RI1ANM Mirny Base (WAP RUS-Ø7) on air

Alexander Solodov, RX3ABI  arrived at Mirny Base (WAP RUS-Ø7) on last mid March and has just started to be on air signing RI1ANM.

He is wintering at the station till the beginning of 2021. Alex is actually working on his antenna and is active from time to time …. sure we can contact him in the near future !

Keep an eye to the Packet Cluster…
TNX François, F8DVD

Mirny is Russia’s first Station on theIcy  Continent, located right on the Antarctic Circle, at 66° 33’ 11” South, 93° 00’ 35” East,  Mirny was opened on February 13, 1956 by the 1st Soviet Antarctic Expedition.

The first overwintering party had 92 members, and the station included a pigsty that supplied fresh pork. Now it houses up to 50.

New plan for Australian Antarctic shipping

The Australian Antarctic Division will use the MPV Everest to resupply its Antarctic stations and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island next summer.

The Ice-Class Multi-purpose vessel is operated by Dutch company Maritime Construction Services, and is capable of navigating in ice up to 1 metre thick.

AAD General Manager of Operations and Safety, Charlton Clark, said the end of the Aurora Australis’ contract and the delayed arrival of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina, means an alternative ship had to be contracted.

“The MPV Everest was selected after a call for proposals and was identified as providing the best value for money,” Mr Clark said.

“The 140 meters long ship was built in 2017 and will be used for a minimum of 90 days next Antarctic summer season.”

Thanks and credit to AAD

Read more at: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2020/new-plan-for-australian-antarctic-shipping?fbclid=IwAR3pLJ3fRLaYaj-5x83Hmaxk2O9BqrSXZQdS5E6A0T922V1hEcbIslZzzvk
We’ll be looking forward working MPV Everest  on HF Ham bands, sometimes when in operation on the Antarctic or Sub-Antarctic waters! For sure, a brand new /MM station to add to the WAP-WADA score!

17 de Agosto Refuge, WAP ARG-NEW

Located at 68° 07’53” South, 67°10’16” West, “Refuge 17 de Agosto”   is an Antarctic refuge located in the north east of the Millerand Island in the Marguerite Bay, on Fallières Coast.

It is operated by the Argentine Army and was inaugurated on August 17, 1957.

It depends on San Martín Base (WAP ARG-Ø8), which is five kilometers away on Barry Island. The refuge consists of a red hut, used by the personnel employed in the missions carried out in the area, and has a capacity to accommodate four people, enough food for two weeks, fuel, gas and first aid kit

Even of this facility  is listed on WAP-WADA Directory, the Argentinean   “Refuge 17 de Agosto”   has never been activated by Hams, so it remains a WAP brand “New One”.
While hoping next time the guys going there can bring a RTX & antenna and put this Refuge up “On the Air”, enjoy the 5′ video here below

The sun set at the South Pole last week

The sun, won’t rise again until September.

Six months of darkness are one of the reasons powerful telescopes are located at the South Pole. (Amindsen-Scott US South Pole Station, WAP USA-21 & WAP USA-36).
The photo by Danny Hampton (here aside), shows the South Pole Telescope, operated by the University of Chicago, as they study the origins of the universe.
Thanks and credit to: The Antarctic Support Contract

The Antarctic Support Contract team provides station operations, logistics, information technology, construction, maintenance and more on Antarctica and at support facilities worldwide.

Supporting scientific research on the highest, driest, coldest, windiest and emptiest place on Earth requires exceptional logistics and planning expertise. Leidos is the prime contractor for the National Science Foundation’s United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

See more at: https://www.leidos.com/competencies/operations-and-logistics/antarctic-support-contract

Antarctica the only Continent untouched by the coronavirus

One continent has not yet confirmed a case of the novel coronavirus. It’s a place of barren ice, where the all-consuming cold and darkness of winter is fast approaching.

Over the past few months, some 4,000 people from around the world have watched from Antarctica as the coronavirus pandemic,  swept around the globe, reaching all but its southernmost reaches.
“You’d better stay there, you’re safer there,” Alberto Della Rovere, leader of the 35th Italian expedition to Antarctica, said his colleagues at home told him via WhatsApp.

For now, they appear to be right. Even in normal times, only a limited number of people are allowed in and out of Antarctica, with medical workers screening for signs of influenza and other illnesses before arrival.

“Right now, this, Antarctica, is the safest place in the world,” Della Rovere said. “There are no outside contacts and we’re far away from any settlement.”

 More information at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/24/one-continent-remains-untouched-by-coronavirus-antarctica/

HSM-53 Memorial at Elephant Island, Antarctica

Someone call it “Shackleton Memorial”, others “Frank Wild Memorial” while  HSM (Historical Sites and Monuments) with its official HSM-53 call this place “Endurance Memorial site”.

Beyond all names that are attributed to it,  Point Wild on Elephant Island, hosts the bust of  Luis Antonio Pardo Villalòn, the Chilean Navy Officer who, in August 30th 1916, commanded the steam Tug Yelcho to rescue the 22 stranded crewmen of Sir Ernast Shackleton’s expedition who survived the wreck of the ship Endurance living for four and one half months in this island.

As a matter of fact, most cruises stopping at Point Wild , an epic place where part of the Shackleton’s expedition members camped waiting for a rescue. It’s not easy to set foot at Elephant Island where in spite of beautiful landscape, the very rugged coastline and  frequent extreme weather makes landings difficult.

As second-in-command of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Frank Wild was left in charge of twenty-one men on desolate Elephant Island as Shackleton and a crew of five, made their epic rescue mission to South Georgia aboard a lifeboat. From 24 April to 30 August 1916 Wild and his crew waited on Elephant Island, surviving on a diet of seal, penguin and seaweed untill they were finally rescued by Shackleton aboard the Chilean ship Yelcho.

Point Wild (61°03′ South 54°50′ West) is though named after Frank Wild  with a monument dedicated to the Chilean captain Luis Pardo who rescued him and his men.

The Bust of Captain Luis Alberto Pardo,  monolith and plaques have been placed on Elephant Island and their replicas on the Chilean bases Capitan Arturo Prat (62°30’South, 59°49’West) WAP CHL-Ø1 and President Eduardo Frei (62°12’South, 62°12′ West) WAP CHL-Ø5. Bronze busts of the pilot Luis Pardo Villalon were placed on the three above-mentioned monoliths during the XXIVth Chilean Antarctic Scientific Expedition in 1987–88
The plaque displays the following words: “Here on August 30th, 1916, the Chilean Navy cutter Yelcho commanded by Pilot Luis Pardo Villalón rescued the 22 men from the Shackleton Expedition who survived the wreck of the Endurance living for four and one half months in this Island”.

DPØGVN (WAP DEU-Ø8) via QO-100

On the April 2020 issue, the German  CQ-DL Magazine dedicates several pages to report the QO-100 activity with particular regards to the contact made from Neumayer III Station (WAP DEU-Ø8) and the students at school.

Reaching DPØGVN via QO-100 is still possible … why not trying?

Thanks our good friend Volker, DL8JDX (ex:Y88POL, DP0GVN), amicably appointed as WAP Ambassador, for relaying the information.

In addition, Volker DL8JDX informs the Chasers that: Whoever still wants a QSL for Y88POL or DPØGVN from the period 1988 to 1994 , he still have all logs.

