Scientists of the 70th Russian Antarctic Expedition of the AARI began testing meteorological equipment at Vostok station to ensure autonomous observations at the Pole of Inaccessibility.
Scientists have begun testing special equipment that will allow them to collect weather data in one of the harshest and most inaccessible places on the planet – at the Pole of Inaccessibility station in Central Antarctica. Successful tests will pave the way for regular weather observations in this extreme climate.
“Meteorological observations at the Pole of Inaccessibility can only be carried out automatically,” explained the director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Alexander Makarov. “Here we need to take into account extreme low temperatures and the polar night, which lasts up to six months. Maintenance of the weather station, replacement of batteries and parts of equipment are possible only once a year, during the Antarctic summer, when the temperature rises to -40°C.”
Theoretically, the air temperature at the Pole of Inaccessibility may be lower than at Vostok station, which makes it possible to set a new record for the minimum temperature on Earth.
These tests are an important step in understanding the climate of Antarctica and could lead to new discoveries in the field of meteorology, enriching our knowledge of the coldest places on the planet.
Source: AAII Official Channel
Photo: Igor Idrisov
