Climate of extremes - Antarctica: Global Science from a Frozen Continent - page 117

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30 E

30 W

60 W 60 E

80 S

90 W

90 E

120 W

120 E

60 S

150 W 70 S 180

Figure 4.14 Map of Antarctic surface winds. These winds blow from the highest areas of

the continent towards the coast and are channelled into regions of strong winds at several
areas around the coast. (Credit: T. R. Parish and D. H.Bromwich)

Box 4.3 Drifting snow and Antarctic research stations

Blowing and drifting snow is still a concern for present Antarctic scientists. The
presence of any structure in an area of blowing snow will result in a disruption of
the wind and lead to areas of snow accumulation. This snow accumulation can
bury buildings, making them uninhabitable. This problem occurs at many
Antarctic research stations. The United States base at the South Pole had
occupied a dome-like building for many years, but eventually this dome was
slowly buried by accumulating snow and has now been replaced by new
buildings. The British station Halley has had a similar problem of being buried
by the accumulating snow year after year. Halley has been rebuilt six times, with
each station built on the snow surface lasting less than 10 years before being
buried and becoming uninhabitable. The newest Halley Station is built of
modules on skis that allow the buildings to be towed to new locations as snow
accumulates around them.