TNX DL8JDX

Picture aside, shows the roof of the Neumayer III Station with AMSAT-DL antenna in the background: Felix, DL5XL; Torsten, DL1TOG, and Roman, HB9HCF, who will remain in Antarctica until February 2021.
These are the Hams who did the installation and test… of course, a great job!

Hillary’s Hut at Scott Base – WAP NZL-Ø1

Over the summer of 2016–2017, the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s team on the Ice spent more than 5700 hours carefully restoring Hillary’ Hut (TAE Hut) and conserving more than 500 artefacts.  A million dollar project to save Sir Ed’s hut in Antarctica is now largely complete

For the past three months, the Antarctic Heritage Trust has had a team of 12 carpenters and conservation specialists on the ice saving the hut and conserving the hundreds of artefacts within it.

Read more at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11789523

Hillary’s Hut (aka known as “A” Hut ) of Scott Base, is the only existing Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1956–1957) building in Antarctica. It’s where the  first group of 18 members of the TAE (Trans-Antarctic Expedition) led by Sir Edmund Hillary and the five New Zealand scientists led by Trevor Hatherton, , did winter over at Scott Base contributing to the IGY. During that epic, Hillary slept in his office in “A” Hut, while the others shared the dormitory accommodation in ‘C’ and ‘D’ huts.

The “A” Hut has been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 75), following a proposal by New Zealand to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

To get more about this, read: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/caring-huts-antarctica

And also the UHAHT Site at: https://www.ukaht.org/discover/other-historic-sites/ross-sea-and-other-important-huts/commonwealth-tae-hut-scott-base/

Hillary’s Hut is part of Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1), therefore no chance to issue a new WAP reference to it.

Antarctica snow turns ‘blood red’

Snow has taken on a sinister-looking blood red colour at a Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base (WAP UKR-Ø1) due to a  type of algae which contributes to climate change.

For several weeks, scientists working at Vernadsky in Antarctica have been surrounded by what they call “raspberry snow”. Images released by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science on Monday showed the phenomenon, which is caused by microscope snow algae when weather conditions are favorable during Antarctica’s summer months.

The ministry explained that the algae is able to survive the extreme cold temperatures during the Antarctic winter and begins to sprout when warmer temperatures arrive in the summer (between October and February). The algae’s cells have a red carotene layer which protects it from ultraviolet radiation and produces red spots in the snow like “raspberry jam”, the ministry said.

Thanks and credit Conrad Duncan (at) theconradduncan

Read more at: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/red-snow-antarctica-research-station-ukraine-algae-climate-change-a9361091.html

The former British outpost houses the world’s most southerly Post Office

At the northern tip of Antarctica, 800 miles from the nearest pub, lies the world’s most southerly Post Office. Port Lockroy a former British outpost and now an Antarctic research station (WAP GBR-Ø1),, has no running water and lies on an isolated island about the size of a primary school playing field.
A team of four adventurers live there for a few months each year tasked with running the Post Office and keeping an eye on the 2,000 gentoo penguins that inhabit the island.
With workers bracing frigid -10C temperatures and sometimes going days without a wash, you might ask who’d be mad enough to take a job there.
Step in Laura MacNeil: A librarian based in Edinburgh who describes her stint at Lockroy as a “once in a lifetime trip”.
Running the base’s gift shop between November 2016 and March 2017, Laura, 40, admits she had a few tough moments at the site on Antarctica’s Goudier Island.
Port Lockroy is run and maintained by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), a charity that conserves historic buildings and artefacts in Antarctica.
Read more at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/11032252/antarctica-port-lockroy-research-station-gift-shop-job-apply/

Just today I’ve received a post card (see pics) stampded at Port Lockroy. It was a great surprise , a gift from my good friend Eddy De Busschere a keen Polar Philatelic collector  at  BPES (Belgian Polar expedition Society).
TNX Eddy!

XR8RRC on the air  & XR8RRC/p (WAP CHL-13) to come

Magallanes Region, officially the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region  is one of Chile’s ‘s 16 first order administrative division.  It comprises four provincies: Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego, and Antarctica Chilena.

Magallanes’s geographical features include Torres del Paine, Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego island, and the Strait of Magellan. It also includes the Antarctic territories claimed by Chile

XR8RRC-Wellington Island (49°22’15” South, 74°55’35” West) belongs to Ultima Esperanza Province. In its Southern point ( 49° 54’ 01” South, 74° 24’ 03” West), Wellington isaland, hosts the automatic Punta Cameron Lighthouse.

Villa Puerto Eden, Wellington Island has a permanent presence of  the Chilean Navy that has a Port Captaincy, installed in the mid-seventies in the same facilities that use to house the Air Force radio station, which is located in front of Puerto Edén village, in the sector of Yetarkte Bay

XR8RRC/p – WAP CHL-13
Weather and transport permitting, RRC Team plans to land on Riesco Island (WAP CHL-13), and doing activity up to 48 hours from 19 to 21 march as XR8RRC/P.

Stay tuned… it’s a good one for WAP Awards. In the southwestern portion of Riesco  island, Córdova Peninsula marks the eastern limit of the Strait of Magellan and its enter in the Sub-Peri Antarctic circle (Check WAP-WADA Directory)

UKHART – UK Antarctic Heritage Trust

Antarctica’s bicentenary year, a right time to join UKAHT, a site that  keeps the Antarctic enthusiast up to date with lots of  exciting work in Antarctica and beyond.

By joining UKAHT , you will receive a regular e-bulletins updating you on all our exciting projects and sharing opportunities, events and fundraising news too. Why not become a “Friend of Antarctica” by joining UKAHT as a member?

UKAHT  aim is to connect like-minded people who share an interest in this remarkable continent, together exploring the wonder of Antarctica and reliving its many inspirational stories to promote a greater understanding of this extraordinary place and the role we all have in protecting it.

Help protect, inspire and champion the future of Antarctica

Check  http://ukaht.org/ and find out more about how to get involved

Signy Lighthouse (SOI-001) entering on WAP LH Directory as WAP-LH-GBR-ØØ2

Signy island hosts a lighthouse listed on the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) this  lighthouse seems to be not too far away the Signy Research Station site (WAP GBR-Ø9).

It is clearly documented that Signy island LH  is very near the Base at 60° 42′ South, 43° 35′ West  Gridsquare GC89.  Signy Island LH is also referenced as ARLHS SOI-001, Admiralty Nr.G1375, NGA 110-20362.

But now,  a problem  comes up!

We have been trying to get a picture of this LH but in vain … loks like the Signy LH does not exist anymore!

In a recent message, about this matter, sent to Gabry IK1NEG, our great friend Mike Gloistein GMØHCQ wrote:

I am not aware of there ever being a lighthouse at Signy.  I have written to the Station Leader at Signy and he has confirmed my thoughts,  in that when the base was manned full time there was a scaffold frame with a lamp at the top but not really classed as a lighthouse.  The Station Leader may have a picture of it,  but it was taken down about four or five years ago.
If I do get a photo I will forward it on to you.
Kind regards,
Mike

So, a kind of Lighthouse did exist at Signy island, as it has been referenced by several officials,  but apparently,  no one has been able to find out a close up picture of it.

Following the suggestion of Pedro Sarli, LU1JHF, to add a proper reference on WAP-WADA-LH Directory, we did it anyway.

