Dome A

Dome A, also known as Dome Argus, is the highest ice dome on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Located deep in the interior of East Antarctica, it is the highest point on the Antarctic Plateau, with an elevation of about 4,093 meters (13,428 feet).

Dome A is one of the most remote and least-known places on Earth. It is located roughly midway between the Geographic South Pole and the coast. The climate is extremely cold and dry, with very low wind speeds. This makes it a "pole of cold" and a "polar desert." The lowest surface temperatures ever recorded by satellite were found in the region of Dome A, with temperatures believed to reach below -90 °C (-130 °F).^[1]

The unique conditions at Dome A make it a prime location for scientific research, particularly for astronomy and ice core drilling.

• Astronomy: The high altitude, lack of weather, and extremely dry air create a perfect environment for observing stars and space. The atmosphere is very stable, which allows telescopes to get clear images. At winter at polar night, the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) was also often visible there.
• Ice Core Drilling: The very low snowfall and stable conditions at Dome A mean that the ice layers built up over thousands of years are very well preserved. Scientists are drilling deep ice cores here to study Earth's past climate.

China has established a research station, Kunlun Station, at Dome A to support these scientific efforts.

1. ↑ Scambos, T. A.; Campbell, G. G.; Pope, A.; Haran, T.; Muto, A.; Lazzara, M.; Reijmer, C. H.; Van Den Broeke, M. R. (2018). "Ultralow Surface Temperatures in East Antarctica From Satellite Thermal Infrared Mapping: The Coldest Places on Earth". Geophysical Research Letters. 45 (12): 6124–6133. Bibcode:2018GeoRL..45.6124S. doi:10.1029/2018GL078133. hdl:1874/367883.