VP8ADE Rothera Beacon 28,285.0 KHz

The beacon is situated in a loft space of Old Bransfield House at Rothera Station (WAP GBR-12), Adelaide Island, British Graham Land. The transmitter is the original Pye transmitter which Laurence ‘Flo’ Howell first made VP8ADE out of (in 1978 approximately). It has a new keyer based on a PIC to replace the original G8AGN diode matrix keyer which broke down.
Here aside, is a picture of Flo  and antenna on the tower; below is Flo in the loft with the beacon.

Feb 2024 –  Flo KL7L, the beacon’s founder, has confirmed via contact with R that the beacon is indeed online, producing 10W up the pipe into an antenna. Surely not the same bamboo & wire effort from 2010…!

Sep 28 2023VP8ADE identified & recorded by F5MTH listening via a webSDR which was located in Brazil

Sep 27 2022VP8ADE identified by F4CXO in JN26PP

Nov 29th 2019VP8ADE recorded & confirmed in Tierra del Fuego by LU1XU.

Nov 2016: VP8ADE confirmed operational by the WONDERFUL Bonner Babe at Rothera, still transmitting through the old bamboo antenna!

Oct 2011 – across Northern Europe has VP8ADE been heard, in particular by Arvid Husdal, SWL, in Kristiansand, Norway.

Oct 2010 F5OUX Cyril and other French hams successfully recorded VP8ADE.

VP8ADE‘s antenna is now a vertical quarter-wavelength of wire supported on a bamboo, mounted on the balcony around the ops tower. In the background of the pic here aside,  the rotatable log-periodic HF antenna used for HF SSB comms with aircraft and sledge parties can also be seen as well as are marine & aeronautical VHF and an Iridium satellite antenna on the tower.

VP8ADE is the only Amateur radio beacon in Antarctica.The most likely point of failure is the vertical bamboo antenna……

The Old Timers will certainly remember  Laurence ‘Flo’ Howell, who use to operate as VP8SB from Rothera Station (WAP GBR-12) on Adelaide island
His QSL card, did report among the list of Flo callsigns,  over 40 years ago did report among the list of calls used by Flo,  the VP8ADE’s beacon callsign as well!
TNX Flo KL7L & Olivier F6EPN (Spratley Woody)

Antarctica is turning green

Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.

Scientists used satellite imagery and data to analyze vegetation levels on the Antarctic Peninsula, a long mountain chain that points north to the tip of South America, and which has been warming much faster than the global average.

They found plant life — mostly mosses — had increased in this harsh environment more than 10-fold over the past four decades, according to the study by scientists at the universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire in England, and the British Antarctic Survey, published Friday in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Vegetation covered less than 0.4 square miles of the Antarctic Peninsula in 1986 but had reached almost 5 square miles by 2021, the study found. The rate at which the region has been greening over nearly four decades has also been speeding up, accelerating by more than 30% between 2016 and 2021.

Red more at: Antarctica is turning green at an alarming rate, satellite images show | CNN
Thanks and Credit to CNN 

 

The season of international air travel in Antarctica, has just started.

The airfields of the Russian Stations Novolazarevskaya (WAP RUS-Ø9 & WAP MNB-Ø6) and Progress  (WAP-RUS-11) in Antarctica successfully hosted the first intercontinental flights of 76TD-90VD aircraft in the 2024-2025 season. The aircraft arrived from Cape Town, delivering a total of about 100 polar explorers and more than 10 tons of cargo to the Icy Continent.

Specialists of the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute have confirmed their readiness to ensure the reception and dispatch of international aircraft under the DROMLAN program.

The Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROMLAN) is an air network supported by a consortium of the eleven national programmes that have stations or operations in Dronning Maud Land. Dromland purpose is to create a coordinated logistics service to reduce costs. The participating countries are: Belgium, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and United Kingdom.

 

The largest number of flights this season is planned at the airfield of the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station, which is a key center of aviation communication and one of the largest transport and logistics hubs in Antarctica.

“The program of intercontinental flights under the DROMLAN program will be expanded this season. Russian specialists will provide conditions for safe landing on ice and snow runways for about 20 flights of the IL-76 aircraft giant, whose take-off weight exceeds 200 tons. The Zenit airfield at Progress station is the only site in the world that allows heavy aircraft on wheeled landing gear to be taken to the snow strip. Six flights are expected there this season, with scientists from Russia, China and India arriving. The first flight to Progress Base has already delivered a team of Russian builders and materials for equipping a new wintering complex at the Vostok intercontinental station. The sledge-crawler trek will go deep into the continent in just a few days” said Alexander Makarov, director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute

TNX Oleg UA6GG DX Design-DX Trophy & Oleg ZS1ANF

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On the mean time, Oleg Sakharov ZS1ANF  who is at Cape Town at the moment, has just called   to inform that he is preparing for the next season in Antarctica, where he will be at Wolf’s Fang  Runway (WAP MNB-12) as ZS7ANF. (Pic to the left: Oleg’s tent at WFR)

We  really hope that Oleg will be able to activate the new sites such  as Union Glacier Camp (WAP MNB-NEW), Fuel Depot 83-South Pole Camp (WAP MNB-Ø9)!

David FT4YM (pic to the Right) is  also on the way to Antarctica. Possible activity for him is scheduled by the beginning of November.

Lt. Danilo Collino (pic to the Left) has departed this morning at 03:00UTC from Milan-Airport heading Antarctica, Danilo will sign IZ1KHY/IAØ from few different locations; Concordia (WAP MNB-Ø3), maybe Little Dome C-Epica (WAP MNB-15)  and  MZS (WAP ITA-Ø1) unless different plans on the way on. …
Stay Tuned… 
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VP8BDG, Brabant Island Station (WAP GBR-20)

Brabant Island, 64°27’ South, 62°14’ West is nearly 561m long and 24km wide and is the second largest island in the Palmer Archipelago. At one time it was one of the largest still to be explored in the world. It lies 400km south of the Antarctic convergence and east of Grahamland, sitting in a rather weather-beaten zone where winds are regularly above force 12.

Brabant Island has been activated from 1983 through 1985 by a British Joint Service Antarctic Expedition which overwintered in tents and carried out multidisciplinary works.

The British Joint Services Expedition was organized in three phases and included a total of 35 men. The first summer leg was organized from January to March 1984, the winter leg then lasted until the 29th of December and finally, the second and last summer leg took place from December 1984 to March 1985. Most of the members of the expeditions weren’t university-level scientists but rather experienced mountaineers. This gap was however filled by the support of numerous research institutions including, among many others, the Belgian Antarctic Committee. An impressive total of 60 scientific projects were carried out, covering topics ranging from natural sciences to sociology and human physiology. “This diversity of aim is, we believe, only possible in a Service expedition such as this free from the constraints of publication, academic rivalry and the need for immediate results.

Base Camp was right in the middle of a colony and the smell took some getting used to. The expeditionners set about unpacking and organising their 15 tonnes of kit. Farewells were brief and the 12 man team had started its big adventure. The first few weeks flew by as we erected a small tri-wall hut for use as a laboratory and a meeting place, and carefully worked out the stores and food area. This had to be marked and carefully recorded for soon it would be buried in snow. With a ready stock of most small things in the hut annex, the stores system worked very well, and only occasionally they have to dig in to find a some of the items

At that tine VP8BDG did operate HF from there, so a WAP reference number WAP GBR-2Ø has been given. (TNX GM3ITN for QSL)  
See: Joint Services Expedition to Brabant Island, Antarctica by John Kimbrey
AJ 1986 139-144 Kimbrey Brabant.pdf (alpinejournal.org.uk)

Almost 40 years after the expedition, the island has not yet finished unveiling all of its stores and camps, but the positive actions undertaken in recent years offer a glimpse of the possibility that it could, one day, be cleaned up completely. A victory that is however somewhat tinged with bitterness, as it is global warming that is freeing the waste from their frozen embrace.

While waiting  another HF operation at Brabant Island, which remains a wanted “New One” for most of the Antarctic hunters, see the article pubblished about  here on WAP website on last march 2024, where you can see also a 47′ video of the operation

Brabant Island;  when  a Hamradio operation from there? – W.A.P. (waponline.it)

Argentina’s Ventimiglia Hut on Peter I Øy

The barely known history of an Argentine Antarctic shelter, the Teniente Luis Oscar Ventimiglia Hut, installed by the Argentine Antarctic Institute on Peter I Øy (Peter I Island) in March 1971 has been reported on some dedicated articles from which, WAP has taken an abstract.

In examining the history of the only Argentine Antarctic facility outside of the Argentine Antarctic Sector, this article describes the reasons behind the establishment of the Hut and the scientific work that took place there as well as previous Argentine expeditions to Peter 1st.

On 3 March 1971 a group of scientists from the IAA inaugurated   the   Teniente   (Lieutenant) Luis Oscar Ventimiglia Hut on Peter I Øy (Peter I Island). This became  the  most  remote  Argentine shelter  in Antarctica.  Peter I Øy is to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula, whereas the majority of Argentine stations are located on the western coast of the peninsula and islands located to its west: Carlini WAP ARG-2Ø (at the time known as Jubany), San Martín WAP ARG-Ø8, Melchior WAP ARG-13, Cámara WAP ARG-16, Brown WAP ARG-Ø2 and Decepción WAP ARG-12.

On 29 April 1964, the Antarctic Naval Group conducted a study to investigate the possibilities for establishing a Weather Sation on Peter I. In 1964 a complete survey of the island was undertaken and in early February 1965, the icebreaker ARA General San Martín headed towards Peter I Øy. Instructions were to conduct a general reconnaissance of the area and to determine the limits of the sea ice, anchoring areas, disembarkation points as well as potential helicopter and DHC-2 Beaver airplane landing sites.
By mid-February 1971 the icebreaker ARA General San Martín, left Ushuaia for the fourth stage of its annual voyages, with nine people on board specifically for the mission to Peter I Øy. On March 2nd  at 16:00, a first flight was performer with a Navy Aviation Alouette III S-31 helicopter with the director on the IAA, Guillermo Mackinlay, and the Antarctic commander, Captain Roberto Ulloa, on board. During that dangerous flight, under whiteout conditions, landing at Evaodden (Eva Cape) was made possible by the use of coloured smoke grenades to visualize  the  ground.  Once  on  land,  Mackinlay expressed his profound happiness, claiming to have been waiting 18 years for that moment since the first conceived plan onboard the ARA Bahía Buen Suceso in 1953.
The same day, three hours after of the first flight,  an Argentine Air Force UH-1H Huey helicopter transported scientists and logistics personnel, camp equipment and the prefabricated shelter. The group undertook several scientific studies and established a camp (marked with a red spot in the map below), in the vicinity of Evaodden (Eva Camp WAP NOR-Ø8), some 500 m from the coast, south-east of Tvistein Pillars. The men began to assemble the shelter and, the following day, the seven members from the DNA-IAA and the two from the SMN were taken to the site, where they carried out a series of scientific measurements. Among the activities was the exact determination of the coordinates of the island, possibly motivated by a report by the IAA glaciologist César A. Lisignoli dated 31 August 1970, in which he stated that its geographical position was not well determined on account of different positions given by previous expeditions (Lisignoli 1970). A few metres from the camp that had been established, upon a visit from Mackinlay and Ulloa, the shelter was inaugurated with the name Teniente Luis Oscar Ventimiglia at 68°42’South, 90° 36’East.
The Hut was a prefabricated model similar to others set up in the 1970s by Argentina in Antarctica. Its rectangular base was nearly square (2.36 × 2.46 m), with the front and back panels slightly longer than the sides. There was a door at the front, which faced east, and each of its shorter sides had a small window. Because of the difficulties encountered, including  challenging weather and terrain conditions, the original idea of maintaining a regular summer crew at Ventimiglia Hut was discarded. Additionally, the particular meteorological conditions of the island proved that a Station established there would not improve weather forecasting for the Antarctic Peninsula area, so the main purpose for the establishment of the hut was considered no longer valid. For these reasons the final report of the Antarctic Naval Force recommended not returning to Peter I Øy and to abandon the Hut

Thanks and Cedit to: Pablo Gabriel Fontana and  Instituto Antártico Argentino, Buenos Aires.

