China’s 38th Antarctic expedition begins

China’s research icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, set off from Shanghai on on Friday Nov 5, marking the start of the Country’s 38th Antarctic expedition.

Hydrological, meteorological and environmental investigations in the South Pole, and monitoring of new pollutants such as microplastics and drifting garbage in the Antarctic Ocean will be carried out during this scientific expedition.

Xuelong will also carry supply and rotational staff to China’s Zhongshan Station  (WAP CHN-Ø2) and Great Wall Station (WAP CHN-Ø1) in the region.

The first batch of 154 researchers on the ship will return to China in mid-April next year.

Thanks and credit to: http://english.www.gov.cn/news/photos/202111/06/content_WS6185d2abc6d0df57f98e4940.html  and

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-11-06/China-s-38th-Antarctic-expedition-begins-14XOAZJU424/index.html

The WW Ham Radio community has always  searched  QSOs  with the Chinese  Research Stations in Antarctica as a friendly way  to mark the spirit of peace the Antarctic Treaty.

Several  Countries  have a Club station in their Antarctic Bases and for sure, Ham Radio is a wonderful  way to  test  ionospheric propagation  as a branch of the physical research. For us, Radioamateurs, a contact in HF (SSB or CW)  with Antarctica is always  s great goal!
… that’s  to say that … we hope, one day or another, to make HF contacts , with at least one of the Chinese scientific  Bases in Antarctica, operated by a Chinese Ham… that will be great!

Research into decarbonising Antarctic science


A UC research project evaluating the feasibility of hydrogen production in Antarctica could help to reduce carbon emissions in the future by replacing fossil fuels with a zero-carbon alternative.

The research, in collaboration with Antarctica New Zealand and Callaghan Innovation, is looking at how hydrogen could be generated, used and stored at Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1) and various remote field camps to reduce the reliance on carbon-based fuels currently used for transport, cooking and heating.

Currently Antarctica New Zealand uses fossil fuels for transport to and operation of remote field camps but wants to investigate the feasibility of generating and using hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Turning excess energy from the turbines into hydrogen would help reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels and also transporting those fuels to Antarctica.

“Hydrogen is a step in the right direction,  if not the eventual answer to providing a zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels in Antarctica.”

Read more at: https://www.miragenews.com/research-into-decarbonising-antarctic-science-664229/

Yukidori Biological Research  Hut, WAP JPN-NEW

Japanese Yukidori Hut (69°00’30”South, 39°46’00”East) about 20 km to the South from Syowa base (WAP JPN-Ø3), it’s a site for observation and scientific measurement such as geosphere and marine life. Yukidori is Japanese for “snow petrel”.

Yukidori Biological Research  Hut  will be added  as “New Entry” on WAP –WADA Directory

Yukidori Valley situated in the middle part of Langhovde, on the East coast of Lützow-Holm Bay, Continental Antarctica, contains a prominent melt stream and two lakes.

The Biological Research Hut was constructed in 1986 near the beach at the mouth of the Valley so that there would be minimal impact on the flora, fauna, and terrain of the Area.

A typical continental fellfield ecosystem has developed in this Valley. Since 1984, the long-term monitoring program has continue dover here, in particolar, to monitor temporal and spatial changes in vegetation of mosses and lichens. To ensure adequate protection and monitoring of these ecosystems, the area of Yukitorisawa has been designated as Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.141 in 2002, under the Antarctic environmental protection act.

Langhovde Glacier (69°13’ South, 39°48’ East) is a glacier at the Est side of the Langhovde Hills, flowing north to Hovde Bay on the east shore of Lutzow-Holm Bay, Antarctica. It was mapped from surveys and air photos by the Japanese Antarctic research Expedition 1957–62, and named for its proximity to the Langhovde Hills.

Read more at: 141.pdf (env.go.jp). Entry into the Area is prohibited except pedestrians with the Permit holder. No living animals and plants or microorganisms, poultry products, uncooked dried eggs, herticices nor pesticides shall be deliberately introduced into the Area. The pedestrians should avoid walking on vegetated area or disturbance to birds and natural features.

The location of the Area and its boundaries are shown on the attached map.

 

Yukidori Hut, which serves as the business base, has a generator so that electricity is available. There is also a freezer for storing the processing collected samples. There are also four beds where researchers can live while continuing their studies.

Read more at: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/nankyoku/message/articles/09.html

At the light of these evidences, Yukidori Biological Research  Hut (69°00’30” South, 39°46’00” East) at Yukidoi Valley, Queen Maud land, East Antarctica,  will enter into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP JPN-NEW

TNX Yath Yoshikawa JG2MLI, Takumi Kondo JG3PLH and Gabry IK1NEG

The race for the 6Øth ATS Awards

Hams around the world seem to have discovered the interest in various Awards connected with the th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.

Just take a look at the numbers of Awards issued by the various Countries that have join the initiative, to realize this!

Russia in the lead, followed by Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

We may ask ourself a question: Where does this desire to put an Antarctic diploma in our shack come from?

Surely from the sensitivity of the Amateur Radio population to the issues related to Peace, Scientific research, to the fact that Antarctiva is a place where weapons are banned and … last but not least, the desire of every DXer to log a QSO with the Continent that has always fascinated us, and to which,  the most exciting pages of the South Pole exploration are linked.

In this context, WAP has been protagonist for over 40 years , with its Antarctic Directories , but also withy his commitment and .. why not, with his Diplomas.

Returning to the th ATS (Antarctic Treaty Signature), ARI Sanremo  ARISanremo – Associazione Radioamatori Italiani  … who doesn’t know the wonderful city of Sanremo? … has so far issued over 100 of these Awards!

To the various OMs  of this ARI (Italian Amateur Radio Association) Group,  who deal with the management of these Diplomas (issued free of charge to the Hams WW who request them), certainly we deserve the applause and our Thanks!

VP8/SQ1SGB will be soon at Halley VI(a) Base

WAP has just received a message from Sebastian Gleich SQ1SGB about his next involvment in Antarctica.

Seba wrote: «Like in the last two years I will be once again active from Halley VI(a) Base, WAP GBR-4Ø.

I should start around the end of November 2021 and be active untill the end of January 2022.

During this season, we should build a rombic antenna for aircraft communication (40mts) so I will use that antenna also for my radio activity as well, but before of that, I willuse my standard “Inverted Vee”. I don’t know when the rombic antenna will be set exactly»

VP8/SQ1SGB possible QRG: about 18 nov. 2021 to 31 jan. 2022 on SSB 7190 MHz.

TNX IK1NEG & SQ1SGB

IZ1KHY met F4FKT (FT4YM) at Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) Antarctica

Danilo Collino IZ1KHY did arrive at MZS  a week ago, among the crew of technicians , logistic s and scientists. They have re-opened the Italian Base  (WAP ITA-Ø1) which is now full of activity, with a ot of  air traffic coming from New Zealand. The  37th Italian Antarctic Expedition has now officially started.

Well, Danilo IZ1KHY and David F4FKT  (see pic aside) met each other at Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1). Great rendez vous and now let’s hope they can be on the air … propagation permitting!

Just yesterday, Mehdi, F5PFP sent a post saying that a few weeks ago, David  (now F4FKT) a local friend passed the HF amateur radio licence examination and is going to be  operating from Antarctica. He is a regular member of the French Polar Institute expeditions as multi skilled employee (carpenter-woodworker, boilemaker-welder, driver-mechanical).

I gave him the power supply, the fiber glass mast, the 20&40m wire antenna i used as FT5YJ,FT5YK,VP8DLM,CE9XX. Eric F5SIH (ex FT5ZH) provided a mono 20m mobile vertical whip and its magnetic baseplate.

*CALL SIGN:

A FTxYx licence is pending , if not issued in time, David can alternatively and legally operates as FT/F4FKT/P or IA/F4FKT/P (F4FKT in the pic aside)

We have just been informed by Mehdi,  that David F4FKT has just received his call as FT4YM so he will operate from November 2021 to February-March 2022 with his Antarctic callsign!

Possible QTH could be:

1-Qrv from Mario Zucchelli for a few days

2-Qrv from Concordia (aka Dome C) as main base

3-Qrv from Little Dome C (50km from Concordia) for a 2 weeks stay at least.

Possibly, according to how the programme evolves:

4-Qrv from Cape Prud’homme for a few days

5-Qrv from Dumont d’Urville for a few days

Danilo IZ1KHY (QSL here aside) will be also  for 1 month at Concordia Station and probably, also down there IZ1KHY & F4FKT will jointly operate from WAP MNB-Ø3.

Well, Danilo IZ1KHY and David F4FKT met each other at Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1). Great rendez vous and now let’s hope they can be on the air … propagation permitting!

Good luck to them  for 5 more months staying in Antarctica!

South Pole froze over in coldest winter on record

Antarctica’s frigid winter temperatures are in contrast to trends in the rest of the world, which overall recorded its fourth hottest summer.  The South Pole just had its coldest winter on record.

