Halley Research Station

{{Short description|Antarctic research facility on the Brunt Ice Shelf}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Halley Research Station | settlement_type = [[Research stations in Antarctica|Antarctic base]] | image_skyline = File:Halley VI Antarctic Research Station - Science modules.jpg | image_caption = Halley VI Station | flag_size = 110px | flag_border = no | pushpin_map = Antarctica | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Halley within Antarctica | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Halley within [[Antarctica]] | coordinates = {{coord|-75.568056|-25.508333|format=dms|region:AQ|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} | subdivision_type1 = [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] | subdivision_name1 = [[British Antarctic Territory]] | subdivision_type2 = [[List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands|Location in Antarctica]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Brunt Ice Shelf]]<br/>[[Caird Coast]] | subdivision_type3 = Administered by | subdivision_name3 = [[British Antarctic Survey]] | established_title = Established | established_date = {{start date|1956|1|15}} | named_for = [[Edmond Halley]] | unit_pref = Metric | elevation_m = 37 | elevation_footnotes =<ref name="comnap-catalogue"/> | population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes =<ref name="comnap-catalogue">{{cite report |type=catalogue |url=https://www.comnap.aq/s/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |title=Antarctic Station Catalogue |date=August 2017 |publisher=[[Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs]] |isbn=978-0-473-40409-3 |page=139 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022102847/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61073506e9b0073c7eaaf464/t/611497cc1ece1b43f0eeca8a/1628739608968/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | population_total = | population_blank1_title = Summer | population_blank1 = 70 | population_blank2_title = Winter | population_blank2 = 17 | population_density_km2 = | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | blank_name_sec1 = Type | blank_info_sec1 = All-year round | blank1_name_sec1 = Period | blank1_info_sec1 = Annual | blank2_name_sec1 = Status | blank2_info_sec1 = Operational | blank_name_sec2 = Activities | blank_info_sec2 = {{Collapsible list |bullets=on |Earth's atmosphere |Ozone hole}} | code1_name = [[UN/LOCODE]] | code1_info = AQ HLY | website = {{URL|bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/sites-and-facilities/facility/halley/|Halley VI @ bas.ac.uk}} }}

{{Infobox airport | name = Halley Skiway | ensign = | ensign_size = | ensign_alt = | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = | image-width =  | image_alt = | caption = | image2 = | image2-width =  | image2_alt = | caption2 = | IATA = | ICAO = EGAH | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | type = Private | owner-oper = | owner = | operator = | city-served = | location = Halley Research Station<br />[[Brunt Ice Shelf]] | opened =  | closed =  | passenger_services_ceased =  | hub = | focus_city = | built =  | used =  | commander =  | occupants =  | timezone = | utc = | summer = | utcs = | elevation-f = | elevation-m = | metric-elev = | coordinates = {{coord|75.583332 |S|26.659999|W|format=dms|display=inline}} | website =  | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Antarctica | pushpin_mapsize = 240 | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of airfield in Antarctica | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | r1-number = | r1-length-f = 1210 | r1-length-m = 370 | r1-surface = Snow | metric-rwy = | h1-number = | h1-length-f = | h1-length-m = | h1-surface =  | stat1-header = | stat1-data =  | stat-year = | footnotes =<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gcmap.com/airport/EGAH |title= Halley Research Station |website=Great Circle Mapper |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> }}

'''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.<ref Name="HalleyStation">{{cite web| title=Halley Research Station| publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]|url=https://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/index.php| access-date=2008-01-13}}</ref> 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.

==History== Halley Bay base was founded in 1956, for the [[International Geophysical Year]] of 1957–1958, by an expedition from the [[Royal Society]]. The bay where the expedition decided to set up their base was named after the astronomer [[Edmond Halley]]. Taken over by [[Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey|FIDS]] (subsequently BAS), it was designated as Base Z. The name was changed to Halley in 1977 as the original bay had disappeared because of changes in the ice shelf.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Halley (Station Z) |url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/about-bas/history/british-research-stations-and-refuges/halley-z/ |website=British Antarctic Survey |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

