The Australian Antarctic Program successfully completed a landmark two-voyage campaign to the remote Heard Island (WAP AUS-Ø7) and McDonald Islands (WAP AUS-NEW) in early 2026, marking the first comprehensive study of the World Heritage-listed territory in 20 years.
The project, utilizing the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, focused on critical climate research, wildlife monitoring, including checks for H5 bird flu, and environmental cleanup.
Scientists monitored glaciers, conducted wildlife assessments on seals and seabirds, and investigated the impact of H5 bird flu on local populations. The teams installed an Automated Weather Station, an autonomous remote environment monitoring system (Arteimus) at Atlas Cove, and a sea level monitoring camera system at Magnet Point, which transmits data via Starlink. The mission included comprehensive marine mapping, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, and the removal of rubbish from the remote sites. The campaign consisted of two major voyages, with the first in October 2025 and the second in January 2026, supported by a $17.6 million investment in marine science.
The HIMI islands, located roughly (4,000km southwest of Australia, are crucial for studying climate change impacts on pristine, sub-Antarctic ecosystems, including Australia’s only active volcanoes and glaciers. The campaign’s findings will help to inform future management of the surrounding Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI)
Thanks and Credit to: AAD
China operates five research stations in Antarctica:
Three of these stations: Great Wall (WAP CHN-Ø1, Zhongshan (WAP CHN-Ø2), and Qinling (WAP CHN-NEW) are equipped for year-round operations, while Kunlun and Taishan are seasonal Summer Stations.