WAP-LH-GBR-ØØ2 is the reference issued to it. New WAP reference  will appear on  WAP LH Directory on next up date (June 2020)

TNX Pedro, LU1JHF

Turkish  Base at Horseshoe Island, Antarctica

Turkish scientists continue their scientific research on Horseshoe Island in Antarctica. After the construction of Turkey’s first temporary science Base on the island (67°49’40” South, 67°12’08” West), the Team welcomed a group of guests from Chile, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Ukraine for the first time. The six guest scientists did work together with the 24-member of the Turkish research Team joins 15 scientific projects in the Earth, life, and marine sciences.

In addition, Turkey has opened GNSS station on Dismal Island,  at 73 kilometres (45 miles) from Horseshoe Island in Antarctica, to track changes in the location of icebergs and transmit photos of Antarctica’s surface, as well as process data from GPS, GLONASS and Galileo.

“The GNSS satellite navigation base station was set up within the framework of the fourth Turkish scientific expedition to Antarctica” said Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, as quoted by the national Anadolu news agency. “A group of specialists from the Turkish General Directorate of Mapping has built Turkey’s first GNSS base station abroad.”

https://www.gpsworld.com/turkish-satnav-station-opens-in-antarctica/

Dismal Island (68°05′37″ South,  68°51′06″ West) is an island, 1.9 kilometres (1 nmi) long and 60 metres (200 ft) high, which is mainly ice covered and is the largest of the Faure Islands, an archipelago lying in Marguerite Bay off the west coast of Graham Land.

Watch one minute video by clicking here  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkish-research-team-arrives-in-antarctica/1737304

Read more at: https://www.dailysabah.com/life/science/turkish-scientists-conclude-expedition-in-antarctica

New scientific expedition in Antarctica by the University of Tuscia (Italy)

Prof. Carla Caruso and Dr. Laura Bertini (pic aside) of the Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences of the University of Tuscia in Viterbo (Italy) will be back home next march 15th after a  month-long mission in  Antarctica.

The expedition takes place as part of a PNRA (National Antarctic Research Program) project funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MIUR).

The current project aims to study the role of microorganisms in adapting plants to climate change, with a particular focus on plant-fungus-virus interaction. Furthermore, since microorganisms from extreme ecosystems have evolved unique biochemical and physiological strategies, they can

H. Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station

represent a rich source of new bio-molecules, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial fields.

The project also involves the Italian Universities of Padova and Trento, and that of Temuco, Chile. Researchers from the University of Tuscia have now taken over the Polish Base Henrik Arctowski WAP POL-Ø1 (pic  on the right), at King George Island (South Shetland), and avail themselves of  the collaboration of the Chilean National Antarctic Institute (INACH) for transfers and logistical support.

Read more at: https://www.movemagazine.it/universita-della-tuscia-spedizione-scientifica-antartide/?fbclid=IwAR1Hw2Ux-VCB0MPxW9h9eQnFaQYoZNVxMJXyRfGpjKMyKwMrpC4qsXTSa_c

“ANTARCTICA 2020 TROPHY”

Oleg, UA6GG (DX Trophy Awards Group) informs that “Antarctica 2020 Trophy” is now ready and available to OM & SWL showing evidence of two-way communications (SWL report) with station operating in Antarctica.

“ANTARCTICA 2020 TROPHY”
for QSO’s / SWL’s stations in Antarctica for any period of time.
To obtain a trophy, you must dial at least 15 different stations / bases including at least 5 different nations (for example: Russia, China, Argentina, Chile, USA ..).

The trophy is carried out individually – Antarctic callsigns indicated in the application will be displayed on the trophy, but for each Station/ Base declared there will be only one callsign (with 2 or more callsigns from one base, only one callsign is selected at your discretion).
Modes:  CW, SSB, DIGI, MIX (CW / SSB), ALL (CW / SSB / DIGI)
Free application: CALL – DATE- BAND- MODE-QTH.
Confirmation: QSL or LOTW / Сlublog scans.
The upper part of the Tropy is made of 2.5D glass seal, the base is made of wood MDF. Size 280 x 280 mm. The cost of a plaque is 64$ or 57 Euros. (including sending by registered parcel). Payment via PAYPAL.

Details are reported at:  https://www.dxtrophy.com/200-antarctic

Check also the whole list of several available Awards  at: www.dxtrophy.com

all questions can be send to e-mail  mydxtrophy@gmail.com

Information and/or details can be requested to: mydxtrophy@gmail.com

Viktor Boyarsky, a famous Russian Polar Explorer

In the year of the 200th Anniversary of Antarctic Discovery, we must  highlight an important person and interpreter of the recent history of polar explorations.

«Antarctica can serve as a model for all humanity today. It’s a Continent without national borders. It is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, which has been in existence for 60 years. This is a superb document, which gives Antarctica to the scientists, not to the military»
Viktor Boyarsky

Viktor Boyarsky is a prominent Russian traveller, Honored Polar Explorer of Russia, Chairman of the Polar Commission of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), member of the National Geographic Society of the United States, full member of the National Tourism Academy and the International Academy of Refrigeration, Candidate of Science in Physics and Mathematics and member of the Union of In 1987, Boyarsky was sent as a Soviet representative to the International Trans-Antarctic Expedition, timed to the 30th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, which was signed by 12 states, including the USSR, and determined the status of the Antarctic as a continent of peace and cooperation.

In September 2002, the Russian President awarded Boyarsky with a medal of the Order “For Services to the Fatherland,” 2nd Class. In 2008, he received the Order of Boris Vilkitsky and the badge “Honored Hydrometeorology Professional” for his contribution to the development of polar science.

Thanks and credit https://arctic.ru/authors/boyarsky/

S/Y Santa Maria Australis, “New Entry” on WAP Directory

S/Y Santa Maria Australis  (aka S/V SMA)  is a 66 foot aluminium ketch built in Gdansk, Poland in 1998 and refitted in 2004 to endure high latitude sailing conditions, can accommodate up to a total of 12 people, frequently travelling on the Antarctic waters

In 2006, SMA-Expeditions reached the southern latitudes and has since, endured twelve Antarctic expeditions as of March, 2009. She has been designed and equipped for long distance cruising in comfort.

S/Y Santa Maria Australis   sails under German flag, registered in Berlin.

February and March 2019: Michel Margaria F6DWQ/MM was sailing the Antarctic peninsula.  Here below, a QSL of F6DWQ/MM transmitting from on board S/Y Santa Maria Australis when, on 02.03.2019,  he was just in front of Vernadsky station, Antarctica. QSL via F6DWQ

At the light of the evidence S/Y Santa Maria Australis  will be add to WAP-WACA Directory and it can be scored for WAP Awards

TNX F8DVD

VP8PJ Waterpipe Hut, Signy Island South Orkneys

VP8PJ Team is doing an excellent job performing 24 hours a day activity on all bands and modes.  Almost everyone has already made at least one QSO.

For the Hams who wish to check the contacts made,  Log is online at: https://www.m0urx.com/oqrs/logsearch.php?dxcallsign=VP8PJ

In a message , the Crew said: -The pileups have been what we expected, always energetic, sometimes chaotic but no surprises. The team is working under very cold and windy weather conditions, with snow at night. Doing any work outside is challenging anytime and cannot be done at night-.

Waterpipe Hut (WAP GBR-34) where the camp is set,  is facing Signy Base (WAP GBR- Ø9) on Borgue Bay and VP8PJ is a  valid contact for WAP-WADA & WAP-WACA Awards.

