Ellsworth Station
Encyclopedia
The Ellsworth Station was an Antarctic
base established by the United States
during the 1957 International Geophysical Year
. The base was soon handed over to Argentina and subsequently abandoned and covered with ice in 1962.
, the base was Located on the western coast of the Weddell Sea
over Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf
. The exact site was originally planned for Cape Adams
, but when the terrain proved impractical due to huge ice cliffs, an alternate location in Gould Bay
was selected.
The station was built by naval personnel under the command of Captain Finn Ronne
, with the support of the icebreakers USS Staten Islands
and USS Wyandot
. It was commissioned on February 11, 1957, and was handed over to Argentine Instituto Antártico Argentino
on January 17, 1959. With the handover, the United States government gave the buildings, facilities, and all existing food supplies whilst Argentina committed to provide the logistical and administrative services necessary for the continued operation of the base. It was agreed that scientists of both countries would work together at the base in technical studies and scientific research.
During its operation a number of experiments and observations were carried out involving meteorology
, radiation
, measurement of carbon dioxide
from the air, ionospheric observations of cosmic rays, and studies to the Filchner Ice Shelf.
On January 6, 1962 Captain Hermes Quijada of the Argentine Naval Aviation
flew from this base to the South Pole
. On December 30, 1962 the base closed; it was eventually covered by ice and disappeared.
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
base established by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 1957 International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
. The base was soon handed over to Argentina and subsequently abandoned and covered with ice in 1962.
History
Named after the American explorer Lincoln EllsworthLincoln Ellsworth
Lincoln Ellsworth was an arctic explorer from the United States.-Birth:He was born on May 12, 1880 to James Ellsworth and Eva Frances Butler in Chicago, Illinois...
, the base was Located on the western coast of the Weddell Sea
Weddell Sea
The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. The easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha Coast, Queen Maud Land. To the east of Cape Norvegia is...
over Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf
Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf
The Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, also known as Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf, is an Antarctic ice shelf bordering the Weddell Sea.-Description:...
. The exact site was originally planned for Cape Adams
Cape Adams
Cape Adams is an abrupt rock scarp marking the south tip of Bowman Peninsula and forming the north side of the entrance to Gardner Inlet, on the east coast of Palmer Land in Antarctica. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition , 1947–48, under Ronne, and named by him for Lt....
, but when the terrain proved impractical due to huge ice cliffs, an alternate location in Gould Bay
Gould Bay
Gould Bay is a bay located at the junction of Filchner Ice Shelf with the northeast corner of Berkner Island, in the southern Weddell Sea. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition , 1947–48, under the leadership of Commander Finn Ronne, U.S. Navy Reserve, who named this bay for...
was selected.
The station was built by naval personnel under the command of Captain Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne
Finn Ronne was a U.S. Antarctic explorer.-Background:Finn Ronne was born in Horten, in Vestfold county, Norway. His father, Martin Rønne , was a polar explorer and served in Roald Amundsen's successful expedition to the South Pole...
, with the support of the icebreakers USS Staten Islands
USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278)
USCGC Staten Island was a United States Coast Guard . Laid down on 9 June 1942 and launched on 28 December 1942, the ship was commissioned on 26 February 1944, and almost immediately afterward transferred to the Soviet Union, under the Lend Lease program, under the name Severny Veter, which...
and USS Wyandot
USS Wyandot (AKA-92)
USS Wyandot was an named after Wyandot County, Ohio. She served as a commissioned ship for 20 years and 1 month.Wyandot was laid down on 6 May 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract at Oakland, California, by the Moore Dry Dock Co.; launched on 28 June 1944, acquired by the Navy and...
. It was commissioned on February 11, 1957, and was handed over to Argentine Instituto Antártico Argentino
Instituto Antartico Argentino
The Instituto Antártico Argentino is the Argentine federal agency in charge of orientating, controlling, addressing and performing scientific and technical research and studies in the Antarctic....
on January 17, 1959. With the handover, the United States government gave the buildings, facilities, and all existing food supplies whilst Argentina committed to provide the logistical and administrative services necessary for the continued operation of the base. It was agreed that scientists of both countries would work together at the base in technical studies and scientific research.
During its operation a number of experiments and observations were carried out involving meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
, measurement of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
from the air, ionospheric observations of cosmic rays, and studies to the Filchner Ice Shelf.
On January 6, 1962 Captain Hermes Quijada of the Argentine Naval Aviation
Argentine Naval Aviation
The Argentine Naval Aviation is the naval aviation branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands...
flew from this base to the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
. On December 30, 1962 the base closed; it was eventually covered by ice and disappeared.
External links
- Ellsworth at Marambio.aq