Antarctica Educational Video

Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth, was not discovered by people until modern times. It is the fifth largest continent and the coldest, windiest, driest place on Earth. Antarctica is famously home to penguins and visited by scientists.

Antarctica – Facts and Figures – Geography for Kids. Even if the video is 5 years old and some datas have changed since then, it’s always useful for those who wish to review the geography.

KA4RXP/MM’s update & story

John Landrigan KA4RXP/MM, departed the port city of Bluff, New Zealand on February 9, 2018 aboard the Soviet registered expeditionary vessel Professor Khromov also known as the M/V Spirit of Enderby. During the set up prior to sailing I met Viktor, the ship’s Communications Officer and Ivan, the ship’s electrician. Their assistance was crucial to what success I was to enjoy.

The night of departure contact was made with JI1TIF in Tokyo and then VK4XXL in New South Wales. The power was at 100 watts from the Yaesu 897. Later that evening a 12 volt 25 amp power supply for the backup Icom transceiver was pressed into service to consolidate the auto-tuner power supply, the SCS Pactor modem supply and the Rigblaster Blue supply into one source. The power supply had been tested in Memphis but I forgot to switch it to 240 volt input. It promptly made a loud cracking noise. Shortly after that an attempt to email everyone resulted in another catastrophe. The SPE amplifier was switched in on low output and during a prolonged session of connecting with fairly constant repeating, a failure occurred in the auto tuner. The transmitter then interfered with a guard channel on a radio on the bridge radio and everything had to be shut down.

Inspection of the auto tuner revealed one severely burned relay and probably another burned relay next it. Multiple power supply combinations had been required at the dock to get the tuner operational and there may have been a surge voltage during that particular Winlink transmission that may have led to such a violent RF arcing and distortion of one of the relay housings.

The next day, Viktor and Ivan assisted me in pulling the tuner and inspecting it. The concern of the Captain was such that we had to provide him with complete assurance that he would not be aware that I was operating the radio. The decision was made to forgo the amplifier and instead try to use it’s built in tuner to produce a matched input to the Pacific Aerials 7.3 meter vertical. A match could not be achieved. I used the ship’s commercial internet service to notify the group of my predicament and then relegated myself to being a tourist only.

The next day Ivan brought back the power supply that he had repaired. I don’t how or what he did but Richard, this guy needs to be hired by you. Viktor helped trace through possible surviving tuner circuits and felt I could use 7 MHz and 10 MHz. Transmitting at only a 100 watts, caused no further interference.

We did a Zodiac boat tour around Snares Island, made a landing at Enderby Island in the Aucklands Group and made two landings at Macquarie Island. All the Australian philatelic items were postmarked there and are being held for mailing from there in late March.

Rough seas caused us to skip a landing at Cape Adare. We then proceeded to McMurdo Sound and found a previously cut channel by the ice breaker Polar Star had completely re-frozen and blocked us some 12 miles out from McMurdo. Re-tracking, we went to Cape Evans and landed at Scott’s Hut. I brought all the New Zealand Dependency philatelic items with me and will sign and date them for that landing. I will have them postmarked at the Ross Island Dependencies window at the Main Post Office in Christchurch once we return. The Italian Base had previously closed due to heavy ice.

I reinstalled the tuner and it seems to manage without incident on 40 and 30 meters. Reception is very spotty and I have not been able to make any contacts. On February 23 and 24 I heard K7GI in Tuscon and K6MYX in San Diego booming in at S9++. Craig was fighting S9 noise levels on his end and none of the Australian or New Zealand Stations were hearing me from my grid square RB32. Also heard K7UI.

Hope continues ever onward that perhaps this will make it via Winlink prior to us reaching Christchurch.

TNX John Landrigan KA4RXP/MM

We should traverse the remaining 500 nautical miles to reach Campbell Island during the day of March 3, Seas are very rough and biggest roll so far is 27 degrees. 55 degrees is when you really start to pray.

I am looking forward to the International DX Contest on Saturday and Sunday.

John KA4RXP/MM Grid Square RD01xu

The XXXIII Italian Antarctic Campaign is over

With more than fifty scientific projects done, with the lowering flag’s ceremony the activities of the XXXIII Summer 2017-2018 Campaign of the Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (PNRA) at Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1) of Terra Nova Bay,  are finished.

Equally important have been the activities of a logistical nature, maintenance of the structures and preparation of the intermediate airstrip for flights to Concordia Station (WAP MNB-3) and Dumont D’Urville (WAP FRA-Ø1). In this context, the contribution of a specialized engineers team of the Italian Air Force to the realization of the Boulder Clay strip, a remote field 250 km from the base,  is of particular importance.

The project, which is developing during the last expeditions, will see this infrastructure acquiring greater flexibility of access to the Mario Zucchelli Station, allowing it to become an important hub for the movement of international scientific personnel operating in the northern part of the Ross Sea.

Italian Army, Navy and Air Force have guaranteed as every year, full support to the research and logistics activities within the Antarctic Continent;  25 specialists  of the 3 Armed Forces have been involved:  mountain scouts, pilots, weather forecasters, mechanics, riders and divers gave a great contribution to the success of the Summer campaign.

Read more at: http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/comunicazione/notizie/Pagine/20180219_Antartide-conclusa-la-XXXIII-spedizione.aspx

Thanks and credit: Defence Ministry-Italian Air Force

Antarctica tourists: “Don’t’ touch the penguins”

Tourist numbers on the Icy Continent have grown by twenty times in 30 years. Tourism in Antarctica has risen from fewer than 2,000 visitors in the 1980s to more than 45,000 visitors from around the world last year. The number of people travelling to the frozen continent dipped during the economic recession of the late 2000s, but rose again in recent years, according to data kept by the Rhode-Island based International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.

China forced to tell Antarctica tourists: “Don’t’ touch the penguins”  that’s especially the case for Chinese tourists, so much so that the Chinese government earlier this week established a new list of rules for people visiting Antarctica: No hunting. No leaving behind solid waste…and no touching or feeding the penguins, according to the South China Morning Post.

Read more at: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/antarctica-china-tourists-dont-touch-penguins-travel-environment-latest-a8203981.html

Scott Base WAP NZL-Ø1

From the history:
20 January 1957 Scott Base  (WAP NZL-Ø1) a New Zealand’s permanent Antarctic research Station did open in Antarctica

As the base was named after British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, the New Zealand flag was raised on a flagstaff that had been used by Scott at Hut Point in 1903. Originally established to support the privately run Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-58, it was to accommodate both the New Zealand party and a party of New Zealand scientists attached to the expedition who also contributed to the International Geophysical Year. These parties were the first to spend winter over at Scott Base. At the Completion of the expedition, Scott Base became the property of the New Zealand Government in agreement with the Ross Sea Committee. Source: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/scott-base-opened-antarctica

Scott Base, New Zealand’s only Antarctic research station, perches on a low volcanic headland called Pram Point at the Southern End of Ross Island, 3500 kms south of Dunedin and 1350 kms from the South Pole.

Located at Pram Point, Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island in McMurdo Sound (77 51′ South, 166 46′ East), 10 m above sea level, between October through February Scott Base is a bustling hub of science researchers. Scott Base can accommodate 85 people at any one time, during the summer season more than 300 guests stay on Base.

22 February, “Dia de la Antartida Argentina”

 

February 22nd, is  a very important day for Argentina. It was the 22 Febr. 1904 when  the Argentine Flag did flutter on Laurie Island of the South Orkney Islands group, when Orcadas Base was inaugurated.

Since then, every year Argentina’s Antarctic Day is commemorated in the whole State.  114 years of uninterrupted presence (1904-2018) of this Country in Antarctica, is a reality.