Between April and September, a research station sitting on a high plateau in Antarctica, registered an average temperature of minus 78 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 61 degrees Celsius). That’s the coldest temperature recorded since record keeping began in 1957, and about 4.5 F (2.5 C) lower than the most recent 30-year average, according to “The Washington Post”.

The previous record for the coldest winter was minus 77 F (minus 60.6 C) in 1976, Stefano Di Battista, a journalist wrote on Twitter. The Post learned of this record through Battista, but then confirmed the information with Richard Cullather, a research scientist at NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office.

The frigid winter is likely caused by a strong polar vortex in the stratosphere, the second layer of the planet’s atmosphere from Earth’s surface, according to the Post. “Basically, the winds in the polar stratosphere have been stronger than normal, which is associated with shifting the jet stream toward the pole,” Amy Butler, an atmospheric scientist at NOAA, told the Post. “This keeps the cold air locked up over much of Antarctica.”

Scientists told the Post that the climate in Antarctica is prone to rapid change and that a frigid winter doesn’t mitigate the seriousness of climate change.
Read more at: South Pole froze over in coldest winter on record | Live Science

Hams Worldwide are following the 6ØATS event. A lot of diplomas already issued

Hundreds of diplomas have been already requested and awarded to the Hams all over the world who are partecipating the 60th Antarctic Treaty Anniversary.

The event launched by WAP is actually followed by thousands of Radioamateurs WW. Congrats to Malcom K. Johnson VK6LC a well known DX-petinionner who is the 1st VK to achieve  both  Basic and the Trophy Antarctica Treaty Signature 60th Anniversary Award’s, issued by  the Russian Robinson Club.

Malcolm VK6LC  (RRC #176) got his diplomas on last oct. 16th 2021 for working the required numbers of SESs on CW-SSB-FT4-FT8.

Congrats  also to Volker DL8JDX, Gabry IK1NEG and hundreds more,  for having got his  Awards as well.

The Italian ARI Sanremo (60th Antarctic Treaty Signature – ARISanremo) , also involved in the 6ØATS event, has already issued nearly 100 Diplomas in the three calsses of merit: Basic, Silver and Gold.

Same for the German Awards (https://60ant.de/en/activity-award-en/ & https://60ant.de/en/award60ant-en/ ) and the Swiss Award (https://60ant.de/en/hb60ant-activity-award/).

WAP reminds the Hams that all these Awards are available on line, and they are totally free.

From the month of november and till the end ofde. 2021, other SESs will join the event and the competition will become more attractive!

Enjoy Antarctica and protect the Icy Continent as much as we do!

OQ6ØANT  from Belgium & SP6ØANT from Poland are joining the 6ØATS Event

Belgium will also join among the several Countries WW to the ATS anniversary Celebration launched by WAP.

OQ6ØANT will be QRV starting 1 November 2021 till 31 December 2021.

OQ6ØANT  WAP-338,  QSL via ON1DX

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TNX  Ronald ” Ron ” Van Aken, (on1dx@telenet.be)

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WAP has just received from Poland, a mail send by SP3POB (sp3pob@wp.pl)

I will soon start with SP6ØANT to mark the Polish presence in the celebration of ther 6Øth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature

WAP reference issued for  SP6ØANT is WAP-339, QSL direct or via Bureau to SP3POB

TNX Dariusz Florczyk SP3THY

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Both new entries are listed on the Special Calls table at http://www.waponline.it/6oats-anniversary/

Uruguay wish a Catholic Chapel in Antarctica

Like a letter left in the fireplace for Santa Claus, the Archibishop of Montevideo, Cardinal Daniel Sturla (picture aside) espresses the desire that Uruguay, likewise other Latin America’s nations and the world, could have its own Catholic Chapel in Antarctica.

The existence of  a letter was revealed by the weekly  “Busqueda Magazine” and was allegedly written in september 2015 to General Claudio Romano who then chaired  the Governing Council of the Antarctic Institute of Uruguay.

The letter, begins by referring to an unspecified requested, that came to the Archibishop from some people linked to the Uruguayan Antarctic Base Artigas .

 

Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1), is a small scientific research Station founded in 1995, on the Icy Continent. Right here, the Archibishop of Montevideo would like a “Chapel intended for prayer and personal reflection” to be erecterd.

Artigas is a Base active all year round, with an allocation of 8 people in winter and 70 in summer. «We think that for our compatriots, who spend a season there , the presence of a Chapel and a place suitable for the image of our Patroness can only be of benefit» writes the Archibishop of Montevideo, Cardinal  Daniel Sturla.

For years at Artigas Base there has been an image of the Virgen de los Treinta  y tres Partroness  of Uruguay. «This avocation of the Mother of Jesus is linked to our homeland history» observed Monsignor Sturla.

«National Indipendence was proclaimed at the foot of the original image . Many patriots venerate Her and General Don Manuel Oribe, as a vote of Her, after a shipwreck, placed the golden crown on Her head with which She is honoured. Other nations present in Antarctica also have their own Chapel»

But the partiotic strings, such as religious ones and those od nationals prestige, do not seem to have mobilized the Uruguayan authorities in charge  of Antarctica, if.  until a little less than a year, after the request  was fornulated, it has not yet received an answer!

The weekly “Busqueda”, consulted in order the Deputy Minister of Defense, Jorge Menéndez, who declared that he was not aware of the petition of the head of the Uruguayan Church: «It may be that, the Antartic Institute itself considered that it was not relevant toforward it»,  he commented evasively.

Even the first recipent of the letter, Gen. Claudio Romano does not remember exactly what happend with the request. The Antarctic Institute receives many project and several of them “are not discarted”,   he justified himself, but no attention is paid if those who presented them “do not insist on showing interest”.

Also laconic was the head of the Army, Real Admiral Leonardo Alonso, who stated that although he does not oppose the idea, he does not see the need of another Chapel when nearby there is already a Catholic one belonging to Chile and another Ortodox  belonging to Russia.

«Furthermore, a Chapel means a priest and a priest would not be of much use outside the exercise of his ministry» commented the respondents between the lines.

«Two extra pairs of hands that help with daily tasks are welcome but if the priest who arrives were a person who does nothing, it would be an extra worry, an headache for the few who are there».

«In the nearby Russian Base, there are two Orthodox priests; one a carpenter, the other a plumber» points out Busqueda.

Translated from: https://www.papaboys.org/una-cappella-in-antartide-per-luruguay/

GB6ØANT by Gavin Taylor (ex VP8GAV)

Gavin Taylor  is a well known Antarctic veteran. The Old Timers should certainly recall when  from 1990 through 1995 he was in Antarctica  working for British Antarctic Survey . At that time Gavin was signing  VP8GAV. Sure many of us still have his QSL card, kept among  the best memories of the time been!

VP8GAV was active from  Faraday Base (WAP GBR-Ø6), Fossil Bluff (WAP GBR-1Ø), Rothera Base (WAP GBR-12),  Bird Island Station (WAP GBR-23), from Stanley is the Falklands  (WAP GBR-25) ,  and  let’s  say that what we have worked 30 years ago from Antarctica,  is something that will not get back.  Now,  in the era of internet, cellphones, Whatsapp , Istagram and Facebook, the “modern” Hams are loosing the magic time when we  nights and days  spent to follow the Hams  in Antartica,  waiting when,  in their free time,  they could operate  mostly in difficult situation  to give anyone a chance to log rare spots from the Icy Continent!

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Well, now Gavin Taylor is back and will be “On the Air” in the month of december 2021 as GB6ØANT,  referenced as  WAP-337, joining the 6Ø Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.

Don’t miss him on the air … you will work a great Antarctic Veteran!

QSL for GB6ØANT  goes via   GMØLVI

TNX Gavin GMØGAV (ex VP8GAV 1990-1995)

Dr Dana Bergstrom, won Eureka Prize 2021

Australian Antarctic Division ecologist Dr Dana Bergstrom has won the 2021 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Leadership in Innovation and Science.
For 36 years, Dr Bergstrom has championed evidence-based conservation science in biodiversity, biosecurity, and impacts of climate change on ecosystems in Antarctica and on sub-Antarctic islands.
Dr Bergstrom, who received the award at a virtual ceremony tonight, said she is thrilled to be recognised for her scientific career.
«This is such a huge honour and one I never expected to receive for my passion to protect and conserve fragile ecosystems », Dr Bergstrom said.
Dr Bergstrom began her Antarctic career as a Masters student in 1983 and has been south for her research more than 20 times. «To study a place that’s gone through many ice ages and understand how the plants and animals survive will help us predict what might happen to our climate into the future ».   Dr Bergstrom’s work has led to improvements in biosecurity and preventing alien species ‘hitchhiking’ to Antarctica.

“The huge international project, involving 23 nations and tourism operators, identified how invasive species were accidently being taken to Antarctica on ships and planes.”