Great opportunity  for the Antarctic chasers to catch WAP GBR-34!

If nothing change in their plans,  VP8PJ should be on the air till March 5th, so still plenty of time to have them in the Log,

QSL via Tim Beaumont MØURX

58th Anniversary of  Chilean Yelcho Base  (WAP CHL-11)

Warm regards to researchers and logistics staff at  Yelcho Base (WAP CHL-11), the third of the three platforms managed by INACH in the Antarctic Peninsula. It was inaugurated in 1962, and in 1986 assigned by the Chilean Navy, to the Chilean Antarctic Institute. It  had a recess,  between the years 1998-2014, and in 2015 was reopened to scientific activities. Currently, the Base  can host 22 people and houses several research projects.

Yelcho Base  takes his name from the Chilean military ship Yelcho known for participatig in the rescue of men from the Endurance of Ernest Shackleton shipwrecked in Antarctica in 1916 with all the crewmen.

Actually, Yelcho Base 64° 52’ South, 65° 35’ West, is another strategic point for the development of Antarctic science. It is located near the South Bay, on Doumer Island, and has the advantage of being very close to populations of underwater and terrestrial vegetation.

Global warming causing irreversible mass melting in Antarctica

Global warming was leading to an “irreversible” mass melting of the Antarctic ice and purging carbon from the atmosphere was the only solution to slow the process, an Australian climate scientist told Reuters on Wednesday.

Recent human activity has intensified global warming, which could result in a mass melting of Antarctica, said Zoe Thomas, a research fellow at the University of New South Wales who was part of an international team of scientists that recently published a paper on Antarctic ice melting. The study showed the world could lose most of the , which rests on the seabed and is fringed by floating ice, in a warmer world.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/global-warming-causing-irreversible-mass-melting-in-antarctica-scientists-806118.html

ZL1NA/MM has reached South Orkneys

Great CW activity on all bands from onboard R/V Braveheart on the way from Punta Arenas to South Orkneys. The guys at the keyer have done a superb job. Now we remind the chasers that ZL1NA/MM operating from R/V Braveheart is valid for WAP-WADA

Today R/V Braveheart dropped anchor  offshore South Orkney. Starting tomorrow, VP8PJ Team should be busy to set the camp and install antennas at Signy Island.

The location chosen is Borge Bay, near Waterrpipe Hut WAP GBR-34, just facing Signy Base.

Good luck to the Team and good hunting the thousands of Hams  looking forward to log another great one in the Antarctic. VP8PJ’s operation will last till March 5th 2020 and will count for WAP WADA as WAP GBR-34.

QSL for  ZL1NA/MM and for VP8PJ  has to be requested to MØURX 

For more info, See the Website http://www.sorkney.com

QO-100 successfully works at Neumayer III Station

The geostationary satellite QO-100, is an equipment successfully installed at Neumayer III (WAP DEU-Ø8).

For those who don´t have satellite equipment to work or listen to it, there is a WebSDR site, where it is possible to monitor the traffic: https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

In addition, DPØGVN from Neumayer III Station is active over this satellite, the downlink QRG is 10489700.00  to  10489780.00.

DPØGVN is located at 70.674444° South and 8.274167° West, which is in the footprint of the first geostationary AMSAT Qatar-OSCAR 100 / Es’hail-2 with an elevation of 7.3°.

For the Antarctic station’s hunters, Volker  did create the following filter who selects  the  current WAP stations and Antarctic stations  for the DX Cluster,  in order to see who is active.

….

http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/?dx_calls=DP0GVN,KC4USV,KC4AAA,ZL5,8J1RL,RI1A,VP8HAL,DP0POL,R200ANT,DP1POL,CE9,ZS7,LU1Z,TM17AAW,K4C,IR1ANT,K4A,OE17AAW,IR1SP,II2ANT,OE88WAP,OE89ANT,OE90AAW,PA6ANT,II5ANT,II3BOVE,UT1KY,EM200ANT,EN200ANT,K0ANT,PF88ANT,EH3ANT,II3MNA,II8WAP

TNX   Volker, DL8JDX  (ex: Y88POL, DP0GVN)

To get more details on this interesting amateur radio transponder (P4-A),   see also https://amsat-dl.org/eshail-2-amsat-phase-4-a/

Hams to receive “200 years of Antarctica’s discovery” a Ukrainian diploma

On last February 6,  Ukrainian polar scientists did celebrate the birthday of the Antarctic station “Academician Vernadsky”. On February 6, 1996, a blue-yellow flag was raised for the first time over the Faraday Antarctic station, which the UK released to Ukraine. The station which began its new history at that date,  is now called Academician Vernadsky.

To celebrate this date and the 200th Anniversary of Antarctica’s discovery, the National Antarctic Science Center has prepared special commemorative diplomas for the radio amateur community. During February 2020, special Ukrainian call sigs EN2ØØANT (Ref. WAP-3Ø6) and EM2ØØANT (Ref. WAP-3Ø5) are actively working on the Ham bands. With one contact with these stations, Hams from all over the world can receive this memorable Ukrainian NANC diploma – said Pavlo Tarasovich UT1KY, one of the participants of the 5th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition-. (see also http://www.waponline.it/ukrainian-award-to-celebrate-the-2oo-anniversary-of-antarctica/)

The discovery of the sixth continent also involved Ukrainians: Ivan Zavadovsky, Lieutenant Captain, Deputy Fabian Gotlib von Bellingshausen, and Anton Omelchenko , a participant in the Robert Antarctic British expedition to the South Pole. Let’s remember these outstanding Ukrainians, as discoverers of Antarctica as well!

Accordingly, we congratulate the experienced Ukrainian polarists radio Hams: Roman Bratchyk UT7UA, Pavel Budanov UX2HO, Oleksandr Miho, Pavel Tarasovich UT1KY, Igor Klubuk UR5KCC and Oleg Satirev.

Reference:

Academic Vernadsky Station (until 1996 – Faraday Station) is a Ukrainian Antarctic station located on Galindez Island, 7 km from the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is open year-round and is a meteorological and geographical observatory. The main purpose of the Academic Vernadsky Antarctic Station (WAP UKR-Ø1) is to conduct scientific research in Antarctica. The entire life of the station and its work is under the management of the Ukraina’s National Antarctic Science Center.

Read more at: https://expedicia.org/radioamatori-z-cilogo-svitu-mozhut-ot/

TNX Pavlo UT1KY

“WEEKEND OF THE AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSES”

This weekend opens the 12th Edition of the ‘Weekend of the American Lighthouses‘ from Friday 14 to Sunday, February 16, with 86 light houses and beacons of 12 Countries(28 from Argentina, 23 from Brazil, 1 from Costa Rica, 4 from Cuba, 12 from Chile, 3 from Guatemala, 4 from Mexico, 1 from Panama, 4 from Peru, 2 are registered from Puerto Rico, 1 from Uruguay and 3 from Venezuela).

Among the stations active, four of them will be entering on WAP Sub Antarctic Territories Directories (WAP-WADA, WAP WACA and WAP LH Directory).

We are talking about the southern tip of Chile (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region) and Argentina ( Tierra del Fuego Province).