WAP is joining the event and since 2004 when the 1st Antarctic Activity Week was launched, we always recall and give tributes to the Explorers who marked the Antarctic epic.

II3BOVE WAP-271

II3BOVE is one of the Special Callsign to be aired, along with several others, within the initiatives of the 15th Antarctic Week 2018 scheduled from 17 to 25 February. In particular II3BOVE (WAP-271) aims to remember the first Italian Scientific Base in Antarctica, set in January 1976 by Cav. Renato Cepparo (I2VZP) and named after Giacomo Bove, the Italian explorer who at the end of 1800 sailed to the South to arrange an expedition on the Antarctic Continent. The Base, was active until 20th  February 1976 as I1SR/MM.

Following some strange political events of the time, the Base donated by the Italian Government to Argentina,  was destroyed only eight months after its construction and now only a stone path remains to remember its foundations. II3BOVE wish to recall the facts and  remember the memory.

In the 15th edition of the AAW 2018, however, II3BOVE will have an even higher meaning in the spirit of  W.A.P. In fact, it will be the name that on 24 and 25 February will inaugurate the Ham radio station permanently set up at “Malignani 2000”, a Technical Institute in Cervignano del Friuli ITALY (JN65qt). The students of the institute, supported by some local radio amateurs, will be able to immerse themselves and firsthand experience  to the radio world and to share the constant support that, this activity promotes with scientific research.
At the same time, with an even more noble significance, the foundation stone of the construction site will be laid in the garden of the Technical Institute for the “ex situ” reconstruction of the Base which has been left in neglect and abandonment for 42 years in Italy Valley (official name) in the Antarctic Peninsula.

To support the nomination of the Antarctic site as “historical site”, sign the petition at the following link: https://www.change.org/p/bove

Cape Circoncision (WAP NOR-NEW) on Bouvet island

Cape Circoncision (Norwegian: Kapp Circoncision) (54° 23′ 48″ South,  3° 17′ 30″ East) is a peninsula on the north-western edge of subantarctic Bouvet Island.

Bouvetøya was discovered by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, who believed what he discovered was Terra Australis Incognita (“the unknown country in the South”).

The small peninsula was sighted on 1 January 1739. That day was  the Feast of the Circumcision and  Charles Bouvet de Lozier gave the site  the name Cap de la Circoncision. The cape provided the location for the base-camp of the 1928-29 Norwegian expedition. (See the hut on the pic below)

In the centuries after the first discovery, the island was only sporadically observed. Nobody made formal demands on the island before the first Norwegian expedition, under Captain Harald Horntvedt‘s leadership, who made a landing on the island on December 1, 1927, and annexed it to Norway. Cap Circoncision provided the location for the Base-camp of the 1928-29 Norwegian expedition.

By Royal Decree of January 23, 1928, Bouvetøya was drawn under Norwegian sovereignty, and in 1930 the island was given the status of biland. Like the Queen Maud Land and Peter I Island in Antarctica Bouvetøya was annexed for whaling purposes.

Cape Circoncision is snow-free during summertime, and on the Ham radio wise the location gives coverage to most continents. Due to penguin colonies, access cannot be granted.

If in the future an operation will be set from there, a New WAP Reference will be given to it.

II3MNA WAP-205

Special callsign II3MNA WAP-205 is on the air during the15th Antarctic Week 2018 operating from MNA – “Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide” in Trieste, Italy. QSL via IQ3TS

The Antarctic  museum of Trieste (Italy) is  located in San Giovanni compound, under the aegis of Trieste University, Department of Geology.

Among Its objectives,  the conservation, study and enhancement of Antarctic materials relating to the marine geology and marine geophysics research fields, as well as of the history of the explorations of the continent.

The Documentation Centre currently holds a rich collection of items relating to Antartica’s geology and marine geophysics, approximately one hundred historical texts and the maps used in exploring this continent.
Trieste exposition is organized in a surface of 600 sq. meters, where valuable collections, attractive sceneries and multimedia products, underline current scientific subjects, like climate change, anthropic impact on the environment, biodiversity and space research. This Museum is divided in three sectors: the first one is devoted to Antarctic historical cartography, including valuable ancient maps; the second sector is dedicated to the conquest and exploration of the Antarctic continent, highlighting the three pioneers, protagonists of the most difficult adventures of the world: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen; the third and last sector is focused exclusively on the Italian expeditions from the 900’s until nowadays organized and realized by “Progetto Nazionale delle Ricerche in Antartide” (PNRA).

The activity of diffusion and divulgation of the Museum targets mostly a scholar public, students on different levels of instruction, and a wide public. Interesting information which awakes public’s interest on extreme environments, conservation and preservation of natural environments are exposed. The visits to the Museum can be chosen between individual visits or visits accompanied by guides and/or by the Museum’s researchers.

OR15ANT WAP-287

Jean Pierre Hubert ON7ZM, was in Antarctica in Feb 2009 with F5PFP; a great expedition still on the memory of many DXers and Antarctic hunters. Together they did activate several remote sites and Research Bases, some of them very rare!

Now, the IBPT ( Institut Belge des services postaux et des telecommunications) responsible of the Ham radio licenses, after lenghty negotiation, awarded OR15ANT callsign to the Station Club UBA, section NMR, operator Jean-Pierre, ON7ZM, one of the last Polar Missions operators in Belgium who will operate the 15th AAW  in tandem with ON6YH, Didier.

The information came from ON4LS, Jean-Luc, the NMR (Namur) Team Manager, Training and Formations, UBA, saying that  transmissions are authorized and valid as from 15th Feb, though 14th Mar. 2018.

Congratulations to Jean-Pierre ON7ZM, ON6YH, Didier and  to ON4LS, Jean-Luc, Manager at  Station Club UBA, section NMR.

OR15ANT is actually very active on air, as WAP-287, QSL via ON7ZM.

15th Antarctic Activity Week

Two more days then the 15th AAW will officially start.

Some stations, who have received the license to operate their Special Callsigns, have already begun to be on the air, so from now and ahead the game is on.
30 are the stations worldwide with a Special Callsign  credited so far for the 2018’s edition and we are happy to see some new QSLs already printed for the yearly international event.

Thanks to Tony  F8ATS who will be on as TM18ATS WAP-282; his card spread a great message: Antarctic to Save … let us share it worldwide too.

Have fun to enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

Vostok Station. On the threshold of life.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was awarded a prize by the Russian Geographical Society in the category “Popularization of natural, historical and cultural heritage of Russia”.

In this category, which was won by the documentary “Vostok Station. On the threshold of life.” The award from the hands of the President received the producer of the project Alexander Zhukov and Director Olga Stefanova.

The award is presented once every two years and has international status. It was first presented in 2014.

 

Vostok Station (WAP RUS-13) is an in inland Russian Research Station located at Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica. Founded by the Soviet Union in 1957, the station lies at the southern Pole of Cold, with the lowest reliably measured natural temperature on Earth of −89.2 °C. Research includes ice core drilling and magnetometry. Vostok was named after Vostok, the lead ship of the First Russian Antarctic Expedition captained by Fabian von Bellingshausen.

 

KA4RXP/MM will not be operational

From a message sent (right now) by High Seas Satellite Phone, John Landrigan (K4RXP) said  that KA4RXP/MM  WILL NOT be operational from February 9 to March 8, 2018 due to failure of two relays in auto tune unit.