Read more at:  https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2021/antarctic-ecologist-wins-eureka-prize/

Thanks and credit to AAD & Australian Antarctic Proogram

Cape Bird Hut,   WAP NZL-NEW

Antarctic New Zealand  reports that today,  oct. 13 2021,  Scott Base observed a few minutes of silence to remember two of our own. Kiwis Garth Varcoe and Terry Newport were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1992 while returning from a maintenance trip to the Hut at Cape Bird.

The team gathered today at the flagpole, where the men’s names are commemorated on a plaque, to reflect on their contributions to Antarctica.

TNX Antarctic New Zealand

 

Cape Bird Hut on Ross Island, Antarctica  at 77°13’ 05” South, 166°26’ 09”East was a shelter, built in 1966 with the name of Harrison Laboratory, in order to give a facility to the researchers working at Cape Bird.

The hut, which could accommodate six people, was built at Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1) during the winter and lifted by helicopter to Cape Bird. The shelter was then rebuilt in 1991 nearby the old one designated, in the meantime, as Antarctic Special Protected Area, ASPA 116.

On the side of the newest Hut there is an other small service shelter. The main Hut wich can guest 8 people,  is equipped with a kitchen with propane stove and freezer, has a central heat from a diesel-burning  system. Its front windows look out over McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea.

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Years ago, for us Radioamateurs, it was quite easy to work the New Zealand Scott Base on HF and it was a fantastic experience for many of the lucky Hams. On the last years, nobody was able to be active from there!

Many of the very interesting sites, such as Huts, Refuges, Field Camps  are still waiting someone to operate from there. Cape Bird Hut is frequently visited during the Austral summer season by researchers who are going to stay there for a little while. As far as we know no activity on HF have been performer from this site … a real shame!

Hopeful and sure to interpret the desire of the thousands Radioamateurs around the worl, let’s say that the best dream at WAP, is that the Radio becomes as, it once was, an instrument of union between people and for us Radioamateurs, that the voice of Antarctica returns to be heard al lover the world.

British drill Camp on James Ross Island , a “New entry” on WAP-WADA Directory

James Ross Island is a large island off the southeast side and near the northeastern extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Prince Gustav Channel.

Rising to 1,630 metres (5,350 ft), it is irregularly shaped and extends 40 miles (64 km) in a north–south direction. It was charted in October 1903 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskiöld, who named it for Sir James Clark Ross, the leader of a British expedition to this area in 1842 that discovered and roughly charted a number of points along the eastern side of the island. The James Ross Island core drilled to bedrock in 2008 by the British Antarctic Survey provided an unprecedented record of soot deposition in the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the past 2000 years and revealed the surprising impacts of Māori burning in New Zealand starting in the late 13th century

In the years 2006/07, a small amount of cargo was pre-deployed to the chosen drilling site. The majority of the cargo and personnel were transported to the site by HMS Endurance, and deployed to the field using the helicopters in early January 2008. A small team of seven on site successfully drilled an ice core from the surface, reaching the bed of the ice at 363 m depth. Following logging of the borehole, the fluid was removed from the hole for reuse on a later project, and to minimize environmental impact. Further operational support was provided during the middle of the season by the BAS Twin Otters flying from Rothera to recover the ice cores to freezers at Rothera, and to assist with rapid uplift at the end of the season in February 2008, when the entire field infrastructure and remaining ice cores were removed from the field, leaving a clear site.

British Drill Camp, at 64°12’ South, 57°41’ West on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula The British Drill Cam,  was set and operationl for a brief period of time (2007/2008). The site was removed  on Febr. 2008. Even if we have no evidence of any Ham radio activity from there, we at WAP, have decided to insert it on  WAP-WADA Directory as WAP-GBR-NEW.

Read more at: The James Ross Island and the Fletcher Promontory ice-core drilling projects | Annals of Glaciology | Cambridge Core

EM6ØKTS, Ukraina SES for 6Ø ATS Anniversary

Pavlo Tarasovych UT1KY from RIVNE, Ukraina  is an Antarctic veteran with several seasons spent at Akademic Vernadsky Base (WAP UKR-Ø1). Pavlo did also operate  from James Wordie Hut (WAP GBR-Ø7) signing VP8/UT1KY on last 2000, giving many Hams world wide a new one!

Pavlo is always very active and he couldn’t miss to join  the 6Ø Years of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). Ukraina is joining the Anniversary , (TNX Pavlo) with the Special Call EM6ØKTS (WAP-319)  on the air from  july 1st 2021  through  december 31st 2021
QSL via IK2DUW

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Congrats to Volker Strecke DL8JDX  (another Antarctic veteran ) for sending us  the QSL for the contact he made with EM6ØKTS.

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All the special event stations joining the 6Ø Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, have received  a WAP reference number which can be used for the WAP-WACA & WAP WADA Awards. In addition, everyone can apply for the several  Awardss issued  for the 6ØATS event.

RI6ØANT will be active from Wolf’s Fang Runway (WAP MNB-12)

Oleg, ZS1ANF who did operate as ZS7ANF and RI1ANX from Wolf’s Fang Runway (WAP MNB-12) on the Antarctic inland ice in Queen Maud Land during the past Antarctic summer seasons, will be working again at the same Ice Runway Station in the upcoming summer season 2021/2022.

When QRL and work time permits, Oleg will be active with the call RI6ØANT (WAP-335) in the event of the 6Ø years anniversary of the Antarct Treaty Signature.

QSL via RZ3EC.

Wolf’s Fang Runway is located 71° 31′ South, 08° 48′ East, 1127m AMSL. The Runway is 3000 mts long and 60 mts wide. The fuel supply for aircrafts that land and take off at Wolf’s Fang,  is possible with the assistance of the South Africa’s science vessel. The fuel supply is delivered to the edge of Antarctica, where a traverse Team embarks on a journey of 800 km across the Fimbul ice shelf to Wols’s Fang Runway.

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TNX UA6GG & DL8JDX

Antarctic ice core study, shows black carbon emission begun in the year 1300 and tripling over the next 700 years

While analysing ice core samples taken from James Ross Island in Antarctica, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey noticed something unexpected – the levels of black carbon or soot, began to increase drammatically about 700 years ago..

Black carbon is a part of the fine particulate air pollution that contributes to climate change. It is one of many particles that are emitted by the burning of diesel, coal, or by biomass burning such as forest fires.

The team analysed the ice core taken from James Ross Island and compared it to several others taken from across continental Antarctica. While the ice core from James Ross Island showed a notable increase in black carbon starting in the year 1300 and tripling over the next 700 years, black carbon levels across continental Antarctica stayed relatively stable.

Read more at:  Māori land-burning led to a rise in carbon emissions 700 years ago – BBC Science Focus Magazine

Thanks and credit to: BAS & BCC Science Focus magazine

TM6ØANT WAP-318  joining the 6Øth ATS Anniversary

On a special article,  pubblished on the October issue  of REF bulletin, François Bergez  F8DVD traces a summary of the long history of Antarctica, with particular reference to the events that led the signature of the Antarctic Treaty,  but also to the several Ham Radio Operators  who have marked the era of the HF communication from Antarctica toward the entire Globe. Click on the GIF here aside to read the pages pubblished on REF Bulletin

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TM6ØANT WAP-318  joining the 6Øth ATS Anniversary

François, F8DVD, will operate TM6ØANT to commemorate this  60th Anniversary,  proudly recalling that France was one of the 12 countries who signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington US, on December 1st, 1959,  which  officially entered into force on June 23rd, 1961.

TM6ØANT WAP-318,  represents France at the International celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.
TM6ØANT  will be “On Air” from  François F8DVD QTH, in  Mâcon –France (JN26JH)  from 16 to 30 November 2021.

All info on : www.qrz.com/db/TM60ANT , QSL via F8DVD

TM60ANT  WAP  318 on air for 60 ATS, QRZ.com page for TM6ØANT is online at:
TM60ANT – Callsign Lookup by QRZ Ham Radio

TNX François  F8DVD

URUGUAY join the 6Øth Anniversary of ATS (CW6ØATS WAP-336)

Carlos Andrés Molina Vera, CX8ABF has informed WAP that the Telecommunications Administration of Uruguay (URSEC) has issued a Special Call CW6ØATS to celebrate the 6Øth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.

All the information have been loaded on QRZ.com (See https://www.qrz.com/cw60ats )

Uruguay is one of the Countries that mark a great presence in Antarctica with 2 scientific Research Bases:  Gen. José  Artigas (WAP URY-ØØ1) and  Teniente de Navio Ruperto Elichiribehety (WAP URY-NEW) Stations.

In the past (from 1987 through 2005) Artigas Base was frequently active on HF with quite a few  calls. One of those was  CXØXY. Since 2005 nobody else has been on air from there.

We hope some day in the next Antarctic Sesons, pne of the researchers can activate Artigas Base again and maybe also, Teniente de Navio Ruperto Elichiribehety  Stations which has never been activated!