Read the full article at: View of A hut too far: history of the Argentine Ventimiglia shelter on Peter I Øy (polarresearch.net)

Later attempts to find the hut failed, but given the conditions at the site where it was established, it is assumed that the hut became buried in the snow, collapsed and was lost to the sea. (Report dated 2018).

As far as we know,  no HF amateur radio activities have ever been carried out from  Teniente Luis Ventimiglia Hut at that time and considering the fact that no more signs of the hut has remained on the site, WAP is still evaluating if adding it on the WAP-WADA Directory or not.

Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP): great progress at Rothera Research Station, WAP GBR-12 

Last season a number of construction milestones including making the new science and operations facility, the Discovery Building, weathertight and the runway replacement lighting becoming operational has been completed.  The upgrades completed to the runway lighting and operational equipment ensure resilience and maintain safe flying operations at Rothera Station (WAP GBR-12). The Discovery Building is a new two-storey scientific support and operations facility to replace older buildings that have reached the end of their life – some of which are up to 50 years old. The programme aims to replace old buildings that have reached the end of their life with modern and energy-efficient infrastructure that should need less maintenance. Automated back-up support features mean should a fault occur, the system can be returned to operation quickly reducing any disruption to life on station. The building has been designed with a focus on sustainable and environmental design and will house both the science and operations teams at the UKs largest Antarctic Research Station.

 

This season has been focussing on the internal fit-out of the new building and resurfacing the runway. 

The runway is an important international gateway for Antarctic science and recent works ensure we can continue to offer aircraft facilities to ferry cargo, scientists and support staff to research stations in the polar regions. 

 

More at: The Discovery Building | Research Station Modernization by NORR

TNX and credit to: BAS (British Antarctic Survey) Modernising our stations: news from Rothera – British Antarctic Survey (bas.ac.uk)

Antarctica still “leading actor” at the Radio Amateur Meetings

The Antarctica shown at the Liguria DX meeting by one of the most experienced veterans of the Italian expeditions in the White Continent, has received appreciable approval from the participants at the Meeting organized by the ARI (Italian Radioamateurs Association) of Sanremo in the wonderful Riviera, not too far away the French border.

The location chosen this year was a conference room  at the beautiful park of Villa Ormond, home to Floriseum (Flower Museum), one of the Liguria city’s many attractive historic buildings.
More than 50 radio amateurs coming from some Italian regions did join this event that took place on last October 5th. Guest  of the day, was Lt. Danilo Collino IZ1KHY, expert alpine Scout and mountain guide of the Italian Army,  who told us with breathtaking images and detailed descriptions, the past expeditions to Antarctica in which he took part,  in support of the Italian scientific missions from 2018 and ahead.

Congrats to Gianni I1UWF President of ARI Sanremo, to Gabry IK1NEG a keen Antarctic chaser and to the whole Sanremo Hamradio staff  for having set such a nice meeting; wishing them to repeat it  in the following years maybe with some more invited Antarcticans!

 

TNX to Danilo IZ1KHY  which has reserved us such a beautiful Antarctic parenthesis.

By the end of October Danilo will be involved once again down in Antartica; our pleasure will be to work him on HF (SSB) from some possible “New field camp” where he will be involved.

 

(Pics above and below show Danilo IZ1KHY during his presentation,  Danilo IZ1KHY and Gianni I1HYW, Gabry IK1NEG and Danilo IZ1KHY)

TNX IK1NEG

 

Blaiklock Island Refuge (WAP GBR-NEW)

Blaiklock Island Refuge located on the North side of Blaiklock Island at 67°32’South, 67°12’West, was established in 1957 and used intermittently from 1957 to 1958 as a refuge and satellite base for survey and geological parties from nearby bases.

Blaiklock Hut (WAP GBR-NEW), designated as Historic Site No. 63 under the Antarctic Treaty, 19 May 1995 (included with Horseshoe Island Station “Y”, WAP GBR-14), has been managed by UKAHT since Oct 2014 under a Memorandum of Understanding with BAS.

UKAHT’s work, centres on six historic bases along the Antarctic Peninsula, each site telling a unique story of discovery and scientific exploration. UKART  preserve historic buildings and artefacts in Antarctica to help current and future generations discover, understand, value and protect this precious wilderness.
At Port Lockroy, Base “A” (WAP GBR-Ø1) UKAHT welcome visitors throughout the Austral summer to explore the museum, visit the world’s southernmost post office, observe the penguin colony and share the wonders of the white continent’s history. Along with their ambitious arts, education and events programme, UKAHT bring together people from around the world to learn about Antarctica’s past, present and future.

Find out more at: https://www.ukaht.org/heritage/

TNX UKAHT UKAHT – Home

As far as WAP knows, no one has never operate HamRadio from Blaiklock Refuge. Ham radio Community as well as the WW Antarctic Ham radio chasers,  send an appeal  to UKAHT who manage some of the most wanted sites, to arrange some HamRadio activity from those rare ones … it will be a clever way to attract founds and interest on the remarkable work done by UKHAT in Antarctica!

October 5th  –  Antarctica at the  Sanremo’s  “DX Meeting Liguria”

Next Saturday, October 5th, in the wonderful and famous setting of the city of Sanremo, Liguria Region on the Italian Riviera, the local Amateur Radio Club has organized a DX Meeting where,  in addition to various technical topics relating to the world of radio, a special section is dedicated to Antarctica.

The guest of the Meeting will be Lt. Danilo Collino IZ1KHY,  expert alpine Scout and mountain guide of the Italian Army. (see pics above and below)
At 15:00 local, Danilo will talk about his 3 Antarctic campaigns in support of the Italian-French Antarctic scientific missions.

WAP has reported about the previous Danilo’s  work in Antarctica, the last of which was in the year 2022.

See: http://www.waponline.it/iao-iz1khy-at-mario-zucchelli-station-wap-ita-o1/

Another guy will  also joining there, but it will be a surprise … in any case, another additional chance to love Antarctica  a bit more!

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This year,  is quite possible that Danilo IAØ/IZ1KHY will work again in tandem with his friend David  Brunet FT4YM who will be in Antarctica as well in the same period.
(Picture aside shows Danilo IAØ/IZ1KHY to the left and David FT4YM to the right)

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TNX Gabry IK1NEG, one of the promoter of the Sanremo’s DX Meeting 2024.

“Ona Refuge Hut” (WAP ARG-NEW) The first Antarctic Fuegin Refuge

 Within the framework of the Argentine-German satellite photo-interpretation and climatology project “Perito Moreno”, the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands participated for the first time in 1995. In this scientific activity in Antarctica, local scientists such as Dr. Jorge Strelin, from CADIC, were incorporated into the program and a chain of Refuges was established in the area of ​​the glaciers of the San Martín Base (WAP ARG-Ø8).

The objective was to support the actions aimed at crossing the Antarctic below the Antarctic Circle, at the height of the Argentine Base San Martin, and also to annually install a scientific shelter so that it could be used by the members of that Polar exploration. A snowmobile provided by Tierra del Fuego (WAP ARG-23) would also be added to the project to facilitate the mobility of the Research Team. Thus, from the incipient provincial Antarctic organization, the construction of a shelter specially conceived for the area was designed, tendered and supervised.

Its main characteristic was its ability to be transported by helicopter, in two modules and with great ease of installation. It consisted of two cubes of fiberglass and resin, prepared to be hooked from the air and then placed on sleds and secured in the ground. The first of these shelters was named “Ona” in homage to one of the best-known communities of the native peoples who inhabited the South of Tierra del Fuego. In the following years, the construction of new shelters in homage to other native peoples of Tierra del Fuego would continue. (Picture aside, shows three Ona Indians in furs, one with a child, encountered in Patagonia at the end of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition)

The “Ona Refuge Hut” (68° 06’ South,   67° 01′ 32” West) was finally placed in 1995 on the  glacier near the Argentine Base San Martin, was transported to Margarita Bay by the Icebreaker Almirante Irizar and landed and placed by Sea King helicopters equipped with the Q-5. In its design, the need to accommodate at least a group of four scientists was particularly important, allowing for work facilities with a field laboratory, rationing and rest with four bunk beds. It also had a bathroom.

Ona Refuge was opened in 1995 and it is located 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) from  San Martín Base on the glaciers of the Fallières Coast. The shelter has a capacity for four people, food for 30 days, fuel, gas and first aid kit and it’s still active.

TNX to Alejandro Bertotto, Antarctic specialist

As far as WAP knows, no one has never operate Ham Radio from Ona Refuge (pic above) so it remains unnumbered on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP ARG-NEW

International Polar Conference in Rauris, Austria

This week,  our friend and WAP Ambassador Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX , did participate at the International Polar Conference in Rauris, Austria.
(See:  https://polarforschung.de/events/29-intl-polartagung-rauris-2024/?lang=en)

Many interesting science topics are presented here -said Volker- which informed us that at the conference, the announcement of the date of  next 5th International Polar Year that after the edition of 1882, 1932, 1958, 2008 will take place on 2032-2033. Currently, respective preparations are going on.  (See:  https://iasc.info/cooperations/international-polar-year-2032-33)

Why an International Polar Year in 2032–33?
This is a critical decade for people and the planet. Extreme weather, rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and devastating events such as droughts, floods, wildfires, marine warming, ocean acidification, and record lows in sea ice extent are becoming ever more prevalent, affecting ecosystems, economies, and human wellbeing around the world. Many changes are taking shape faster than previously predicted, and as the IPCC 6th Assessment Report made clear, many of the most serious consequences are linked to unprecedented changes in the Arctic and Antarctic. The urgency of understanding the consequences of such rapid change in the polar regions for global climate, biodiversity and human societies is now clear and has never been greater. A 5th International Polar Year (IPY) will provide a vital opportunity to close outstanding major knowledge gaps through targeted attention and globally-coordinated action enabling polar researchers, knowledge holders, rights holders and stakeholders to achieve major breakthroughs in the knowledge required to protect the global environment, develop effective national and local strategies to mitigate and adapt to environmental changes, and accelerate progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  

The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) are pleased to confirm that preparatory work has started for a 5th International Polar Year (IPY) in 2032-33.  Organizing the 5th IPY 25 years after the last IPY in 2007-08 reflects the urgent need for coordinated international research to tackle the biggest challenges of polar research, for both the Polar Regions themselves and for the world as a whole.

TNX  Volker, DL8JDX 

Prof. Julius Fabbri (IV3CCT) is struggling tenaciously to  gain international recognition of the site where the first Italian base in Antarctica was built

For more than 20 years, Prof. Julius Fabbri has tried to gain international recognition of a time 49 years ago when an Italian private expedition built a Scientific Base in Antarctica.

In late 1975, the Italian explorer Renato Cepparo and his 14 crew members were about to embark on a private expedition to Antarctica. The expedition had been given a clearance by the Antarctic Treaty System, and the crew members were prepared to establish Italy’s very first Base in Antarctica.

Unfortunately, a few days before they were set to sail out from Montevideo, Uruguay, Cepparo received a letter from the Argentinean government. The letter informed him that Argentina had exercised a veto, and that Italy was no longer allowed to construct their base on the southern continent. Cepparo and his crew, though, were sure that they had their authorization in order, so they decided to start their expedition as planned.

