Halley Research Station

Halley Research Station is a British research station in Antarctica. It is on the Brunt Ice Shelf, which is a floating sheet of ice on the coast of the Weddell Sea. The station is run by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

Halley Station is used for studying the atmosphere, climate change, and space weather. It is famous because scientists there discovered the ozone hole in 1985.^[1]

The first Halley Station was built in 1956 for the International Geophysical Year in 1957–1958. Since then, six versions of the station have been built because the ice shelf moves and snow covers the buildings over time. The six Halley Stations are:

1. Halley I (1956–1967)

• Built in 1956.
• Located directly on the ice.
• Got buried by snow and was abandoned in 1967.

2. Halley II (1967–1973)

• Built near the first one.
• Also became buried under snow and ice.
• Closed in 1973.

3. Halley III (1973–1983)

• Designed with steel frames and better insulation.
• It lasted longer than the first two but still became snow-covered.
• Abandoned in 1983.

4. Halley IV (1983–1991)

• Built using modular design.
• Used special materials to resist snow pressure.
• Lasted until it was too buried and closed in 1991.

5. Halley V (1990–2012)

• Placed on stilts to reduce snow buildup.
• Modules could be moved.
• Used for over 20 years before being replaced.

6. Halley VI (2012–present), the current station.

• Made of bright blue, modern modules.
• Each module is on hydraulic legs with skis, so it can be moved if the ice cracks.
• Designed to cope with extreme cold, snow, and the moving ice shelf.
• Can support around 70 people in summer and about 16 in winter.
• Moved several times due to cracks in the ice shelf.

Halley Research Station is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf, which is part of the coast of Queen Maud Land in Antarctica. The ice shelf is a thick sheet of ice that floats on the ocean. Halley is not on solid land — it is built on moving ice, which slowly flows toward the sea at about 400 meters (1,300 feet) per year.

Because the station is on floating ice, it must be carefully monitored. Cracks, called ice chasms, often appear in the ice. These can be dangerous and may cause parts of the ice shelf to break off into the ocean. That is why Halley VI was built with legs and skis, so it can be moved to a safer location if needed.

The station is far from other research stations and has no nearby towns or cities. The nearest station is Neumayer-III Station (Germany), which is also on the coast of the Weddell Sea, but still hundreds of kilometers away.

Halley Station has an extreme polar climate. It is one of the coldest places on Earth. The Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) can be seen from Halley Research Station during the polar night there, where the Sun doesn't rise above the horizon at all.

• Temperatures often drop below −50°C (−58°F).
• There is no sunlight for several months (polar night).
• Blizzards and strong winds are common.
• Ice and snow build up quickly.

• Temperatures are still cold, usually between −10°C and −25°C (14°F to −13°F).
• The sun shines 24 hours a day (midnight sun).
• Most of the scientific research is done during this time.
• Helicopters and planes can fly to the station more safely.

The air is very dry, and the wind can make it feel even colder. This is called the wind chill effect. Even in summer, the snow never melts. Halley gets very little snowfall each year, but snow builds up over time because it does not melt away.

Scientists at Halley study:

• Ozone layer and the ozone hole
• Space weather and the Earth's magnetic field
• Climate change
• Snow and ice conditions

• Halley VI is the world’s first relocatable polar research station.
• The ozone hole was discovered here in 1985.
• In some years, the station is closed during winter due to ice cracks and safety concerns.

1. ↑ "Halley Research Station". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 2008-01-13.