There has been a research station at the geographic South Pole since the mid-1950s. Due to Antarctica’s unique weather conditions, it had to be moved or replaced numerous times. Each version of the station has been named the Amundsen-Scott Station in honor of the leaders of the first two expeditions to reach the South Pole, in 1911 and 1912. The newest station, dedicated in 2008, is much larger, more technologically advanced, and capable of accommodating 150 researchers and support staff. The station is a prime example of international cooperation for the sake of research; started by the 12 original signatories to Antarctic Treaty (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States), South Pole research now includes 38 additional contributing countries. The facility offers singular opportunities to study climate as well as astrophysics and atmospheric composition.
Contributed by Fox Jamison
Course: Modern Global Environmental History
Instructor: Dr. Wilko Graf von Hardenberg
University of Wisconsin–Madison, US