The story is  very long and WAP will not enter now into details, but the facts  remain and make the whole story paradoxical. For sure everything is well known by the Argentine authorities who, with a gesture of sincere friendship and transparency could make it public!

 

After many vicissitudes, Cepparo’s  expedition landed in Antarctica and the Base, was built, this is a fact.  The Giacomo Bove Station, named after a 19th century Italian explorer, was inaugurated on January 20th, 1976.

Ham radio was performed at Giacomo Bove Camp  as well, with the callsign I1SR/p (WAP ITA-Ø2) and QSL card to confirm the contacts, have been printed and sent.
The evidence says that Argentina did destroy Giacomo Bove Station when  in September of 1976, they sent an icebreaker to the South Shetland Islands to tear down the newly inaugurated Base. In the middle of the Antarctic winter, the Argentians did take the Base off in the same time it had taken to construct: three to four days. The materials, which had just arrived in Antarctica, were transported back to Buenos Aires. Prof. Fabbri strongly believe that,  some if it, either hidden or forgotten,   is still stored in a military facility in the Argentinian capital.

 

«I hope someone will tell the world where they are. It’s a mystery, no one wants to remember this cold case which I have been trying to open since 2003», Prof. Julius Fabbri said.

 

As a day job, Julius Fabbri (IV3CCT-II3BOVE) teaches science at a high school in Trieste, a city in northeastern Italy, but since he was young his hobby has been to be a radio operator. And in the Italian hobbyist radio operator community the story of Renato Cepparo’s Antarctic mission, a story that is otherwise not well-known, has become legendary.

Prof. Julius Fabbri himself first heard about it in 2003 when he made his first and only trip to Antarctica. While there, a colleague told him about it, and since then he has been researching the incident passionately and, some would say, obsessively.

Back in 2008, for instance, as a project in his science class, Prof. Fabbri and his students built a full-scale model of the ruins of Giacomo Bove Base, and a few years later, he helped design a virtual 3D model of it.

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«Most people just laugh when I tell them what I know; they don’t believe its a true story, but there are official documents, publications and articles that confirm it,  and I even met one of the mariners from the Argentinean navy who wrote a detailed account of this diplomatic incident,” Julius Fabbri says.

From the Ukrainian “Vernadsky Base” WAP UKR-Ø1, Antarctica

The first days of spring in the Antarctic: for over a month, the island of Galindez has been almost completely packed with ice

We already have good news about the past winter, say the researchers : sea ice has formed near “Vernadsky Station (WAP UKR-Ø1)” ; our polar explorers reported that since August 5, they cannot go out into the ocean by boat, because the water area around Galindez Island, where the Station is located, is packed with ice.
“Yesterday, we looked at satellite images, and there was 100 km of ice around,” says Vitaly Kaminsky, a participant of the 29th UAE. What the station looks like in ice captivity, see in incredible pictures from a drone. For comparison, last year 2023 there was almost no sea ice in our region, and the year itself became a record for the minimum amount of such ice in the Antarctic for the entire time of observations.

Sea ice plays an important role in the Antarctic ecosystem. It acts as a “blanket” that separates the ocean from the atmosphere. In addition to blocking sunlight from entering the water and reflecting it, the ice also traps the heat in the ocean, preventing it from heating the air.

The ice floes are the birthplace of seal cubs, rest and travels of various types of adult seals and emperor penguins.

By the way, very soon we expect the appearance of Weddell seal pups near “Vernadsky“.

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TNX Dr. Vitaly Kaminsky for the pic and information

High pressure cell and heatwave over Antarctica

The Southern Hemisphere polar vortex took a unique journey this winter. A mid-July, minor Sudden Stratospheric Warming event saw the vortex become elongated, weaker, wobbly. This stratospheric anomaly affected tropospheric weather patterns, but now appears to be easing. In late July and early August, a rapid stratosphere-troposphere coupling contributed to the development of a major high pressure cell and heatwave over Antarctica, while a very deep low formed over the Southern Ocean, and a heat dome affected Australia. It was associated with relatively cool conditons in Chile and Argentina.
New Zealand experienced, and continues to experience, rounds of strong, westerly winds and active weather because of this. However, mid-to-late September may take on a different flavour, as a La Niña-like weather pattern takes shape and grabs hold of Mother Nature’s “steering wheel”. This may result in the formation of a blocking high pressure system to the south-east of the country and a slowing of the general weather patterns.

Read also:  The rare event driving the Southern Hemisphere’s weather | NIWA

An unusual disturbance high above Antarctica is causing polar air to encroach on different parts of the Southern Hemisphere, including New Zealand.  Every winter, a ring of stormy, freezing weather – known as the polar vortex – encircles Antarctica. Typically, it keeps harsh, wintry conditions locked up near the south pole. NIWA meteorologists discussed the polar vortex in their just-issued Seasonal Climate Outlook for August-October.
NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, is a crown Research Institute established in 1992. It operates a stand-alone company with its own Board of Directors and Executive.

Thanks and credit to NIWA: Home | NIWA

US East Base, WAP USA-4Ø, the oldest American research Station in Antarctica

East Base,  WAP USA-4Ø,  at 68° 11’  02” South, 66° 59’ 53” West on Stonington Island is the oldest American research Station in Antarctica, having been commissioned by Franklin D. Rosevelt in 1939.

Once the wintering site of two US expeditions from 1939 to 1948, the abandoned US East Base became an Antarctic Historic Site or Monument No. 55 in 2004. East Base is located near the British Station “E” (WAP GBR-Ø5)  

East Base was established in 1939 by the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition, constructed in 1940 and occupied by them from 1940 to 1941. Later it was reoccupied in 1947-48 by the private Finn Ronne Antarctic Expedition.  This marked a period of cooperation between the American and British stations, according to the history told by the British. 

 

The base covers 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) from North to South and 500 metres (1,600 feet) from East to West. The buildings and artifacts here are now protected as a monument as the base was accorded the status of one of the Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica on 7 May 2004.

The Antarctic Service Expedition was the first government-funded expedition of Admiral Richard E. Byrd (his first two expeditions in 1928–1930 and 1933–1935 were privately funded).  East Base was built using Army knockdown buildings and a crew of 23 led by Richard Black, after Admiral Byrd had to return to Washington on the USS Bear.

The war time pressures and pack-ice in the bay which prevented ship movement led to the evacuation of the base in 1941 by air. Admiral Richard Byrd’s USAS Expedition built America’s earliest remaining Antarctic camp in March 1940; 4 prefabricated structures  were built on: Main Building, Science Building, Machine Shop, and Outpost Hut ,  from which they explored and mapped Alexander Island, George VI Sound, and hundreds of miles of coastline.

A private expedition led by Finn Ronne (second in command in the 1941 expedition) in 1947 ended with the participants’ evacuation in 1948; the expedition crew included Jackie Ronne and Jennie Darlington, who became the first women to spend a winter in Antarctica.  

The base and all its equipment have since not been utilized, even though the British Antarctic Survey developed Base “E” in the vicinity of US East Base.  The British also occupied and modified the East Base during the construction of their Base “E”.  As of 2017, the base is frequented by tourists arriving on the continent.”

US East Base  did operate on Stonington island before the U.S. entry into World War II, from 1940 to 1941. 

The British Research Station, so called, “Base E”,  was established by the UK in 1946 100 mts from the US East Base. Closed in 1950 as sea ice conditions prevented access, it reopened in 1960 as the centre for field work in the south Antarctic Peninsula, and a new steel-framed, two story plywood hut was erected in 1961. British Base “E” was intermittently occupied until the early 1970s. The original UK Base ‘E’ was burnt down by accident in 1972 and only fragmentary remains mark the site. The station closed down in February 1975.

Stonington is a small island in Neny Fjord at the southern end of Marguerite Bay. It is approximately 750 metres long and 250 metres wide.

The island has areas of relatively flat boulder or gravel between rocky outcrops. It was until recently connected to the Antarctic mainland by North East Glacier.

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The only callsign on WAP-WACA database for USA-4Ø is KC4/FT5YK operating by Mehdi (F5PFP-FT5YK-FT5YJ) for a brief activity on March 5, 2011.

Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) celebrates the National aviation day

Leidos is the prime contractor supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) with several teammates. Together the support contract is known as the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC).

See: Antarctic Support Contract | Leidos

First up, the large-and-in-charge C-17 Globemaster! Operated by the 62nd Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, the C-17 can carry more than 10,000 lbs. of cargo or up to 125 personnel virtually anywhere in the world. They move more than 2.5 million lbs. of supplies to Antarctica every year to keep USAP operational. These large aircraft provide vital air-drop capabilities, and they are the only U.S. aircraft capable of a mid-winter evacuation.

ASC is celebrating the many aircraft that it relies on to support the National Science Foundation (NSF) United States Antarctic Program.

We’ve highlighted the large cargo planes, but small fixed/rotary wing aircraft are also essential to supporting USAP science teams out in the field. USAP utilizes a fleet of three helicopters, each capable of landings at altitudes of 12,500 ft. above sea level; a DC-3T (BT-67) Basler medium lift aircraft, which can transport 20 passengers or 5,000 lbs. cargo; and the USAP de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, which provides access to deep field science camps in hard-to-reach areas.

CZ*ECO NELSON Station WAP CZE-Ø1, new proposal for Station module

Brno University of Technology and Masaryk University present a proposal for a new research station module on Nelson Island in Antarctica. The station will be used by the Czech Antarctic Research Program based at the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University.

It also creates the conditions for research into structural solutions, energy sources, technologies and materials that are friendly to nature and resistant to the effects of extreme conditions, which is supported by the faculties and institutes of the Technical University in Brno, a technological partner of the Czech Antarctic Research Program.

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This module is used for testing architectural and technical solutions proposed by the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University and for the presentation of Czech Antarctic Research.

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The implementation of the building, the production documentation of which was created within the FA BUT project “Housing system in the extreme world (not only) of Antarctica”, project no. FA-S-20-6498, is financed by ČANF, Czech Antarctic Foundation.

Rock Hut (aka Wilson Stone Hut) – Cape Crozier, Ross Island (HSM 21), WAP MNB-NEW

WAP has recently listed as WAP MNB-NEW,   the remains of Wilson Stone Hut (Rock Hut) at 77°30’ South, 169°16’ East, at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, constructed in July 1911 by Edward Wilson’s party, of the British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13) during the winter journey to collect Emperor penguin eggs.

Cape Crozier is an ice-free area on the lower eastern slopes of Mount Terror, at the eastern extremity of Ross Island. Lichens and algal crusts are found adjacent to the stone hut site. It is a remote and isolated site with few visitors. Adelie and Emperor penguin colonies are nearby.

New Zealand and United Kingdom are the parties undertaking the management if this Historic Site and Monument  (HSM) #21

The Rock Hut formed critical shelter for Wilson, Cherry-Garrard and Bowers during their winter journey from Evans to Cape Crozier. The collection of emperor eggs containing embryos was thought to be of huge significance to understanding of evolution. Testing a range of sledging diets was another goal. Enduring temperatures as low as -60C, the team came close to death but eventually returned to Cape Evans without loss of life.

Reference: APA Database | Antarctic Treaty (ats.aq)

Read more at: Cape Crozier: The Winter Journey — Sarah Airriess (twirlynoodle.com)

and also at:  https://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjy1OKC19aHAxUH1wIHHWp6GQEQFnoECDIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocuments.ats.aq%2Frecatt%2FAtt543_e.pdf&usg=AOvVaw37GbQ6qWIV9R5ylEkOM3qS&opi=89978449

Inside a square of stones piled one on the other, a bank of drifted snow has been trapped, where it has compacted into ice, and has swallowed up a crate containing some historical detritus.  There are at least two pieces of penguin skin, and some green fabric, perished; something grey and knit which may be a scarf or socks, and other less identifiable things. These were left behind in July 1911 when Wilson, Bowers, and Cherry-Garrard reduced their two sledge loads to one to return to Cape Evans.