Attempts to use an alternate tuning means, have been unsuccessful and have introduced radio interference to one of the ship’s radios. John Landrigan sincerely regret that this has happened.
OK John, things like that can happen in an Antarctica cruise, so never mind and don’t worry too much.  Recent canceled 3Y0Z expedition, teaches that there is never certainty in trips to those latitudes! Enjoy the trip and thanks for trying.

TNX John K4RXP

Spanish Gabriel de Castilla Refuge (WAP ESP-Ø2)

Gabriel de Castilla is actually a Spanish Research  Station located on Deception island in the South Shetlands Group, but it was first a military shelter (called Gabriel de Castilla Refuge), when it was constructed during the 1989/90 campaign. (see thetwo  pics  here below on the right)

The  Spanish Army took a very active part gathering data for the topographical surveys in different parts of Antarctica and it has been having a key role from the first expeditions; six Spanish Army officials  took  part  in the  first campaign (1987-88).

A great momentum was the opening of a refuge, called “Gabriel de Castilla”, named after a Spanish navigator and explorer credited with the discovery of Antarctica at the start of the 17th century.

Activities are run by the Operations Division of the Army’s, coordinated by the Spanish Polar Committee (CPE), the Polar Authority and the body responsible for coordinating, managing and executing Spanish activities in Antarctica and the polar zones in general.

Polar projects are usually funded by the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation after a peer-review process of proposals.

Since 1959 Spanish researchers have been working in Antarctica, but it was from the opening of “Juan Carlos I Station”  (WAP ESP-Ø1) in 1988 that Spanish scientific activities greatly increased.

 

Today,(pic to the Left) Gabriel de Castilla on the southern side of Fumarole Bay, is a regularly open summer Base; it has been enlarged with more building and able to accommodate 12 people.

About 1000 mts to the west, is the Argentina’s Deception Station (WAP ARG-12), just occasionally open.

50th Anniversary of Bellingshausen Station WAP RUS-Ø1

Don’t forget to contact Alexandr A. Ushakov, UA1OJL, who is actually operating from Bellingshausen Station as RI5ØANO to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its foundation.

An  “Anniversary Award” is available online for 2 QSOs with RI5ØANO from 1 January to 31 March 2018.

Repeats allowed on different bands or in different modes: CW, PHONE, and DIGI modes  (FT8,JT65,PSK,RTTY).  The award is free and available in electronic form upon the check of online log automatically.

Fill the form here: http://r1o.hamlog.ru/diploms/ri50ano/

QSL for RI1ANO and RI5ØANO (WAP RUS-Ø1) must be requested via bureau or direct to RI1ON:

Alexei V. Kuz’menko, P.O. Box 599, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia

M/V Ivan Papanin got accident close to Bharati Station, Antarctica

Expedition vessel  M/V Ivan Papanin, after completing cargo operations at Bharati Station (WAP IND-Ø4) Larsemann Hills (69° 24’ 24.4” South,  76° 11’ 42.9” East) started her onward journey at 23:35 Hrs local time (18:35 UTC) on Monday, 05 February 2018 heading to the second Indian Station  Matiri  (WAP IND-Ø3) at Schirmacher Oasis (70° 46’ 00” South,  11° 43’ 50.8” East).

After a few hours of sailing, Vessel met with an accident. Initial investigation suggests heavy water ingress in the ballast tank No. 2. Passenger and crew are safe on board and there is no oil spillage.

 

Papanin has now returned to the mooring location off-Bharati station (see stock pic aside)

While the crew is attempting to fix the water ingress, passengers have been safely moved to Bharati Base. Cargo and fuel on board meant for Maitri Station is being moved to Bharati station as well. Details of investigation and assessment of the damage is awaited.

Source: http://www.ncaor.gov.in/news/view/414

Since the last four years, the voyage leg to the Indian Bases in Antarctica is undertaken by a Russian Cargo Vessel M/V Ivan Papanin which offers limited lab space.

Is St. John Bosco truly the patron of Antarctica?

Antarctica is undoubtedly a subject that is passionate, but it’s also a reality object of investments, of energies spent on studies and researches that for years are involving the whole world.

For those who did not know, in 1975 the first Italian adventure in Antarctica did start by a private expedition carried out by a Milanese entrepreneur: Renato Cepparo.

Italy did sign the Antarctic Treaty in 1981, a good 6 years after Cepparo’s expedition that built a scientific base in a place called Ezcurra Inlet in front of Admiralty Bay,  South Shetland Islands in Antarctica.

The literature is full of stories of Renato Cepparo (I1SR) who named his Base (picture aside) after the Italian explorer Giacomo Bove (WAP ITA-Ø2) and the fact that Italian government, fully disinterested in this tricolor flagging outpost,  in 1976 gave it to Argentina which dismantled it by plundering the equipments that Cepparo had left in the Base Bove laboratory. Currently in that place, only the foundation on which the building was based is still visible. Poland, who have his research site (Arctowski Station) nearby, did call Italia Valley the place where the first Italian Base in Antarctica was built.

Now, going out the gymnasium of the Salesian Institute of Lombriasco (Turin, Italy) I did find,  hanging on a wall, a postcard signed by the members of the Cepparo expedition, sent on December 25, 1975 from  Antarctica to the Salesian Institute of Agriculture of Lombriasco;  besides being a precious rarity, it’s a real scoop!

Don Marco Casanova, Director of the Salesian School complex says: – Since my arrival in Lombriasco, I have always seen it there and sincerely, I have never deepened the link between the Salesians, Antarctica and the expedition of Renato Cepparo-.

 

But there is a bit more: within the frame, a typescript was inserted in;  it says: – St. John Bosco in Antarctica – On the subject,  perhaps not everyone knows that Patron of the  Antarctica – where last year seemed even to break the third world war because of the Anglo-Argentine conflict in the Falklands Islands, gave rise to numerous collections that are now appearing in more and more philatelic exhibitions – is the Salesian St. John Bosco .

Therefore, the Italian Cepparo expedition in Antarctica took place in “December 1975-January 1976“, the Falklands war mentioned in the brief paragraph dates June 1982.

It is likely that the typescript has been inserted inside the frame after 1982 and the question that arises now is: Is the Salesian St. John Bosco truly the Protector of Antarctica? It would be great, even if researches have been carried out,  this news is  not confirmed yet.

Lions Rump Refuge (WAP POL-NEW)

Lions Rump Refuge (62° 06′ South, 58° 05′ West) is a strip of ice-free beaches, moraines and rocks, located on the King George Bay. It is separated from Arctowski Station (WAP POL-Ø1) by a glacier and the waters of the Bransfield Strait. The majority of this area is protected as ASPA 151 (Antarctic Special Protected Area), which in general can be called the equivalent of our nature reserve. The name of the refuge comes from the rock,Lions Rump  rlocated in the ASPA.

The Area takes its name from the distinctive rocky hill lying between the southern extremity of King George Bay and Lions Cove. Geologically, Lions Rump consists of Tertiary lavas and tuff containing thin brown
coal intercalations and petrified wood fragments. The front of White Eagle Glacier is marked by large, dome-shaped moraine ridges belonging to several Holocene stages of glacier advance and retreat.
The Area was originally designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Recommendation XVI-2 (1991, SSSI No. 34) after a proposal by Poland on the grounds that it contains diverse biota and geological features and is a representative example of the terrestrial, limnological, and littoral habitats of the maritime Antarctic.

Calling Antarctica 2018 – A free Diploma

Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER is an Italian Ham who lives in Mestre which is part of the town of Venice. Paolo has just released the 2018 “Calling Antarctica Award” to be issued at the end of the Antarctic Activity Week.

Paolo wrote: Every year, in the month of February, a special activity called “Antarctic Activity Week” takes place. This year, the 15th AAW will be held from February 17 to 25.

All WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) stations have a special WAP reference number that will be given during the QSO.

The diploma is issued in 2 classes to OM/SWL:

a) “Basic” for at least 5 QSO/HRD with different calls,
b) “First Class” for 10 or more QSO/HRD with different calls.

Only QSO/HRD made between February 17th and 25th, 2018 are valid for this diploma. QSL cards are not needed. Endorsement is available for mode only (CW, SSB, Mixed, various digimodes) The Award is free, and will be sent to the applicants via email as a PDF (JPG on request). WAP reference of the station worked  is mandatory in your application

Send your application via email or ask for more information to  the Award Manager IK3GER  at: corsetti.paolo@libero.it

TNX Paolo, IK3GER (https://www.ik3ger.it)

Wilkins Aerodrome, Antarctica celebrates its 10th Anniversary

The Australian Antarctic Program is celebrating a decade of flights to the frozen continent’s blue ice runway, improving access for hundreds of scientists and expeditioners.

Wilkins Aerodrome blue ice runway in Antarctica (named after the legendary patron and pioneer of early Antarctic aviator, Sir Hubert Wilkins), has improved access to the continent with 131 flights carrying more than 1600 people landing on the runway since it officially opened on 10 January 2008. Where the ship takes weeks, Wilkins Aerodrome gives the ability to fly expeditioners and equipment between Australia and Antarctica in just over four hours. A Skytraders Airbus 319 and Royal Australian Air Force C-17A are used for the flights, landing on the glacial runway which moves about 12 meters each year.

Wilkins Aerodrome is located at 66°41′27″ South, 111°31′35″ East,  in an area of Antarctica known as Wilkes’ Land,  approximately 70 km South East of Casey Base (WAP AUS-Ø2) and serves as the Antarctic terminal for the intercontinental air service.

The facility operates between October and March each year.

Source: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2018/a-milestone-in-australian-antarctic-flights

15th Antarctic Activity Week

It’s now time to book the 15th AAW, getting your special call, your  WAP reference number and jump into the unique International Ham event to promote Antarctica … join in and enjoy it!

For over 15 years the annual Antarctic Activity Week is running with the unique purpose of fostering interest in the Antarctic region and its related facts.

The  15th Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) will begin Saturday  February 17th, and runs till 24:00 UTC Sunday February 25nd. Someone may ask the reason of why this edition is two days longer than the past years; well, several participants did ask the possibility to have 2 weekends instead of 1 … so this year will be a test, if 2 more days are felt too long, next edition will return back to 7 days activity.

Look for the several  special event stations world-wide that will animate the 15th  AAW; each one has its own super special QSL card available. Check  for the list of SES station at: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2018/, QSL routes and attractive Awards.
François F8DVD (TM15AAW)  wrote:

I’m happy to send WAP an article  to announce 15th AAW activity next February. It’s published in the January issue of REF bulletin.

A l’occasion de la quinzième semaine d’animation radio sur l’Antarctique organisée par les OM italiens du programme WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program ; www.waponline.it), François F8DVD activera depuis son QTH de Mâcon (71) l’indicatif spécial TM15AAW au cours du mois de février 2018 (du 2 au 5, le 7, du 10 au 12, le 14, du 17 au 19, le 21, les 24 et 25) en phonie principalement. Une nouvelle référence WAP a été attribuée à cet indicatif : WAP 285. QSL via F8DVD, bureau ou directe. Pour plus d’infos:  http://www.qrz.com/db/TM15AAW 

Good receiving and see you all  on the air with my TM15AAW call.

 

Wonderful job François, you’re always doing great, TNX

Argentinean Base Matienzo (WAP ARG-Ø1), Antarctica

Pedro LU1JHF, informs WAP  that Juan C. Benavente (LU8DBS) is actually active from Base T.te Benjamin Matienzo  64° 58’ 34” South, 60° 04’ 05” West, as LU1ZAB. Check daily on 7,118 MHz. from  23:00 (UTC) and sometimes from 02: 00 (UTC), in SSB. Juan should be there till February 2018

Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo, or more often Base Matienzo or Estación Matienzo (WAP ARG.Ø1) is an Argentine Antarctic Base and scientific Research Stationlocated in Nunatak Larsen, one of the Foca Nunataks, in Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula.

It was named after Lieutenant Benjamin Matienzo, an Argentine aviation pioneer.

As of 2014 Matienzo is one of 13 Research Bases in Antarctica operated by Argentina. From 1961 to 1985 it served as a permanent base; since then it is open during the summer season only.

 

TNX Pedro LU1JHF

A penguin pops in for a quick visit… Antarctic style!

Australian expeditioners near Casey Research Station  (WAP AUS Ø2) were out on the water when they had an unexpected visitor. Antarctica offers emotions and job.

You, too, could have such an amazing experience – we’re recruiting expeditioners right now! To see the full list of roles available and to apply online visit http://jobs.antarctica.gov.au.

Source:  http://www.antarctica.gov.au/ 

Today is  the “Penguin Awareness Day”

20 January is a day dedicated to the world of penguins: did you know that they are aquatic animals and that their survival depends on the health of the oceans?  Protecting their ecosystem is the only way to help them.

Penguin Awareness Day (January 20th of every year), together with the  World Penguin Day (April 25th) are two great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica.

 

World Penguin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of penguins. Penguins do not fly, rather, they walk, or waddle their way to and from. Penguins are found in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Islands.

Greenpeace recalls the reason to celebrate the majesty and silliness of the fine and flippered friends. Everybody can help Greenpeace and the penguins by joining their call for ocean sanctuaries around the world and spreading the word about this kind of initiatives.

 

Read more at: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/how-are-you-celebrating-world-penguin-day/ 

33rd Anniversary of Artigas Antarctic Base (WAP URY-Ø1)

 

On last December 22, under intense sleet, honors were paid at the national pavilion to all the people who have passed through the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base (BCAA) in the framework of its 33rd Anniversary.

The event included members of the Antarctic Programs present on King George Island. Greetings and gifts were received from their bases and the personnel of the Ship Rou Artigas.

Last January 6th 2018 the navy ship M/V Rou Artigas carrying the fuel and supplies did arrive on schedule to Antarctic Artigas Base (WAP URYØ1) with  about 5 tons of frozen food and 226,000 liters of Antarctic gas oil.

M/V Rou04 General Artigas is a ship of the Uruguay National Navy that travels to Antarctica. The ship participates in the “Operation Antarkos XXXIV” with 120 crew members on board, of which 15 are students of the Naval School.

Purpose of this operation is carrying out the Antarctic Campaign between November 15, 2017 and March 30, 2018, making a stopover in the port of Punta Arenas, Republic of Chile. The mission consists of the logistical support of the Artigas Base (picture on the right) through the replenishment of materials for the continuity of the National Antarctic Program, for which 105 tons of general cargo are transported.

RABA, one of  the Top Antarctic Awards by Russian Robinson Club

Russian Antarctic Bases Award (RABA)  managed by Russian Robinson Club is given for QSO/SWL with radio stations situated on the territory of the ex USSR and Russian Antarctic Bases. Certificates are issued in three different classes  with  Plaque – Honour Roll and the last born “Plaque.of Excellence”.

The application must be based on the received QSL cards,  photocopies of which must be sent along with the application to the Award Manager  (e-mail scan of the QSL cards are accepted). The manager reserves the right to request any specific cards to satisfy any doubt whatsoever.

