Antarctica harbours 70% of the world’s fresh water in the ice that covers it, and is known as the world’s thermometer. It is from the frozen continent that scientists can best study the effects of global warming and the hole in the ozone layer. The research undertaken is inextricably linked to our understanding of the entire Earth system and signals in Antarctica indicate past and future global changes. Within its 4 km thick ice sheet is a record of past climate for the last 500 000 years, effectively an archive of atmospheric gases. It holds evidence of levels of global pollution by industry, agriculture and nuclear explosions, captured in frozen ice. It is alarming to realise, as several studies have predicted, that if all ice sheets were to melt the current sea level would rise by 70 metres.

What research bases does South Africa have?
The South African National Antarctic Expedition base, known as SANAE IV, on Antarctica is situated at 71° 40' S 2° 51' W, and has been built at an area know as Vesleskarvet.

The country has two meteorological stations. The one on Gough Island, 2 700km from Cape Town, is situated at 40° 21' S 9° 52' W, and the other on Marion Island, 1 770km from Cape Town is situated at 46° 52' S 37° 51' E.

For an overview of the stations click here. 

For detailed information on the SANAE base on the Antarctic click here.

For detailed information on the base at Gough Island click here.

For detailed information on the base at Marion Island click here. 


What suitable Antarctic vessel does South Africa have?
The SA Agulhas services the three research bases in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. She is South Africa’s only steel-hulled, ice-strengthened Antarctic Supply/Oceanographic vessel. Built in 1977, the Agulhas has been in service for more than 30 years and while her home port is Cape Town, she spends most of her time at sea.

South Africa has commissioned a state-of-the-art new polar vessel to be built that will be ideal for Antarctic expeditions. It is being built in Finland and will be completed by 2012.

This vessel will again be a combination of a cargo vessel, tanker, research vessel and passenger liner. It has 800m² of laboratory space and has a helipad and hangar for two helicopters, a hospital, auditorium, business centre, library as well as two gyms. It will cost in the region of €116m.

It will be an IACS PC5 (this specifies the ice-breaking capabilities) vessel, 134 metres long, 21.7 m wide with a draft of 7.65m. It will weigh 5 000T, and be driven with three diesel-electric generators driving two propulsion units at a maximum power of 9000 kW. The vessel will have a cruising speed of 14 knots and can do 5 knots in one metre thick ice, with a range of 15 000 nautical miles and an endurance of 90 days. It will accommodate a crew of 45 and 100 researchers or passengers.

For detailed information on the SA Agulhas vessel click here.

What research is South Africa involved in at the bases?

At SANAE IV research is divided into four programmes: 

•  Physical sciences 
  
•  Earth sciences 
  
•  Life sciences 
  
•  Oceanographic sciences
  

Our Antarctic scientific programme contributes to international efforts to combat global warming and understand climate variability (past, present and future).

To learn more about the research click here.

The meteorological stations on Gough and Marion Island are vital for weather predictions and monitoring. At Gough Island meteorological observations are made, and although Marion Island was at first purely a meteorological station current research programmes are currently being undertaken in the fields of oceanography, biology and geology.

What Antarctic-related research is South Africa involved in?
Various educational institutions in the country are involved in research related to Antarctica, Marion and Gough Islands. Ground breaking research is being conducted, for example the research on whales at the University of Pretoria, as well as research in fields such as the environment and climate studies.

The City has a formal cooperation agreement with universities through the The Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC). CHEC is collaborating with the University of Canterbury in New Zealand regarding knowledge and resource sharing.