14 August: Remembering Father Massimiliano Kolbe SP3RN , Saint Patron of Radioamateurs

Maximilian Maria Kolbe, born Rajmund Kolbe (Zduńska Wola, January 8, 1894 – Auschwitz, August 14, 1941), was a Polish priest and Franciscan friar who offered to take the place of a father destined for the hunger bunker in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Maximilian Maria Kolbe was beatified in 1971 by Pope Paul VI, who called him “martyr of love”, and then proclaimed a Saint in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.

On August 14, Father Massimiliano Kolbe  Ham Radio callsign SP3RN  is remembered as the Saint Patron of Radio Amateurs.

To recall the day of his martyrdom (Auschwitz, August 14, 1941),  a special radio callsign for the Aniversary of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Patron of Hamradio operators, Radioclub Islas Canarias has been awarded a special callsign EG8HKT , Hermano Kolbe Tenerife to be on air during the week of August 14th to 18th.

Thanks to the Radio Club, the  local Hamradio operators remark  the existance of an image of the Saint in the island of Tenerife. The image is located in the Hermitage of Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe, Casas de la Cumbre, in the area of Anaga, in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

More info at: http://goo.gl/maps/v0t20
The one-contact diploma will be available for download, once the activity is over and all requests have been processed.   
Requests has to be sent to:  https://concursos.urvag.com/contest/.
The download will be available from September 1st, 2024.

 

Polar philately; DL8JDX again across the Poles

Now in the Northern hemisphere it’s almost summertime, the ideal period to travel to the northern latitude while in about 6 months time, it will be better heading to the South Pole.

Our “WAP Ambassador” Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX is again on board of  Polar cruise  MS “Hamburg” as lecturer and support guide and this time they will visit Norwegian Fjords  and Spitzbergen islands.
Volker was in the Svalbard;  at Longyearbyen last july 23 and 24 and at Ny Alesund on july 25.

From there he sent greetings and a couple of Polar envelopes with some interesting cancellations.
WAP readers and followers send Volker greetings for the hot weather that hits our sunny plains!

TNX Voklker DL8JDX

Cape Crozier Field Hut (WAP USA-NEW)

The US Cape Crozier hut  at 77° 27′ 41″ South,  169° 11′ 13″ East, is situated on the NW side of a low peak (675 m) NW of Post Office Hill. A message post from Scott’s National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04) is situated in West Colony (169° 14′ 37.5″ E, 77° 27′ 16.7″ S) and was designated as Historic Site and Monument (HSM) No.69 through Measure 4 (1995). The area is Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No. 124.

An Automatic Weather Station (AWS) named Laurie II is istalled at Cape Crozier, situated on the Ross Ice Shelf 35 km east of Cape Crozier.  Air temperatures recorded at Laurie II between 2009-13 showed December as the warmest month over this period, with a mean temperature of -5.8º C, and August as the coolest with a mean temperature of -33.1º C.

 Location of other protected areas within close proximity of the Area
The nearest protected areas to Cape Crozier are on Ross Island: Lewis Bay (ASPA No.156), the site of the 1979 DC-10 passenger aircraft crash is the closest and 45 km west; Tramway Ridge (ASPA No.130) near the summit of Mt. Erebus is 55 km west; Discovery Hut on the Hut Point Peninsula (ASPA No.158 and HSM No.18); Arrival Heights (ASPA No.122) is 70 km to the SW adjacent to McMurdo Station; Cape Royds (ASPA No.121), Backdoor Bay (ASPA No.157 and HSM No.15) and Cape Evans (ASPA No.155) are 75 km west; and New College Valley (ASPA No.116) are 75 km NW at Cape Bird.

The primary helicopter landing site preferred for most access to the Area, is located at 169° 11.19′ E, 77° 27.64′ S (elevation 240 m). This landing site is below and 150 m northwest of the US Cape Crozier Field Hut, and outside of the Area approximately 430 m west of the western ASPA boundary (Map 2). The site is marked by a circle of bright orange painted rocks. An alternative, secondary, landing site may be used when necessary, located at 169° 11.28′ E, 77° 27.72′ S. The landing site is 150 m above the Hut and approximately 450 m west of the ASPA boundary.

Read more about the US Field Hut at Cape Crozier at:
Cape Crozier: 5th Largest Adelie Colony | A Southern Migration (wordpress.com)

Cape Crozier Field Hut is listed on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP USA-NEW. On next article we’ll see another historical one at Cape Crozier; the Rock Hut (aka Wilson Stone Hut) , HSM 21, which will enter on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP MNB-NEW

Scott Base  (WAP NZL-Ø1) when Hams were active from Antarctica

WAP is happy to report an abstract of what  Neville Copeland ZL2AKV did write  on “Break in” of New Zealand‘s National Radio Society  journal   of October 1974  and forwarded us by our great friend F6EPN Olivier Dymala,  the founder of  “Spratley Woody” Facebook page and deep connoisseur of Bases, Remote sites, QSLs and everything  related to the Hams in Antarctica.  

In the 17 years of scientific research at Scott Base (this was written in 1974.) there have been numerous amateur operators who,  no doubt , will be recorded in the history of wintering-over when an official version is published at some later date. The two original foundation members of the fraternity were Peter Mulgrew, ZL2SP, and Ted Gawn, ZL2US (both now SK).

Neville Copeland ZL2AKV, wrote:
I was thrust into the hurly burly of Base routine prior to Christmas 1972 as a rush replacement for t w e appointed postmaster who was repatriated. A hurried week of medicals, x-rays, a dental check up, and a brush up on Post Office procedures, plus settling of my private affairs, was a prelude to the trip South.
Busy Season The summer season is an extremely busy one for the P.O. staff as you can well imagine. There is a fluctuating population of some 1500 at the American McMurdo Station, two miles away, as well as the 30-40 on Scott Base, who all want stamps and toll calls at the same time( I). In addition, the different ships are visited in port, when this is opened by the icebreakers. to sell stamps and the PRO’s books. My official job as postmaster was shared until early February with Lester Price, ZL5AP. From then on I was alone with my technician, Allan Dawrant, to sort out the communication problems. Perhaps I may go down in history as the last full-time Morse operator working an “inland” station, as Olivetti teleprinters have now been installed for telegraph traffic. After Les  ZL5AP returned to New Zealand, I was saddled with three daily CW schedules with the International Telegraph Office in Wellington, where I had been previously employed. I also had daily afternoon radio telephone schedules with Island Services Wellington and three evening R/T skeds, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays….

It was the time when skilled Radio operators spent their free breack to log Hams worldwide and it was the time (which probably will never came back) when for us, young Hams  (now Old Timers), was always an emotion to log Antarctic Station and later getting QSLs

This is just and abstract  but I’m wondering how many of us, in the last 10-15 years, have got a chance to work New Zealand’s Scott Base  (WAP NZL-Ø1)

TNX Spratley Woody (F6EPN) and credit to NZART

Shackleton’s Endurance ship gets extra protection

A protection perimeter drawn around Endurance, one of the world’s greatest shipwrecks, is being widened from a radius of 500m to 1,500m.
The extended zone will further limit activities close to the vessel, which sank in 1915 during an ill-fated Antarctic expedition led by celebrated polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton
The measure is part of a newly published “Conservation Management Plan” (CMP). Already, no-one should retrieve or even touch objects in the protected zone. Everything must be left in situ.
The perimeter update is a recognition that debris from Endurance – including crew belongings – may be strewn across a larger area of ocean floor than previously thought. The ship lies 3,000m down in the Weddell Sea. 
(Pic above, shows the oil painting by George Cummings)

Endurance is very well protected where it is now, given its remoteness, depth and a near-permanent cover of sea-ice,” explained Camilla Nichol, the chief executive of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, which drew up the CMP in partnership with Historic England
Read the full article at: Shackleton: Famed explorer’s Endurance ship gets extra protection (bbc.com)

Thanks and credit to BBC

Why and when  Wilkes Station has been Multinational Base

WAP have retracked the evolution of Wilkes Station from its founding through its 1969’s closure.
Information has been catched from a document of the AAD (see pdf doc at the bottom of this page) while Ham Callsigns are from the WAP QSL archive 

Here a bit of rebuilted story:

On 1st February 1957, US Navy unloading in Newcomb Bay and the building of the US Wilkes station (WAP USA-26) begun.

KC4VK and  KC4USK (17-3-1957, 7-2-1958 & 1-9-1958) were active from US Wilkes Station from 1957 through 1958

On 7 february 1959 while officially Australia took over operational command, the  remaining US personnel at Wilkes did not take kindly to being under Australian control. Consequently there was a compromise until 1961 when the Station came under exclusive Australian National Antarctic Expedition (ANARE) control.

Ham radio operations in the frame time febr.1959-1961 when both USA & AUS personnel did occupied it, and which for that period was a Multinational entity (WAP MNB-17)  has been KC4USK, VHØHA (1959-60) and VKØAB (1960).

From 1961 through 1969  Wilkes Station was officially belonging to Australia (WAP AUS-Ø5).
Hamradio stations active have been:

VKØDS (1962 exact date unknown)
VKØVK (14-3-1963 & 10-4-1963)
KC4AAC (10-11-1963)
VKØTO (16-3-1967)
VKØJW (29-2-68 & 1-6-1968)
In 1969 Wilkes (WAP AUS-Ø5) was abandoned as a Base for research and replaced by Casey station (WAP AUS-Ø2), built on the nearby Bailey Peninsula.

1956-1957-Wilkes from the beginning to the end

When an ASPA recognition to the historical Giacomo Bove Base?

Prof. PhD Julius Fabbri IV3CCT  , a science teacher in Italy , was in Antarctica in 2003  and from that time, he’s fighting to achieve a very specific goal: that of obtaining the recognition of Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) to what remains (ruins) of the Italian Giacomo Bove base at Italia Valley in the South Shetlands-Antarctica.

The pic aside shows Prof. PhD Julius Fabbri and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani who holds the model (scale 1:50) of the Giacomo Bove station (WAP ITA-Ø2)

Here a brief summary of the facts:

The largest and only independent Italian Antarctic expedition was led by Renato Cepparo in 1976-77 to the South Shetland lslands by the Norwegian ship Rig Mare. It was privately funded and fully self-suffícient. and had the aim of carrying out scientific measurements and leaving a pemanent refuge on the Antarctic Peninsula. Fifteen men, among whom were the deputy leader Flavio Barbiero, a medicai 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 stili keeps the name Italia Valley.

In 2018 in Cervignano del Friuli (Italy), thank to the  inexhaustible commitment of Prof. Julius Fabbri (IV3CCT) an “Italia Valley Antarctic Memorial” has been made to celebrate this expedition. With the help of the students a  1:1 scale replica of building, 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.

In addition a  1:50 scale model of the “Giacomo Bove” Base (WAP ITA-Ø2) has been sent to the Maritime Museum of Ushuaia with a note adressed to Carlos Pedro Vairo,  director of  the Maritime Antartic Museum named after Josè Maria Sobral, Museum of marine Art in Ushuaia- Argentina:
Dear  director,
the model of the base which is now yours, was in the hands of the Italian Foreign Minister. Even the stones of the foundation in Italia Valley are from Argentina: the Italian Government donated that stone wall to Argentina!