There are different Classes with different levels of difficulties for these RABA Award Program a real great one for DXers

There is a RABA Data base (http://www.rdxc.org/RRC/AWARDS/RABA/raba_dbe.htm) related to the past operation; this useful tool is set to help applicants to identify the combination of the call with the Russian Base,

Additional information can be requested  to RABA Manager: Eugene RZ3EC (rz3ec@yandex.ru)

Read more at: http://www.rdxc.org/RRC/AWARDS/raba_e.htm

TNX Eugene RZ3EC

 

Rules and Awards are shown on the pages of “Worldwide Antarctic Awards”  here at WAP website.

Check:http://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/  and select Russia

China to build its 5th Antarctic Research Station

China plans to build its fifth Research Station in the Antarctic in a bid to further promote polar research, said an official with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

The station will be set on Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea. After it is built, the year-round base will be used to investigate the land, sea, atmosphere, and glaciers in the Antarctic.  Chinese icebreaker ‘Xuelong is bound for Antarctica with construction materials in tow to build the country’s fifth scientific research station on the continent.

Read more at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-10/28/c_136711670.htm
I/B Xuelong  started off at Inexpressible Island, not far from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1), where the construction of the third all year round open Chinese station, is scheduled for 2022.  The name of this planned “New Base” is not yet known.

 

China has built four Antarctic Research Stations over 30 years of research, with Great Wall (Chángchéng Zhàn )  WAP CHN-Ø1, and Zhongshan WAP CHN-Ø2 serving as the two perennial stations, and Taishan (WAP CHN-NEW) & Kunlun (WAP CHN-NEW) being the two summer stations.

On the mean time, China is building its first homemade polar icebreaker “Xuelong 2” which is expected to be completed in 2019. Scientists say it will provide a solid guarantee for China’s polar expeditions.

More at: https://www.rt.com/news/409270-china-icebreaker-antarctica-station/

Dallmann Laboratory (WAP MNB-Ø4) at Carlini Station

Despite its frigid solitude, at several sites in the Antarctic nations from around the world have joined forces in the name of research: the Argentinian Carlini Station ( ex- Estacion Cientifica T.te Jubany) WAP ARG-20 on King George Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, is a prime example:Different nations, all under one roof,

In 1994 the Alfred Wegener Institute and Instituto Antárctico Argentino founded the first research institute operated by more than one nation – the Dallmann Laboratory  (WAP MNB-Ø4), where researchers from Argentina, the Netherlands and Germany work together under the same roof from October to April (the Antarctic summer). Here, up to 14 researchers at a time pursue biological and geo-scientific field research in the ice-free regions and the shallow waters near the coast – which is only possible in a handful of locations in the Antarctic.

The Laboratory was named in honour of the polar explorer and Bremen native Eduard Dallmann, who headed the first German exploration of the Antarctic, or more precisely, of the Antarctic Peninsula, in 1873.

The video below (without sound) shows the work of scientists at the station:

The only station active so far from Dallman Laboratory (WAP MNB-Ø4) has been Oleg Sakharov R1ANF-UA1PBA  who did operate DP1ANF in the month of March, 2004. (QSL for DP1ANF via RK1PWA)

3G9A/MM operation from onboard M/V Betanzos

M/V Betanzos is actually moored at Punta Arenas; the ship will carry on the Team at King George island before heading Bouvet. The date of departure is Jan 13th. When on the ship, team members will operate as 3G9A/MM QSL via N2OO

Check the ship position at: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:777230/mmsi:725000291/imo:7310923/vessel:BETANZOS#IrjZAqtjXemvHHQW.99

If you use other tracking sites (such as https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/BETANZOS-IMO-7310923-MMSI-725000291), the ship data to input for search are:
MMSI: 725000291

Call Sign: CBTZ

Flag: Chile [CL]

IMO: 7310923

The Bouvet Island DXpedition – 3YØZ

Here is a summarized part of “Press release nr.10”:
DAP,
the Chilean company that owns and operates the M/V Betanzos and the helicopters with  a cost of almost 1/2 million U.S. dollars.

The Team is on schedule for a January 13, 2018 departure to Bouvet Island, the World’s most isolated island and the number two most wanted DX entity.  All team members will meet in Punta Arenas, Chile no later than January 10, 2018 to attend a one and one-half day marine safety course, purchase last minute supplies and then fly across the Drake Passage to King George Island in the South Shetlands.  There, we will board the newly refurbished Chilean vessel M/V Betanzos, and begin our 9 to 11-day voyage to Bouvet.  The Captain reports he has previously been to Bouvet.

Complete information on band plans and frequencies, propagation predictions and QSL procedures are available on the DXpedition website:  www.bouvetdx.org.  You will find strategically placed “donate” buttons if you want to help with our substantial costs. I hope you share in the excitement of this great undertaking.  We anxious to get underway!

TNX Bob-K4UEE, Ralph-KØIR,Erling-LA6VM

M/V Betanzos will be a new entry in the WAP Awards

Argentinean Summer Antarctic Campaign 2017/2018

The Argentinean Antarctic Summer Campaign 2017/2018, formally started on last December 18, 2017, when the ship “Estrecho de San Carlos” and the naval transport “Canal de Beagle” sailed from the port of Buenos Aires.

After 10 years, the icebreaker ARA Admiral Irizar returns to Antarctica. It has been  add to this Campaign that will be extended until the beginning of April 2018 with a schedule in which ships, aircraft and helicopters, will coordinate the movements in accordance with the unstable Antarctic climate and the glaciological conditions that fix the “windows of opportunity” to access some of the thirteen Argentine bases on the white continent (six permanent and seven transitory). The mission is to carry out the replenishment of the bases, the withdrawal of waste and replace the staff personnel.

Read more at: http://www.marambio.aq/iniciocav1718.html

TNX Marambio Foundation

My march to the Emperor Penguins

Kerry Peters was an elementary school teacher when he was offered retirement . He didn’t really had any of those “What will I do with myself now?” anxieties. He took retirement when it was offered, because he was already looking forward to what came next: exploring the polar regions.
Read this interesting story published on last sept.2017,  an Expedition tale from the rarely seen Snow Hill colony;  it tells about Antarctica, penguins and much more, told by a man who really has found what he was looking for!

Read the full story at: http://explore.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/my-march-to-the-emperor-penguins-an-expedition-tale-from-the-rarely-seen-snow-hill-colony?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=my-march-emperor-penguins&utm_campaign=ANT17-18

TNX Kerry Peters

VI7ØHI (WAP-288) 70 years ago, the 1st ANARE Expedition to Heard Island

Lee Moyle VK3GK is operating VI7ØHI, a Special Callsign issued to Commemorate the first ANARE Expedition to Heard Island in December 1947.

VI7ØHI will be active on all HF bands 160m-10m, SSB, CW, RTTY and possibly digital modes until Feburary 28th 2018 and will join the 15th Antarctic Activity Week.  (Please note that this activity is from mainland Australia OC-001 and NOT from Heard Island).

A special commemorative QSL card will be available after completion of the activation through ; Charles Wilmott MØOXO who is  the official QSL manager. https://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs/logsearch.php OQRS will be available and also LOTW.

Charles Wilmott
60 Church Hill, Royston, Barnsley,  South Yorkshire, S71 4NG, England, United Kingdom

To VI7ØHI a brand New WAP Reference issued is WAP-288 and it can be used for WAP Awards

History:
The party from the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) arrived at Heard Island in December 1947. The 14 men spent 15 months at Atlas Cove, and constructed an entire small city, complete with a small power station, food store, mess, workshops, shower, toilet, electrical and plumbing stores, medical annex, biology lab, science lab, hen coop, dog run, and a large tractor. These men carried out meteorological, geophysical, upper atmosphere, and biological research, a program that continued for 7 years until the base was abandoned. Since 1969, ANARE has visited Heard Island every few years, mostly to check up on the ruins of the original encampment.