Both LU/X of the Radio Club Ushuaia will operate from 2 Lighthouses (pics aside shows both lighthouses; the old historical one and the newest) at Cabo San Pablo as shown below:

LU1XP/XP operating from   Faro cabo San Pablo (Historical) ARLH ARG-31

LU2XWL/XP operaying from Faro Cabo Sn Pablo ( ARLH ARG-74)

 

The Chileans CE8s will operate from:

CE8PVT  Grupo Magallanes DX   Baliza Punta Santa Ana  (ARLH CHI-107)

CE8RPA Radio Club Punta Arenas  Baliza Ponton Muñoz Gamero (ARLH CHI-116)

Check the list of stations joining the event at: http://www.grupodxbb.com.ar/FAROS2018/faros2020.html

WAP wish everyone a good hunting.

The references of the Lighthouses reported above  are  taken from the ARLHS list.  See: http://wlol.arlhs.com/

“Our Lady of Loreto” Patron Saint of aviators for a Century

The Lauretan tradition, relating to the transport of the house of Mary, by angels from Nazareth to the ancient Illyria (1291) then from there to the ancient territory of Recanati-Italy (1294), appeared very suggestive for the choice of the Madonna of Loreto as “Patroness” who moves through the air.

Statua Madonna di Loreto a Sigonella AF Base

The relationship between the “Madonna di Loreto” (Our Lady of Loreto) and the aeronautical world,  dates back to March 1920 when she was officially proclaimed “Aeronautarum Patrona” by Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922). Our Lady of Loreto has since been the patroness of Aviators.

The 2020 Jubilee which marks the 100th  Anniversary of the papal proclamation, will be honored on the occasion of a Jubilee opened on December 8, 2019, that will continue the celebrations till December 10, 2020.

The Lauretan Jubilee is a great experience of collaboration in synergy with different realities and institutions. The main ones are first of all,  represented  by  the Italian  Air Force, with General Alberto Rosso, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Monsignor Antonio Coppola, delegate of the Military Ordinary in Italy. For International Women’s Day (March 8), the shrine will host a special pilgrimage of women pilots, and March 24, the 100th  Anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s proclamation, members of the Italian Air Force will gather at the shrine.

Our Lady of Loreto, the Patron Saint of aviators for a Century starts when the veterans of “World War I” prayed the Virgin Mary asking to protect them from new conflicts or when flying. To celebrate the 100th  Anniversary,  Pope Francis announced a Lauretan Jubilee for all aviators and air travelers. In 2020 three statues depicting Our Lady of Loreto will fly to reach (commercial and military) national and  international airports.


Italian Air Force are flying a statue of Our Lady of Loreto to several IAF Bases in Italy, while the Italian airline “Alitalia” are flying a statue to 20 civilian airports throughout the country during the year; the statue will stay in the airport chapels for a two-week period of veneration. Alitalia also has promised to fly another copy of statue internationally, beginning with the pope’s hometown, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. We   will  physically and spiritually bring the message of peace and brotherhood , shared by the air transport community, by the passengers and by the devotees of  Our Lady of Loreto in the travels of the “Pilgrim Virgin” -declared ENAC Chairman Nicola Zaccheo-.

WAP together with the AAA (Veterans of the Air Force Association) are proposing that a statue of Our Lady of Loreto will be flown by IAF and placed in a small votive corner at the Italian MZS Base in Antarctica (WAP ITA-Ø1), following the original proposal launched 17 years ago, to build a small chapel at Mario Zucchelli Station…. the dream is still on!

Ukrainian Award to celebrate the 2ØØ Anniversary of Antarctica

Two Special Ukrainian event stations EM2ØØANT WAP-305 & EN2ØØANT WAP-306 are on the air to celebrate the 200 years of Antarctic exploration.  QSL for both of the calls,  via UT1KY

EN2ØØANT and EM2ØØANT will be active during the 17th Antarctic Activity Week officially on air from February 10th and ahead. More info at: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2020/  

Pavlo informs WAP that  1 QSO with Antarctic SES EN2ØØANT or EM2ØØANT will qualify for the Special Award issued for this Anniversary.
For more informations, contact UT1KY via e-mail  
ut1ky@ukr.net

What is the role of the Ukrainians to the discovery of the Southern Continent?
Ukraine’s catch-up to Antarctica’s discovery is the deputy captain (Tadeusz Bellingshausen), that is, Lieutenant-Captain Ivan Zavadovsky, a native of Hadyach, of the Cossack lineage. When Elizabeth received the so-called “Little Russian nobility”.
Still worth mentioning is Anton Omelchenko, a member of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913 on the Terra Nova barge, headed by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who set out to “achieve the South Pole in order to honor this grand accomplishment of the new century” Anton Omelchenko is a member of the Royal Geographical Society,
Omelchenko received the award, like other members of the expedition, from the hands of the English Queen. It was a medal honored for the feat of the pioneers of Antarctica, and a lifetime pension. Omelchenko was assigned a lifetime pension, which he received until 1927, until diplomatic relations broke up between the USSR and the United Kingdom.
Onuk – Victor Ivanovich Omelchenko, diesel engineer, participant of the 3rd Ukrainian Antarctic expedition (1998-1999)
Great-grandson is Anton Omelchenko, a mechanic, a participant of the 20th (2015-2016) and 24th (2019-2020) Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions in the Antarctica of the Soviet era. Now, with good humor and good humor, it will also be possible to touch on this time of time, where Ukrainians, wintering warriors of the Antarctic expeditions will find themselves.

TNX Pavlo Tarasovych, UT1KY

Pavlo reminds the Antarctic chasers that several copies of his book Antarctica is the sixth continent” are stillavailable on request ( see UT1KY on QRZ.com to get all details on how to get it)

PAVLO TARASOVYCH, UT1KY
P.O. BOX 85,  RIVNE, 33027 Ukraine

18.3°C in Antarctica, marks the hottest temperature ever measured

On Febr. 4th 2020 the Argentinean Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) in Antarctica, recorded its hottest day on Thursday.18.3°C!

The  new highest temperature was  recorded on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, at 63°23′ South by the instrumental devices at Esperanza Base.

The  previous record was 17.5°C set in March  2015 in the same site also at Esperanza,  where the station’s data recording  goes back to 1961 by Servicio Meteorológico Nacional- Argentina
photo credit: Nestor Franco

TNX The Antarctic Report

WAP ARG-Ø6, Base Belgrano II,  Happy Birthday!

February 5th marks the birthday of Argentine Antarctic Base Belgrano II  (WAP ARG-Ø6). It was inaugurated on February 5, 1979 and today,  is the southernmost of the Argentine Antarctic Bases and the third southernmost of the permanent Bases worldwide.

Located 1,300 km from the South Pole, it has months of complete sunlight and other months of dark polar night, with strong winds and temperatures that reach up to -54˚C.

The peculiarities of this Base make it a privileged scenario for numerous scientific studies, mainly of ozone, magnetism, meteorology, glaciology, terrestrial biology, geodesy and seismology.

During periods of darkness, the latitude of the base also allows the study of the famous northern lights, of great interest to science.

