Aerial photograph of Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica.

Scott Base is a base located at 77°51′S, 166°45′E in Antarctica, operated by New Zealand. It was named after Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Royal Navy, leader of two British expeditions to the Ross Sea area of Antarctica. Located on Ross Island near Mount Erebus in the Ross Dependency, it is New Zealand's main base in Antarctica. It was set up as support to field research and the centre for research into earth sciences, but now conducts research in many fields. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 458 pixelsFull resolution (1878 × 1075 pixel, file size: 406 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Aerial photograph of Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica, Jan 2006. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 458 pixelsFull resolution (1878 × 1075 pixel, file size: 406 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Aerial photograph of Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica, Jan 2006. ... For other persons named Robert Scott, see Robert Scott (disambiguation). ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Map of Antarctica (click to enlarge) Ice in the Ross Sea, Antarctica The Ross Sea is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica between Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land. ... Map of Ross Island orthographic projection centred over Ross Island Ross Island is an island formed by three volcanoes in the Ross Sea by Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound at . ... Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost active volcano on Earth. ... Political status Dependency of New Zealand Governor Anand Satyanand Area   – Total  450 000 km² (174 000 mi²) Population Scott Base: 10-80 seasonally McMurdo Station: 200-1000 seasonally Currency New Zealand dollar The Ross Dependency comprises an area of Antarctica (and other land masses in the Southern Ocean) claimed by... Earth science (also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earth Sciences), is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. ...

Base history

Scott Base was constructed as part of the New Zealand Government’s contribution to the International Geophysical Year (IGY) project of 1957. New Zealand observers with the task of selecting the site for a base went to McMurdo Sound with the United States “Operation Deep Freeze I” in the summer of 1955. After evaluating many possible sites, Butter Point was chosen. This was later changed to Pram Point as it had better overland access. The International Geophysical Year or IGY was an international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Antarctica geography stubs | Geography of Antarctica | Ross Dependency ... Operation Deep Freeze I was the codename for a series of scientific expeditions to Antarctica in 1955–56. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Butter Point is a located in McMurdo Sound in Antartica. ... Pram Point is the location of New Zealands Scott base. ...

During the IGY the United States facility at Hut Point did not operate as a scientific base. It was the New Zealand expedition’s responsibility to furnish the important scientific data (auroral, ionospheric, seismic, etc.), linking the McMurdo area research activities with those of the United States Pole Station and the joint United States-New Zealand station at Cape Hallett, Victoria Land. Cape Hallett was the location of a scientific base in Antarctica. ... Categories: Antarctica geography stubs | Geography of Antarctica | Ross Dependency ...

Although the base was only intended to last several years, New Zealand has continued to operate Scott Base for scientific research, much of which depends upon the continuity of recorded data over a period of years. In order to maintain operations, a base rebuilding programme began in 1976. As of 2005, the only original building is the TAE hut, which contains material recording New Zealand's involvement in Antarctica since 1957. In 2005 the two-story high Hillary Field Centre was commissioned, increasing the floor area of Scott Base by 1800 square metres and providing work areas to support field parties as well as additional office space. The building was officially opened by Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Sir Edmund Hillary. 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Foreign Minister Phil Goff The Honourable Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953), generally known as Phil Goff, is the current Minister of Defence of New Zealand. ... Edmund Hillary on the New Zealand 5 dollar note Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (born July 20, 1919) is a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, most famous for the first successful climb of Mount Everest. ...

From 1957 until 1986, dogs played a part in base operations. Initially they were an essential means of transport, but with better technology their importance dwindled until they were removed in line with environmental treaties. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The base today

The base is made up of a neat collection of lime-green buildings which are linked by all-weather corridors. These buildings can accommodate 85 people over summer, with a skeleton staff of between 10 and 14 people remaining over the winter.

Like nearby McMurdo Station, Scott Base is connected to the global telephone network, and can be reached by dialing +64-2409 plus a four digit local number. McMurdo Station from Observation Hill. ...

Along with several other bases, it is operated by Antarctica New Zealand. It has an extensive scientific research program, focusing on the fields of Antarctic physical environments, the Southern Ocean and Antarctic ecosystems. [1] Antarctica New Zealand is a body founded by the New Zealand Government to manage its interests in Antartica. ...

The base has fairly typical weather conditions for Antarctica, with minimum temperatures around -45°C and summer maximums only occasionally above freezing point. It is exposed to the full strength of southerly blizzards, although overall it is less windy than McMurdo Station. The maximum wind velocities experienced have been gusts up to 185 km/h with steady velocities under blizzard conditions of 95–115 km/h. The highest recorded temperature was 6.0°C, the coolest -57°C and the mean temperature -19.6°C [2]. This article is about snowstorms. ...

See also

• List of Antarctica expeditions
• Marble Point
• McMurdo Station
• McMurdo Sound
• Mt Erebus
• Ross Ice Shelf
• Williams Field

Territorial claims of Antarctica List of Antarctica expeditions is a chronological list of expeditions involving Antarctica. ... Marble Points relatively flat terrain facilitated construction in 1957 of a now-defunct dirt airstrip. ... McMurdo Station from Observation Hill. ... Categories: Antarctica geography stubs | Geography of Antarctica | Ross Dependency ... Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost active volcano. ... Ross Ice Shelf in 1997. ... Williams Field is New Zealands principal airport in Antarctica. ...

External links

• Antarctica New Zealand homepage
• Scott base homepage
• Antarctic connection page
• Current weather at Scott Base
• Current webcam at Scott Base