Mese: Dicembre 2018

To the researchers and personnel actually involved in Antarctica, to the scientific Organizations and Managers to whom we request to continue the research programs as a WW goal, to the Antarctic enthusiasts, to the students, to the Hams on the Icy Continent trying to set antennas and Radio to give us the emotion of a real DX, to our followers all over the world,  WAP Staff wish Happy New Year 2019!

The final miles of a nearly two-month race across Antarctica, a lonely effort marked by long days, short nights and stunning endurance, ended Wednesday with a sprint to the finish.

In what could go down as one of the great feats in polar history, the American Colin O’Brady, 33, covered the final 77.54 miles of the 921-mile journey across Antarctica in one final sleepless, 32-hour burst, becoming the first person ever to traverse Antarctica from coast to coast solo, unsupported and unaided by wind.

Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/sports/antarctica-race-colin-obrady.html

Colin O’Brady finishes solo Antarctic trek

https://youtu.be/i-3d5i7S3H0

Here below some Christmas Wishes sent from researcher and personnel actually in Antarctica.

We are so grateful to all of those people, Nations and Organizations who are spending their time away from home and families, studying the Antarctic life and its secrets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To them all, Very Merry Christmas

 

Years ago, we have thought about an International Antarctic Program,  not belonging to a person, to a Group of people, nor to a Society or a Club. What we were looking for, was something belonging to the Radio Amateurs and friends, to studends and  chasers who enjoy dealing with the 6th Continent, with Antarctica , well, we succeded!  

We  are pleased to share with you all, our enthusiasm and passion, stay with us and enjoy WAP … Worldwide Antarctic Web site since 1979!

Belarusian Antarctic Station  67° 39’ 30” South, 46° 09’ 12” East,  Mount Vechernyaya,  Enderby Land,  East Antarctica.(WAP BLR-NEW)

The Republic of Belarus joined the Antarctic Treaty in 2006 and, in that same year, approved the national program for Polar research which is called “Monitoring of Earth’s Polar areas and ensuring activity of the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions for 2007­­-­2010 and for the period until 2015”. Soon after, in 2008, it ratified the Environmental Protocol.

In 2015, the national Antarctic program of the Republic of Belarus was accepted as the 30^th Member of COMNAP. From December 2015 through January 2016, the first portion of the national research station, a three-section module for control, communication and navigation, was assembled in Antarctica.                 Watch a video here

Belarus and Russia are building strategic partnership in Antarctica:  Belarusian and Russian polar explorers will carry out a joint research project during the 11^th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition in 2018-2019, Alexander Klepikov, head of the Russian Antarctic expedition, Deputy Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, said at a meeting with senior officials of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on last 8 August, BelTA learned from the NASB press service.

Let’s hope that,  at the Belarus Base someone can operate HF on the Ham bands to give Radioamateurs  all over the world, a chance to work a New Base down in Antarctica!

Thanks to  Charles R. Wilmott, MØOXO for his excellent QSL service.
Cards for two special events to commemorate the Macquarie & Heard’s  7Ø^th Anniversary  have been received and did enter in the WAP showcase

VI7ØHI (WAP-288) is a Special Callsign issued to Commemorate the first ANARE Expedition to Heard Island in December 1947.

 

VI7ØMI (WAP-293) is a Special Callsign issued to Commemorate 70 years of ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) for Macquarie Island, which since 1947 have served Australia in the south polar regions.

Thanks the VK operators for putting both calls on the air, thanks MØOXO for his QSL service and thanks the Antarctic chasers all over the world for following the history of the Icy Continent … through the QSLs!

11 years ago, the 1^st participation to the Antarctic Activity Week by the  EA1CS’s Spanish Team, was one of the important presence, to promote Worldwide attention to the Icy Continent as a land of science and peace, to its wildlife, to the thousands of  studies that involve the entire worldwide community.  On the occasion of that  first EA’s AAW (11 years ago), the group will be “On the Air” again signing AO1WAP (WAP-137), from February 16 to 24, 2019.

The authorization has been received and the operators will be:
Juanjo EA1WX, Fernando EA1WK,  Javi EC1KV, Dani EB1LA, Carri  EA1CUB, Juan Carlos EA1AUM, Luis EA1CS.

QRV from 6 to 160mts ( +WARC ) CW, SSSB RTTY, PSK and sporadically FT8.

TNX EA1CS

Have a look at AO1WAP web site https://ao1wap.weebly.com/  and enjoy the coming AAW activity

Very sad news coming from Antarctica.
Two technicians performing maintenance at a U.S. research station died on Wednesday while working on a building that houses a generator for a nearby radio transmitter, the National Science Foundation (NSF) said.

The pair, both employed as subcontractors at the NSF-managed McMurdo Station in Antarctica, were found unconscious on the floor of the building after a helicopter pilot flying over the area saw what appeared to be smoke coming from the structure and landed to investigate.

One of the technicians was pronounced dead by medical personnel called to the scene. The other was pronounced dead a short time after being flown to the McMurdo medical clinic, the NSF said in a statement.

WAP express sincere sympathy to the families; our hearts are saddened by the loss; our thoughts and prayers are with you.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-antarctic-casualties/two-technicians-die-at-u-s-research-station-in-antarctica-idUSKBN1OC02G

South Africa’s Polar research vessel the SA Agulhas II departs for Antarctica on Friday. Fifty-eight scientists are on board and will spend 14 months on the icy continent; the Weddell Sea Expedition will conduct marine and glaciological research.

Environmental Affairs spokesperson Zolile Nqayi explains: “As part of the Antarctica Week which started on Monday until today, the SA Agulhas II departed to Antarctica.
There are a number of scientists who will be spending 14 months at our base in Antarctica where they’ll do research a number of areas needed for weather and environmental change.”

Reed more at: https://ewn.co.za/2018/12/07/sa-agulhas-ii-departs-for-antarctica

We remind the readers that any Polar Reseasrch vessels as well as Icebreakers and Polar Supply ships worked as M/M sailing the Antarctic& Sub Antarctic  waters will qualify for the WAP Antarctic Awards.

No information about a presence of Ham radio operators on board of SA Aghulas II on this Antarctic voyage.

Researchers and personnel of Polish Arctowski Station  (WAP POL-Ø1) in Antarctica  did celebrate the Antarctica Day on last Dec. 1^st .

The annual celebration was launched in 2010 to commemorate the signature of the Antarctic Treaty on December 1st, 1959, which defines the legal and political status of Antarctica. We are celebrating the peaceful aims of the treaty and its contribution to the independence of scientific research. We hope that educational events taking place  around the world will contribute to spreading the knowledge about the treaty and increase awareness of the needs to protect the vulnerable  Antarctic environment.

Antarctica Day is celebrated internationally on 1 December, marking the day of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959 when 12 Nations signed the Antarctic Treaty agreeing to 14 commands, including that Antarctica will be used for peaceful purposes only.  59 years ago, Antarctica became a continent dedicated to peace and scientific international collaboration. Today, Antarctica is seen as “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and Science”.