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Ghost Base in Antarctica: Exploration Without People
Research base Halley VI, located on the Antarctic Brunt Glacier, continues its scientific activities despite the fact that a few months ago people were evacuated there.
Located in the conditions of eternal winter among the blocks of ice, the station is intended for people to live all year round. But as a result of the formation of cracks on the shelf of the glacier, the researchers agreed on the process of closing the station for a dangerous period, characterized by low temperatures. According to well-established traditions, similar institutions, after the evacuation of employees, for the sake of safety, cease research activities. But in the case of Halley V, things are different. The station is not planning to close. Research will continue at its own pace.
Scientists from BAS (British Antarctic Survey) reported that the base performs standard functions. Halley VI measures ozone levels, records climate changes and monitors space weather. Actions are carried out without the presence of a person. The innovation became possible thanks to a useful development: autonomous energy system that supplies the station with electricity for the uninterrupted operation of research equipment. Scientists have named the technology "Ghost Base".
The main driving force of the system is a microturbine located in a special container with stable temperature indicators. Receiving energy from an autonomous fuel dispenser, the turbine is capable of supporting the operation of an entire research base. It should be noted that the turbine runs 24 hours a day for nine months without any maintenance. Thanks to this, the station transmits 1 GB of information every day. Thus, British scientists receive data from meteorological and atmospheric instruments in time.
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Located in the conditions of eternal winter among the blocks of ice, the station is intended for people to live all year round. But as a result of the formation of cracks on the shelf of the glacier, the researchers agreed on the process of closing the station for a dangerous period, characterized by low temperatures. According to well-established traditions, similar institutions, after the evacuation of employees, for the sake of safety, cease research activities. But in the case of Halley V, things are different. The station is not planning to close. Research will continue at its own pace.
Scientists from BAS (British Antarctic Survey) reported that the base performs standard functions. Halley VI measures ozone levels, records climate changes and monitors space weather. Actions are carried out without the presence of a person. The innovation became possible thanks to a useful development: autonomous energy system that supplies the station with electricity for the uninterrupted operation of research equipment. Scientists have named the technology "Ghost Base".
The main driving force of the system is a microturbine located in a special container with stable temperature indicators. Receiving energy from an autonomous fuel dispenser, the turbine is capable of supporting the operation of an entire research base. It should be noted that the turbine runs 24 hours a day for nine months without any maintenance. Thanks to this, the station transmits 1 GB of information every day. Thus, British scientists receive data from meteorological and atmospheric instruments in time.
Read also: Default setting: Google two-phase authentication will change