Mese: Novembre 2020

RX6A/MM and RIØ1ANT expected to be on air

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Oleg UA6GG has just forwarded WAP an information coming from RX6A, Alexey Romov ( ex: 4K1B,4K1C,4K1K,4K1L)

As part of the seasonal work of RAE 66 (66th Russian Antarctic Expedition) Alexey P. Romov, RX6A will be part of the Russian Team in the Antarctic . Alexey plans to operate  (tentatively) as RX6A/ММ from  07 through 25 December.

From 25 December 2020 through 30 May 2021 (tentatively) Alexey could be active as RIØ1ANT from Progress Station, WAP RUS-11 (pic aside) and Vostok Base (WAP RUS-13) .

Alexey will work preferably CW and FT8 mostly on 7 MHz.

TNX Oleg UA6GG
www.dxtrophy.com

 

Russia is also planning to reopen Russkaya Station (WAP RUS-12)

About $4.6 million to be invested in Russkaya Station in Antarctica by 2021. The Russian Antarctic Expedition has obtained about 300 million rubles for the purpose. The decision to reopen the station was made mostly at the initiative of the space corporation Roscosmos.  Russkaya Station (WAP RUS-12) was set up in the 1970s. Starting from 1980 it operated as a seasonal field base. Budget constraints forced its suspension in 1990.

For a long time the Russian Antarctic Expedition pressed for its reactivation. A group of researchers visited it in 2008 to install distance monitoring equipment.

Source: https://tass.com/economy/1059721

Antarctica, the continent with no language.

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Antarctica has been called “the continent without language”. True languages are spoken only by human beings, and although there are many visiting scientists and support workers in Antarctica these days, this is a modern situation: the continent has never had indigenous languages because it has never had an indigenous human population.

When at school, we all learnt about the glorious British failure of the Scott expedition to the South Pole. A party consisting of Robert Scott and four others from his 60-strong team arrived at the South Pole on the January 17, 1912, only to discover that a Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen had beaten them to it by over a month, arriving on December 14. In anticipation of Scott’s arrival, and in case the Norwegians did not make it back alive, Amundsen had left a tent at the Pole with a letter in it. Amundsen had written it in his very individualistic polar-explorer kind of Dano-Norwegian, but it was addressed, in English, to “HM King of Norway”.

The Scott expedition’s tragedy was that, not only did they fail to become the first humans to reach the South Pole, as they had aspired to be, but all five of them died on their ghastly 900-mile trek on foot back towards their base.

Thanks and credit to Peter Trudgill on Antarctica, and its most famous story
Read more at: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/peter-trudgill-antarctica-language-4808928

DPØPOL/MM  shortly on the way to Antarctica

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Organizing an Antarctic expedition in the times of COVID19 is quite a challenge, so the German Polar Institute (AWI) had to find a different approach to the logistics for the upcoming Antarctic summer season. All transports will be carried out by ship directly from Germany. There is only a small team of about 20 technicians and scientists travelling to Neumayer III  Station (WAP DEU-Ø8), this year. YL Theresa,  DC1TH and Felix, DL5XL will be part of that group.

During the voyage, from December 20 for about one month, Felix will operate as DPØPOL/MM from the Icebreaker R/V Polarstern, mainly in CW and digital modes.

From mid-January to mid-March 2021, DL5XL expects to be active from the research station “Neumayer III” signing DP1POL. More information about Neumayer Station III,  are available at the station’s official web site

The Ham station in Antarctica is equipped for HF and QO-100 satellite. Club call DPØGVN may also be used at times by other operators.

QSL manager for DPØPOL/MM and DPØGVN is Dominik DL5EBE.

QSL cards for DP1POL will be handled by Ray DL1ZBO (direct, bureau or LotW for all call signs).

WAP wish good luck  to the whole crew on the way to Antarctica, hope to catch you on the air!

TNX Volker DL8JDX

 

About the recent DPØPOL/MM operation from the Arctic, DL5EBE says:
QSLs for QSOs made with DPØPOL/mm icebreaker R/V POLARSTERN during the MOSAIC International Arctic Drift Expedition are printed. Requests received will be answered the same way as they came in.

TNX Dominik DL5EBE

Live from Antarctica in connection with Concordia Base- Novembre 27-2020. Live visit to the Base

On: By: Gianni Varetto

While the French Minister of Research greets the new coming personnel involved in the new Antarctic season at the French-Italian Station, the winter-over did end at Concordia (WAP MNB-Ø3) with the arrival of the first flight from MZS (WAP ITA-Ø1).

Live from Antarctica, connection with the Concordia Base November 27 at 08,30 UTC

The audience will have the opportunity to make a “Live” visit to the Concordia Base in Antarctica, to interact with the logistic and scientific staff of the 2020/2021 summer campaign and get to know the Chief of the 36th Italian Scientific Expedition.

Located on the Antarctic plateau, at 3,233 m of altitude, in the site called “Dome C“ (75 ° 06 ‘South and 123 ° 21’East), Concordia is one of the three permanent stations currently operating in the Continental Antarctica.