So, the worldwide pressing of Prof. PhD Julius Fabbri IV3CCT-II3BOVE continue to achieve an objective: that of the designation of ASPA to a site which, for Italy (joining the Antarctic Treaty in 1981), represents an important part of its history in Antarctica.
Prof. Julius Fabbri IV3CCT
will be grateful to who would like to subscribe is new Facebook page at: Worldwide Antarctic Delegates Parliamentarians & friends 4peace Unofficial | Facebook

TNX Julius IV3CCT-II3BOVE

COMNAP 2024 and ATCM 2024

COMNAP is an International association, established in 1988, that brings together National Antarctic Programmes, which are the national agencies responsible for planning and conducting Antarctic operations in support of science. COMNAP’s purpose is to “Develop and promote best practice in managing the support of scientific research in Antarctica”.

The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs  Annual General Meeting (AGM) 36 will take place at the San Martín Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 14 to 16 August 2024. Registration is open to COMNAP Members, Observers and invited Experts and will close on 10 July. 

COMNAP is one of the three permanent Observer Organisations to the annual ATCM, along the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).

The past two  Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM), the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) have been held in Finland (2023) and in India (2024).
46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting – Twenty-sixth Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection.   Kochi, India – 20 May 2024 – 30 May 2024.
The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held with an overarching theme of Tasudhaiva Kutumbakam a Sanskrit phrase which means one Earth, one Family, one Future. This resonates deeply with the Antarctic Treaty System, promoting peace, scientific cooperation. and preservation of Antarctica for mankind.
ATCM 46 – CEP 26 (ats.aq)

45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting – Twenty-fifth Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection. Helsinki, Finland – 29 May 2023 – 8 Jun 2023
ATCM XLV – CEP XXV (ats.aq)

The next ATCM (ATCM 47) will be hosted by Italy in 2025.

Shackleton Field Camp is a New Entry on WAP-WADA (WAP USA-51)

We succeded, W8IJK/KC4 is WAP USA-51!

Decisive has been the help of Scott WA4TTK who did provide his QSL of the contact with Jim Collinson W8IJK/KC4.

We sent a mail to Scott, since as far as we know, he was one of the few Hams who have worked W8IJK/KC4 from Shackleton Field Camp, Antarctica,  long ago.
We explained Scott that, Shackleton Field Camp was in the process to get a new WAP reference number (which is normally  issued after completing the investigation; one of the item is to get a date of activity which qualifies  the authenticity of the operation).
By a quick return, we get a kind reply from Scott WA4TTK who wrote:

Hello Gianni,
Yes, I certainly remember that QSL card.  It is a fantastic photograph of the Queen Maud mountain range and I have admired it since the day I received it. 
The QSO was made on December 4, 1978 at 0743 UTC on 14.311 MHz.  A scan of my QSL card is attached to this email. 
I hope this helps in getting your new WAP reference number.  Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
73, Scott  Craig, WA4TTK — Nashville, TN — USA

At the light of this evidence, a brand new WAP reference  WAP USA-51 has been issued to Shackleton Field Camp (aka Shackleton Glacier Camp SHG).
Lat and Long: 85°05’24” South, 175°19’48” West
Location: Queen Maud Range, Transantarctic mountains, Western Antarctica.

 

We would like to express our gratitude to Olivier F6EPN, to Bob K4MZU  and to  Scott  Craig WA4TTK   for their invaluable help without of which, we would have struggled a lot to have the evidence we were looking for,  to issue the reference!
TNX F6EPN, K4MZU, WA4TTK

Shackleton Field Camp (WAP USA-NEW)

Shackleton Field Camp (aka Shackleton Glacier Camp SHG) is located at  85°05’24” South, 175°19’48” West and lists on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP USA-NEW.

Recently Olivier FEPN-Spratley Woody has found a rare and old QSL of W8IJK/KC4 operating from Shackleton Field Camp, on Queen Maud Range on the Transantarctic mountains.

Shackleton Field Camp is a small research camp on a glacier in Western Antarctica.

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A Youtube video (Jan 2017)  shows Shackleton Field Camp on western Antarctica in  the area of  Queen Maud Range, a beautiful place surrounded by epic mountains and endless blue sky.

The QSL of W8IJK/KC4 has captured our curiosity since it could be included among the references assigned in the WAP Directory.

In light of the facts, it seems difficult to get in touch with the operator W8IJK  PhD James Collinson to get more details on the activity carried out, apparently several years ago.
We asked Bob, K4MZU, one of the world’s leading Antarctic Hunters, for help.
Bob wrote:
In my effort to discover additional information about W8IJK/KC4 resulted in limited answers. While in Antarctic, operator James W. Collinson worked with the Institute of Polar Studies and Department of Geology and Mineralogy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio in 1986-1991.
Go to americanpolar.org/about/leadership/james-collinson/ for more info.
No e-mail is listed on QRZ.com and there is no listing as to any cell/telephone registered. I will try to send snail mail to him. however, it has been a long time since the operation took place.

We hope some of our readers might be able to help us  to get more info about this rare one!
It remains the fact that W8IJK/KC4 seems to have really operated sometimes in the past from Shackleton Field Camp.
So, the Field Camp exists, a QSL exist, W8IJK exist, what is missed is the date of operation and the number of contacts made. From WAP stand point, while pubblishing this spot on WAP website, we intent  to highlight the possibility to have a new WAP reference for Shackleton Field Camp which for the moment remains WAP USA-Unnumbered.

When more details will come up it will take a moment to issue a reference number.

TNX Olivier F6EPN who found this QSL, and TNX Bob K4MZU who works to get more info about!

A New Zealand C-130 Hercules successfully evacuated an American in need of medical attention from Antarctica to New Zealand.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules crew has, carried out a rare medical evacuation of a patient from Antarctica, taking advantage of a narrowing gap in the weather to fly the challenging night-time mission. On Tuesday 25th 2024, the New Zealand Hercules flew from Auckland to Christchurch, taking off at 02:00 local time and arriving at Phoenix Airfield (WAP USA-42) in Antarctica at 08:50.

According to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Hercules landed using night vision goggles. The eight-hour return flight required the Hercules to be “hot fueled” on the ice (meaning the engines were kept running during refueling). The engines were kept running to protect them from the extreme cold – the temperature was -33C or -27-4F and -40C or -40F with the wind chill.
The patient was an American from the large McMurdo Station (WAP USA-22) near New Zealand’s smaller Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1). The patient is reported to be in a stable and non-life-threatening condition. The manner of the problem the patient was facing is unclear, but they required medical treatment that was not available on the base in Antarctica.

Read more at: https://simpleflying.com/royal-new-zealand-air-force-flies-c-130h-hercules-for-rare-mid-winter-medical-evacuation-in-antarctica/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0aKIn6UmAdoiOwCdFizjyCDwe-WGlZkLv_WsGOeKWJjz5MIrI2mWj-Wos_aem_gfxsiwCKyqVzAoYXZ4xPgg

Thanks and credit to:  Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Midwinter 2024-More from the Antarctic overwintering Teams

Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3)

The photo was taken at 2pm (DMC) Temperature -70.5 °C (Windchill -83.2 °C) Wind 3.6 km Greetings from the 13 winterovers involved in the DC20 winter campaign.
Gabriele Carugati (pic aside), Licensed HamRadio IU2LXS , 43 years old, has been selected as station leader of the XX Winter Campaign of the National Research Program in Antarctica: with his team, 13 people in total, he will spend nine months in complete isolation due to the extreme temperatures. Gabriele will stay at Concordia Station untill November 2024.
Of course, we hope to hear him On Air someday…

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 Also from  the Ukrainian     Vernadsky Station (WAP UKR-Ø1)   the Antarctic winterover Team send Greetings from Midwinter!

 WAP wish the best for everyone for this particular days down    South!

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Happy Midwinter time

Midwinter 2024 in Antarctica

On the  occasion of  this year’s Midwinter Day,  UKAHT (UK Antarctic Heritage Trust) wrote:
Christmas celebrations may be far from our minds at this time of year but 21 June has always been a red letter day in the Antarctic calendar as those South mark the shortest and darkest day of the year.

This year the day takes on special significance as it marks eight decades since the establishment of Base A at Port Lockroy (WAP GBR-Ø1) when Britain’s research on the continent began. Today is an opportunity not only to celebrate but to reflect on the remarkable strides that have been made in polar science at this time.  The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust works to advance the preservation, enhancement and promotion of Antarctic heritage and to engage, inform and inspire a global audience.

We care for six important Historic sites on the Antarctic Peninsula, including Port Lockroy, as well as supporting other organisations with grants to ensure our Antarctic history is safeguarded and shared with a new generation keen to learn about Antarctica. We also support other organisations to look after British Antarctic heritage sites in other parts of Antarctica. It is active in the promotion of Antarctic public engagement and supports institutions who have a connection to Antarctic heritage through their collections or education and outreach.

TNX and credit to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT).
Readers can subscribe through the mailing list at:   info@ukaht.org

 

WAP has collected few post card messages from Stations in Antarctica and we are pleased to share them with all the Antarctic chasers and followers. Thanks to eveyone sharing happyness with us on the Midwinter 2024 by sending us greetings and wishes.

Happy Midwinter to all those involved involved in various capacities to the Scientific Bases in the  Icy Continent …  adding a prayer: the World of Radioamateurs, always hopes for a Radio contact … don’t be lazy, challenge propagation and give us the joy of contacts, as often happened in past years! CW or SSB, it doesn’t matter, but come on air!

LU8XP Cosme Alfonso Averna, “Pupi” is SK

After suffering from a progressive illness that had recently kept him away from amateur radio, Cosme Alfonso “Pupi” Averna died last june 19 2024 in Ushuaia  (WAP ARG-23) at the age of 76. He was an important collaborator of the Radio Club Ushuaia where he held different positions including Vice President and Secretary.
Now “Pupi” also runs around in the sky chasing our CQ DXs together with the many friends who keep him company in heaven. We down here remember him fondly, mindful of the QSOs we enjoyed together.

He was born in Bahía Blanca on July 3, 1948 and at a very young age, he joined the Argentine Navy. In 1984 he was assigned to the Ushuaia Naval Base where he worked in the Weapons Workshop, specializing in ammunition and explosives, retiring after reaching the hierarchy. of Senior Warrant Officer.

Pupi chose Ushuaia as his place in the world, being from Fuegian by adoption after four decades living there. He had entered the world of amateur radio in 1990 with the LU8XPA license which he changed in 1998 to LU8XP.

A lover of DXism and international competitions, Pupi obtained outstanding positions, due to his geographical location and he did join several 20-meter wheels, meeting numerous colleagues from different provinces.

Once he retired from his work activity, he bought a motor home with which he traveled thousands of kilometers throughout Argentina for years, visiting colleagues with whom he had made friends through the radio.

In 2011, together with Viki Balmaceda LU5DUZ , Pupi LU8XP attended the most important amateur radio fair and exhibition in Europe in Friedrichshasen, Germany. In the photo he appears in the center with Viki on the left and Tony DF2RY on the right.

Pupi Averna was a well-known and beloved figure who discovered amateur radio at the “End of the World”, becoming in a short time a true ambassador of communications on the big island of Tierra del Fuego.

On the pic to the right, we see Orlando Perez PT2OP in Ushuaia (Mar-2014), Tierra del Fuego, operating as LU/PT2OP at Pupi’s station, LU8XP, which is also in the photo. 

A good recall of “Pupi” was sent by Volker DL8JDX, a well known Antarctic veteran; Volker said: « I am very sorry about Pupi LU8XP sk. I had the luck to make acquaintance with him in Ushuaia Jan. 28, 2023 …»
On the picture aside: DL8JDX, LU1XU and LU8XP

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Pupi, Hamradio World will miss you but surely, we’ll keep you on a corner of our hearth. R.I.P.
Condolences to his family and to the Ushuaia Ham friends.