The first amateur radio contact was made in 1947 by Arthur Campbell-Drury who signed VK3ACD/Heard. During the following 3 years, a total of only 36 contacts was made (See QSL aside)

Read more at:

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/history/exploration-and-expeditions/anare-is-created

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-7-spring-2004/feature/heard-island-a-history-of-exploration

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/heard-island-sparked-australias-post-war-antarctic-research/9258906

http://anareclub.org/web/index.php

http://wia.org.au/

The XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign

230 people will participate to the XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign, carry out 16 research projects, two of them aboard the Hespérides Oceanographic Research Ship, which will also support five international projects of Germany , Belgium, Colombia and Portugal. In addition, in this campaign will also be released a warehouse module at the Gabriel de Castilla Antarctic Base, (WAP ESP-Ø2) managed by the Spanish Army.

The XXXI Antarctic Campaign did  start last November 24, when the Oceanographic Research Ship Hespérides departed from the port of Cartagena (Murcia). The opening of the bases will take place today, January 2, 2018 and the closing will be on March 19, 2018.

Spain in Antarctica:

The “daring” origins of the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I° began in 1986 as a tent in which for a few days the scientists Antoni Ballester, Josefina Castellví, Joan Rovira and Agustí Julià coexisted.

Two years later, in 1988 the same year that Spain became a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty, the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I° was inaugurated. and recently rewnewed.

Today, the recently rewnewed Spanish Antarctic base Juan Carlos I°(WAP ESP_Ø1),  located on Livington island will house the XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign 2017-2018.

The new buildings, set in the shape of a clover or tripod, has 2,000 square meters of living space, 600 meters of laboratories, 1,500 square meters of storage, and capacity for 52 people per module.

The remodeling works of the new base, which did involve an important environmental and economic effort, have cost 16 million euros, 13 million financed by the Ministry of Economy and another 3 by the CSIC.

The new BAE is already operational and the members of this year’s Antarctic campaign may release the facilities approximately one month after their arrival, although the base will be formally inaugurated next year.

Read more at:  España estrenará nueva base remodelada en la Antártida  http://www.larazon.es/sociedad/medio-ambiente/espana-estrenara-nueva-base-remodelada-en-la-antartida-MH16773539?sky=Sky-Enero-2018#Ttt1saqjfZWaBVNs

Happy New Year

To the thousands of Antarctic friends & followers, to the Teams working actually in Antarctic Stations and remote camps, to those embarked  on Supply and Support Ships boarding the Icy Continent,   to any individual personnel involved in Antarctica away from home and family.

We are here one more time  facing new  Bases, new contacts, and lots of DX, with the same creativity, and dedication. To our shipmates, to our friends, supporters and their families, to those who love Antarctica as much as we do.

We hope the coming year brings you Happiness, Prosperity and Hope for the future. We wish our and your  families peace and harmony, health and  happiness and may the blessing of God be upon all of us.

Happy New Year from WAP Staff

Jinnah Antarctic Station WAP PAK-NEW

Pakistan is maintaining a summer research station (Jinnah Antarctic Station) and one weather observatory in the vicinity of Sør Rondane Mountains. Pakistan is also planning to build a full fledged permanent base at Antarctica which will enable the program to start operations in Antarctica throughout the year.

The Jinnah Antarctic Station(JAS) is located 70°24′00″South,.  25°45′00″East  in the vicinity of the Sør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud Land, in Eastern Antarctica. Jinnah is a scientific research station operated by the Pakistan Antarctic Program; facilities were quickly established in the region. The station houses an unmanned automatic Weather Station, from which data are transmitted to Pakistan via Argos Satellite System In 2001, the Badr-B was connected to the Weather Station after it was launched by SUPARCO. In 2006, Pakistan established the National Institute of Oceanography’s Polar Research Cell (PRC).

Last Sept. 2017, WAP did try to contact National Institute of Oceanography’s Polar Research  (niopk.gov.pk@gmail.com) in order to get some more recent details and pictures from them. So far nothing has been received and the information are just those available on the web.

UA3HK/MM on board of I/B Akademik Fedorov

Oceanographic research ship Akademik Fedorov (or Fyodorov ) is one of the Russian icebreaker ships, a diesel-electric research vessel (RV) and the flagship of the Russian scientific polar research fleet. The ship was built for the USSR (Soviet Union) and started operations in October 1987.

This ship is named after the polar explorer Evgeny Fyodorov, who worked on the North Pole-1 station – the first Russian drifting ice research station.

Oleg Neruchev, UA3HK is onboard the R/V Akademik Fyodorov as UA3HK/MM sailing from Cape Town to the Antarctic Station Molodezhnaya (WAP RUS-Ø8).

Last  position of the icebreaker reported at 2017-Dec-21 18:00 UTC by http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=UCKZ showed the ship position at S 66°24′ E 075°18′. Now the vessel should be anchored in the pack ice in front of Molodezhnaya Station, where Nikolai, RW6ACM will be active from till February 2018 as RI1ANA

No activity reported so far by UA3HK/MM who will be a “new one” for WAP-WACA.
To everyone, good hunting!

China makes its first commercial flight to Antarctica

Media caption heading to Antarctica by plane is the exception, not the rule. According to Chinese media, the country’s first commercial flight to Antarctica brought 22 lucky tourists to the exotic destination this weekend.
The trip is hailed as a milestone – but is it really? And what does it tell us about China’s geopolitical ambitions in the region?
Is it really a first?
Described in Chinese papers as the beginning of a new era in the country’s tourism to Antarctica, the trip took the select few from Hong Kong all the way to the actual South Pole.

That meant a 15-hour flight to South Africa, refuelling in Cape Town and then another 5.5 hours to Antarctica. From there, it’s another five to six hours to the pole, where the flight landed on a 2.5-km (1.5-mile) runway carved into the ice.

The Chinese tour operator describes the trip as a milestone, saying it means Chinese tourists no longer have to book via foreign agencies.

Despite the current example of a top-of-the-menu extravaganza all the way to the pole, most Chinese tourists of course take the normal route by cruise ship from South America. In fact, only 1% of tourists fly to the interior of the continent.

Read more at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-42388788

” THE FROZEN CONTINENT ” Certificate

From 2013 the “The Frozen Continent”  Certificate is released by IK3GER and it’s  free. It will be sent via email  (PDF or JPEG format file) to the Hams who request it to the Manager IK3GER: corsetti.paolo@libero.it 

 

The “THE FROZEN CONTINENT” award issued in 2 classes is  available OM/SWL who will be able to satisfy the conditions provided for class 1 or class 2.

The award is.

Class 1: at least 3 QSO/HRD with different stations based in Antarctica. Stations from the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney, South Shetlands and other Antarctic islands are not valid for the purpose of this award

Class 2: spell the words “THE FROZEN CONTINENT” by using the last letter of different Italian callsigns but excluding foreign operators operating portable in Italy. QSL from San Marino (T7), SMOM (1A0) and the Vatican (HV) are not accepted for this award

At least 1 QSO/HRD with a station based in Antarctica. Don’t forget that Stations from the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney, South Shetlands and other Antarctic islands are not valid for the purpose of this award. QSO/HRD validity 1.1.1985. Endorsement may by requested for SSB, CW, MIXED, DIGI etc. It is mandatory to send to the manager photocopy or scan of the QSL cards of the Antarctic stations only.

