Progress Station

Progress (Russian: Прогресс) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) research station in Antarctica. It is located at the Larsemann Hills antarctic oasis on the shore of Prydz Bay.

Progress Station

Прогресс
Central building of Progress Station in summer 2007
Progress Station
Location of Progress Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 69°22′25″S 76°22′18″E
Country Soviet Union
 Russia
Location in AntarcticaLarsemann Hills
Antarctica
Administered byArctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Established1 April 1988 (1988-04-01)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
  Total
  • Up to 80
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Websitewww.aari.nw.ru

The station was established by the 33rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition[1] on April 1, 1988 and was moved to another place on February 26, 1989[2] In 2000, work was temporarily halted but it reopened in 2003.

A landing field is located close to the station for air connection with other stations. From 1998-2001 works were performed to transfer transportation operations to Progress from the Mirny Station and make it the main support base for Vostok station.

In 2004, work began on a year-round facility at the station. On October 4, 2008, a fire broke out at the construction site resulting in the death of a construction worker and two serious injuries. The fire resulted in the complete loss of the new structure, as well as damage to the station's communications and scientific equipment.[3]

In 2013, the construction of a new wintering complex was completed. It is a residential unit with a sauna and gym, rooms for meteorologists and radio operators, a medical care unit which doubles as a regional hospital, and its own galley.[4]

Climate

Climate data for Progress Station
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)
0.0
(32.0)
−6.1
(21.0)
−9.5
(14.9)
−11.9
(10.6)
−10.6
(12.9)
−12.9
(8.8)
−12.5
(9.5)
−10.6
(12.9)
−7.9
(17.8)
−1.9
(28.6)
2.8
(37.0)
−6.5
(20.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
−2.6
(27.3)
−8.2
(17.2)
−12.0
(10.4)
−14.7
(5.5)
−13.8
(7.2)
−16.0
(3.2)
−15.9
(3.4)
−14.2
(6.4)
−11.5
(11.3)
−5.0
(23.0)
0.3
(32.5)
−9.4
(15.0)
Average low °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
−4.6
(23.7)
−10.0
(14.0)
−14.6
(5.7)
−17.5
(0.5)
−16.1
(3.0)
−19.1
(−2.4)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−16.1
(3.0)
−14.1
(6.6)
−7.7
(18.1)
−2.1
(28.2)
−11.8
(10.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 5.2
(0.20)
11.2
(0.44)
16.9
(0.67)
9.9
(0.39)
16.8
(0.66)
18.7
(0.74)
11.8
(0.46)
11.5
(0.45)
15.8
(0.62)
14.0
(0.55)
6.8
(0.27)
10.3
(0.41)
148.9
(5.86)
Average relative humidity (%) 60.9 59.5 62.2 59.5 59.0 58.8 58.1 58.1 59.9 58.9 58.9 60.4 59.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 347.3 180.1 118.4 77.6 14.0 0.0 5.8 66.1 124.0 228.5 332.7 365.8 1,860.3
Source: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute[5]

See also

Progress Skiway
Summary
Airport typePrivate
LocationLarsemann Hills
Elevation AMSL289 ft / 88 m
Coordinates69°25′51″S 76°19′55″E
Map
Progress Skiway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3,280 1,000 Ice

References

  1. (in Russian) Kapustin Arctica-Antarctica philatelia
  2. (in Russian) Progress Station at AARI website
  3. Sudhir Khandelwal. "FIRE ACCIDENT AT PROGRESS, THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATION". Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  4. http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1049555
  5. "Progress Station (89574)". Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.


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