Plateau Station. KC4USJ, WAP USA-13

Plateau Station was the highest and most remote scientific station established by the United States. Construction of the site, started on December 13, 1965, and the first Traverse Team  (named  SPQML II) arrived in early 1966. The station was located at 79° 15’ South, 40° 30’ East in the far interior of the Antarctic ice cap, 11,890 feet above sea level.
Plateau Station  was operated and staffed by the National Science Foundation and US Navy.
A select Team of four scientists and four navy personnel were on constant duty at the station, which was under the command of a naval medical doctor. Originally designed for two years of service, the Base was in continuous use for three years until January 29, 1969, when it was closed but mothballed for future use. Plateau Station  was also the coldest of any United States Stations on the Continent and the site for the world’s coldest measured average temperature for a month at that time, recorded in July 1968, at −99.8 °F (−73.2 °C).
Plateau Station closed permanently in January, 1969.

Actually Plateau Station  is an inactive American research and  support Base on the central Antarctic Plateau.

On 22 December 2007, the Norwegian-US Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica visited the Base and entered the buildings, finding that it was mostly intact.

In 2017, the CoFi-Expedition made a stop at  Plateau Station. They entered the Station through a hatch at the top of highest building, the watch tower. The Bse is completely snowbound nowadays. The only visible building at the base is the meteorological tower. The expedition left the base with the same general impression as the expedition in 2007 did.
Researcher Sepp Kipfstuhl said: «If someone should visit the base in 10 or even 20 years, it’ll have barely changed. The meteorological tower should be visible for the next 500 years».

To get something more about Plateau Station, go to:
Memoirs & Diaries — The Antarctican Society

To read a recollection of the U.S. Navy person in charge of mothballing the station, Electronics Technician John Wright, click the red link below:
  John+Wright+Recollection

Ham radio Callsign issued at the time for Plateau Station was KC4USJ.
The  QSL of KC4USJ here aside,  prove the Hamradio activity 1968-69 from Plateau Station (WAP USA-13).

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TNX Bob Hines K4MZU for having shared this very rare QSL with us!

Lion Airfield, Antarctica, WAP FRA-NEW

Lion Island  66° 39′ 32″ South, 140° 00′ 53″ East  is  small rocky island 0.2 mi NNE of Petrel Island in the Geologie Archipelago. It was surveyed and named by the French Antarctic Expedition of  1949-51 under André Liotard. The name derives from the rock summit of the island which has the shape of a lion’s head.
As for the Lion Runway, it is an artificial creation undertaken in the 1980s, which saw the destruction and the subsequent leveling of several islets in the Pointe-Géologie archipelago with dynamite,  to connect them together and create an airstrip, at a time when environmental standards were not the same as today.

Cuvier Island and  Lion Island  which were only 250 mts and 150 mts respectively to the North, the Pollux and Zeus islets as well as the Buffon Islands (two rocky islands 150 mts  to the East), disappeared under the earthworks of the Lion track.
Pollux Islet a rocky islet in the Pointe-Géologie archipelago (Adelie Land) and Zeus were themselves two rocky islets in the same site;  Zeus islet had the bad idea of ​​being located in the axis of this track, between the Pollux islet, 100 mts to the Northwest, and the smallest of the Buffon islands, 100 mts to the southeast. Lamarck Island,  a rocky island located 250 mts away to the southeast of Pétrels Island in the fateful  NW-SE alignment of Cuvier, Lion and Buffon in the central part of the Pointe-Géologie archipelago, was spared by the construction of the Lion trail.
The first work began in January 1983. A committee of wise people responsible for studying the ecological impact of the track recommended to the French government to stop the work at the beginning of 1984. This same committee recommended resuming construction of the track, considering that the project would only have a slight impact on the animal species living on site, resulting in only a 10% drop in fertility. Work resumed in November 1987 was completed on February 12, 1993. The excavations made it possible to create a dike connecting these islets separated by shallow arms of the sea, the whole constituting a track 1,100 mts long. A volume of 700,000 m3 of rocks were torn up during the operation.
In 1993, a huge heavy storm caused irreparable damage to the roadway, and the airfield was never operational but the site still has structures and buildings that serve  as depot, simply due to the fact that it’s quite close to DDU

At that time, the TAAF wishes to entrust the operation of the runway to the airport services company Sofrévia, but the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) which sent technicians on site at the end of the work, issues a report unfavorable to the opening of the airfield. In question, the quality of the aggregates whose diameter is likely to constitute a danger for the reactors and propellers of large aircraft. Furthermore, the Air Force cannot makes iys planes available for qualification tests due to its participation in the Gulf was which monopolizes its resources. On January 26 and 27, 1994, a storm hit Pointe-Géologie. Giant waves break over the islands, the wind blows at 160 km/h with peaks of 200 km/h. This storm directly affects the runway, creating a breach 300 mts   long and 15 mts wide, which makes the runway unusable. The head of the TAAF research mission, Bernard Morlet, states that this damage is not attributable to a fault in the construction of the runway but to a lack of maintenance work, postponed as a cost-saving measure.

On September 21, 1994, the Minister of the Environment Michel Barnier formalized in the Council of Ministers the abandonment of the Adélie land trail.

Now, it will be quite possible that a couple of days operation by David Brunet FT4YM  could take place from what currently is the Lions Airfield on Lion Island, sometimes during the 2024-2025 summer campaign.
Stating the over reported evidences, maps, pictures and description,  Lion Airfield at 66° 39′ 32″ South, 140° 00′ 53″ East  on Lion Island, on Pointe-Géologie archipelago (Adelie Land), will enter on WAP-WADA Directory as  WAP FRA-NEW.
If/when David FT4YM will operate from there, a WAP reference number will be given.

Finger crossed though and GL to David for a possible activation of this “New One”!
TNX Mehdi F5PFP and David F4FKT/FT4YM

WAP Antarctic Bulletin # 303

HI Folks,

WAP Antarctic Bulletin nr. 3Ø3 of June 6th 2024 edited by Max IK1GPG and Betty IK1QFM is online here on WAP website.

Chasers car read it directly from this spot (Click on 3Ø3 above) or go to the “Antarctic Bulletin” dedicated page  at http://www.waponline.it/wap-antarctic-bulletins/  where you can get all the WAP Bulletins pubblished so far. The 1st WAP Antarctic Bulletin was pubblished 23 years ago,  exactly on 10 febr. 1991!
Thanks for following us, thanks for loving Antarctica as much as we do.

Antarctica: approaching the new season

Not too much to report from Antarctica at this time of the year  The White Continent is actually in the deep winter,  waiting the 2024-2025 Summer Antarctic Campaign.

QSLs from the still active Russian Bases have been printed and are now coming to the chasers, while at Concordia Dome C (WAP MNB-Ø3) the chief of the Base, Gabriele Carugati IU2LXS must be very busy as no one has ever heard him on air.
Since there is no news of  “On Air” activity from Radio Amateurs overwintering in the various all year round Stations , let’s console ourselves with some interesting photographs sent us by our friend David Brunet F4FKT/FT4YM who will be operational again from Antarctica during the next coming summer campaign 2024-2025.

David is now learning CW and I’m sure he will get a chance to operate Morse code as well, even if SSB will remain his best operative mode.

Here below the sites where David did operate from:
Antarctic Campaign 2022-23
FT4YM/P: Base Concordia
FT4YM: Base Dumont d’Urville
FT4YM: Base Robert Guillard – Cap Prud’homme
FT4YM/Mobile: Raid#3-ICORDA 2023

Antarctic Campaign 2021-22
FT4YM/P: Base Concordia , Antarctica
FT4YM/P: Base Little Dome C , Antarctica
VK0/FT4YM/P: Base Casey , Antarctica
IA0/FT4YM/P: Base Mario Zucchelli , Antarctica

While waiting the good time, WAP thanks David for joining us;  we are really pleased to share the good recalls.
TNX David FT4YM

Antarctica and Uruguay- Exploring Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1)

El País is a national Uruguayan daily newspaper one of the most important source of information in  Uruguay. It is based in the capital city of Montevideo and is regarded as the newspaper with the largest circulation in the Country. It was first published on September 14, 1918 and previously belonged to the same media group as the television network Teledoce.  and  an important newspaper il Uruguay.

Recently, El Pais has pubblished a series of articles about Antarctica, an interesting work carried out in collaboration with the Instituto Antártico Uruguayo (IAU) and the Ministerio de Defense Nacional.

WAP is happy to share the first one which starti with a trip on the Hercules plane and a view of the Artigas Base inside. Fly with us and enjoy the trip.

To get to Antarctica from Uruguay you need to make two flights on a Hercules Air Force plane. After eleven hours you arrive at the Teniente Marsh Airport, close to the Artigas Base, the only access to King George Island by air.
Uruguay has two Bases in Antarctica: Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1) and Teniente de Navió Ruperto Elichiribehety Station (WAP URY-NEW).
Artigas Base is the most popular and has the greatest presence of people: in summer about 50 people can live there while in winter only eight live there. Scientists and the military coexist in this place where the development of science is the priority. Uruguay is present in the area and has been part of the Antarctic Treaty for 40 years. El País traveled to Antarctica in February 2024 to learn first-hand how the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base works, who travels to that place, why Uruguay has a presence and how people live on this Continent.

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Thanks and credit to: Istituto Antartico Uruguayo and El Pais

 

Refugio Aeronaval “Capitán Estivariz”  (WAP ARG-NEW)

The “Capitán Estivariz Aeronaval Refuge”,  is located on Watkins Island in the Mikkelsen islands group (see a note below)  within the Argentine Antarctic Sector.  In the 1955-1956 Antartic Campaign, an intense hydrographic activity on the South Shetland Islands was achieved. To support the scientific activities (mainly aerial photographic survey of the entire western coastal area of the Antarctic Peninsula above 65º South, was carried out).
A Shelter located at 66°23′ South, 67°13′ West was built on a small islet between the southwest coast of Watkins Island and Belding Island, and opened on February 29, 1956. The Icebreaker ARA General San Martín did participate in its construction during the 1955-1956 Antarctic campaign.

The Refuge Hut was named in honor of Captain (C) Eduardo Aníbal Estivariz, of the Argentine Navy, who did contribute to the success of the Argentine revolution of 1955 and who was killed in an aircraft accident. The Argentine Captain Estivariz Air-Naval Refuge in Antarctica, is managed by the Argentine Navy.  In the early 1960s the Shelter, consisted of a wooden building was occupied in the summers of 1955-1956 and 1956-1957, with provisions for three people for three months.

Note:
Watkins Island    is a low lying, ice-covered island 5 miles (8 km) long, lying 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Lovoisier Island, one of the Briscoe Islands. The island was first mapped by the French Antarctic Expedidition under Jean-Baptiste Charcot (1903–05 and 1908–10), but remained unnamed until resighted in 1934–1937 by the  Rymill, who gave the name Mikkelsen Island in honor  of the Danish Arctic explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen,. In applying the name, Rymill was unaware of the existence of Mikkelsen island, 75 miles (121 km) southwestward, named in 1908–1910 by Charcot. To avoid confusion of the two, the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) recommended in 1952 that the Rymill naming be amended. The new name, Watkins Island, commemorates Gino Watkins, leader of the British AntarcticAir Route Expedition(1930–1931).

WAP is still in search of a picture of Refugio Aeronaval “Capitán Estivariz”  and will be grateful to anyone who can find one and send it for our archive. Thanks a lot in advance!

