spitsbergen island in the Arctic (picture on the right).

Himadri is India’s first permanent Arctic Research Station located at  at the International Arctic Research complex, Ny-Alesund. It was set up during India’s second Arctic expedition in June 2008 and  inaugurated on the 1st of July, 2008 by the Indian Minister of Earth Science.           

 

WAP-WACA and WAP WADA Awards  have been (and still are) two prestigious diplomas for several decades. Radio amateurs who love long-distance contacts and DX in particular with the Antarctic Continent, consider them among the most coveted awards.
Every year, the ranking is updated as well as the diplomas issued. Just check the links beloww to enter in each of this ones!

WACA issued:
http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/awards-issued-waca/

WADA issued:
http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/awards-issued-wada/

Ranking WACA:
http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/w-a-c-a-ranking/

Ranking WADA:
http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/awards-issued-wada/

Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

Apply for your Antarctic certificates , there are many available fron diferent sources! Visit the Antarctic Worldwide Award’s page here at WAP web site: http://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/

 

On 28 July, UKAHT (UK Antarctic Heritage Trust) turned 30.

For three decades, they have had the privilege to conserve Antarctica’s unique heritage, share the continent’s ever-evolving stories and inspire others to see and experience Antarctica differently through innovative technology, art and culture.

“While we’re using the moment to celebrate our successes (and grab a truly unique slice of cake), it is also a time to look forward. Antarctica is complex, fragile and rapidly changing – and so too is its heritage. As such, UKAHT must also keep evolving and rethinking our role to best champion our cherished sites and

Ultimately though, as a charity, we couldn’t have done it without you,  our supporters.

We are eternally grateful for all of your help in protecting and celebrating this precious place, then, now and into the future.

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