Mese: Dicembre 2017

To the thousands of Antarctic friends & followers, to the Teams working actually in Antarctic Stations and remote camps, to those embarked  on Supply and Support Ships boarding the Icy Continent,   to any individual personnel involved in Antarctica away from home and family.

We are here one more time  facing new  Bases, new contacts, and lots of DX, with the same creativity, and dedication. To our shipmates, to our friends, supporters and their families, to those who love Antarctica as much as we do.

We hope the coming year brings you Happiness, Prosperity and Hope for the future. We wish our and your  families peace and harmony, health and  happiness and may the blessing of God be upon all of us.

Happy New Year from WAP Staff

Media caption heading to Antarctica by plane is the exception, not the rule. According to Chinese media, the country’s first commercial flight to Antarctica brought 22 lucky tourists to the exotic destination this weekend.
The trip is hailed as a milestone – but is it really? And what does it tell us about China’s geopolitical ambitions in the region?
Is it really a first?
Described in Chinese papers as the beginning of a new era in the country’s tourism to Antarctica, the trip took the select few from Hong Kong all the way to the actual South Pole.

That meant a 15-hour flight to South Africa, refuelling in Cape Town and then another 5.5 hours to Antarctica. From there, it’s another five to six hours to the pole, where the flight landed on a 2.5-km (1.5-mile) runway carved into the ice.

The Chinese tour operator describes the trip as a milestone, saying it means Chinese tourists no longer have to book via foreign agencies.

Despite the current example of a top-of-the-menu extravaganza all the way to the pole, most Chinese tourists of course take the normal route by cruise ship from South America. In fact, only 1% of tourists fly to the interior of the continent.

Read more at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-42388788

To the Antarctic friends, followers & Chasers

 

May the Christmas Night be full of happiness and Peace
Best of Season’s Greetings from the WAP Staff

From 2013 the “The Frozen Continent”  Certificate is released by IK3GER and it’s  free. It will be sent via email  (PDF or JPEG format file) to the Hams who request it to the Manager IK3GER: corsetti.paolo@libero.it 

 

The “THE FROZEN CONTINENT” award issued in 2 classes is  available OM/SWL who will be able to satisfy the conditions provided for class 1 or class 2.

The award is.

Class 1: at least 3 QSO/HRD with different stations based in Antarctica. Stations from the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney, South Shetlands and other Antarctic islands are not valid for the purpose of this award

Class 2: spell the words “THE FROZEN CONTINENT” by using the last letter of different Italian callsigns but excluding foreign operators operating portable in Italy. QSL from San Marino (T7), SMOM (1A0) and the Vatican (HV) are not accepted for this award

At least 1 QSO/HRD with a station based in Antarctica. Don’t forget that Stations from the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney, South Shetlands and other Antarctic islands are not valid for the purpose of this award. QSO/HRD validity 1.1.1985. Endorsement may by requested for SSB, CW, MIXED, DIGI etc. It is mandatory to send to the manager photocopy or scan of the QSL cards of the Antarctic stations only.

Just send your application by email to the award manager IK3GER and you will get the Award right away.

See also https://www.ik3ger.it/antarctica.html

TNX  Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER

From the unknown to scientific research, see how the mystery of Antarctic exploration has unfolded throughout the years.

For years, it had been speculated there was a continent at the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere, which was dubbed Terra Australis Incognita, Latin for  “unknown southern land”. But it wasn’t until the early 19th Century that humans actually reached Antarctica, and its extreme environment made exploring the continent a particularly daunting challenge. Here’s a timeline of the expeditions that amassed knowledge about the coldest continent.

 

Read more at: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/continent-7-antarctica/articles/an-antarctic-expedition-timeline/

Thanks and credit to: National Geographic

Igor SWL UA6-1082708, Award Manager of the DX Trophy Awards Group  informs WAP that  “DX TROPHY AWARDS GROUP” issues a new recognition to Hams  ho can prove  two-way radio communications with the Countries  that have Research Stations in Antarctica; this is  called  “АNTARCTIC NATIONS TROPHY”. Igor Makeev RA3QSY is the 1st one to get the Trophy

To get it,  the applicants need to work Bases of various Countries in Antarctica according to the list shown below.