TNX Ministerio de Defensa de la República Argentina

Book titled “Turkey’s Journey to White Continent”

Anadolu Agency has published a bilingual book on Turkey’s Antarctic expedition.
In Turkish and English, the book  titled Turkey’s Journey to the White Continent: Antarctic Expeditions, details Turkish expeditions in Antarctica, work carried out by Turkish Teams and the country’s objectives for the continent.
Covering setting up of Turkey’s meteorological observation station, and the team’s scientific efforts in Antarctica, the book is now on sale in bookstores and online.
The book also covers an internationally renowned Turkish diver Sahika Ercumen’s diving in the Southern Ocean where the world’s oceans meet surrounding Antarctica.
Meanwhile, the book includes Anadolu Agency correspondents’ impressions of the continent, and photos taken during Turkey’s 3rd national scientific expedition to Antarctica, Anadolu Agency Director-General Senol Kazanci said.
In February 2019, a Turkish team traveled to Antarctica as part of the 3rd National Antarctic Science Expedition to spend 30 days, which was supported by the Turkish Presidency, the Industry and Technology Ministry, and ITU’s Polar Research Center, along with other Turkish universities.
Read more at:  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/corporate-news/anadolu-agency-releases-book-on-antarctic-expedition/1721876

Orcadas Radio Station

On March 30, 1927, the Navy’s Petty Officer Emilio Baldoni managed to contact Ushuaia, inaugurating the Orcadas Radio Station (LRT), first in Antarctica. Until then the staff remained in communication with the rest of the world for a year until the arrival of their replacements. The Antarctic Naval Command is the organism of the Argentine Navy on which the Orcadas Base  (WAP ARG-15) currently depends.

Orcadas Base WAP ARG-15, Laurie Island, Antarctica

Since February 22, 1904, Argentina has been present on the white continent with the creation of the Orcadas Antarctic Base, the first of the permanent wintering and temporary bases, Antarctic shelters, camps and scientific stations.

Waterpipe Hut WAP GBR-Ø34 (VP8PJ Dx-pedition site)

Where exactly are VP8PJ‘s planned to stay when at the South Orkneys DX-pedition?

Now we know it. The information is on https://sorkney.com/equipment/  :
Location:

We will be located on Signy Island in South Orkney Island Group. Our camp will be near the Waterpipe Hut near Waterpipe beach. The general terrain is a bluff near the ocean that is 10 to 20 M above the sea with over water path to EU.

So,  Waterpipe Hut (WAP GBR-34) lies in the same site where VP8ORK did operate in  2011.

Waterpipe Hut is situated on a rocky outcrop at Waterpipe Beach, Borge Bay, Signy Island 60°42’00” South,   45°36’30” West.

It was installed in 1999/2000 as a refuge hut and visited regularly by BAS personnel from Signy Station. Food and fuel  for any eventuality, are stored in the hut

New Satellite Equipment for QO100 at German Antarctic Station Neumayer III

The new Satellite Equipment for QO100 was installed at Neumayer III by a team of radio specialists, as reported on CQ-DL 2/2020, Volker, DL8JDX reports.

Dirk Steffens, a well known film maker from the German TV Station ZDF,  is currently at Neumayer III (WAP DEU-Ø8) and set an Interview with the Director of the German Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Prof. Antje Boetius (see www.awi.de), who did update of the current research activities and the challenges about the climate change.

Volker, DL8JDX remind that DPØGVN and DP1POL are active,  but other active stations during this Antarctic summer season are: VP8HAL, KC4USV, 8J1RL, ZS7ANF, LU1ZV. Due to the still challenging propagation conditions in the current minimum sun activity, they are quite difficult to reach …

TNX Volker, DL8JDX,
a WAP „Ambassador“

5th Chinese Base in Antarctica

 “Victoria Land Permanent Base” (Weiduoliyadi changnian zhan) is the actual working name of China’s  new Base.

China’s fifth station is designed to be a year-round research base which could accommodate 80 people in the summer and 30 people in winter. The new base will provide year-round support for  researchers conducting tasks such as observations of land, ocean, atmosphere, ice shelf and biology, establishment of an observation and monitoring network in the Antarctic, and survey of marine environmental protection.

On February 7, 2018, during China 34th Antarctic Expedition, Chinese researchers laid the foundation and started to build its fifth Antarctic Research Station  on Inexpressible Island transferring large engineering equipments from China’s research icebreaker Xuelong. It is expected that full construction will be completed in 2022.

China has therefore opened its fifth Antarctic research station on Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay, near the western shore of the Ross Sea, about 390 km Northwest of McMurdo(US) and Scott Base(NZ), 26 km from the Italian Base Mario Zucchelli (MZS) and Jang Bogo Station (South Korea).

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid visit Artigas Base (WAP UTY-Ø1)

The Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base was visited last Thursday by the Estonian delegation, headed by the country’s President, Kersti Kaljulaid, within the framework of the 200th Anniversary of the Imperial Russian Navy expedition.

The freezing Antarctic morning, covered by a mist that made almost impossible to see beyond a few meters towards the horizon and fully covering the Collins Glacier did not prevent the President of Estonia, to visit the cold continent and stop at the Uruguayan  Antarctic Scientific Base-Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1).  After a warm reception by the Uruguayan staff that, in few minutes, made the visitors forget the cold, Uruguayans and Estonians shared a welcome breakfast with typical Uruguayan products.

The president of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, did invite the members of the XXXVI Artigas Antarctic Campaign to come on board the 24 meters Dutch-built ketch sailboat Admiral Bellingshausen. The ship sailed off from Tallinn  harbor (Estonia) late on Sunday, July 2019 heading to  Antarctica. The long-planned voyage will be devoted to the 200th Anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica, and its ice shelf, by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen a Baltic German from Saaremaa, at the time Captain in the Imperial Russian Navy.

TNX and credit: https://bnn-news.com/estonian-expedition-antarctica-200-leaves-for-six-month-journey-202995

South Orkneys – Antarctica

The South Orkney archipelago is located about 600 miles to the S E of the Isla de los Estados, on the Atlantic Ocean, to the East of Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego of the extreme tip of Argentina; it consists of a group of nearly 40 islands and islets, most of them very small, with a total area of 1,000 square kilometers about.
Over there, next Febr.-Mar. 2020 a DX-pedition signing VP8PJ will land and operate for more than a week … but where they will operate from? Actually there are 2 Bases on the South Orkneys and few Refuges: which of those the Expedition will choose to operate?

Argentinean Naval Orkney Base (WAP ARG-15) is located at 60º44’02” South and 44º44’00″ West, on the Ibarguren isthmus, on Laurie Island, between Scotia Bay (to the South), Uruguay Bay (to the North), Cerro Mossman (to the West) and Glacier la Monja (to the East) and elevated 12 meters above sea level, this being the narrowest part of Laurie Island, which has an East-West extension of approximately 12 miles and its width is very variable.

The highest height of the island is Mount Ramsay, 454 meters high.  On the same Island, in the Cormoràn Point lies the homonymous Argentine flagging Refuge, which is active throughout the year providing support to patrols and biological works.

The British Antarctic Survey has a Base; Signy Research Station (WAP GBR-Ø9), established in 1947at  60°43′ Sout, 45° 36′ West, Factory Cove, Borge Bay, Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

Initially operated year-round, since 1995/6 the Signy Research Station (pic aside) has been open only from November to April each year.

Field Huts and hides have existed at one time or another at the following sites: Foca Cove, Gourlay Peninsula, Three Lakes Valley, Cummings Cove, Jane Col, Factory Bluffs, Moraine Valley, Shagnasty and North Point.

If the VP8PJ DX-pedition will choose one of the hereby listed sites, they will be given a new WAP reference

Antarctic Philately

“Marka” Joint-Stock Company has recently made postal products dedicated to the 200th Anniversary of the start of the Bellingshausen and Lazarev expedition to Antarctica.

New postage objects include stamps, envelopes, souvenir packs, unmarked art cards, and special cancellation stamps for Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Penza.