In 2002, BAS realised that a [[ice calving|calving]] event was possible which could destroy Halley V, so a competition was undertaken to design a replacement station. The current base, Halley VI, officially opened in February 2013 after a test winter.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/| title=12/13 Season – Official Launch & Demolition of Halley V| date=8 January 2013| access-date=4 May 2015| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223090254/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/| archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref> It is the world's first fully relocatable terrestrial research station.<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-2013>{{cite news| last1=Piotrowski| first1=Jan| last2=Broughton| first2=Hugh| title=Antarctic research: Resorting to skis| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/03/antarctic-research| access-date=4 February 2016| newspaper=[[The Economist]]| date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

On 30 July 2014, the station lost its electrical and heating supply during record low temperatures (as low as {{convert|-55|°C|°F|1}}), due to coolant leakage. Plans were made to evacuate some of the eight modules and to shelter in the remaining few that still had heat. Power was partially restored 19 hours later, but all science activities, apart from meteorological observations essential for weather forecasting, were suspended for the season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-28687841|title = Antarctic Halley Station lost power and heat at -32C|work = BBC News|date = 7 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="BAS">{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=2724| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808102331/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=2724| url-status=dead| archive-date=8 August 2014| title=Power-down at British Antarctic Survey Halley Research Station| publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/update-power-down-at-british-antarctic-survey-halley-research-station/|title = NEWS STORY: Power-down update}}</ref>

==The buildings== {{Infobox | navbar = off | headerstyle = background-color:#ccc; | labelstyle = background-color:#ddd; | header2 = Halley Research Stations | label3 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley I|Halley I]] | data3 = 1956–1967 | label4 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley II|Halley II]] | data4 = 1967–1973 | label5 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley III|Halley III]] | data5 = 1973–1983 | label6 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley IV|Halley IV]] | data6 = 1983–1991 | label7 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley V|Halley V]] | data7 = 1990–2011 | label8 = [[Halley Research Station#Halley VI|Halley VI]] | data8 = 2012–present }} As with the German [[Neumayer Station III]], the base floats on an [[ice shelf]] in the [[Weddell Sea]] rather than being built on solid land of the continent of Antarctica. This ice shelf is slowly moving towards the open ocean and, if not relocated, each base would eventually calve off into a drifting [[iceberg]].<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-Video-2013>{{cite news| last1=Piotrowski| first1=Jan| last2=Broughton| first2=Hugh| title=Researching Antarctica: Resorting to skis| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qbXH0RogWw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016080624/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qbXH0RogWw| archive-date=2013-10-16 | url-status=dead| access-date=4 February 2016| newspaper=[[The Economist]]| date=13 March 2013| format=Video}}</ref><ref name="Vice-Motherboard-HalleyVI-2015">{{cite news|last1=Ferreira|first1=Becky|title=This Antarctic Base Is More Remote Than the International Space Station|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-antarctic-base-is-more-remote-than-the-international-space-station/|access-date=4 February 2016|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Motherboard]]|date=23 February 2015}}</ref>

There have been five previous bases called Halley. Various construction methods have been tried, from unprotected wooden huts to buildings within steel tunnels. The first four all became buried by snow accumulation and crushed until they were uninhabitable.<ref name=BAS-pbah>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/?page_id=11| title=Previous bases at Halley| publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>

===Halley I=== * '''Built:''' 1956 ** '''1956:''' Main structure<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/images/halleyi.jpg| title=Halley Bay 1964-65| publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]| access-date=8 August 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520123501/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/images/halleyi.jpg| archive-date=20 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10003443/257/20| title=Halley Bay - 1957-1958| publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> ** '''1961:''' Main living hut ** '''1964:''' Office block on surface * '''Abandoned:''' 1968 * '''Structure:''' Timber hut

===Halley II=== * '''Built:''' 1967 * '''Abandoned:''' 1973 * '''Structure:''' A series of wooden huts ** The roofs were reinforced with steel supports to help support the weight of the snow but the station still had to be abandoned in 1973, after just six years.<ref name=BAS-pbah/>{{deadlink|date=May 2023}}

