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Difference between revisions of "Byrd Station"
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[[File:Byrd-tunnel.jpg|thumb|Tunnel to the second incarnation of Byrd Station under the ice.]] | [[File:Byrd-tunnel.jpg|thumb|Tunnel to the second incarnation of Byrd Station under the ice.]] | ||
'''Byrd Station''' is a former research station established by the United States during the International Geophysical Year by the U.S. Navy during Operation Deep Freeze II in central [[Marie Byrd Land]]. | '''Byrd Station''' is a former research station established by the United States during the International Geophysical Year by the U.S. Navy during [[Operation Deep Freeze]] II in central [[Marie Byrd Land]]. | ||
The station was named in honor of American [[Antarctic]] explorer Admiral [[Richard E. Byrd]]. | The station was named in honor of American [[Antarctic]] explorer Admiral [[Richard E. Byrd]]. | ||
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In early 1996, the United States National Guard announced that the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, New York was slated to assume that entire mission from the United States Navy in 1999. The 109th operated ski-equipped LC-130s had been flying National Science Foundation support missions to Antarctica since 1988. The Antarctic operation would be fully funded by the National Science Foundation. The 109th expected to add approximately 235 full-time personnel to support that operation. The station was then converted into a summer-only field camp until it was abandoned in 2004-05. | In early 1996, the United States National Guard announced that the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, New York was slated to assume that entire mission from the United States Navy in 1999. The 109th operated ski-equipped LC-130s had been flying National Science Foundation support missions to Antarctica since 1988. The Antarctic operation would be fully funded by the National Science Foundation. The 109th expected to add approximately 235 full-time personnel to support that operation. The station was then converted into a summer-only field camp until it was abandoned in 2004-05. | ||
===Location=== | |||
While most research stations in Antarctica are placed along the coastal regions, Byrd Station is located far inland, but not near any mountains or other geographic features that might be of value to science. [[George R. Toney|George Toney]], the scientific leader at Byrd Station in the 1957, speculated that the reason for the camp’s inland location was that it was “spang in the middle of a huge unclaimed wedge of Antarctica where the United States might well launch a claim later on, if it came to that.” | |||
===Later plans=== | ===Later plans=== | ||
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==Climate== | ==Climate== | ||
In recent years the station has recorded a [[Global | In recent years the station has recorded a [[Global warming|warming trend]], with warming fastest in its winter and spring. This location, in the heart of the [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]], is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||