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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the suspension
of all operations “not essential to the human safety and preservation of the
property”. This means that field and
research activities will be wrapped up as the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) shifts
into caretaker status.
Funds for the program will dry up on or about October 14,
2013 as a result of the absence of appropriation and the Antideficiency Act
just as the 2013-2014 summer austral program would have begun. Because much of
the USAP work is dependent upon seasonal windows of opportunity, it will not be
possible to restart many science activities for the remainder of the season. Researchers
typically study birds, climate, weather and more in the remote and harsh
climate.
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Typically the USAP Austral Summer Research Program receives
grant proposals from all over the country from aspiring scientists wishing to
conduct research on Antarctica during the continent’s warmest months. These
grants are supported by the NSF and administered through the Office of Polar
Programs. If an appropriation materializes soon the NSF will make every effort
to restore the scheduled 2013-2014 programs to the extent possible.
Typically, about 200 people are flown in to begin
preparations for the upcoming research season. The advance group has been
preparing the influx of people who come in during the middle of October which
is the beginning of the less cold season. Temperatures will only get to an
average high of 30° F in the
warmest month of the austral summer.
Published program categories for the austral summer include
Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Sciences, Earth Sciences, Glaciology, Ocean
and Atmospheric Sciences, Organisms and Ecosystems and Integrated System
Science. Additionally the Division of
Polar Programs supports the Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. There are
typically about 4,000 people from all over the world researching on Antarctica
during the austral summer. Most reside in one of three bases: McMurdo, Palmer and Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station. The research wraps up in the
beginning of February leaving behind a scant crew of 1,000 people before the
daylight begins to dwindle and the temperatures drop to and average low of -40° F. F stands for “frigid”.
Read more at Antarctica Online and
the United States Antarctic Program.
Icebreaker
ship on the ice in the sea photo via Shutterstock.
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