For now, we congratulate Carlos Andrés Molina Vera, CX8ABF for his efforts and we thank the Telecommunications Administration of Uruguay (URSEC) for its domonstrated sesitivity in joining the 6Øth Anniversary event.

CW6ØATS WAP-336 is on air. QSL will be confirmed  through Eqsl Lotw, Clublog.

For full information, check QRZ.com

TNX  Carlos CX8ABF

I1SCL Info Radio News an Italian online magazine

Info Radio News ( WEB https://www.info-radio.eu) is a free magazine released in 138 Countries Worldwide.

In evidence this week, is the 6Ø Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature and the availability of more than a few  Special Awards for those  who will work the SES active till December 31st 2021, all bands, all modes.

See: Info-Radio 39-2021English.pdf | Con tecnologia Box

The Italian ARI-Sanremo, has issued 3 of those Diploma: Basic, Silver and Gold. Browse: 39 2021English (calameo.com)

Other Countries such as Russia, Germany and Switzerland have their Awards available as well.

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Read more info on the Awards at:  http://www.waponline.it/6oats-anniversary/6oats-awards/

TNX I1SCL & ARI-Sanremo

R6ØANT, WAP-324 dedicated to the signing of the Antarctic Treaty by Russia in 1961.

Antarctic Treaty entered into force on June 23rd, 1961, covering demilitarization of the Antarctic region, its use for exclusively peaceful purposes and transformation into a zone free of nuclear weapons.

Initially, the Treaty was signed by 12 countries: Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, USSR (Russia), USA, France, Chile, South Africa, Japan.

In honour of the 60th anniversary of the event, from October 1st to December 31st, 2021 Russian Robinson Club together with SRR, Hamlog and other interested organizations plans to conduct a special activity usingh 12 different callsigns, by the number of countries that originally signed the Antarctic Treaty. Read more at : https://www.qrz.com/lookup/r60ant 
R6ØANT is WAP-324

Russian Robinson Club together with SRR and HAMLOG.Online will issue a special award and plaque. More details at:   https://hamlog.online//club/rrc/209
See also  http://www.waponline.it/6oats-anniversary/6oats-awards/  

TNX Eugene RZ3EC& RW3DD

The 41st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is almost ready to start

41st Indian Expedition, will  embark Antarctica in October-November 2021 and return by February-April 2022 while those chosen for winter season duration, will continue their stay in Antarctica to return between December 2022 to March 2023.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms , under the Ministry of Earth Sciences , Government of India.

NCPOR operates two- yearround stations in Antarctica, which are ~3000 km apart.

WAP IND-Ø3MAITRI Research Base (70° 45’58” South, ; 11° 43’56” East) is located in Schirmacher Oasis Central Dronning Maud Land. It is an inland station nearly 100km from the edge of  Lazarev ice shelf (Indian Barrier for Ship)

WAP IND-Ø4- BHARATI Research Base (69°24.41′ South, 76° 11.72′ East) is located in Larsemann Hills along   the Ingrid Christensen Coast, off the Quilty Bay (~ 200 m from the coast).

SHIP BOARD OPERATIONS CapeTown – Bharati – Maitri- Cape Town transect

Rumors say that this year there will be an Ham Radio operator who could be active on HF from at least one of the two Indian  Bases:  MAITRI  or BHARATI Stations.

The worldwide Radio Amateurs community recalls the great activity  done in  the years from 2010 through 2015 by OM Bhagwati Prasad VU3BPZ, Communication Officer at both Bases .

We are grateful to NCPOR if really some of the scientists  or personnel  will be encouraged to operate an Ham radio equipment during the 41st ISEA. We thanks in advance  the Chiefs of the bases for promoting HF tests through the Ham Radio bands in SSB  and/or  CW from Antarctica

Kizahashi Hut, New Entry in WAP-WADA Directory as JPN-NEW

Kizahashi Hut is located at 69°28’ South, 39°35’ East in a beach at the headland on Skarvsnes, one of the islands of the Flatvaer group on the coast of Queen Maud Land.

Flatvaer Islands (in Norwegian: Flatvær, means “flat islands”), also known as the Ongul Islands, are a group of small islands lying at the east side of the entrance of Lützow Holm Bay, 4 km from the Antarctica coastline.

Kizahashi-hama (Kizahashi beach) was mapped from survey and aerial photographs taken during the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) 1957-1962. The name Kizahashi-hama was given by JARE in 1972.

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Kizahashi Hut at Skarvsnes stands among a field camp which consists of the main hut, a generator hut, a small (green) lab hut and a series of small tents for sleeping and work. The North Face dome tent is a science tent.

 

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At the light of this evidence, Kizahashi Hut will enter into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP JPN-NEW and more precisely:

 

Kizahashi Hut

69°28’ South, 39°35’ East

Skarvsnes,  Lützow Holm Bay, Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica

 

As far as we know, Kizahashi-hama Hut is frequently visited by a Team of scientist from Japan and other different Countries who are going there for marine life observation and scientific measurement such as Geosphere and to check  maintain the AWS (Automatic Weather Station) nearby at  69º28′25″ South, 39º36′43″ East.

TNX Yath Yoshikawa JG2MLI  and Gabriele IK1NEG

II6OANT WAP-323 will join 6Ø ATS

Special callsign II6OANT has been received by the Ministry and we are now ready to be  “On Air”.

In Italy, according to current regulations,  MISE (Ministry of Economic Development) on which Telecommunications and Ham Radio matters depend, does not issue callsigs with two or more digits, so,  instead of II6ØANT (6 and Ø are two digits), we folded up to II6OANT. WAP Reference issued is WAP-323

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Activity will be from Oct. 1st through Dec. 31st 2021.

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II6OANT WAP-323 is a valid station for the 6Ø ATS Awards program.

QSL via I1HYW (see QRZ.com)

19 Sept.2021, 18th WAP Meeting.

ARI-Mondovì (Cuneo) Italy, will run the 18th WAP Meeting in the frame of other programs such as the 20th DCI (Italian Castles Award) and 12th IFFA (Italian Flora & Fauna Award).
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It’s a three days event well participated by Hams from Italy and foreign Countries nearby.
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Sunday Sept.19, there will be a presentation of the 6Ø ATS by Max IK1GPG, WAP Award manager since the beginning of our Antarctic adventure!
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TNX IK1GPG & IK1QFM  and Co. for carry on the WAP Meeting‘s job since 18 years now, and happy time to those who are joining!
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Antarctica …. our passion forever!

Sovetskaya Research Station (WAP RUS-NEW)

Sovetskaya , 77° 58’ South, 89° 16 East was a Soviet research station in  Kaiser Wilhelm Land in Antarctica that was established on 16 February 1958 by the 3rd  Soviet Antarctic Expedition  on International Geophisic Year research work, and closed on 3 January 1959.

 

Antarctic Comrades (An American with the Russians in Antarctica) is  a book written by  Gilbert Dewart (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159608932.pdf) . On it, Gilbert Dewart reports about a Sovietskaya Refuge (or Base) Here some paragraphs. We, have just add the WAP References for the sites mentioned:

… Another trail party left Mirnyy (WAP RUS-Ø7) that December: it took more fuel and supplies to Vostok, then returned to Komsomolskaya (WAP RUS-Ø5) and set out from there on a new heading in pursuit of the distant Pole of inaccessibility  (WAP RUS-NEW) see pic aside to the right-.

Again the going was very tough, and with the season becoming dangerously late, the party pulled up at an intermediate spot on February 16, 1958, and opened Sovetskaya Station 11,700 feet above the sea. Though this position was unplanned, it was near enough to the goal, and for the scientific purpose of studying the extreme interior of the polar ice sheet it would serve as well. Six men wintered here under the leadership of V. K. Babarykin. Sovetskaya and Vostok stations both set new world records for low temperatures that winter, the final extreme minimum being-87.4° C (-125° F) at Vostok, so the Russians could now claim the “Pole of Cold.” With the three stations established on the ice plateau, plus Mirnyy, Pionerskaya, and Oazis, they now had six permanent bases in Antarctica for the second phase of the IGY in 1958. The Third Expedition, commanded by Ye. I. Tolstikov, operated this array of scientific stations.

The site was occupied for only two weeks, until the official end of the IGY, then abandoned, though the shelters and basic equipment were left intact for future use.

With the Fourth Expedition, directed by A. G. Dralkin, the Soviet Antarctic Program underwent retrenchment and a change in focus. The personnel complement was reduced from 185 to 113 men, and Sovetskaya (WAP RUS-NEW), Pionerskaya (WAP RUS-10), and Oazis (WAP RUS-NEW) were closed down in January

1959 (Oazis station was turned over to a small Polish contingent, but the Russo-Polish relationship proved acrimonious, and the Poles soon abandoned it).

Komsomolskaya was converted to seasonal use as a weather station and logistical support base for air operations in the summer. On the other hand, two thousand miles to the west, on the coast of Queen Maud Land, a landing party from the Ob established a new permanent station which was named, with history in mind again, for M. P. Lazarev, Bellingshausen’s second-in-command. Lazarev Station (WAP RUS-NEW) was intended as the base for an investigation of a nearby ice shelf and for an ambitious geological exploration program in a range of little-known mountains a short distance inland.