Just send your application by email to the award manager IK3GER and you will get the Award right away.

See also https://www.ik3ger.it/antarctica.html

TNX  Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER

Antarctica, a desire to know more …

From the unknown to scientific research, see how the mystery of Antarctic exploration has unfolded throughout the years.

For years, it had been speculated there was a continent at the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere, which was dubbed Terra Australis Incognita, Latin for  “unknown southern land”. But it wasn’t until the early 19th Century that humans actually reached Antarctica, and its extreme environment made exploring the continent a particularly daunting challenge. Here’s a timeline of the expeditions that amassed knowledge about the coldest continent.

 

Read more at: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/continent-7-antarctica/articles/an-antarctic-expedition-timeline/

Thanks and credit to: National Geographic

АNTARCTIC NATIONS TROPHY

Igor SWL UA6-1082708, Award Manager of the DX Trophy Awards Group  informs WAP that  “DX TROPHY AWARDS GROUP” issues a new recognition to Hams  ho can prove  two-way radio communications with the Countries  that have Research Stations in Antarctica; this is  called  “АNTARCTIC NATIONS TROPHY”. Igor Makeev RA3QSY is the 1st one to get the Trophy

To get it,  the applicants need to work Bases of various Countries in Antarctica according to the list shown below.

The basic plaque is Bronze  available for working  5 different Countries , Silver  for 10 different Countries, Gold  for 15 different countries , HONOUR ROLL – 20 different Countries plus a plaque of Excellence for working 30 Countries + 1 Multinational all issued for different classes or different modes: CW, SSB & MIX

The applicants have to send scan QSL cards or screenshots LOTW/Club Log.

Upper part of  plaque is made by glass, the lower part is metal plate with a size of 250х200.

Plaque cost is  51$ or 47Euro

More info can be requested by e-mail to: mydxtrophy@gmail.com

Other trophies issued by the same Dx Trophy Awards Group  can be seen at:  https://mydxtrophy.wixsite.com/fjl-dx

 

List of Countries in Antarctica valid for Аntarctic Nations Trophy

R1* RI* ANR ANT     Novo Runway + other    8J1*-JA*   Japan
LU*Z   Argentina   D8*-DT*-HL*   South Korea
VKØ   Australia   PA*   Netherlands
OR   Belgium   ZL5*   New Zealand
PY   Brazil   LA*-3Y*   Norway
LZ*Ø   Bulgaria   OA*   Peru
VE*   Canada   HF°   Poland
CE9   Chile   4K1*-R1AN*-RI1AN*   Russia
BY*   China   ZS*   South Africa
OL*   Czech Republic   ECØ*-ED*   Spain
HC*   Ecuador   7S*-SM*   Sweden
OJ*-OH*   Finland   9VØ*   Singapur (bonus to list)
FB*-FT*   France   EN*-EM*   Ukraine
DP*-Y8*-Y90   Germany   VP8*   United Kingdom
AT*-VU*   India   KC4*   United States
II*   Italy   CXØ*   Uruguay

TNX  Igor, SWL UA6-1082708 Award Manager

3YØZ – International Team to be active from Bouvet

The plan is to sail for Bouvet Island on January 13, 2018.  Depending on the winds and sea conditions, it will be a 10 to 12-day sail to Bouvet.  The earliest arrival date will be January 23. Time to get ashore is weather dependent. As soon as the wind, sea conditions and visibility allow, the Team will begin helicopter flights to the island. Their Amateur radio license, also originally issued in 2007 with the call sign of 3YØZ, has been renewed and will be used during  the  DXpedition.
See  https://www.bouvetdx.org/news-and-updates/

A permit will be issued to land on Slakhallet, the huge glacier that covers the island at  54° 25′ 15″ South, 03° 23′ 35″ East . Slakhallet is a slope (elevation of 327 meters) within Cape Lollo and Cape Meteor and also close to Posadovsky Glacier.

Bouvet lies at 54° 25’ South and Ø3° 22’ East. It’s the product of a volcanic eruption that last occurred in 4,000 B.C.  Bouvet is 97% ice covered, and with surrounding rocks and small islands, has an area of 19 square miles, with 18.4 miles of coastline.  Its location, ice, rock cliffs, high seas, harsh climate and surrounding pack ice and icebergs isolate it from human presence.  Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier first saw the island in 1739.  The island was not seen again until 1808.  There was a disputed landing by Benjamin Morrell. But, the first documented landing was by the Norvegia expedition in 1927, which named the island Bouvetoya, and claimed it for Norway.

Sometime between 1955 and 1958, a landslide occurred, creating a rock-strewn, ice-free area on the northwest coast.  The area was named Nyroysa (WAP NOR-Ø2), and subsequently became a Norwegian scientific and research site, which was decimated by an earthquake in 2006.  A new research facility was erected in 2014.

Bouvet became a Nature Reserve in 1971.  Several weather stations have been placed on the island, and a number of Norwegian expeditions have visited the island in the last 50 years.

When it will be official that 3YØZ did set a Camp at Slakhallet Glacier , a new WAP reference  will be given

Antarctic Ice Marathon

Adventure marathoners and ultra athletes are always looking for the next big challenge. It could be a remote desert marathon, a high altitude mountain marathon or a jungle marathon. However, mainland Antarctica represents the last frontier, the final great wilderness to be conquered. And now adventure athletes like you can do it.

The 2017 Antarctic Ice Marathon took place at Union Glacier, Antarctica (WAP MNB-NEW) on 24th November. Windchill temperatures were -25 C (-13F). Frank Johansen of Denmark won the men’s race in 3:37.46 while Kelly Allen McLay of the USA took the women’s title in 4:56.37. The Antarctic Ice Marathon is the southernmost marathon in the world and the only official marathon within the Antarctic Circle and on the continent of Antarctica.  staged from the South Pole.

The first event took place in January 2006 and a race has been organized every year since. It offers a unique opportunity for runners looking to complete marathons on each of the seven continents.
The fourteenth Antarctic Ice Marathon will be held on 13th December 2018,  and  will take place at 80° South, just 600 miles from the South Pole at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains.

Source:  http://www.icemarathon.com/

 

Law-Racovita Base (WAP MNB-NEW)

Law-Racoviță Station is placed in a rocky area about 3 kilometers from the Ingrid Christensen coast in Princess Elizabeth Land, in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica, at the coordinates 69°23’18.61″ South, 76°22’46.2″ East

Law Base was established in the Larsemann Hills in the 1980’s. It is 3 km inland from the Antarctic coastline and only 2km from the nearby  Progress Russian Antarctic Station (WAP RUS-11).  It is a sumer only base supplied by helicopter from the permanent Davis AAT (WAP AUS-Ø3)

There are a number of nearby lakes which provide a scientific interest.

Tom Maggs told WAP that Law-Racovita is an Australian facility, shared under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Romania. The MOU agrees that for the term of the agreement, Law Base be named Law-Racovita. Australia retains ownership and prime responsibility for the buildings and infrastructure.

TNX  Tom Maggs, (General Manager, Policy Australian Antarctic Division) Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston Tasmania 7050

WAP is trying to ask the Russian of Progress Base if eventually they can QSY there for a little while and put this new one on the air! Let’s keep our finger crossed!

First wind power plant for the Italian Base in Antarctica

The wind is again the protagonist in Antarctica. Not only as a driving force for the climate “, but also as a driving force of the first wind farm built in the Italian Mario Zucchelli  Station (WAP ITA-Ø1) at Baia Terra Nova, which since 1985 houses the scientific laboratory of PNRA, the National Program of Research in Antarctica, financed from the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) with the logistic implementation of ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development)  and the scientific coordination of the CNR (National Research Council).