Hobart’s role in Antarctic Exploration

People may not be aware of the historical richness of Hobart in Tasmania in relation to Antarctica. Most of the greats of Antarctic exploration had a connection to this town. Biscoe, Dumont D’Urville, Ross, Bernacchi, Borchgrevink, Weddell, Mawson, Amundsen, Franklin, Furneaux, Crozier and others. As a staging point for Antarctic expeditions, Hobart was in an ideal position and is still today one of the Antarctic gateway cities. Not everyone used it though and Scott and Shackleton never came here but they still had some connections to it.
The author of this article tells  one story from its rich history. Roald Amundsen is probably most famous for being the first to reach the South Pole in the ‘race’ against Robert Falcon Scott. Tragically, Scott and his companions died in their attempt. While they were still trudging through the snow, Amundsen had completed his mission and returned to his base camp, boarded his ship, Fram, and headed back to Hobart.
On his trek to the Pole, Amundsen slept in a small, cramped tent with his companions, while the Antarctic winds battered it from all sides, but I don’t recall him ever complaining. However, when he arrived back in Hobart on the 7th March, 1912, after his epic adventure he described his hotel room as ‘miserable and small’. He wrote in his diary that he was treated as a tramp.
This wasn’t so surprising when you consider that he didn’t announce his arrival, was wearing a seaman’s sweater, peaked cap, speaking with a foreign accent and perhaps looking worse for wear after 99 days of trekking in the ice. To the owners of Hadley’s Hotel he looked like someone who might skip out without paying but they gave him a cramped room under the stairwell anyway.
The next day Amundsen went to have photographic plates developed and sent a coded telegram to his brother to give to the King of Norway announcing his success in reaching the Pole. A few days later when the news reached the media his hotel lobby was crowded with reporters. He was no longer the foreign tramp but Amundsen the great explorer. A thanksgiving service was held for him in the cathedral opposite the hotel and boat races held in his honour. Amundsen hosted a dinner for his entire crew at Hadleys and his earlier treatment was forgiven and forgotten.
If you go today to the Grand Mercure Hadleys Hotel you’ll find the Amundsen Suite, a grand double suite, which is nothing like the small room Amundsen actually spent a few nights in.

Thanks and credit to Robert Evans at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2212798205/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=10163721019658206

Horseshoe Island Base  (WAP GBR-14)

The Base “Y” at Horseshoe Island  (WAP GBR-14) was established by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in 1955. Its position,  Latitude 67° 48′ South, Longitude 67° 17′ West,   located on Sally Cove, Horseshoe Island, Bourgeois Fjord, Marguerite Bay This was part of the push to increase UK scientific activity ahead of International Geophysical Year, 1957-58, with a number of bases opened during this period.

Horseshoe Island Base “Y”  did open on 11 March 1955 and closed 21 August 1960 when personnel were transferred to Stonington Island  Station  “E”  (WAP GBR-Ø5). Reopened briefly from 7 March 1969  through  11 July 1969  to complete local survey work.

VP8DLM operated by Mehdi F5PFP  was active from this rare site on March 2011, giving many of the Antarctic hunters a real “New One”!

Now Horseshoe Island Base “Y” stands almost fully equipped from the time it was in service and is the destination of polar cruises as it’s often included in the programs of polar tourism as it has been open as a museum for tourists and scientists.
Base Y is visited by over 2,500 visitors every year despite its remote location away from the main travel routes. The site was used occasionally by BAS personnel on field trips from Rothera (Station “R”, WAP GBR-12). It was cleaned up by BAS in 1995 and designated Historic Site and Monument no. 63. Managed by UKAHT since 2014.

Thanks and credit to: UKAHT – Horseshoe

Read more on: Base Y from the 1950s turns into museum | Polarjournal

 

Polish Refuges in Antarctica (WAP POL-NEW)

Polish Demay Refuge  provide limited accommodation capacity for  4 people with field medical kit available during summer for emergency use. The scientific use, is subject to the permission of the appropriate authority. The refuge (wood hut) is situated on a flat marine gravel terrace in Paradise Cove between Demay Point and Uchatka Point, ca 10 km from Arctowski Station (WAP POL-Ø1) . The refuge can be reached both by Zodiac and by foot. It is located within the Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA No.128

Demay Refuge (Poland) WAP POL-NEW, Paradise Cove, Admiralty Bay, King George Island Lat: 62°13’South,   Long: 58°26’30” West  

Lions Rump Refuge  
Accommodation capacity for  4 people with field medical kit available during summer for emergency use. The refuge (wood hut) is situated on a flat marine gravel terrace on the western shore of King George Bay near Lions Rump (ca 35 km from Arctowski Station). The refuge can be reached only by Zodiac. It is located near the boundry of the Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA  No 151)

Lions Rump Refuge (Poland) WAP POL-NEW, Lions Rump, Martello Tower, King George Bay,  King George Island. Lat: 62°06´South   Long: 58°05´West  

Both Refuges are visited yearly by Polish researchers… We always hope one day or another someone can be “On Air” from one or both this two rare spots, as they seems not so difficult to activate!

David FT4YM ready for another Antarctic campaign

Probably,  the old days, those in which CW and SSB were the best expression of the world of Amateur Radio will never come back, but fortunately, there are still young people that, to the most modern digital transmission/reception techniques (such as FT4/FT8, in which is the PC that makes QSOs), those youngs prefere the traditional ways, those that truly have the charm that takes you inside!

Well, David Brunet F4FKT-FT4YM, despite being relatively young,  must be one of the old fashioned Hams; we met him “On Air” during his past two seasons in Antarctica where he gave many radioamateurs the pleasure of several QSOs including a couple of “New Ones”.

WAP has recently received  a mail from David  on which he express his appreciation for our Antarctic website: “I relive good memories as I read her lines, emotions arise and fingers frozen too” was his comment!
David said he should go back to Antarctica this year  with a little better equipment: “Yes it is a chance to go, quite hard to transmit after work; I have the pleasure to give pleasure to the OM who have the chance to hear me and especially to answer me. I would not fail to inform you via Mehdi F5FPF

Wonderful to know that David  will be again in Antarctica and for sure, Hams worldwide  will be pleased to log FT4YM again, perhaps from some “New Ones”.  For now, while waiting the season to come,  WAP and the thousand  of Antarctic chasers wish David a great time  on the Ice!

TNX and good luck  to David Brunet F4FKT/FT4YM

Base Petrel  (WAP ARG-17) Argentina builds  its most modern Antarctic Base

Petrel Base opened in 1967 but has been used as a temporary summer base since 1976, after a fire destroyed its main accommodation building. Petrel Base (WAP ARG-17) is one of the Argentine research stations located  on the Antarctic Peninsula. Established as a permanent research station in 1967, it has been a temporary base since 1978, housing scientists only part of the year. Petrel Base is found on Dundee island, among Graham Land’s Joinville island group.

The project that involve the build of a totally renewed structure on Petrel Base was conceived by the Tandanor shipyard,  a building with several modules, with a total of 800 square meters covered, and weighing 300 tons, The material arrived at the Petrel Base aboard the Icebreaker Almirante Irízar  last February 2024.

A team of engineers from the Argentine Army was deployed this summer to Antarctica to assemble the new habitable house of Petrel Base, a set of thousands of pieces, bolts, nuts and washers of 300 tons of steel , which was designed and built by the Tandanor state shipyard to tolerate the climatic challenges of the white continent.
The project is a multi-module building of which the foundations were installed during last year’s Antarctic campaign, while this year progress is being made on the first habitable structures.

José Luis Oca, the naval and mechanical engineer, head of the infrastructure sector of the Infrastructure and Construction Directorate of Tandanor did sail to Petrel Base, to coordinate the first stage of construction last January.

Oca said that, what they are developing in Petrel is the habitable house that will be occupied by the scientists and the personnel who provide service in each campaign- Iit’s a structure of six modules of which the foundations were placed and, this summer, the first is planned to be built: a construction of 800 square meters covered.

The New Petrel structure took into account all the technological innovations of recent decades and all the scientific knowledge about the climatic and geographical conditions of Antarctica that was produced at this time. We also studied the projects of Countries that built Antarctic bases in recent years.

The head of the Joint Antarctic Command, Brigadier General Edgar Calandín, told Télam that the tasks of supporting science and technological developments carried out in our bases and in collaboration with Antarctic programs of other Countries are an exercise of sovereignty; The progress in the recovery of  Base Petrel materializes a new gateway to the Argentine Antarctic Sector, which is much more than a logistics point because, in addition to being able to operate with planes and ships, it will have the most modern infrastructure to function at the same time.

“We are also building new physical foundations for the presence in Antarctica, while the construction of the new buildings at the Petrel Base progresses, an initiative to develop the new infrastructure of Carlini  (WAP ARG-2Ø) and Brown (WAP ARG-Ø2) Bases  “University’ in Antarctica” through agreements so that the young people who winter at the Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) can study there, taking some content in person and others remotely, and that this mechanism of study can also be used by the crews of other bases in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula,” he highlighted.

Today Argentina is redesigning its Antarctic policy and that will materialize shortly with a new Antarctic policy directive, which has research, development and evolution as its center of gravity, this will allow us to finalize a new master plan of evolution with a search for cooperative integration of all state agencies as an expression of sovereigntyconcluded Calandín.

TNX and credit to: Argentina builds its most modern Antarctic base in Petrel – (agendamalvinas.com.ar)

 

Antarctica learns its “Religious Tourism” options

Antarctica, a Continent of all of us who inhabit this planet, has temples surrounded by ice and snow that can also be visited. 60 cruise ships surround yearly the white Continent, some of those departures will offer the tourists to see its chapels. The women and men who are in Antarctica live their faith in a very special way in chapels belonging to the different installed bases.

Battered by climate change, the native organisms of this continent include a myriad of types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, the true inhabitants of its landscape. However, decades of research around the latter, including its organisms, has established a more or less standard population scattered throughout many of its corners, and in order to make sense of the world, even there, and even among science, there is a need for faith, there is a need for religion, there is a need of prayer.
Among the ice in all its forms, in addition to more ice, there are some Churches. They are few, but each one more curious! One of the southernmost buildings in Antarctica is, curiously, a religious building. Let’s think about the St. Ivan Rilski Chapel, the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world. Located at the Bulgarian Research Station, San Kliment Ohridski Base (WAP BUL-Ø1) on Livingston Island, in the South Shetland, it has been the first Orthodox temple on the Icy Continent and the southernmost until the construction of St. Vladimir’s Chapel at Ukraine’s Vernadsky Base (WAP UKR-Ø1) in 2011.

It is not only its location, but also its peculiar shape that catches the eye: St. Ivan Rilski Chapel it’s a small trapezoidal building measuring 3.5 meters by 12 meters made of red metal that rests on small pillars.

Built in 2003, among its features a bell donated by Nikola Vasilev, former deputy prime minister of Bulgaria, who worked as a doctor at the base between 1993 and 1994, also a cross donated by Bulgarian artist Dicho Kapushev, an icon of Jesus Christ betrothed by Bulgarian artist Georgi Dimov and an icon of St. John of Rila donated by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.

But, Did you know that Argentina built the first church in Antarctica?
Although it is not the site where the first mass of the “White Continent” was organized, it is the oldest Catholic temple. Touring the facilities of the huge Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) which Argentina has managed since December 17, 1952, a visitor can’t avoid to see the structure of the first church in Antarctica. This small temple, known as “St. Francis of Assisi Chapel” has stood at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula for almost half a century and still surprises those who observe it for the first time. Currently, it is part of the small list of Catholic churches in Antarctica and preserves some very important religious objects, which were given as donations from Pope Francis in the last decade.

The first church in Antarctica is the colorful Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, which opened its doors on February 18, 1976. At that time, its priest was the Jesuit Buenaventura De Filippis, who was born in Italy and spent an important part of his life at the Esperanza base in Argentina. And, curiously, this chapel was also the place where, two years after its inauguration, the first religious wedding in Antarctica was organized.

The first Mass in Antarctica was celebrated on February 20, 1946 and was organized by the Jesuit Felipe Lerida, in the Stella Maris Chapel of Argentina’s Orcadas Base (WAP ARG-15). After the Mass, the priest sent a telegram to Pope Pius XII: “First Mass celebrated. Cross erected”. But, for the next 30 years, the continent continued without Catholic temples on its territory.

