Halley Research Station

Halley Research Station
Antarctic base
Halley VI Station
Halley VI Station
Location of Halley within Antarctica
Location of Halley within Antarctica
Halley Research Station
Location of Halley within Antarctica
Coordinates: 75°34′05″S 25°30′30″W / 75.568056°S 25.508333°W / -75.568056; -25.508333
Country United Kingdom
British Overseas TerritoryBritish Antarctic Territory
Location in AntarcticaBrunt Ice Shelf
Caird Coast
Administered byBritish Antarctic Survey
EstablishedJanuary 15, 1956 (1956-01-15)
Named forEdmond Halley
Elevation
[1]
37 m (121 ft)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Summer
70
 • Winter
17
UN/LOCODEAQ HLY
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Activities
List
  • Earth's atmosphere
  • Ozone hole
WebsiteHalley VI @ bas.ac.uk
Halley VI
General information
TypeModular
Opened5 February 2013 (2013-02-05)
Technical details
Floor area2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architecture firmHugh Broughton Architects
DeveloperBritish Antarctic Survey (BAS)
EngineerAECOM
Main contractorGalliford Try
Halley Skiway
Summary
Airport typePrivate
LocationHalley Research Station
Brunt Ice Shelf
Coordinates75°35′00″S 26°39′36″W / 75.583332°S 26.659999°W / -75.583332; -26.659999
Map
Halley Skiway is located in Antarctica
Halley Skiway
Halley Skiway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1,210 370 Snow
Halley Research Stations
Halley I1956–1967
Halley II1967–1973
Halley III1973–1983
Halley IV1983–1991
Halley V1990–2011
Halley VI2012–present
A balloon from NASA's BARREL program begins to rise over the brand new Halley VI Research Station, which had its grand opening in February 2013

Halley Research Station is a research facility in Antarctica on the Brunt Ice Shelf operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The base was established in 1956 to study the Earth's atmosphere. Measurements from Halley led to the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985.[3] The current base is the sixth in a line of structures and includes design elements intended to overcome the challenge of building on a floating ice shelf without being buried and crushed by snow. As of 2020, the base has been left unstaffed through winter since 2017, due to concerns over the propagation of an ice crack and how this might cut off the evacuation route in an emergency.

The Halley Bay Important Bird Area with its emperor penguin colony lies in the vicinity of the base.

  1. ^ a b Antarctic Station Catalogue (PDF) (catalogue). Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. August 2017. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-473-40409-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Halley Research Station". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Halley Research Station". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 2008-01-13.