It is managed by two countries, Italy and France, through their respective Antarctic National Programs.

During the Live connection, the public will  learn about all the activities that are carried out in such an inhospitable place and understand Italy’s contribution to research in Antarctica.

Moderator: Luca Carra – Journalist

Introduces: Guido Di Donfranceso – Antarctica Technical Unit, ENEA

Speaker:  Rocco Ascione – Chief of 36th Italian Scientific Expedition to Concordia
Register yourself for the event at: https://futuroremoto2020.it/contatti/ (Registration code A227)

More at:  http://www.uta.enea.it/

Volker, DL8JDX wrote: By the way the name Concordia reminds me that in 2018 the Austrian medical doctor Carmen Possnig did participate at an overwintering expedition on the international Antarctic Research Station Concordia Dome-C (operated by France and Italy).

There was an radio interview by the German broadcast station Bayern 1 with her at Oct.29, 2020.
See and hear: https://www.br.de/mediathek/podcast/blaue-couch/carmen-possnig-medizinerin-und-antarktisforscherin/1808511

She also did write a book “Südlich vom Ende der Welt“ (South from the end of the world) about her impressions on the icy continent.

See: https://wwwrandomhouse.de/Buch/Suedlich-vom-Ende-der-Welt/Carmen-Possnig/Ludwig/e574614.rhd

and

https://durchdieantarktischenacht.com/author/underantarcticskies/

TNX Volker, DL8JDX

Ham Radio community mourn the death of RU1ZC Valentin Mykitenko

On: By: Gianni Varetto

WAP has been informed about the death  of RU1ZC Valentin Mykitenko  at the age of 70.

It’s a real sad news. Another friend, another Polar veteran, another wonderful radio operator  passing away.

Valentin has been active Ham from the Arctic and Antarctica. He did visit and operate from almost all the Russian stations  and always coming on the air with his solid signal, CW & SSB.

We are feeling sad, when reviewing his QSL always sent regularly. We have lost  a great expeditioner, We’ll miss him very much.

Our deepest condolences to his family and friends

Today, Ham radio community mourn Valentin Mykitenko’s passing, we pray for him. May Lord give Valentin the eternal peace.

Giant berg on collision course with South Georgia

On: By: Gianni Varetto

The colossus iceberg that split from Antarctica’s Larsen C ice shelf on 12 July 2017 is on a collision course with South Georgia.

Over the last three years, satellite missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-1 have been used to track the berg as it has drifted in the Southern Ocean. For the first two years, it remained close to its parent ice sheet, impeded by sea ice. But now, as the map shows, the main chunk of the A-68 berg, known as A-68A, is heading rapidly for South Georgia. It is now about 350 km from the island.

About the same size as the South Atlantic island, it could ground in the shallow waters offshore and cause real problems for the island wildlife and seafloor-dwelling life. Penguins and seals need access to the sea to feed so the iceberg could easily block their foraging routes and life on the seafloor could be crushed if the berg grounds. The fear is that if the berg does anchor against the South Georgia coast, it could remain there for up to 10 years. When the A38 grounded here in 2004, many dead penguin chicks and seal pups were found along the shoreline.

Thanks and credit ESA.   Read more at:

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/11/Giant_berg_on_collision_course_with_South_Georgia

TNX Volker DL8JDX

RRS Sir David Attenborough New Britain’s Icebreaker

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Sir David Attenborough (IMO: 9798222, Callsign ZDLQ3 ) is a Research Vessel registered and sailing under the flag of Falkland Islands. Her gross tonnage is 15000 and deadweight is 5000. Sir David Attenborough was built in 2018/2020.. Her container capacity is 0 TEU. The ship is operated by British Antarctic Survey .

 RRS Sir David Attenborough, Britain’s new polar ship, heads out for the open seas
The state-of-the-art polar research vessel will carry out ice trials in the Arctic in early 2021, before a maiden voyage to the Antarctic in November later that year
Britain’s new polar ship, the Sir David Attenborough, headed for the open seas on 3 November to start trials after a storm delay, before making its maiden voyage to Antarctica next year for climate change research.
The 200 million pound ($260 million), state-of-the-art, polar research vessel, with its red hull and a bright yellow crane on its stern, sailed past Liverpool’s historic docks and out into the sea, headed for north Wales. Officially the ship is named after the veteran BBC naturalist David Attenborough, but to many Britons it will always be known as “Boaty McBoatface”, after that suggestion topped a public poll to name the vessel in 2016.
Its departure from Liverpool was delayed by around a week due to stormy weather, a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) spokeswoman told Reuters, with calm seas preferred to test and calibrate its specialist equipment for the first time. It will remain at sea for just under a week before berthing in Holyhead, Wales, once the current Welsh coronavirus lockdown ends on November 9, the spokeswoman added.
 Watch a short video by clicking the red button:

Read more at:
https://lifestyle.livemint.com/smart-living/environment/rrs-sir-david-attenborough-britain-s-new-polar-ship-heads-out-for-the-open-seas-111604474377367.html

Antarctica radio Ham on TV

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Southgate Amateur Radio News reports that, on November 3, 2020, German TV broadcaster WDR aired a news story about radio amateur Theresa DC1TH who is part of the Neumayer-III Base 2021/22 overwintering crew.

