Newly Constructed Antarctic Research Station Ready for Opening

This month will see British-owned new Halley research station in the Antarctic enter full operation.

Located on the Brunt Ice Shelf, Halley is the sixth UK facility to be established at this location since 1957. Along with Rothera based on the Antartic Peninsula, it will lead British science on the White Continent.

Through gathering significant climate and weather data, research at Halley VI had a critical role in identifying the ozone hole back in 1985.

In more recent times, the centre has become involved with solar activity study and the potential impacts to earth.

Antarctic Research Station

The centre itself features all mod-cons, and is a pleasant environment for researchers to monitor beautiful auroras that occur around the base, due to sun particles colliding with air molecules high up in the atmosphere.

The new station’s most striking feature is its aesthetics, with architect Hugh Broughton describing its resemblance as something built in space.

Comprised from eight modules, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) station has seven blue sections used for habitation and work and a two-storey central red module designed as a social hub. Not wanting residents to feel without, the central area contains a bar, a dining room, and – for those who want to exercise without going out into the cold – even a gym.

Designed with annual snowfall in mind, the base is fitted with a hydraulic leg and ski system that enables it to raise itself above the white blanket, and occasionally be towed closer to land.

Antarctic Construction

If these alterations were not executed, the sixth Halley would suffer the same fate as its first four predecessors, which were buried by snow before being moved to the ice edge and dropped into the sea.

Most of the design was fabricated before arrival on the continent, constructed in South Africa. The pieces left over were shipped in easy-assembly units to the Antarctic. 

Karl Tuplin, the project manager for the Halley VI building programme, explained that the plan was to create as much as possible prior to the trip.

"Room pods, bedrooms, bathrooms - they were all made in advance. Mechanical, electrical services - the wires and piping - came in cassettes that were just slotted into place."

Mr Broughton assured the BBC News that unlike the last station, this time everyone has a window in their bedroom.

Image Copyright Natural Environment Research Council