WAP have no evidence of any Hams that did ever operate HF from Sovetskaya Base, Lazarev and Oazis.
Thanks and credit to:
Одинокий и холодный Ленин на «Полюсе недоступности» (фотогалерея) (rferl.org)

Collins Refuge  WAP CHL-16

Collins Refuge,  62º 10’ South, 58º 50’ 57” West, is an Antarctic shelter located in the Collins Glacier in the Collins Bay,  Fildes Peninsula, King George Island.

It was inaugurated at the 2006-2007 season and is administrated by the Instituto Antarctico Chileno (INACH).

It has capacity for six persons in summer, and it is used for scientific research. It has communications with HF and VHF radio, satellite telephony and the logistical support comes from the Professor Julio Escudero Base (WAP CHL-Ø7), by sea.

INACH counts two refuges throughout the Chilean Antarctic Territory: Collins (WAP CHL-16) and Julio Ripamonti (WAP CHL-Ø3).  They allow geographic displacement through the territory.

The Collins Refuge stands as one of the main housing supports on the ground for Antarctic work in Fildes Bay with a laboratory module as well as magnifying glasses and microscopes are available.  A laboratory module as well as magnifying glasses and microscopes are available.

A 350 hp Yamaha ATV is also available. The Refuge (sometimes called Base) replaced one with the same name, built in 1969, given to the Uruguay Antartic Institute in 1984 and dismantled in 1989, located in where today is the Artigas Base from Uruguay.

Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1), located at 62° 11’South,  58° 51’West is a small year round Station widely spread over a mainly flat area above Collins Harbor towards the east of Maxwell Bay. The station was established in 1984 and is operated by the Instituto Antarctico Uruguayo (IAU), which is part of the Ministry of National Defense.

COLDEX, The “Center for Oldest Ice Exploration.

The Oregon State University  (USA) will lead a National Science Foundation-funded effort to discover Antarctica‘s oldest ice and learn more about how the Earth’s climate has changed over the past several million years.

The Center for Oldest Ice Exploration, or COLDEX, will be created under a five-year, $25 million Science and Technology Center award announced on Thursday.

The centre will bring together experts from across the US to generate knowledge about the earth’s climate system and share this knowledge to advance efforts to address climate change and its impacts.

“This is fundamental exploration science,” said Ed Brook, a paleoclimatologist in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences and the principal investigator for COLDEX.

“What we’re after is to see how the earth behaves when it is warmer than it has been in the last one million years. In order to do that, we have to find and collect ice cores that go back that far.”

The oldest continuous record of Antarctic ice, collected by drilling miles down from the continent’s surface, currently goes back about 800,000 years. The researchers hope to find a continuous record that goes back 1.5 million years, Brook said.
Thanks and Credit to: https://weather.com/en-IN/india/environment/news/2021-09-10-scientists-to-discover-antarctica-oldest-ice

Stansbury Peninsula Refuge (China), a New Entry on WAP-WADA Directory

Antarctic Treaty Inspections Programme Report 2014-15, shows at page 90 a visit jointly undertaken by the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic in accordance with Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Environmental Protocol, done  on January 2015 by a group of observers  of the two Nations.

(see: https://documents.ats.aq/ATCM38/att/ATCM38_att092_e.pdf)

Near  Eco-Nelson WAP CZE-Ø1 (a nongovernmental Czech facility) there is a small Refuge approximately 1 km to the east of that facility, around a small headland and situated approximately 20 meters above a gravel and rock beach.

Located at 62° 15’ South, 58° 59’ West on Nelson island the Refuge consists of a shipping container, flanked by two smaller containers. The main building contains several bunk-beds, a large amount of assorted bedding and blankets and a small store of water bottles, fruit juice and medicine.

The Refuge  was linked to, or had been used by staff from, the Great Wall Station, China (WAP CHN-Ø1). The shipping container is in poor condition with extensive rusting and exterior deterioration. A large, apparently empty, rusting gas cylinder was being used to hold the door closed.

A smaller container adjacent to the main building held a collection of waste material. The door to this structure had rusted away completely leaving the contents open to the snow and wind.

A third small container lay approximately 10m to the east and was partially filled with snow. This contained a half-full 200lt blue plastic fuel barrel, apparently containing a heating and cooking fuel such as white spirit.

The visitors’ book in the shipping container indicated that this refuge was occasionally visited by those living in the nearby vicinity, including from the Eco-Nelson facility, and it contained relatively recent entries. However, the refuge was now in very poor condition, and without adequate supplies, was not in a suitable state to act as a genuine refuge in case of a serious emergency or accident nearby.

At the light of these evidences, Stansbury Peninsula Refuge, 62°15′ South, 58°59′ West, Stansbury Peninsula, of Nelson Island,  between Edge Bay and  Fildes Starit, King George Island in the South Shetland Islands,  will enter  into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP CHN-NEW.

As soon as an HF  Ham Radio operation from this location will  maybe on air  a relater reference number will be given.

Uruguay: 30th Anniversary of the first Antarctic naval mission

On last August 30, 2021, a ceremony was held at the facility of the Ministry of National Defense. The Uruguayan Mail,  following the request  of the Uruguayan Antarctc Institute, presented a commemorative stamp, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the first Antarctic naval mission aboard the ship “Pedro Campbell

TNX Istituto Antarctic Uruguayo

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Peter Campbell (1780-1832) , also known in Spanish as Pedro Campbell was an Irish naval officer who founded the Uruguayan Navy.

Russian Robinson Club join the 6Ø Antarctic Treaty Signature Anniversary

Antarctic region, its use for exclusively peaceful purposes and transformation into a zone free of nuclear weapons.

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Initially, the Treaty was signed by 12 Countries: Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, USSR (Russia), USA, France, Chile, South Africa, Japan.

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In honour of the 6Øth anniversary of the event, from October 1st to December 31st, 2021 Russian Robinson Club together with SRR, Hamlog and other interested organizations plans to conduct a special activity usingh 12 different callsigns, by the number of countries that originally signed the Antarctic Treaty:

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R6ØANT  – Russia
RA6ØANT – South Africa
UE6ØANT – Belgium (instead of RB6ØANT as previously announced)
RC6ØANT – Chile
RG6ØANT – Argentina
RJ6ØAN   – Japan (instead of RJ6ØANT as previously announced)
RK6ØANT – United Kingdom
RL6ØANT – France
RN6ØANT – Norway
RT6ØANT – Australia
RU6ØANT – USA
RZ6ØANT – New Zealand
Plus a special callsign from Antarctica RI6ØANT.

WAP have already issued a Reefrence number for each of the above Special Event Calls.

Check http://www.waponline.it/6oats-anniversary/   to download the whole WAP references issud for this Event

Russian Robinson Club together with SRR and HAMLOG.Online will issue a special award and plaque

Award “60th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty”

To receive the award it is enough to make 1 QSO / SWL with each of 12 stations using special callsigns in a period from October 1st to December 31st, 2021.
Missed special callsigns can be replaced by callsigns of ordinary radio amateurs from appropriate country. For example, missed RA60ANT QSO can be replaced by any 3 QSOs with South Africa. RI60ANT counts for any missed special callsign.
To receive a plaque, you need to make 2 QSO / SWL with each of 12 stations using special callsigns in a period from October 1st to December 31st, 2021.
QSL info: All QSL Rx60ANT via RZ3EC (OQRS (better)/direct/bureau)

3YØJ, KAPP FIE,  New entry on WAP WADA Directory

WAP is happy to read that next 3YØJ Expedition to Bouvet Island ( Novem,ber 2022) will be set at Kapp (Cape) Fie,  which site will enter  for now, into the WAP Directory, as WAP NOR-New

Here is the statement:
After discussing with the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) and other experts the Expeditionners have come to the conclusion that the only possible place to setup a camp SAFELY is at Cape Fie at the South East part of Bouvet. Cape Fie was first roughly charted in 1898 by a German expedition under Carl Chun, and was re-charted and named by the Norwegian expedition under Captain Harald Horntvedt who explored the area in December 1927.

Cape Fie,  54° 27′ South,  3° 28′ East  is a rock formation at the South East part of the Island, the only safe place to stay for a longer duration overnight. All other locations have a high risk for rock or icefall or large amounts of seals.

Norwegian Research Station Bouvetoya (aka Nyroysa), WAP NOR-Ø2 is not  accessible due to the Bouvet Regulation (that came into force in 2005), which restricts access to only allowed scientific research activity.

As such, and also due to safety issues, the camp will be setup at the rocks above the beach at Cape Fie.​ The area is roughly estimated to 50x240m (150 ft x 800ft).