===Halley III=== * '''Built:''' 1973 * '''Abandoned:''' 1983 ** In 10 years the base was buried {{convert|12–15|m|abbr=on}} below the surface and access and ventilation problems led to its abandonment.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10004220/257/20| title=Garage entrance to Halley III research station| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> Years later it emerged from the ice cliff at the sea.<ref name=BAS-pbah/> * '''Structure:''' Built inside [[Armco]] steel tubing designed to take the snow loadings building up over it

===Halley IV=== * '''Built:''' 1983 * '''Abandoned:''' 1994 * '''Structure:''' ** Two-storey buildings constructed inside four interconnected plywood tubes with access shafts to the surface. The tubes were {{convert|9|m|abbr=on}} in diameter and consisted of insulated reinforced panels designed to withstand the pressures of being buried in snow and ice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10004223/237/20| title=Halley IV 4 Antarctica historical building| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>

===Halley V=== [[File:MoonOverHalley5.jpg|thumb|250px|Halley V, Winter 1999]] * '''Built:''' completed 1990, operational 1989 * '''Demolished:''' late 2012 ** Once its successor, Halley VI, was operational, Halley V was demolished.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/?m=201301| title=Halley, Jan 2013| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222204451/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/?m=201301| archive-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> * '''Structure:''' ** Main buildings were built on steel platforms that were raised annually to keep them above the snow surface. ** Stilts were fixed on the flowing ice shelf so it eventually became too close to the calving edge.<ref Name="HalleyStation"/>{{deadlink|date=May 2023}} ** '''Lawes platform:''' Main platform ** '''Drewry summer accommodation:''' Two-storey building was on skis and could be dragged to a new higher location each year.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10005253/141/20| title=Drewry building - summer accommodation| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> *** The Drewry block was later moved to join the Halley VI base ** '''Simpson Building (Ice and Climate Building) (ICB):''' On stilts<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10004257/241/20| title=Ice and Climate Building (ICB) Halley 5| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> and was raised each year to counteract the buildup of snow *** It housed the [[Dobson ozone spectrophotometer]] used to discover the hole in the ozone layer. ** '''Piggott platform (Space Science Building):''' Used for upper atmosphere research.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/detail/search/10007622/101/20| title=Piggott Platform at Halley. 2003-4| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>

=== Halley VI === {{Infobox building | name = Halley VI | image = Low sun behind Halley VI modules.jpg | caption = Halley VI, 2013 | building_type = Modular | opened_date = {{start date|2013|2|5|df=y}} | floor_area = {{convert|2000|m2|abbr=on}} | architecture_firm = [[Hugh Broughton (Architect)|Hugh Broughton Architects]] | developer = [[British Antarctic Survey|British Antarctic Survey (BAS)]] | engineer = [[AECOM]] | main_contractor = [[Galliford Try]] | mapframe = no }}

* '''Built''': Over four summers, first operational data 28 February 2012, officially opened 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/sites-and-facilities/facility/halley/#about| title=Halley VI Research Station| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/images/site_layout.jpg| title=Halley VI - module designations| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520123603/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/images/site_layout.jpg| archive-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> * '''Structure:''' Modular * '''Cost:''' Approximately £26 million<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-Video-2013 />

[[File:Ballooning in the constant sun of the South Pole summer (13991854852).jpg|thumb|250px|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 VI is a string of eight modules which, like Halley V, are jacked up on hydraulic legs to keep it above the accumulation of snow. Unlike most of Halley V, there are retractable giant skis on the bottom of these legs, which allow the building to be relocated periodically.<ref name=Guardian-HaleyVI-ArchReview-2013>{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Rowan|title=Halley VI research station, Antarctica – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/feb/10/halley-vi-base-architecture-antarctica|access-date=4 February 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

The Drewry summer accommodation building and the garage from Halley V were dragged to the Halley VI location and continue to be used. The Workshop and Storage Platform (WASP) provides storage for field equipment and a workshop for technical services. There are six external science cabooses which house scientific equipment for each experiment spread across the site and the Clean Air Sector Laboratory (CASLab) {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} from the station.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

==== Design competition ==== An [[architectural design competition]] was launched by [[RIBA Competitions]] and the [[British Antarctic Survey]] in June 2004 to provide a new design for Halley VI. The competition was entered by a number of architectural and engineering firms. The winning design, by [[Faber Maunsell]] and [[Hugh Broughton (architect)|Hugh Broughton Architects]] was chosen in July 2005.<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-Video-2013 /><ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-2013 />

