New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme (NZARP) is a research program that operated a permanent research facility in Antarctica from 1959 to 1996. It was created by the New Zealand's Geophysics Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to assist with research in Antarctica, originally based out of Wellington
. NZARP promoted research in areas such as geochemistry
, zoology
, geology
, botany
, meteorology
, and limnology
.
Ground was broken for Scott Base
on 10 January 1957. Assembly of the base began 12 January, conducted by the eight men who first assembled the base in Wellington, and was completed by the 20th of January.
In 1959 NZARP was established to work with the Ross Dependency Research Committee in the Ross Dependency
(New Zealand's claim to a defined sector in Antarctica). In 1962, because of the important research being conducted, Scott Base became a permanent research station in Antarctica. NZARP was in charge of maintaining the base.
They hired people to act as field safety leaders and assist scientists during research projects.
When DSIR was broken up by to form the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) in 1992, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) took over the NZARP.
remains in Antarctica were discovered by New Zealander Peter Barrett, his finding eventually lending support to the theory of continental drift
. Two years later, in 1969, an NZARP party of six women became the first women to reach the South Pole
.
Some more of NZARP's discoveries include, Ball Glacier
, Atkinson Glacier
, Findlay Range
, Thomas Heights
, and Mount Bradshaw
.
took over NZARP. They now manage all of New Zealand’s Antarctic undertakings.
As of today, only three buildings remain from the original base. The New Zealand Antarctic Institute also manages other research facilities, in the McMurdo Sound
region, such as Arrival Heights laboratory, which does atmospheric research.
A two-story, 1800 square meter building was constructed in 2005, as a commissioned work by Antarctica New Zealand. This building, known as the Hillary Field Centre, provides an area for cargo receipt and issue, general and refrigerated storages, offices, gym, briefing and training rooms, and field equipment maintenance among many other uses. Because of this new building, New Zealand’s science and environmental programs have been able to expand and improve through the years.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. NZARP promoted research in areas such as geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, 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...
, and limnology
Limnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
.
Mission
The mission of NZARP was to provide support for a variety of scientific fieldwork in Antarctica. Members worked as researchers, assistants, tour guides, operators, and administrators to Scott Base.History
NZARP began as a proposal by the New Zealand government, in 1953, for a research base in Antarctica.Ground was broken for Scott Base
Scott Base
Scott Base is a research facility located in Antarctica and is 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...
on 10 January 1957. Assembly of the base began 12 January, conducted by the eight men who first assembled the base in Wellington, and was completed by the 20th of January.
In 1959 NZARP was established to work with the Ross Dependency Research Committee in the Ross Dependency
Ross Dependency
The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south...
(New Zealand's claim to a defined sector in Antarctica). In 1962, because of the important research being conducted, Scott Base became a permanent research station in Antarctica. NZARP was in charge of maintaining the base.
They hired people to act as field safety leaders and assist scientists during research projects.
When DSIR was broken up by to form the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) in 1992, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research or NIWA , is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. Established in 1992, NIWA conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences...
(NIWA) took over the NZARP.
Accomplishments and Expeditions
In 1967 the first tetrapodTetrapod
Tetrapods are vertebrate animals having four limbs. Amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are all tetrapods; even snakes and other limbless reptiles and amphibians are tetrapods by descent. The earliest tetrapods evolved from the lobe-finned fishes in the Devonian...
remains in Antarctica were discovered by New Zealander Peter Barrett, his finding eventually lending support to the theory of continental drift
Continental drift
Continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other. The hypothesis that continents 'drift' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912...
. Two years later, in 1969, an NZARP party of six women became the first women to reach 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...
.
Some more of NZARP's discoveries include, Ball Glacier
Ball Glacier
Ball Glacier is a glacier long with the head located between Mount Lister and Mount Hooker on the east side of the Royal Society Range. The glacier flows northeast between Craw Ridge and Tasman Ridge into Blue Glacier...
, Atkinson Glacier
Atkinson Glacier
Atkinson Glacier is a glacier between Findlay Range and Lyttelton Range, Admiralty Mountains, flowing northward into Dennistoun Glacier. Named by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1983 after William Atkinson, field assistant, New Zealand Antarctic Division, mechanic with the New...
, Findlay Range
Findlay Range
Findlay Range is a range lying parallel to and west of Lyttelton Range, extending between Grigg Peak and Sorensen Peak in the Admiralty Mountains, Victoria Land. Named by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee after Robert H...
, Thomas Heights
Thomas Heights
Thomas Heights is a line of summit ridges that extend from Bettle Peak Eastward to the Scott Coast, Victoria Land. The feature forms a portion of the divide between the lower ends of Ferrar Glacier and Blue Glacier. Named by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1983 after Arthur A...
, and Mount Bradshaw
Mount Bradshaw
Mount Bradshaw is a mountain peak, high, at the northeast side of the névé of Leap Year Glacier, northwest of Ian Peak, in the Bowers Mountains. It was named by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1983 after J.D...
.
Present Day
In 1996, The New Zealand Antarctic Institute, also known as Antarctica New ZealandAntarctica New Zealand
Antarctica New Zealand is an Institute set up by the New Zealand Government in 1996 to manage its interests in Antarctica and the Ross Sea. As well as providing logistics support to a large scientific programme, it also runs bases such as Scott Base...
took over NZARP. They now manage all of New Zealand’s Antarctic undertakings.
As of today, only three buildings remain from the original base. The New Zealand Antarctic Institute also manages other research facilities, in the McMurdo Sound
McMurdo Sound
The ice-clogged waters of Antarctica's McMurdo Sound extend about 55 km long and wide. The sound opens into the Ross Sea to the north. The Royal Society Range rises from sea level to 13,205 feet on the western shoreline. The nearby McMurdo Ice Shelf scribes McMurdo Sound's southern boundary...
region, such as Arrival Heights laboratory, which does atmospheric research.
A two-story, 1800 square meter building was constructed in 2005, as a commissioned work by Antarctica New Zealand. This building, known as the Hillary Field Centre, provides an area for cargo receipt and issue, general and refrigerated storages, offices, gym, briefing and training rooms, and field equipment maintenance among many other uses. Because of this new building, New Zealand’s science and environmental programs have been able to expand and improve through the years.