Fossil Bluff: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Fossil Bluff Hut.jpg|thumb|The Hut at Fossil Bluff, Antarctica]] |
[[File:Fossil Bluff Hut.jpg|thumb|The Hut at Fossil Bluff, Antarctica]] |
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| ⚫ | [[File:Kg hut new view.jpg|thumb|The buildings at Fossil Bluff. From the left, the garage, 'tescos' which is a food store, an old tow-able 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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'''Fossil Bluff''' is a [[British Antarctic Survey]] forward-operating station. The bluff is a collection of buildings and facilities, at the centre of which lies the hut. |
'''Fossil Bluff''' is a [[British Antarctic Survey]] forward-operating station. The bluff is a collection of buildings and facilities, at the centre of which lies the hut. |
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Fossil Bluff is a forward facility for refuelling aircraft and is operated by [[Rothera Research Station|Rothera station]] during the Antarctic summer season between October and March. There is a 1200 m unprepared snow runway (skiway) marked by drums 1 km south of the station. |
Fossil Bluff is a forward facility for refuelling aircraft and is operated by [[Rothera Research Station|Rothera station]] during the Antarctic summer season between October and March. There is a 1200 m unprepared snow runway (skiway) marked by drums 1 km south of the station. |
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| ⚫ | [[File:Kg hut new view.jpg|thumb|The buildings at Fossil Bluff. From the left, the garage, 'tescos' which is a food store, an old tow-able 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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[[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] aircraft ferry drums of fuel from Rothera to Fossil Bluff each summer to maintain the size of the fuel depot. The station is 90 minutes flying time from Rothera. 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. |
[[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] aircraft ferry drums of fuel from Rothera to Fossil Bluff each summer to maintain the size of the fuel depot. The station is 90 minutes flying time from Rothera. 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. |
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Revision as of 07:37, 14 September 2015
Fossil Bluff is a British Antarctic Survey forward-operating station. The bluff is a collection of buildings and facilities, at the centre of which lies the hut.
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 1500 m. Immediately to the west lies Giza Peak (which can be seen in the second image).
Fossil Bluff is a forward facility for refuelling aircraft and is operated by Rothera station during the Antarctic summer season between October and March. There is a 1200 m unprepared snow runway (skiway) marked by drums 1 km south of the station.
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft ferry drums of fuel from Rothera to Fossil Bluff each summer to maintain the size of the fuel depot. The station is 90 minutes flying time from Rothera. 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.[1] [2]
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Silent Sound - Book Review".
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help)M. R. A. Thompson (2005). "A Book Review of The Silent Sound". Antarctic Science. 17: 569–570. doi:10.1017/S0954102005213007.