Halley VI was built in Cape Town, South Africa.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/| title=Halley VI| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=7 Jan 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223090254/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/| archive-date=2010-12-23}}</ref> The first sections were shipped to Antarctica in December 2007. They were assembled next to Halley V,{{cn|date=May 2023}} then dragged one-by-one {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} to the intended final location and connected.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/?m=201105| title=Halley VI, May 2011| publisher=British Antarctic Survey| access-date=8 August 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222202722/http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_stations/halley/halleyvi/?m=201105| archive-date=22 December 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Halley VI was officially opened in Antarctica on 5 February 2013. Kirk Watson, a filmmaker from Scotland, recorded the building of the station over a four-year period for a short film. A description of the engineering challenges and the creation of the consortium was provided by [[Adam Rutherford]] to coincide with an exhibition in Glasgow.<ref name=BBCRadio4-InsideScience-2013>{{cite episode|last1=Sella|first1=Andrea|last2=Geim|first2=Andre|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037706w|title=2D supermaterials; Inside an MRI; Antarctic architecture|work=[[BBC Radio 4]]|series=BBC Inside Science|minutes =17|date=25 July 2013|access-date=21 June 2015}}</ref>

==== Design elements ==== A focus of the new architecture was the desire to improve the living conditions of the scientists and staff on the station. Solutions included consulting a colour psychologist to create a special colour palette to offset the more than 100 days of darkness each year, daylight simulation lamp alarm clocks to address biorhythm issues, the use of special wood veneers to imbue the scent of nature and address the lack of green growth, as well as lighting design and space planning to address social interaction needs and issues of living and working in isolation.<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-Video-2013 /><ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-2013 />

Another priority of the construction was to have as little environmental impact on the ice as possible.<ref name=Economist-HalleyVI-Video-2013 />

==== Relocation ==== The BAS announced that it intended to move Halley VI to a new site in summer 2016–2017,<ref Name="BAS Halley VI relocation project">{{cite web| title=Halley Research Station relocation | publisher=[[British Antarctic Survey]]|url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/moving-halley/| access-date=August 5, 2016}}</ref> prompted by a large crack that had been propagating through the ice and which threatened to cut the station off from the main body of the ice shelf. The station was shifted {{convert|23|km|mi|abbr=on}} from its previous site, the only time the station has been moved since it became operational. ''[[Horizon (UK TV series)|Horizon]]'', the long-running BBC documentary series, sent film-maker Natalie Hewit to Antarctica for three months to document the move.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tj2zr| title=Antarctica - Ice Station Rescue| date=June 7, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609121049/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tj2zr| archive-date=June 9, 2017| work=[[Horizon (UK TV series)|Horizon]]| publisher=[[BBC Two]]| url-status=live}}</ref> Relocation was completed in February 2017.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38841100| title=UK completes Antarctic Halley base relocation| author=Jonathan Amos| work=BBC News| date=3 February 2017| access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref>

Whilst the station was being relocated, concerns over another crack (dubbed the "Halloween Crack") emerged. This crack had been discovered on 31 October 2016, and the BAS realised that it too could cut off the station, and possibly make it drift out to sea. Since evacuating the crew is all but impossible during winter, the BAS announced in March 2017 it would withdraw its staff from the base from March to October.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ice crack to put UK Antarctic base in shut-down| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38643420| access-date=16 January 2017| work=BBC News| author=Jonathan Amos| date=16 January 2017}}</ref> Staff returned after the Antarctic winter in November 2017 and found the station in very good condition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/halley-vi-research-station-ready-for-summer/|title=Halley VI Research Station ready for 2017 summer season| publisher=British Antarctic Survey|date=10 November 2017| access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> The staff have been removed every winter since.<ref>{{cite news |title=UK's Halley Antarctic base in third winter shutdown |work=BBC News |date=28 February 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47408249 |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