Kapp Fie , 54° 27′ South,  3° 28′ East, South East side of Bouvetøya (Bouvet Island), will (provisionally) enter into Section 2, Sub & Peri-Antarctic Territories  of WAP-WADA Directory as NOR-NEW. Later,  when the operation will start, a full Reference number will be given.

The mysteries of Sea Ice

Dr Ruzica Dadic says there are complicated relationships between Antarctic snow and ice with feedback loops that need to be better understood as climate warms. The mysteries of how snow affects Antarctic sea ice remain largely unknown.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington  New Zealand researcher Dr. Ruzica Dadic is working to change.

International research in recent years has increasingly delved into the links between snow and ice cover in the Arctic. But the intricate connections between the two in Antarctica, have not been as intensively studied.

A year ago, Dr. Dadic, a senior research fellow in the University’s Te Puna Pātiotio–Antarctic Research Centre, was part of the biggest polar expedition in history.

She was the only scientist from Aotearoa New Zealand invited to join the high-profile MOSAiC programme to the Arctic, which involved hundreds of researchers from 20 Countries.

Read more at:
https://indiaeducationdiary.in/researcher-helps-crack-the-mysteries-of-sea-ice/

More about MOSAIC on the video below

Uruguayan Ionospheric Refuge (Refugio Ionosférico Uruguayo) New Entry in WAP-WADA  Directory

Uruguayan Ionospheric Refuge 62°10′59.4′′ South, 58°54′31.6′′ West,  takes its name by Ionospheric Lake Uruguay in its proximity. Recently an Uruguayan crew put their manual skills on full blast, and in a great teamwork. They refurbished the shelter located about 800 meters  from the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base (WAP URY-Ø1), which can be used in case of evacuation.

The electrical and sanitary installation was renewed, and reforms were carried out in the structure that make the Refuge a much more comfortable place.

(Picture to the right, shows the Uruguayan Inospheric Refuge before its reconditioning).

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Artigas Base at 62° 11′ South, 58° 51’ West was inaugurated in the penultimate week of December 1984, after hard work of fellow who  overcame endless obstacles to the construction of their first buildings. The Chilean and Soviet collaboration in the transfer of the necessary materials was essential.

At that time, the Chilean National Antarctic Program, gave the refuge “Collins” for the use of the Uruguayan expedition.

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At the light of these evidences, Uruguayan Ionospheric Refuge (Refugio Ionosférico Uruguayo), 62°10′59.4′′South, 58°54′31.6′′West Fildes Peninsula, King George Island ,  will enter  into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP URY-NEW. As soon as an HF  Ham Radio operation from this location will be on air  a relater reference number will be given.

Now we are happy to have add another gusset to the  WAP Directory.

Australian RSV Nuyina flag raising

The event in Vlissingen was the official transfer of the ship from its European build team, marking the final stage of a 1900-day journey from contract signing to handover.

The design and build of the vessel has been a multi-national effort between the Australian Antarctic Division, the vessel operator Serco, Danish concept designers Knud E Hansen, Dutch engineering and detailed design team Damen, and the construction team at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania.

RSV Nuyina will now undergo some final preparations ahead of its eight-week journey to its new home port of Hobart

Thanks and credit to: Flying the flag over Australia’s new icebreaker – Australian Antarctic Program (News 2021) (antarctica.gov.au)

The Australian flag is flying on the nation’s new Icebreaker RSV Nuyina for the first time after a ceremony in the Netherlands.

RSV Nuyina  is one of the most advanced polar vessels in the world, integrating complex scientific technology, logistical capabilities and expeditioner transport into a single bespoke ship.

https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2021/ships-of-science/  

Thanks and credit to antarctica.gov.au

EM6ØKTS Special Event Station  from Ukraina

Ukraina whose presence in Antarctica is dated 1995-1996, has followed the 6Ø ATS (AntarcticTreaty Signature) celebration,  by putting  a Special Event Station on the air.

EM6ØKTS is active from Rivne, Ukraine, since July 1st  and will continue the activity till  December  31st, 2021.

QRV on all  HF Bands, CW, SSB and Digi..

TNX UT1KY Pavlo Tarasovych

QSL for EM6ØKTS  goes via IK2DUW direct, ClubLog, HRDLOG.
IK2DUW:
Antonello Passarella, Via M. Gioia, 6, 20812 Limbiate, MB, Italy.

On July 3, 1992, President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk issued a decree on Ukraine’s participation in Antarctic research. In August 1992, the Verkhovna Rada approved the documents on Ukraine’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty, and on October 26, 1993, the Center for Antarctic Studies (later the Ukrainian Antarctic Center) was established, headed by Petro Gozhyk.

On July 20, 1995, in London, Ambassador of Ukraine Serhiy V. Komisarenko signed an intergovernmental agreement, and Petro Gozhyk, Director of the CAD, signed a Memorandum between the CAD and the BAS on the transfer of the Faraday Antarctic Station to Ukraine no later than March 31, 1996.

On February 6, 1996, at 6:45 p.m., a yellow and blue flag was solemnly raised above  Vernadsky Station (WAP referenced as UKR-Ø1).

Stations from  different Countries are joining the  6Øth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature. Some of them are already on air, others are going to come  from October 1st till December31st

RRS James Clark Ross sold to Ukraina

British Antarctic Survey  icebreaker, RRS James Clark Ross has been sold to the Ukrainian National Antarctic Scientific  Centre.

This is the second time that a UK research asset has transferred to Ukrainian research colleagues. The first being the transfer in 1996 of the former Faraday Station  (WAP GBR-Ø6)  that is now known as Vernadsky Base  (WAP UKR-Ø1).

For the past three decades the JCR has fulfilled her role as a world-leading research platform for biological, oceanographic and geophysical research. She contains some of Britain’s most advanced facilities for oceanographic research in both Antarctica and the Arctic.

The ice-capable ship is a new asset for Ukraine and opens up new research opportunities for its National Antarctic Scientific Centre, in particular research into oceans and climate change in the polar regions.

The purchase of the ship comes ahead of the COP26 Conference in November, where representatives from every signatory party for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) come together to discuss climate change action.

Read more at: RRS James Clark Ross sold – British Antarctic Survey (bas.ac.uk)

DT8A,  Fast QSLing from DS5TOS

DS4NMJ Lee, Sanghoon  is still active as DT8A from King Sejong a year-round station , one of the two Korean Bases in Antarctica where he will operate until December 31st , 2021.

His manager DS5TOS (adress below) is fast QSLing and the cards of DT8A are always  wonderful.

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DS5TOS
Cho Jang-Hui,
Hyundai Town 110-1005
8 Daehak-ro 9-gil Gyeongsan-si
Gyeongsangbuk-do 38654,  South Korea

 

Lee (DS4NMJ/DT8A)  has a very nice Home page (hosted at: 극지연구소(영문) (kopri.re.kr) ) where readers can see pictures and information of King Sejong Base (WAP-KOR-Ø1), Jang Bogo (WAP KOR-Ø2), plus the  Korean Icebreker Araon and the Arctic Dasan Station at Ny-Alesund, on Spitsbergen Island in the Svalbard Archipelago.

TNX DT8A & DS5TOS

Where is the Southern Ocean?

There is a nice article published on last June 2021 by “Science Focus”.

It explains that there are five oceans now, not four. A marine biologist spells out why that matters …
It’s time to update your maps, because the Earth now has a total of five oceans.

Though accepted by scientists for some time, the Southern Ocean wouldn’t be found on any National Geographic maps – until now.

Cartographers at the National Geographic officially recognised the fifth ocean on World Ocean Day, 8 June 2021. The ‘new’ ocean borders the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which is why geographers had argued for some time as to whether it was in fact unique enough to be classed as a different ocean, or just cold regions of the three ocean

Read more at:  https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/there-are-five-oceans-now-not-four-a-marine-biologist-explains-why-that-matters/

Two German special callsigns DR6ØANT and DQ6ØANT

Day by day, several Hams from different nations are showing up with Special callsigns to join the 6Ø years Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.

On the mean time, related Award Programs are in process and will be released when the activity will jump into the central phase (indicatively  mid October) of the Anniversary.

The Germans are almost ready and since last July have already start their activity. The two German special callsigns DR6ØANT and DQ6ØANT are part of an international campaign commemorating the 6Øth anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty.

D R 6 Ø A N T – WAP reference 314

This station is organized by the DARC Team SES (SES = Special Event Station).
https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/dx/darc-team-ses/

D Q 6 Ø A N T – WAP reference 316

This station is organized by a team around Karsten, DL1RUN.

In the late 1980s, the club station at Mittweida University accompanied Volker’s Anarctic expedition, DL8JDX. Regular skeed did not break the contact with the homeland. Read more on the topic …

An interesting Award Program is in process and will be launched shortly by DL1RUN.

TNX Volker Strecke  DL8JDX and Karsten Stephan DL1RUN

More information at: www.60ant.de

Activation HB6ØANT in commemoration of 6Ø years of the Antarctic Treaty

A small group of Enthusiastic USKA members (Union of Swiss Shortwave Radio Amateurs) will put the special call sign HB6ØANT, in support and reminder that this contract will be preserved, on the airwaves beginning in mid-August through December 31, 2021.