For example, the “Vostok” and “Mirny” sloops are depicted on the new postage stamps; the fields of the postal block are bordered by the landscape of Antarctica. Models of sailing sloops, complemented by the expedition’s route map, also illustrate unmarked postcards. A souvenir pack includes a postal block and a vignette, as well as a first day envelope with cancellation for Moscow.

Read more at Russian Geographic Society: https://www.rgo.ru/en/article/antarctis-postal-products-were-released

Czech chapel in Antarctica devoted to St. Wenceslaus, St. Ludmila and St. Agnes of Bohemia

A small  Czech chapel has been placed on Febr. 21, 2019 at 62°14,784′ South, 58°58,891′ West  in Antarctica during an expedition to the ECO Nelson Base in the South Shetlands on the Nelson Island as already reported on Nov. 22-2019 (http://www.waponline.it/new-chapel-at-eco-nelson-station-wap-cze-o1/).
Eco Nelson Base (WAP CZE-Ø1), will be renamed in the future. Actually it is under the protection of Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  owned and administered by the Czech Antarctic Foundation.

The Chapel  -as told WAP by its builder Prof. Ladislav Janíček was born from an initiative of himself (Prof. Ladislav Janíček in the pic above) with  the support of his “Antarctic” colleagues and friends, in particular Dušan Jamný, a Chairman of the Governing Board and actually a Founder of the Czech Antarctic Foundation, as a sort of thanks giving.

The building process of the Chapel,  from the beginning till its final placement, was supported by many friends but, at least shortly I would like to mention Dušan Jamný, Zdeněk Musil (picture below) and Pavel Kapler, who helped a lot on site to find the appropriate safe place and work on it. The assembling of the chapel body was done by Michal Janeček and the interior statues inside are by Tomáš Medek, Jiří Pec and Milan Houser.

-There is an hidden content in a capsule put inside the Chapel:  ethos and message, was designed and made by myself-  said  Ladislav Janíček -as my personal thanks giving-.

The time capsule contains:
– St. Wenceslaus choral and Agnus Dei Choral: both compositions are documented by the notes and recording. I wrote them and recorded with the support of Vox Iuvenalis choir (40 voices)
– St. Agnes Ode and St. Ludmila Ode, which I wrote to celebrate
– Graduale – celebrating values of the brotherhood of people in the community and all those who wants to open their hearts for peace and good as well as for others
– Two other my orchestral compositions: St. Wenceslaus Ode and St. Ladislaus Ode

The Chapel is though devoted to the Czech saints who are part of our history: St. Wenceslaus, St. Ludmila and St. Agnes of Bohemia. They come from the royal house of Přemysl, which ruled in the Czech lands from the beginnings of the Bohemia till 1306. St. Wenceslaus is one the first Czech saints and he was a duke of Bohemia assassinated in year 928. St. Ludmila was grandmother of St. Wenceslaus. She was a spouse of the first baptised duke of Bohemia of the Premysl house, Bořivoj I. She was assassinated in 921. Agnes of Bohemia was sister of the king Wenceslaus I and after her resignation on becoming a spouse of the Roman emperor she became a prioress of convent and played an important role for the Czech kingdom after the death of Přemysl Otakar II in 1278 at the battle on the Moravian Field, when the Czech lands were occupied and plundered; his successor, later king Wenceslaus II, was imprisoned. She died in 1281; was canonized in 1989 and became a symbol of the liberation.
Czech Antarctic  Foundation was established to support the Czech Antarctic research, but also to promote the Antartic research worldwide.

It means the base is available also for everyone who might be interested to stay there and conduct research activities. The Czech Antarctic Foundation also plans to upgrade the base infrastructure and build a more sophisticated station and its necessary infrastructure.

In an interview for WAP,  Prof. Ladislav Janíček , explains that Dr. Dušan Jamný is the engine of the Foundation activities and also a director of Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping, which provide a complex logistic support of the Czech Antarctic program including the transport. The honorary president of the Foundation is Pavel Prošek, the founder of the first Czech scientific Station in Antarctica, the Johann Gregor Mendel Base  (WAP CZE-NEW pic aside)  on James Ross Island, managed by Masaryk University.
TNX Prof. Ladislav Janíček

Ukrainian Special Stations join the 200th Anniversary of discovering Antarctica

From the 1st to the 28th of February  Ukrainian SES will join the WW Antarctic celebrations for the 200th Anniversary of the epic discover  by Faddey Bellingshausen,  captain of  the vessel “Vostok” and  Mikhail Lazarev  commander of  “S/V Mirny”.

Both station will join the 17th Antarctic Activity Week : EM2ØØANT, WAP-3Ø5 and EN2ØØANT, WAP-3Ø6.

QSL via UT1KY , who reminds the Antarctic chasers his book Antarctica is the sixth continent” ( see UT1KY on QRZ.com to get all details on how to get it)

TNX Pavlo, UT1KY

Refugio Cormorán, at Orcadas Base

This Refuge  is a resting place where to take shelter  in case of  bad conditions or any other problematic situations with the weather or navigation. It lays inside the perimeter of Base Orcadas (WAP ARG-15) which is located on Laurie Island where at Cormoràn Point,  lies the homonymous refuge of Argentine flag (see pic aside).
Cormoran Refuge is active throughout the year  providing support to patrols and biological works.

It was asked if Cormoran Refuge could be a “New Entry” on WAP-WADA Directory; but being located near the Base it could not be considered as a separate entity, unless a specific future HF activation by some willing Hams, providing detailed location,  such as the real distance from the Orcadas Base main buildings.

Concordia Station WAP MNB-Ø3- Up date by Marco IAØ/DK5SQX

-Professionally speaking, all fine here at Concordia- says Marco IAØ/DK5SQX –Our LIDAR instrument (Optical Radar used to make high-resolution maps, with applications in geodesy, geomagnetics, geography, geology and many other fields), works well and produce excellent results-.

On the radio wise, I will try to rip of some days to make few QSOs , also because the worldwide request is high. The main problem is that the Radio room is the center of the  Base operations,  and I can’t use it during the Base time work. In addition I must be followed by one of the radio room responsible and not only that is available to make some extra time watching me when I call CQ, particularly at night time!

I will try hard … but I’m  doubtful!

At the end of next week I will leave  Concordia to return back in Australia  with the French Icebreaker. I will stop for a while (one week) at Dumond D’Urville (WAP FRA-Ø1) and from there , sailing to Hobart  with  five navigation days.

I don’t know if the French Leader at DDU will allow me to operate, but for sure, I will ask.

TNX Marco IAØ/DK5SQX

Brazil will reopen its Antarctica base Comandante Ferraz  (WAP BRA-Ø2)

The Brazilian Navy will inaugurate its new 4,500 m² Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF) this month of January 2020.

The modular research facility, located in King George Island in the Keller Peninsula, has been designed by Estudio 41, the Brazilian project houses labs, operations and living quarters, and could be mistaken for an art museum or boutique hotel
Representatives from Brazil’s scientific community and government will head to Antarctica this month to inaugurate its new Comandante Ferraz Research Station (WAP BRA-Ø2), which replaces a facility lost to fire in 2012.
The base with the loss of two lives was destroyed by an explosion in February 2012, caused by a fire which raged through the compound where marine research work is carried out.

Apparently the fire started in a machine room housing energy generators before destroying the entire station, which had been built in 1984. Fifty-nine people were stationed at the base on King George Island when the fire broke out.