==Climate== {{Weather box |location = Halley Research Station (extremes 1956–present) |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 7.2 |Feb record high C = 5.3 |Mar record high C = 1.1 |Apr record high C = -1.5 |May record high C = 0.0 |Jun record high C = -0.5 |Jul record high C = -5.5 |Aug record high C = -3.5 |Sep record high C = -1.1 |Oct record high C = -0.9 |Nov record high C = 2.2 |Dec record high C = 6.8 |year record high C = 7.2 |Jan high C = -2.0 |Feb high C = -6.7 |Mar high C = -12.9 |Apr high C = -19.3 |May high C = -22.0 |Jun high C = -22.7 |Jul high C = -25.2 |Aug high C = -24.9 |Sep high C = -23.3 |Oct high C = -16.9 |Nov high C = -8.9 |Dec high C = -2.9 |year high C = -15.6 |Jan mean C = -4.8 |Feb mean C = -9.9 |Mar mean C = -16.4 |Apr mean C = -20.2 |May mean C = -24.2 |Jun mean C = -26.7 |Jul mean C = -29.2 |Aug mean C = -28.2 |Sep mean C = -26.2 |Oct mean C = -19.5 |Nov mean C = -11.7 |Dec mean C = -5.2 |year mean C = -18.5 |Jan low C = -6.5 |Feb low C = -12.4 |Mar low C = -19.3 |Apr low C = -26.0 |May low C = -29.0 |Jun low C = -29.3 |Jul low C = -31.7 |Aug low C = -31.5 |Sep low C = -30.0 |Oct low C = -23.6 |Nov low C = -14.4 |Dec low C = -7.1 |year low C = -21.6 |Jan record low C = -22.9 |Feb record low C = -31.8 |Mar record low C = -41.0 |Apr record low C = -50.9 |May record low C = -54.2 |Jun record low C = -54.0 |Jul record low C = -54.4 |Aug record low C = -53.0 |Sep record low C = -49.4 |Oct record low C = -44.1 |Nov record low C = -32.0 |Dec record low C = -20.6 |year record low C = -54.4 |Jan humidity = 82 |Feb humidity = 79 |Mar humidity = 79 |Apr humidity = 78 |May humidity = 77 |Jun humidity = 77 |Jul humidity = 70 |Aug humidity = 72 |Sep humidity = 72 |Oct humidity = 76 |Nov humidity = 80 |Dec humidity = 82 |year humidity = 77 |Jan sun = 251.1 |Feb sun = 194.9 |Mar sun = 117.8 |Apr sun = 45.0 |May sun = 0.0 |Jun sun = 0.0 |Jul sun = 0.0 |Aug sun = 24.8 |Sep sun = 87.0 |Oct sun = 204.6 |Nov sun = 255.0 |Dec sun = 244.9 |year sun = 1425.1 |Jand sun = 8.1 |Febd sun = 6.9 |Mard sun = 3.8 |Aprd sun = 1.5 |Mayd sun = 0.0 |Jund sun = 0.0 |Juld sun = 0.0 |Augd sun = 0.8 |Sepd sun = 2.9 |Octd sun = 6.6 |Novd sun = 8.5 |Decd sun = 7.9 |yeard sun = 3.9 |source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD> {{cite web | url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_890220_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Halley Bay (Großbritannien) / Antarktis | work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world | publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst | language = de | access-date = 5 April 2017}}</ref> |source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat> {{cite web | url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-1482-Halley.php | title = Station Halley | publisher = Meteo Climat |language = fr | access-date = 10 October 2018}}</ref> }}

==Inhabitants== In the peak summer period, from late December to late February, staff numbers count about 52.<ref name="comnap-catalogue"/>

=== Winter crew === Before BAS shut down winter operations, there were around 13 overwintering staff. Most were the technical specialists required to keep the station and the scientific experiments running. The 2016 wintering team at Halley included a chef, a doctor, a communications manager, a vehicle mechanic, a generator mechanic, an electrician, a plumber, a field assistant, two electronics engineers, a meteorologist and a data manager. In addition there was a winter station leader who was sworn in as a [[Magistrates of England and Wales|magistrate]] prior to deployment and whose main role was to oversee the day-to-day management of the station.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

1996 saw the first female winterers at Halley. In 2006, five out of sixteen winterers were women.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