Designed and built by ENEA, this first wind farm will exploit the strong katabatic winds to produce about 63 thousand kWh of electricity per year, with significant environmental and economic benefits thanks to annual savings of at least 24 thousand liters of fuel and almost 80 thousand euros in “bill”.

 

Read more at: http://www.enea.it/it/Stampa/news/antartide-enea-realizza-il-primo-impianto-eolico-per-la-base-italiana/

Happy Antarctica Day!

1st December 2017 – Antarctica Day falls on the anniversary of the adoption of the Antarctic Treaty, which took place on 1 December 1959.

The icy continent and its unique governance system is being celebrated around the world today, as the international community recognizes “Antarctica Day”’.

 

The Treaty has been a hallmark of international cooperation on the icy continent for well over half a century. Its success in promoting international cooperation on scientific endeavor and preventing conflict in the region is widely recognized.

The number of parties to the Treaty has grown to 53 today, reflecting the increasing international recognition of the scientific and environmental values of Antarctica. Many of these countries are working in Antarctica to understand key scientific questions, and cooperate on science and logistic support activities.

Read more at: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2017/happy-antarctica-day

Chapel of the Snows

The Chapel of the Snows, a non-denominational place of worship at NSF’s McMurdo Station, Antarctica, overlooks McMurdo Sound and the Royal Society mountain range.

The current chapel, dedicated in 1989, features stained glass related to the Antarctic Continent; the Erebus Chalice, a William IV silver gilt chalice carried aboard HMS Erebus by Sir James Clark Ross on his Antarctic voyage during the period 1839-43; and memorabilia from the U.S. Navy‘s involvement in Operation Deep Freeze, the precursor to the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program.

The chapel’s altar comes from St. Saviour’s Chapel in Lyttelton, New Zealand, where Robert Falcon Scott worshiped prior to embarking on his Terra Nova Expedition.

Source: Office of Polar Programs – National Science Foundation

Image; Andrea Dixon, NSF

The full story of the Chapel of the Snows at  (WAP USA-22) can be found at:

http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/history/chapel.html

Chinese firm  is building new Brazilian Antarctic Base Ferraz

China National Electronics Imports and Exports Corporation (CEIEC) has won a contract to build a research station in the freezing Antarctic for Brazil, to replace the one that burned down in 2012. The new “Comandante Ferraz” Station (WAP BRA-Ø2) on King George’s Island, Antarctica will be delivered by the incoming 2018 Antarctic campaign.

The new base will be a 5,000-sq-m structure that can accommodate 64 people and 18 laboratories. As well as the living and working quarters, the company will build a heliport, solar panels and wind turbines that will power the base.

The original base was destroyed by a fire in the station’s generators (see picture aside). Two soldiers were killed and one injured in the blaze.

 

The base was designed by Chilean firm Studio 41 Architecture, which won an international design completion in 2013.

All components of the structure are prefabricated and assembled on-site, in a project seen as a “monument of friendship” between the two countries.

The design puts bedrooms on the upper of two structures, together with a video room, a cyber cafe, a conference room and library. The lower block houses the laboratories, garages and the central storehouses.

Read more at:

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/chinese-firm-wins-100m-de7al-re7build-brazi7ls/ 

Thanksgiving greetings from one of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s military partners

Operation Deep Freeze provides the U.S. military’s support to the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program. Deep Freeze incorporates support from many branches of the service, including the US Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Members of the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, the only unit to fly ski-equipped LC-130 cargo aircraft, support the Antarctic Program by flying from New Zealand to Antarctica; from NSF’s McMurdo to Amundsen-Scott South Pole stations; and into deep-field science camps.

https://www.facebook.com/128863520470769/videos/1769568843066887/

In this roughly two-minute video, officers and enlisted personnel offer holiday greetings to friends, family and others on this Thanksgiving Day from a station run by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program and from McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22).

TNX and credit Office of Polar Programs – National Science Foundation & 109th Airlift Wing

KA4RXP/MM  Status report for Antarctica Cruise February 2018

By:  John Landrigan [ka4rxp@gmail.com]

Plans continue to make certain that all is in readiness for my expeditionary cruise to Antarctica aboard the M/V Enderby in February 2018.

A cruise previously planned to Australia and New Zealand aboard the Holland American Line ‘”Noordam” occurred in late October. During that time I was able to visit with Rodney, the owner of Heritage Expeditions in Christchurch, New Zealand and Rowan Homes who owns Nautic Electronics.

I gave Rowan the MFJ 998RT auto-tuner and he installed it inside of a Fiberglass Reinforced General Purpose enclosure. This and the Pacific Aerials High Frequency SSB Vertical were then mounted on a top deck railing aboard the Enderby.

(Left) Antenna and MFJ Auto-Tuner on top deck of M/V Enderby.

    MFJ 998RT inside reinforced fiberglass       enclosure (Right)

Another project was to be assured the primary radio set up – the Yaesu FT 897 and SPE 1.3KW amplifier were communicating happily with each other and the MFJ 998RT auto-tuner. This necessitated a ‘road trip’ to Starkville, Mississippi, home of MFJ where Martin Jue, Richard Stubbs, Ben, Mike and others let me set up a temporary station using a vertical antenna and testing everything out. All worked well.

MFJ employees setting up temporary vertical so functional testing of the Yaesu 897, SPE 1.3KW amplifier and MFJ 998RT auto-tuner could be verified. (see pic to the Right)

Bolted onto an aluminum panel with padding underneath are the Yaesu FT-897 and SPE 1.3KW amplier. The amplifier can fly as in-cabin, carry on luggage due to its compact size and 22 pounds weight. The SCS Pactor Modem and West Mountain Radio RigBlaster Blue sit on top of  the white Velcro mounting patches.

My visit with Rodney was most enjoyable and informative. This voyage is one that I feel especially fortunate to be going on. I’ll provide more details via the radio email Winlink program during the trip.

If propagation is more favorable in February than it was in October, I should be able to make a large number of contacts especially during Antarctica Activity Week, February 17 to 25, 2018.

As a back up, I will be using an Icom 7100. A problem shared by both the FT 897 and the IC 7100 is a lack of sockets to plug stuff into. Common to both radios is the need to have an SCS PACTOR Modem as part of the complement, and, to have minimal to none cable switching going on.

(Below:) Equipments: Yaesu FT-897 and SPE 1.3KW amplifier

The FT 897 problem was resolved with a bhi CAT-MATE Electronic “Y” Splitter and a quick jumper move at J102 on the ACC 1/8 inch socket for ALC and PTT control to the SPE amplifier.

The Icom 7100 requires the use of the ACC conversion cable (OPC-599). ACC1 on the “Y” cable accepts a 9090 cable from Farallon Electronics to the SCS PACTOR Modem. The ACC2 socket will take the PNP-7D1 cable to the MFJ Ameritron ARB-704 amplifier-to-transceiver interface. The ARB-704 will output ALC and PTT to the SPE amplifier.

Of course another road trip to Starkville will be necessary to make sure all this works.

Next on the list is an after Christmas shopping trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota for warm weather gear as per the suggestions of Heritage Expeditions and several other ham friends.

All I want for Christmas is an SFI above 100 for the month of February. I won’t be too dismayed if there is a good to spectacular auroral display sometime before we get to midnight sun conditions.

TNX and credit: John Landrigan KA4RXP

What else to say? John, congrats for the excellent job. You and your friends are doing really great.

All seems to be well planned, and your Antarctic adventure, I’m sure, will give you lots of satisfactions; we’ll follow you every day.