The coolest architecture on Earth is in Antarctica is really represented in the  two low-slung buildings, designed by Estudio 41, a Brazilian architecture firm, house laboratories, operational support and living quarters – and could be mistaken for an art museum or a boutique hotel.

Throughout the 20th Century, architecture in Antarctica was a pragmatic, largely makeshift affair, focused on keeping the elements out and the occupants alive. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty dedicated the continent to research. Since then scientists have come in growing numbers, with ever more complex needs. Construction in Antarctica, long the purview of engineers, is now attracting designer architects looking to bring aesthetics – as well as efficiency, durability and energy improvements – to the Earth’s coldest neighbourhood. “As architects, we are concerned with human comfort, so we set out to create a kind of atmosphere that would promote well-being,”  said Emerson Vidigal, a principal at the firm.

More interesting  info at:
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/the-coolest-architecture-on-earth-is-in-antarctica

Read more at: https://en.mercopress.com/2019/10/10/brazil-will-reopen-its-antarctica-base-comandante-ferraz-next-january

Let’s hope that now, as in the past,  the Ferraz Base (WAP BRA-Ø2) will also be a chance for radio operators to be active on HF Ham bands to share with the world, the voice of this corner of the Icy Continent.

WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA Directories

Release 1.35 (Jan. 1st 2020) of both WAP-WACA and WAP-WACA directories are now loaded on the Download section.
Check: http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards_download-rules/wap-wada__wap-waca_directories/

Release 034 (Jan. 1st 2020) of the updated IK6CAC software to manage the Awards is now available at:  http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards_download-rules/ik6cac-dbase-update/

New Release of the WAP Antarctic and Sub Antarctic Light House Directory (update Jan. 1st 2020) is also available at:
http://www.waponline.it/wap-antarctic-sub-antarctic-light-house-directory/

Enjoy Antarctica, Enjoy WAP … we are with you since 1979!

TNX IK1GPG & IK6CAC

Russian Robinson Club – R2ØØANT Special event and Award Rules

The R2ØØANT event launched by Russian Robinsons Club is involving Hams (OM/SWL) from all over the world. Begun last Jan 1st it will last till 31st March 2020. A special Award activity dedicated to the «200 years of Discovery of Antarctica» that includes Award, Plaque and Trophy can be followed on RRC website https://rrc.hamlog.ru/?locale=en.

R2ØØANT is very active on all bands, all modes

Awards can be immediately downloaded and personally printed by accessing at:  https://hamlog.ru/dl.php?i=1319111

If you think to have achieved enough score, or if you just wish to check, enter https://hamlog.ru/dl.php?i=1319111 just put you callsign on the central window, select if you wish a jpeg or a  pdf format  and go!

Last day of the requests for the Awards program is 30.04.2020
TNX RZ3EC

R2ØØANT Special event Award with pictures and rules is now published on WAP website at:

http://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/russia/ 

A special WAP reference WAP-3Ø4 has just been issued to R2ØØANT which operation falls into the WAP  Antarctic Activity Week (http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2020/) 10-17 Febr. 2020.

Ham radio in Antarctica: expectations for the beginning of the year

Epiphany takes all the holidays away, says the motto; today, Jan 6th marks the end of the famous. “twelve days of Christmas”.

Stations and field camps in Antarctica are in midst of scientific research and study’s  activities, but how researchers (who are also radio amateurs) commit , do their free time?

Among the personnel staffed in Antarctica there are some radio amateurs; they are  specialists and researchers … who knows if they will be allowed to make their voices heard all over the world,  through the use of  the  radio equipment of their respective Bases?

Video below is a mix of New Year Greetings from Antarctica dedicated to the 200 years of its discovery, dedicated to all the National and International  Teams actually involved the summer campaigns in the Icy Continent!
Radio Amateurs are a great family, now joined together in a WW marathon; a way to celebrate Guglielmo Marconi,  a way to remember the bicentenary 1820-2020 of the first exploration of man in Antarctica.

Little Dome C Field Camp, a “New Entry” on WAP-WADA Directory

75° 21’ 54.5” South, 122° 24′ 49.3” East, on the Eastern Antarctic Plateau, , approximately 40 km at SW from Concordia Research Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) , Little Dome C (aka know as Dome Circe, Dome Charlie or Little Concordia) is the site of ice core drilling by field teams of several nations.

This Field Camp is really a Research Station,  where the “Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice Project” coordinated and  logistically supported by ENEA and IPEV make the core drilling to verify new sampling point that can go back in time. International team,  plans to extract 1.5-million-year-old ice that holds secrets about the planet’s ancient climate.

This year, scientists on the team, which includes 12 groups from 10 European countries, start drilling to the bottom of the 2.75 kilometers thick ice sheet at a site there.

Little Dome C Field Camp was established at an elevation of 3,233 meters (10,607 ft) above sea level, is one of several summits or “domes” of the Antarctic Ice Sheet,  1200 km from the coast, with an ice thickness of 2643 m and with an average annual temperature of -55°C.

At the light of the information acquired and the availability of several  pictures that shown the Field Camp, Little Dome C will be add to the WAP-WADA Directory as MNB-NEW  … hope some days this site can be “on Air” by some Hams among the researchers!

China to build its first permanent airfield in Antarctica

China is now building the country’s first permanent airport in the South Pole which will provide logistical support to scientists and enhance airspace management in Antarctica.

The 35th China’s Antarctic expedition last year had the major task to build the airport which will be completed shortly;  the selected site is an ice cap 28 km away from Zhongshan Antarctic Station (WAP CHN-Ø2), surveyed by China’s 33rd Antarctic expedition in 2017. The construction of the planned airport was carried out by China’s 35th Antarctic expedition and now the Country is therefore joining the US, Russia, Britain, Australia and New Zealand among others in having airfields in the Antarctic, which is rich in natural resources such as silver, gold, platinum and coal.

Chinese scientists built a 4 kilometer-long, 50 meters wide runway for fixed-wing aircraft in 2009 during the 25th expedition in the Antarctic. In 2010, an airport called Feiying was constructed on the ice sheet, according to the earlier official Chinese media reports. According to Digital Paper, China’s first permanent airport in Antarctica, will facilitate the nation’s research and expeditions on the Icy continent.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/china-to-build-first-permanent-airport-at-south-pole/articleshow/66427652.cms?from=mdr

Message from Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA, President of RRC

Approaching the New Year, our good friend and President of the Russian Robinson Club,  Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA (here in a picture of 25 years ago … with Irina Zaruba & Gianni Varetto I1HYW), has posted a WW message on the RRC web site with the wishes for the coming 2020.   

Looks like 2020 will be full of new projects; and for the Antarctic fans  it falls into the 200th Anniversary of discovering Antarctica … a good oportunity to join it!

Check: http://robinsons.ru/news/congratulation_on_the_new_year_2020_and_christmas_from_rrc_hq/2019-12-30-500 

By entering the above RRC website,  everyone can print a 2020 calendar;  it’s a gift from RRC-HQ (TNX RA1ZZ) to Radio amateurs WW.Alternatively, the calendar is available at: https://i.imgur.com/dZU43vK.jpg   By the New Year’s holiday gives all radio amateurs.

WAP is happy to join the RRC Antarctic Anniversary celebration.

TNX UA9OBA, UA9OPA(N3QQ) and RZ3EC