The basic plaque is Bronze  available for working  5 different Countries , Silver  for 10 different Countries, Gold  for 15 different countries , HONOUR ROLL – 20 different Countries plus a plaque of Excellence for working 30 Countries + 1 Multinational all issued for different classes or different modes: CW, SSB & MIX

The applicants have to send scan QSL cards or screenshots LOTW/Club Log.

Upper part of  plaque is made by glass, the lower part is metal plate with a size of 250х200.

Plaque cost is  51$ or 47Euro

More info can be requested by e-mail to: mydxtrophy@gmail.com

Other trophies issued by the same Dx Trophy Awards Group  can be seen at:  https://mydxtrophy.wixsite.com/fjl-dx

 

List of Countries in Antarctica valid for Аntarctic Nations Trophy

R1* RI* ANR ANT		Novo Runway + other		8J1*-JA*		Japan
LU*Z		Argentina		D8*-DT*-HL*		South Korea
VKØ		Australia		PA*		Netherlands
OR		Belgium		ZL5*		New Zealand
PY		Brazil		LA*-3Y*		Norway
LZ*Ø		Bulgaria		OA*		Peru
VE*		Canada		HF°		Poland
CE9		Chile		4K1*-R1AN*-RI1AN*		Russia
BY*		China		ZS*		South Africa
OL*		Czech Republic		ECØ*-ED*		Spain
HC*		Ecuador		7S*-SM*		Sweden
OJ*-OH*		Finland		9VØ*		Singapur (bonus to list)
FB*-FT*		France		EN*-EM*		Ukraine
DP*-Y8*-Y90		Germany		VP8*		United Kingdom
AT*-VU*		India		KC4*		United States
II*		Italy		CXØ*		Uruguay

TNX  Igor, SWL UA6-1082708 Award Manager

Adventure marathoners and ultra athletes are always looking for the next big challenge. It could be a remote desert marathon, a high altitude mountain marathon or a jungle marathon. However, mainland Antarctica represents the last frontier, the final great wilderness to be conquered. And now adventure athletes like you can do it.

The 2017 Antarctic Ice Marathon took place at Union Glacier, Antarctica (WAP MNB-NEW) on 24^th November. Windchill temperatures were -25 C (-13F). Frank Johansen of Denmark won the men’s race in 3:37.46 while Kelly Allen McLay of the USA took the women’s title in 4:56.37. The Antarctic Ice Marathon is the southernmost marathon in the world and the only official marathon within the Antarctic Circle and on the continent of Antarctica.  staged from the South Pole.

The first event took place in January 2006 and a race has been organized every year since. It offers a unique opportunity for runners looking to complete marathons on each of the seven continents.
The fourteenth Antarctic Ice Marathon will be held on 13^th December 2018,  and  will take place at 80° South, just 600 miles from the South Pole at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains.

Source:  http://www.icemarathon.com/

 

The wind is again the protagonist in Antarctica. Not only as a driving force for the climate “, but also as a driving force of the first wind farm built in the Italian Mario Zucchelli  Station (WAP ITA-Ø1) at Baia Terra Nova, which since 1985 houses the scientific laboratory of PNRA, the National Program of Research in Antarctica, financed from the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) with the logistic implementation of ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development)  and the scientific coordination of the CNR (National Research Council).

Designed and built by ENEA, this first wind farm will exploit the strong katabatic winds to produce about 63 thousand kWh of electricity per year, with significant environmental and economic benefits thanks to annual savings of at least 24 thousand liters of fuel and almost 80 thousand euros in “bill”.

 

Read more at: http://www.enea.it/it/Stampa/news/antartide-enea-realizza-il-primo-impianto-eolico-per-la-base-italiana/

1st December 2017 – Antarctica Day falls on the anniversary of the adoption of the Antarctic Treaty, which took place on 1 December 1959.

The icy continent and its unique governance system is being celebrated around the world today, as the international community recognizes “Antarctica Day”’.

 

The Treaty has been a hallmark of international cooperation on the icy continent for well over half a century. Its success in promoting international cooperation on scientific endeavor and preventing conflict in the region is widely recognized.

The number of parties to the Treaty has grown to 53 today, reflecting the increasing international recognition of the scientific and environmental values of Antarctica. Many of these countries are working in Antarctica to understand key scientific questions, and cooperate on science and logistic support activities.

Read more at: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2017/happy-antarctica-day