The initial activators are: HB9BXE, HB9DAQ, HB9DAX, HB9DQL, HB9LCW and HB9TNW. The activation was only possible thanks to the support of the “Radio Amateur Club Swissair, HB9VC“, respectively their president, HB9JOE, who provides the special callsign.

More information can be found on the soon to be activated website on QRZ.com.

QSL Cards: We do not need your qsl confirmation but you can order our special QSL card for your QSO via OQRS
https://clublog.org/logsearch/HB60ANT

73 hope to hear you on the bands Peter, HB9DAQProject Manager of HB6ØANT Activation

LITTLE JEANA STATION, WAP USA-47 a brand new reference issued

It was not an easy task to retrace the history of Little Jeana Station but thanks to our friend Bill Ashley  KF5BRB  who did provide a QSL ofthis rare one,  WAP is now in condition to issue to LITTLE JEANA STATION (aka Little Jeana Summer Weather Station) a brand new WAP reference as  USA-47.

The KC4USZ card , prove that an activity on Jan. 10th 1966 from this epic rare one by a QSO made with W8OAR!

US Station Little Jeana.

The Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964), signed by Rear Admiral James R. Reedy, USN United States Antarctic Projects Officer, show a presentation of activities of the Government of the United States of America pertaining to the logistic support, scientific programs, and current events of interest in Antarctica, published monthly during the austral summer season and distributed to organizations, groups, and individuals interested in United States Antarctic activities.

The data in the over mentioned issues suggest that Little Jeana was active from 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65,  from  2 oct.65  to 31 oct.65 and again from  1 dec.65 to 22 jan.66.

SUMMER WEATHER STATIONS REESTABLISHED

Prior to the first aircraft landing at the South Pole, on 31 October 1956, a summer weather and emergency-landing station (Beardmore I Station WAP USA-NEW) was established at the foot of Liv Glacier . This station was later moved to the foot of the Glacier, from which it derived its name, and has been moved or rebuilt several times since.

When aircraft began to resupply Byrd Station (WAP USA-19), another summer weather station, Little Rockford (WAP USA-NEW), was set up on the flight path from McMurdo Sound to Byrd Station. It has also been relocated, at 79°14′ South,  147°29′ West, on the Rockefeller Plateau.

Plans for the current season called for remodeling the 2 stations, using van-type buildings similar to those that have proved successful at Eights Station (WAP USA-Ø7).

Advantage was taken of the opportunity to shift the location of Beardmore Station (WAP USA-NEW) to 81°23′ South, 170°15′ East, about 125 miles north of the previous site.

At the same time the station has been renamed “Little Jeana Summer Weather Station” and officially opened on 5 October 1964. The installation consists of 4 portable units, 3 of which are arranged in a “U”. In one are the sleeping and eating quarters for the 3-mandetach-ment; in another are a diesel generator and a workshop; while the third contains another generator and a wash room.

Picture aside (20 February 1964), shows an exterior view of berthing wanigan with messing wanigan in background at Little Rockford Summer Weather Station.

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Wintering-over party shovelling out the James-way but at Beardmore Summer Weather Station for activating the station. (29 September 1961.)

The center of the “U” has been turned into a permawalk, and here the pibal dome is located. The fourth unit has communications equipment and is separated from the others sothat it may, if needed, serve as an emergency shelter.

Little Rockford was reestablished the same day Little Jeana was opened. This installation has consisted of wanigans that were put in position in 1958 by tractors from Little America and later moved to the present site by the same means. It is intended to remodel Little Rockford, along the lines of Little Jeana, later in the season.

Source: Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964) – Ricerca Google

More details are available at: https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/usap/brockton/NCDC-WBAN.TXT

Dates: 1964 October 01,  through 1966 January 31Location: 81° 23’ 00” South,  170° 45’ 00” West on Ross Ice ShelfElevation: 178 feet POBvVIIndex and Errata (1).pdf

Little Jeana was a “summer weather station”.

Bulletin of the U. S. Antarctic Projects Officer – United States. Antarctic Projects Office – Google Books

Bulletin 1, December 1964, reports:

Beardmore station will be relocated at  81° 23’ 00” South,  170° 45’ 00” West  and renamed Little Jeana Station .

Two of such stations, one on the flight path between McMurdo and Byrd  was  named Little Rockford,  while on the flight path from McMurdo to Amundsen-Scott the other one was  Little Jeana.

 

Bulletin 2, January 1965 saysLittle Jeana Station officially opened 5 October 1964.

4 wanigans (Wanigan is by  definition, a shelter used for sleeping, eating, or storage, often mounted in Antarctica on a sledge), typical formation 3 in U-shape, and the 4th one separated for communications and in case of emergency. These four pieces were the setup for the use of 3 people.  2 for 1800-gallon fuel tanks to be installed (bladder technology used instead).

Bulletin 4 says:  “…. manned by 3 Navy aerographers who broadcast weather conditions hourly”.  Summer support season = 1 October through 1 March.

Bulletin 5, 8 February 1965 says: Communications van returned to McMurdo, digging out of station commenced. On 24 February 1965 Little Jeana closed for the season, personnel and equipment moved to McMurdo, but as reported above, other documents  clearly states the activities from Little Jeana  were: 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65,  from  2 oct.65  to 31 oct.65 and again from  dec. 1st   1965 to jan. 22nd  1966.

TNX Bill Ashley KF5BRB for his invaluable help

Climate change risk to emperor penguins

British Antarctic Survey scientists have contributed to a new study published today (3 August) which provides valuable new data highlighting how emperor penguins extinction risk is increased due to rapid climate change and an increase in extreme climate events, such as glacial calving and sea ice loss.

The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and co-authored by an international team of scientists, policy experts, ecologists, and climate scientists, provides pivotal research and projections tailored for use by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). 

The study recommends that emperor penguins be listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act and this week, the US Department of Interior/ USFWS submitted that listing recommendation.

“Scientists have a responsibility to make people aware of the need for change through objective evidence” explained lead author Stephanie Jenouvrier. “With the help of a dedicated team, we have put together this paper for the USFWS to provide additional analyses of future projections to help inform policy and protection for the species.”

Source: https://www.miragenews.com/climate-change-risk-to-emperor-penguins-607084/  where you can read lots more.

Memorial Cross at Observation  hill,  McMurdo

Observation Hill is a steep 230 m hill adjacent to McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22) in Antarctica and commonly called “Ob Hill” It is frequently climbed to get good viewing points across the continent. Regular clear skies give excellent visibility. But Observation Hill  is also known for being the site where a Cross was erected as memorial to Robert Falcon Scott and his South Pole Party.

In 1972, the cross was declared as one of the initial Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica by the Antarctic Treaty signatories, as HSM-20.

 

Just to breafly retrace the history

After their deaths in early 1912, the last members of Robert Falcon Scott‘s party were found by a search party led by the surgeon Dr. Edward L. Atkinson. The relief party took their photographic film, scientific specimens, and other materials. The bodies of Scott and his men were left in their tent, and later parties could not locate the campsite, since that area had been covered in snow. A century of storms and snow have covered the cairn and tent, which are now encased in the Ross Ice Shelf as it slowly inches towards the Ross Sea. The search party returned to their base camp in McMurdo Sound to await the relief ship.

After it arrived, they worked to build a memorial:  a nine-foot wooden cross, inscribed with the names of the fatal party and the final line of the Alfred Tennyson poem “Ulysses“, which reads “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

On 22 January 1913, after a difficult two-day sledge journey, the cross was erected on the summit of Observation Hill, overlooking the camp and facing out towards the “Barrier”,  the Ross Ice Shelf, on which Scott‘s party had died.

The picture above, shows  New Zealanders from Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1)grouped around the  Memorial Cross  during the 51 years commemoration (Season1963-1964)

Thanks and credit to: Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection  Antarctica NZ (recollect.co.nz)

Soviet  Pobeda Station, a jump in the past!

Pobeda Station,  64° 39’ South, 98° 54’ East was a temporary Soviet Research Station opened on May 9th 1960 and closed on August 12 of the same year.  The Soviet Antarctic Expedition was part of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Soviet Committee on Antarctic Research of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.

 This “brief life” Research site,  was  very singular!  It was set on  Pobeda Ice Island (original Russian name “Oстров Победы”  aka Victory Island) in the Mawson Sea, about 160 km off the coast of Queen Mary Land, East Antarctca.

Today, only a watch recalls the name of this Research Station which was open for only 90 days on an Ice island, practically an Iceberg!

This “Island”, formed by the running aground of a tabular iceberg, exists periodically,  then disappears. The so called “Island” was 70 km long and 36 km wide, with an area of 1,500 km2.

The Soviet Expedition came across Pobeda in 1960 and renamed it as Victory Island to recall the Soviet victory over the Axis powers in the Great Patriotic War.