Thanks and credit to:Las iglesias más australes del mundo están en la Antártida (elconfidencial.com)  and ¿Sabías que Argentina construyó la primera iglesia de la Antártida? – Billiken

Ranui Cove Coastwatchers Hut (WAP NZL-Ø9)

Ranui Station (aka North Hut-Ranui lookout hut) located at Port Ross on  Auckland Island at 50°32’3Ø” South, 166°15’4Ø” East was maintained by a Team of 4-5 men from 1941 until 3 June, 1945. The first recruits came from the NZ Post & Telegraph Service, but from 1942 scientists were included. Various scientific work took place from wildlife research to detailed meteorological observations. During 1944-45, a survey party led by Flight Commander Allan Eden undertook the first full topographical survey of the Auckland Island group. The complex, included a base hut, ancillary huts, long drops, radio masts, landing areas, and tracks hidden in the rata forest, out of sight from the sea. The hut itself is located just below the ridge above the base and provides a clear view of all the entrances to Port Ross. At first, private messages were restricted to bereavement or other urgent matters, but later each man was allowed to send and receive two personal messages annually. The only news of the outside world was that heard over standard domestic radio, and other morse code transmissions picked up by the radio operators.

The remains of the Old Ranui Station is located on the outer reaches of Port Ross, hidden in the back of a small cove.

ZL9/K8VIR  &  ZL9DX did operate from Ranui Cove (WAP NZL-Ø9)  in the year 1997 …. Maybe it’s time for some others DX-peditionners to try again, isn’t it?

Thanks and credit to:  Second World War lookout huts (doc.govt.nz)


A bit more of history;
During the Second World War, the New Zealand War Cabinet were concerned enemy ships might anchor in the subantarctic islands where each harbour could have been a potential refuge for enemy vessels,  and actioned the “Cape Expedition”.
The Cape Expedition program was to build three Stations to keep watch for enemy vessels; two on Auckland Island and one on Campbell Island. The coastwatchers were stationed at each for 12 months at a time and were to contact New Zealand by radio if any vessels were seen.  Prefabricated 3m square huts of weatherboard construction with bitumen roofs were shipped to the Auckland Island in 1941. One was built at Port Ross in the North and the other at Carnley Harbour on the South end of the island.
Radio contact was kept to a minimum to avoid detection, and transmissions were largely in morse code. Contact was made with the other stations and the Awarua mainland radio station every 24 hours. This was increased to two plus a weather schedule in 1942, and then four from 1943. If enemy ships were sighted personnel were to alert the mainland by radio, and retreat to emergency huts.

Philatourism; Arctic, Antarctica, Space … and more

Radio amateur’s passion is often linked to “Philately”, especially that which recalls the Arctic and Antarctica but also,  always in terms of radio contacts, also to the Space as in the case of the International Space Station RSØISS.
The soul and creator of this particular passion is Valery Ivanovich Sushkov RMØL who has been pursuing for years this important initiative with determination.
A hobby or a passion?
One thing is certain: collectors from all over the world are attracted by this trend, which contains cultural and scientific implications  .

On April 18, 2024 at the Ryazan Museum of Travelers  in Ryazan city,  a special cancellation solemn ceremony of postal issues in the “Great Russian Travelers” line took place. Under the press of philaturism was attended by signatories: outstanding Russian traveler, Honorary polar explorer, Mikhail Georgievich Malakhov Hero of Russia, Alexander Nikolaevich Kapitanov Director of the Ryazan Travelers Museum, author and director of the project “Great Russian Travelers”,  travel researcher, postal historian, winner of the “Geographical Oscar”, author of the term “philaturism” presented by “Bottle Mail”, “Traveller’s Mail” and “Polar Mail“, which include postcards, vignette stamps and a special postmark,  Valery Ivanovich Sushkov RMØL and students at one of the secondary schools in Ryazan.

Also, Valery Sushkov, in that ceremony, awarded Mikhail Georgievich Malakhov with a table medal named after Admiral Peter Ricord, associate and friend of Ryazan Vasily Golovnin, for his outstanding contribution to the development of the Far East in the field of studying and developing the recreational potential, historical, geographical, natural and cultural heritage of the Far East and the Arctic Russian Federation, as well as a certificate of honor from the project “Great Russian Travelers.

The purpose of the historical-geographical, scientific-educational, film-publishing, tourism-local history and memorial Project “Great Russian Travelers” is the revival of the traditions of Russian travelers in research and discovery, the popularization and promotion of tourism and postal business, highlighting their contribution to the economy of Russian society and the development of ties between the peoples of different countries.

Read more at: В г. Рязани прошла церемония спецгашения почтовых выпусков «Великие русские путешественники. Под призмой филатуризма: В.М. Головнин, М.И. Венюков и М.Г. Малахов» | Русское географическое общество (rgo.ru)

Petrel’s Chapel  has got light

Thanks to the efforts of the staff actually on Petrel Base (WAP ARG-17) , the small Chapel of “Santo Cura Brochero” has  been equiped with electricity.

The Chapel which was previously not equipped with a power line, is named after Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero (16 March 1840 – 26 January 1914), a Catholic priest who suffered leprosy throughout his life. He is known for his extensive work with the poor and the sick. He became affectionately known as “the Gaucho priest” and the “cowboy priest”.
He was beatified on 14 September 2013 after a healing was recognized as a miracle attributed to him. Cardinal Angelo Amato, on the behalf of Pope Francis, presided over the beatification.

Another miracle under investigation was approved in 2016 and a date for canonization was approved in a gathering of cardinals on 15 March 2016. 

Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero  was canonized as a Saint on 16 October 2016.

TM21AAW (WAP-353) another great goal by F8DVD

We must say that the 1st edition (2004) of the  Antarctic Activity Week  did see the participation of the first French station  TMØANT (WAP-ØØ8) a  Team operated by LYON DX GANG ASSOCIATION.

François Bergez F8DVD have never lost a single edition of the AAW since 2005 when he did sign TM8ANT (WAP-14)!  Now , the 21th  edition  (2024) of the AAW was again a lot of fun fot  with 6272 contacts in 153 DXCC countries, was the comment by  François (TM21AAW)  , who have just shown his new QSL printed for the event.

The picture on TM21AAW’s card, shows the Ukranian Antarctic Akademic Vernadsky Station (WAP UKR-Ø1) located at 65˚14′ South, 64˚15′ West, Marina Point on GalindezIsland in the Argentine islands Archipelago.  The Faraday British Research base was established there in 1947 and transferred to Ukraine in 1996.

QSL for TM21AAW is actually on print with Alfio IT9EJW; as soon as the cards will be ready, direct and buro requests will be mailed.
TNX François  F8DVD

What say? WAP congratulates François for his continuous presence in the AAWs and always for the great score of QSOs and again for his wonderful card!

Hovgaard Island Camp site (New entry on WAP WADA Directory as MNB-NEW)

Antarctica shows often some interesting “secrets” which we are pleased to reveal. This time we are discovering Hovgaard Island which is sometimes visited by groups or particular hikers who appreciate its beauty. On those occasions, a “Field Camp” is installed and who knows… maybe one day even an expedition of radio amateurs will give us the pleasure of this “New One“.

is an island 6 km (3 nmi) long, lying at 65°07’ South, 64°04’ West, off the northwest coast of Kyiv Peninsula, 2.8 km (1.5 nmi) southwest of Booth island  in Antarctica. Hovgaard  island that forms the western side of the Lemaire Channel  is part of the Wilhelm Archipelago

It was discovered and named “Krogmann-Insel” (Krogmann Island) by the German 1873–74 expedition under Eduard Dallmann, but the name Hovgaard, after Polar explorer and officer of the Danish Navy Andreas Hovgaard applied by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition 1897–99, under Gerlache, has overtaken the original name in usage. The name Krogmann Point has been given to the western extremity of Hovgaard Island.

Hovgaard Island is a popular location for camping in Antarctica among Expedition groups due to the presence of a relatively flat campsite along Penola Strait. Campers dig “snow graves” to sleep in. The holes offer protection from the wind.

The shoreline of Hovgaard can be a bit tough, but once on shore, the island is gently sloping smooth rock and snow.

 

On the island , there is  cache weighed down with heavy rocks and also anchored to the ground with cables. The cache is located up high on weathered stone where it is unlikely to be troubled by snow or ice during the winter. The cache contains emergency supplies  for trapped ship-wrecked expedition; inside will be timed food, fire supplies and  a tent.

For the meantime, Hovgaard Island Field  Camp , 65° 07’ South, 64° 04’ West,  Wilhelm Archipelago, Antarctic Peninsula has been add to the   as WAP MNB-NEW

Chilean Isla Gonzalo, WAP CHL-21

Gonzalo Island (56° 31’ 15” South, 68° 42’ 40” West), is a Sub-Antarctic island, uninhabited except for a Weather and Research Station (WAP CHL-21) operated by the Chilean Navy. With an area of 38 hectares (94 acres), Gonzalo is the second largest island of the Chilean Diego Ramirez Archipelago after Bartolomè island. The archipelago lies in the Drake Passage between the continents of South America and Antarctica.

The Diego Ramírez Archipelago is a group of small Chilean islands and islets, located about 100 km southwest of Cape Horn and 93 km SSW of the Ildefonso Islands, in the Drake Passage, about 790 km NNW of the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica). They comprise about 8 km. from north to south, reaching latitude 56º32.2′ South and can be considered the southernmost point of the American Continent, the land closest to the Antarctic Territory.

Gonzalo Island was activated  from 15 through 17 January 2021 by  CE9/PA3EXX  and CE9/VE3LYC

 

Approaching to the Chilean Antarctic territory is the Gonzalo island  Lighthouse (ARLHS CHI 020, CHI-020, CHI 020 , aka Diego Ramírez Islands Lighthouse), after the end of the American continent in one of the most important areas stormy of the world, projecting Chile towards Antarctica.

The Chilean lighthouses are the most important constructions of the national network of national navigation aids, which have the purpose of allowing safe and expeditious navigation of ships along authorized national routes.

This network is basically made up of 960 lighthouses and beacons, 135 buoys and 133 electronic equipment, installed from the maritime limit leading to Concordia, to the Chilean Antarctic Territory.

For operational, logistical and administrative purposes, it is administered at the national level by the “Maritime Signaling and Navigation Aids Service”, dependent on the General Directorate of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Navy, DIRECTEMAR. In turn, this network is served by five Zonal Maritime Signaling Centers, located in the ports of Iquique, Valparaíso, Talcahuano, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas.

The important mission of the Diego Ramirez Island Lighthouse
Maritime signaling not only helps Chilean-flagged vessels, but also contributes to internationally navigated vessels being made by the endowment of lighthouse keepers who fulfill isolated periods of 6 months in those remote territories.
The Work of the lighthouse keepers is carried out in isolation and maintenance communication via satellite and radio, maintaining control tasks of maritime traffic and carrying out an important work of effective sovereignty in our national territory. 
Supporting Extreme temperatures, wind gusts of 200 kilometers per hour and a temporary constant, are part of the usual conditions, in which These men must perform their tasks between sea and solitude.
The Naval servers that fulfill these tasks have to be self-sufficient, highly prepared in state-of-the-art technology at the same time time they must learn to master cooking, maintenance and temperance, enduring the harsh isolation in that remote territory.
The Logistic support of the aforementioned distribution is organized from the Zonal Center of Maritime Signaling of Punta Arenas, where They prepare the elements and naval servers that are destined to the task, coordinating with surface and naval means of the Third Naval Zone for the development of refueling and relays of personnel.

TNX: Armada de Chile