Fossil Bluff

Fossil Bluff Station
Antarctic base
The Hut at Fossil Bluff, Antarctica
Location of Fossil Bluff in Antarctica
Fossil Bluff Station
Location of Fossil Bluff in Antarctica
Coordinates: 71°18′41″S 68°19′25″W / 71.311515°S 68.323540°W / -71.311515; -68.323540Coordinates: 71°18′41″S 68°19′25″W / 71.311515°S 68.323540°W / -71.311515; -68.323540
Country  United Kingdom
Location in Antarctica George VI Sound
Palmer Land
Administered by British Antarctic Survey
Established 20 February 1961 (1961-02-20)
Elevation 92 m (302 ft)
Population
 • Total
  • Up to 6
Time zone UTC-3 (ART)
Type Seasonal
Period Summer
Status Operational
Fossil Bluff
Summary
Airport type Private
Location Fossil Bluff
George VI Sound
Elevation AMSL 302 ft / 92 m
Coordinates 71°19′46″S 68°16′01″W / 71.329333°S 68.267000°W / -71.329333; -68.267000
Map
Fossil Bluff
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
Snow

Fossil Bluff is a seasonal British aircraft refuelling station located on the northwest coast of Antarctica. In operation since 1961, its facilities provide fuel, storage, and ancillary support for British exploration and operations during the summer season, October through March. The site is adjacent to a natural, north-south travelling route along the George VI Ice Shelf.

Located in Palmer Land, Antarctica, the bluff is a collection of buildings and facilities, at the centre of which lies the hut.

Geography

Fossil Bluff hut sits at the foot of a scree-covered ridge overlooking George VI Sound which separates mountainous Alexander Island from Palmer Land. George VI Ice Shelf occupies the sound and provides a north-south route for travelling parties except in high summer when the ice shelf's surface is flooded with meltwater. To the west and north-west lie Planet Heights, an extensive range of mountains rising to over 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). Immediately to the west lies Giza Peak and the snow-free Promenade Screes. The Screes are criss-crossed with pathways, and are frequently the destination of short walks from the nearby field station.[2]

Purpose

Fossil Bluff is a forward-operating facility for refuelling aircraft and is operated by Rothera station during the Antarctic summer season between October and March. There is a 1,200-metre (3,900 ft) unprepared skiway marked by drums 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of the station.

De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft ferry drums of fuel from Rothera Research Station to Fossil Bluff each summer to maintain the size of the fuel depot. The station is 90 minutes flying time from Rothera Research Station. It is used extensively as a jumping-off point for further operations into Antarctica. The next 'traditional' stop for the Twin Otters is Sky Blu, 85 minutes away.

Fossil Bluff houses four people in comfort but is normally operated by two to three.

The base has been in use intermittently since 20 February 1961. Occupied during the winters of 1961, 1962, and 1969–75, it has been used every summer since 1975. The first people to overwinter in 1961 were Cliff Pearce and John Smith (meteorologists) and Brian Taylor (geologist) who carried out a thorough and systematic investigation of the local geology.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Antarctic Facilities". COMNAP. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Promenade Screes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  3. ↑ Pearce, Cliff (2004). The Silent Sound: The Story of Two Years in Antarctica and the First Winter Occupation of Alexander Island. Book Guild Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85776-845-9.
  4. ↑ "The Silent Sound - Book Review". Missing or empty |url= (help) Thompson, M. R. A. (2005). "A Book Review of The Silent Sound". Antarctic Science. 17: 569–570. doi:10.1017/S0954102005213007.
The buildings at Fossil Bluff. From the left, the garage, 'Tesco's' which is a food store, an old towable caboose (now housing a full range of BAS camping equipment for use in the event of a fire), the generator shed with melt tank above (for water). The hut and then the meteo station. Giza Peak lies in the background.
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