Pobeda Ice Island  disappeared sometime in the 1970s, to be replaced by a new berg that calved in 1985. That one also disappeared in 2003 or 2004. Currently there is no ice island at this location.

The ice island is created and vanishes periodically. It is created by the calving of an enormous block of ice fromDenman Glacier, located in the eastern part of Shackleton Ice Shelf. The resulting tabular iceberg drifts northwest until it runs aground upon a shoal north of the ice shelf. The iceberg remains locked in this position there for a decade or more, until has remodeled enough to free itself from the shoal.

WAP does not have evidence of Ham radio activity from this very singular temporary Station.

Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) Antarctic Noon after Midwinter

A fortnight after the 21 June,  winter solstice in Antarctica, the crew at Concordia Research Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) are slowly welcoming the return of sunlight.

The 12-member crew at Concordia, located at the mountain plateau called Dome C, have spent the last few months in complete darkness: the sun disappeared in May and will not be fully visible again until mid-August.

Confined in extreme conditions, the crew at Concordia – one of three Antarctic stations inhabited all year long – find solace in traditions. Midwinter often includes well wishes from other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations as well as communal projects. The crew this year brewed their own beer to mark the occasion.

As well as offering around nine months of complete isolation, Concordia’s location at 3233 m altitude means the crew experience chronic hypobaric hypoxia – lack of oxygen in the brain. Temperatures can drop to –80°C in the winter, with a yearly average of –50°C.

As a station set in Earth’s harshest space, Concordia is an ideal stand-in for studying the human psychological and physiological effects of extreme cold, isolation and darkness.

Read more at: Antarctica welcomes the return of sunlight – Samachar Central 

Follow the adventures at Concordia on the Chronicles from Concordia blog.

“Italia Valley, Antarctic Memorial”, a great recognition

In a document sent to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty regarding  the “Italian activities in Antarctica before the establishment of the PNRA” (and shown during the Consultative Meeting in Paris last June 2021) there is a paragraph concerning the expedition of Renato Cepparo (pic aside Ham callsign I1SR), with mention of the Memorial building, located in Cervignano del Friuli (Italy),  inspired by the remains of the base dedicated to Giacomo Bove.

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The efforts of prof. PHD Julius Fabbri IV3CCT have been rewarded! 

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Here below, the subject:

Italian activities in Antarctica before the institution of the Italian National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA)

The largest and only independent Italian Antarctic Expedition was led by Renato Cepparo in 1976-77 to the South Shetland Islands by the Norwegian ship P/V Rig Mate.

It was privately funded and fully self-sufficient, and had the aim of carrying out scientific measurements and leaving a permanent refuge on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Fifteen men, among whom were the deputy leader Flavio Barbiero, a medical doctor, two divers, and four mountaineers who climbed seven peaks on King George Island, were put ashore at King George Island.

The geologists Gian Camillo Cortemiglia and  Remo Terranova were in charge of the scientific part.

Cepparo and his companions landed on King George Island and erected a small building that they named after Giacomo Bove. Today the only remains are the abandoned walls of the station and a wooden table, inscribed by Ing. Admiral Flavio Barbiero.

The area still keeps the name Italia Valley.

In 2018 in Cervignano del Friuli (Italy), the AdiriAntarctica NGO has made an “Italia Valley Antarctic Memorial” of this expedition, building a 1:1 scale replica of the wooden table and the ruins of the Renato Cepparo- Giacomo Bove Station as open-air part of an indoor permanent Museum of Italia Valley, an example of ex situ conservation.

The Italia Valley location.

The Milanese entrepreneur Renato Cepparo left Lisbon on December 22nd 1975 aboard the 900-ton Norwegian polar ship Rig Mate, heading for Antarctica with a shipment of 15 men_ The group included geologists, glaciologists, biologists, mountaineers, experienced divers and nine creme.

Scientists stopped on King George Island where they established a small prefabricated field in the Admiralty Bay named after Giacomo Bove. Others headed for the Wiencke Island and Livingstone Islands to make the planned climbs.

Pic on the Right shows: Remains of Giacomo Bove Station (Cepparo’s Team did operate HF radio using I1SR/P callsign)- Picture taken in 1998.

Pic on the Left shows;

Scaled 1:1 replica of wooden table and station ruins at “Italia Valley, Antarctic Memorial’ in the park of  “A. Malignani” High School of Cervignano del Friuli – Italy

 IV3CCT & II3BOVE (pic aside) is proud to see his efforts recognized by the Institutions  and wish to expree his gratitude to those who in any form of support did allow to put,  to the international attention,  an Antarctic Operation done by Renato Cepparo and his Team  back in 1976-77.

«Dear friends and supporters, after twenty years of research; after 12 battles with the MAE and MAECI (Foreign Min.) and clashes with scientific diplomacy, finally, the Dicastery has published, on behalf of Italy, an article mentioning “our” Memorial!

Many thanks to those who have supported me over the years!

Even if there are errors and omissions in this documents, it’s anyway  important that the Memorial was published by Italy which, in this way, did accredit it !

A real honor for me, for the relatives of Renato Cepparo and Giacomo Bove as well as for students, families, associations, partners and patrons. The Giacomo Bove and Maranzana (AT) Association and the Cultural Adri-Antartica Association, founders of the actually constituted National Consortium. All together,  say  thank you to all the supporters, to friends and families. Thanks to the late H.E. Ambassador Arduino Raimondo Fornara, yp Commander Gen. Amedeo Amedeo G. Cristofaro, to H.E. Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo, graduated with prof. Silvio Zavatti.»

Thanks indeed de Julius IV3CCT & II3BOVE

Pic above shows Prof Phd Julius Fabbri IV3CCT at the Foreign Ministrer in Rome

See also: http://www.waponline.it/italia-valley-memorial-a-great-job/

How is internet in Antarctica? Something might change.

Nestled at the southern tip of Ross Island, just off the Antarctic coast, lies one of the most remote towns in the world. McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22)  is the main U.S. outpost in Antarctica, built on an outcropping of rugged volcanic rock.

McMurdo Station has no permanent residents — just a revolving door of visiting scientists and temporary personnel, some of whom live there for up to a year at a time. At its most populous, typically during the summer, it houses about 1,000 people.

Their only connection to the outside world comes in the form of satellite systems, which provide limited and fragile access to the internet. That means hundreds of people share a slow and intermittent internet connection.

Now, scientists hope to bring Antarctica into the 21st century. They’re pushing for a fiber optic cable — the fastest form of internet technology — that would extend from New Zealand or Australia all the way down to McMurdo Station.

The idea has been floating around for years, according to Peter Neff, a glaciologist at the University of Minnesota. But it’s recently begun to gain traction again.

The National Science Foundation sponsored a three-day workshop last month to examine the value such a cable could bring to Antarctica. The workshop featured speakers from research institutions across the U.S., as well as New Zealand and Australia.

Read more at: https://www.eenews.net/articles/space-has-better-internet-than-antarctica-that-might-change/

UNION GLACIER CAMP,   WAP CHL-NEW

There’s  maybe a bit of confusion about the several names of Union Glacier Stations and Camps  in Antarctica. Today we are visiting the Chilean one.

The Unión Glacier, located at 79º 46’ South,  83º 24’ West,  is a large glacier converted since 2014 into the Base Camp.

Chile has long had an interest in this part of Antarctica and the Union Glacier Camp (picture aside) has became a Scientific Polar Station jointly operated by the Chilean National Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Armed Forces who provide logistic support for the Chilean Antarctic programs.

Here is as bit of history:

In  2013 during the  68th Chilean Antarctic Campaign (ECA 50), the Polar Stations  Arturo Parodi Alister  (WAP CHL-14) –Picture here on the Right shows the entrance of Arturo Parodi Alister Base –  established at Patriot Hills in 1996, and Antonio Huneeus Gana,  were dismantled. Their equipments moved to the corridors of the future station, the Unión Glacier  joint scientific polar station.

In January 2014, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera inaugurated the new Chilean Station at Union Glacier, named  Estación Polar Científica Conjunta Glaciar Unión or Union Glacier Camp (WAP CHL-NEW). See picture above.

 

Antonio Huneeus Gana Station (WAP CHL-15):

Picture aside is the QSL of Adam K2ARB operating from Antonio Hunneus Gana Station on last 2009).

In November 1997, the first facilities to support scientific research were carried out according to special tents. By Exempt Resolution No. 303 of October 11, 1999, it was officially named Antonio Huneeus Gana Summer Base (aka semi-permanent Antarctic camp) in memory of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the early twentieth century, who at that time had an outstanding performance in the claim of Chilean sovereignty over the so-called Chilean Antarctic Territory. It was located 1 km from the  private Patriot Hills Base Camp (WAP MNB-Ø2) of the enterprise  Adventure Network International  at  80°18’ 07” South, 81°20’ 39” West .

Next time we’ll see few others on the area trying to under stand their evolution.