An innovative base of operations for Antarctic research

Extreme cold, raging storms, and the seemingly endless Polar Night – the Antarctic is as dangerous as it is fascinating. Without the right gear, the ice desert is deadly; yet it also contains essential data for better understanding our planet. Accordingly, the Alfred Wegener Institute operates a research station in the Antarctic where scientists can live and work year-round. Since 2009 the Neumayer Station III, located on the Ekström Ice Shelf on the coast of the eastern Weddell Sea, has served as the base of operations for German Antarctic research.

Located only a few kilometres from her two predecessors, the station is also near Atka Bay. Initially intended as a fall-back position, the area chosen for the three stations has since proven its value, both scientifically and logistically. The sea ice is only minutes away by Skidoo, while icebreakers can drop anchor at the sea-ice edge, virtually on the station’s doorstep. In a region that is sparsely populated even by Antarctic standards, the observatories at the Neumayer Station III continue unparalleled time series reaching back to the 1980s. At the same time, year after year there are new research questions to pursue, and the station serves as a hub for researchers from a broad range of disciplines and every corner of the world. In addition, it offers a point of departure for expeditions to Antarctica’s hinterland.

To fulfil that role, however, the station has to weather harsh conditions – every day, the ice shelf shifts roughly 40 centimetres closer to the coast, which means it has a natural expiration date. At some point in the distant future, the ground beneath the station will also calve off as an iceberg. In addition, buildings in the Antarctic have to withstand a constant supply of fresh snowfall. Yet in this regard, the Neumayer Station III is optimally suited for the local climate – unlike its two predecessors, it was not built into the ice, ensuring it can’t gradually be crushed by snow masses. Instead, the station sits atop a platform above the snow’s surface and rests on 16 hydraulic struts, which are used to raise the entire station on a regular basis. In this way, it can grow in step with the snow cover, ensuring the platform always stays ca. six metres above the ice. This approach translates into a substantially longer service life – until 2035 and possibly beyond.

The Neumayer Station III is the largest and most comfortable station in the history of German Antarctic research. In the summer months, it accommodates roughly 50 researchers and staff. Unlike most other research stations in the Antarctic, nearly all working areas, accommodations and storerooms are centrally located under one roof. And when the station finally reaches the end of its service life, it can be dismantled down to the very last nuts and bolts, ensuring the traces of the research conducted in this unique and vulnerable region are kept to a minimum.

When it came to planning the Neumayer Station III, the extreme conditions in the Antarctic called for innovative designs. From foundation to roof, every detail has been designed to meet the requirements for conducting research in this unique region. You could almost say the engineers successfully squared the circle: a station installed on flowing ice that offers the same longevity and comfort as its counterparts on solid ground. Further, sustainability was and is a key priority – to the extent possible, the power generated within the station remains within a closed loop, ensuring it is put to optimal use.