==Base life== [[Image:AuroraOverHalley5.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Aurora Australis]] over Halley V Winter 1998]] Life in Antarctica is dominated by the seasons, with a short, hectic summer and a long winter.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/|title=Polar Operations | website=The British Antarctic Survey |access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> In bases such as Halley that are resupplied by sea, the most significant event of the year is the arrival of the resupply ship (planned {{ship|RRS|Sir David Attenborough}}, until 2020 {{ship|RRS|Ernest Shackleton}}, before 1999, {{ship|RRS|Bransfield}}) in late December. This is followed by intense activity to unload all supplies before the ship has to leave again; typically, this is done in less than two weeks.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The Halley summer season runs from as early as mid-October when the first plane lands, until early March when the ship has left and the last aircraft leaves, visiting [[Rothera Research Station]] before heading to South America.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Significant dates in the winter are sundown (last day when the Sun can be seen) on April 29, midwinter on June 21 and sunrise (first day when the Sun rises after winter) on August 13. Traditionally, the oldest person on base lowers the tattered flag on sundown and the youngest raises a new one on sunrise.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

== In popular culture == The 2019 movie ''[[Where'd You Go, Bernadette (film)|Where'd You Go, Bernadette]]'' ends with footage and animated renderings of Halley VI.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Richard Linklater's 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette' uses oddball architecture to reflect its heroine |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-08-13/richard-linklater-whered-you-go-bernadette-production-design |work=Los Angeles Times |date=14 August 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

== See also == * [[Research stations in Antarctica#List of research stations|List of Antarctic research stations]] * [[Antarctic field camps|List of Antarctic field camps]] * [[List of airports in Antarctica]]

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading == * {{cite book|last1=Gough|first1=Alex|title=Solid Sea and Southern Skies Two Years in Antarctica|date=2010|publisher=A. Gough|location=Dunedin, N.Z.|isbn=978-0-473-18309-7|oclc=702361699}} * {{cite book|last1=Howe|first1=A. Scott|last2=Sherwood|first2=Brent|title=Out of This World : The New Field of Space Architecture|date=2009|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.|location=Reston, Va.|isbn=978-1-563-47986-1|pages=363–370|chapter=Chapter 27: Halley VI Antarctic Research Station|oclc=762079294}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=Sandra|last2=Richardson|first2=Vicky|title=Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica|date=2013|publisher=[[The British Council]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-863-55717-0|oclc=854890064}} * {{cite book|last1=Slavid|first1=Ruth|title=Ice Station: The Creation of Halley VI.|date=2015|publisher=Park Books|location=Zurich|isbn=978-3-906-02766-1|oclc=921659865}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Halley Station}} * [http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ Official website British Antarctic Survey] * [http://www.petrel.co.za/ Designed By Petrel Engineering] ** [https://www.photo.antarctica.ac.uk/external/guest/lightbox/search/list/1/20 BAS images of Halley station] * {{cite web| url=http://www.polarconservation.org/education/antarctic-bases/halley/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622015311/http://www.polarconservation.org/education/antarctic-bases/halley| url-status=usurped| archive-date=22 June 2009| title=Halley| publisher=Polar Conservation Organisation| access-date=3 December 2009}} * {{cite web| url=https://www.zfids.org.uk/| title=Halley Winterers 1956-present| publisher=ZFids| access-date=3 December 2009}} :'''Videos''' * [https://archive.today/20130418193326/http://www.gleeds.tv/index.cfm?video=455 RIBA, Architecture and Climate Change talks: Hugh Broughton, Halley VI Research Station] * {{cite web| url=https://kirkoftheantarctic.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/halley-vi-research-station-opened-today| title=Halley VI Research Station opened today| publisher=Kirk of the Antarctic (Blog at WordPress.com)| date=5 February 2013| access-date=6 February 2013}}

{{Portal bar|Earth sciences|Geography|United Kingdom}} {{Antarctic research stations}} {{Airports in Antarctica}} {{Antarctica}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Outposts of Antarctica]] [[Category:British Antarctic Territory]] [[Category:British Antarctic Survey]] [[Category:1956 establishments in Antarctica]]