She is expected to be on-the-air from Antarctica with the callsign DPØGVN using the QO-100 geostationary satellite amateur radio transponder.
Theresa DC1TH visited AMSAT-DL at the amateur radio facility at the Bochum radio observatory for some brief training in the use of QO-100 before traveling to the Neumayer III Station.

AMSAT-DL provided the QO-100 satellite ground station for DPØGVN nearly a year ago, it has been operated by Roman HB9HCF.

You can watch the WDR news item at
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1036866973482808

Further information on QO-100 can be found at
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geo/eshail-2/

Source: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/november/antarctica-radio-ham-on-tv.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AmateurRadioNews+%28Southgate+Amateur+Radio+News%29#.X6bTsdHsbyB

TNX Bob, K4MZU

November 6th , Chilean Antarctic Day

On: By: Gianni Varetto

On   November 6th, Chile has celebrated the “Chilean Antarctic Day”. WAP join the event  and share it  with all the women and all the men who love Antarctica and dream of the White Continent.

It was 80 years since the historic date when President Pedro Aguirre Cerda set the limits of the Chilean Antarctic territory in 1940. Only seven years later, the Chilean presence on said land became effective, with the installation of the first base, baptized as Arturo Prat (WAP CHL-Ø1). Chile today has 12 facilities in its Antarctic territory.

As a way to celebrate such a visionary act, in 1965, November 6 was decreed as the Chilean Antarctic Day, during the presidency of Eduardo Frei Montalva and as Chancellor Gabriel Valdés.

Each year Chilean Antarctica is explored and studied intensely by a growing group of researchers belonging to the National Antarctic Science Program. Almost 30 universities and research centers throughout the country sponsor these projects financed by INACH (61.2%) and Conicyt (34%), mainly. In this way, the country complies with the principles enshrined in the Antarctic Treaty of dedicating this continent to peace and science in a framework of intense international collaboration.

Read more at: https://laprensaaustral.cl/2020/11/07/dia-de-la-antartica-chilena/

Rasmussen Hut, WAP GBR-NEW

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Also known as Rasmussen Point, this Hut is located at 65°15’South,  64°06’West on Rasmussen Island in the North part of Waddington Bay, Graham Coast in Antarctica.

Building did start 29 Mar 1984, completed early 1985 and occasionally used from Mar 1984 through 6 Feb 1996. Now the Hut is used as emergency refuge and recreational shelter.

Rasmussen Hut is occasionally used by Ukrainian personnel from Vernadsky Station (WAP UKR-Ø1) a Ukrainian Antarctic Station located at Marina Point on Galindez Island of Argentine Islands, not far from Kiev Peninsula. Vernadsky Research Base is situated 8 km west of Rasmussen Island.
WAP does not have evidence of Ham Radio activity from this site which is listed on WAP-WADA Directory as GBR-NEW

The AMF2 deployment site at McMurdo Station

On: By: Gianni Varetto

McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22), where the ARM Facility’s most advanced cloud and aerosol instrumentation, has a meteorological relationship with the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) via circulation patterns in the Ross and Amundsen seas.

From McMurdo, the second ARM Mobile Facility (AMF2) gathered sophisticated data with cloud radars, high-spectral-resolution lidar, and a complete aerosol suite with relevance to the WAIS Divide Camp (WAP USA-34) as well.

Figure aside. The “skip container” housing the AWARE Extended Facility instruments at the WAIS Divide Ice Camp (WAP USA-34)

Read more at: https://www.arm.gov/publications/programdocs/doe-sc-arm-17-028.pdf 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility maintains field sites in the Southern Great Plains, the North Slope of Alaska and the Tropical Western Pacific, plus an aerial facility, to obtain continuous measurements of cloud and radiative properties for improving climate models. In addition to these fixed sites, two mobile facilities provide flexible instrument platforms for conducting atmospheric experiments lasting from 6 to 12 months, anywhere in the world.

The purpose of the AMF Is to collect essential Information about cloudy and clear atmospheres in under-sampled climatically important regions. In some of these regions even the macroscopic deed structure is relatively unknown. The AMF produces data sets for use by the atmospheric community to test and improve parametrizations in global climate models.

Data from the AMF are processed and evaluated for overall quality by scientific staff. Algorithms may be developed to create higher-level data products for specific science needs. Data from the AMF are made available to the community in near real time

Each deployment is the result of a competitive process based upon scientific proposals submitted by learns of scientists. The ARM Climate Research Facility’s Science Board reviews proposals for using the AMF in order to maximize the science return within the budget allotted to the program. All data collected by ARM are freely available from the data archive at: www.archive.arm.gov

Thanks and credit to: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM)
“Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility.”