The International Polar Foundation  team led by expedition leader Alain Hubert landed tonight at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station to commence operations for the 2013-2014 four-month BELARE scientific research season. The team’s arrival was delayed by a week due to bad weather hampering flight operations in and out of Russia’s Novo airbase. 

The ten person group, including six Belgians, and one each from France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Canada, arrived from Cape Town to Russia’s Novo Air Base on board an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. Seven of the team took a Twin Otter aircraft to the zero emission Princess Elisabeth Antarctica at 2215 CET [2] [3].  The other three will arrive at the station in the coming hours.
 

“Princess Elisabeth Antarctica is open for business – we’re busy clearing the extensive snow systems from around the station, and getting the systems up and running, in preparation for the international researchers who will arrive soon”, said expedition leader Alain Hubert. “The International Polar Foundation is once again proud to support the work of polar scientists who make the journey to Antarctica to help us better understand the the Earth and and its mechanisms.”
The International Polar Foundation operates Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, and supports the activities carried out there, on behalf of the Belgian state.

 During the 2013-2014 BELARE season, the and and solar powered station will host scientists working in the fields of atmospheric science, glaciology, meteorology, geology, and, from several different countries, including large from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Japan [4]. The first scientists arrive by aircraft on November 19th, including German glaciologist Dr Reinhard Drews who makes his second trip to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica as part of his InBev Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship. Drews was awarded for his work in investigating how the potential disintegration of Antarctic floating ice shelves could contribute to increased ice flow from inland glaciers, and a resulting rise in global sea levels [5].

 

Amongst ongoing construction/development projects at the station this season are maintenance of building and technical installations, improvement station facilities and major overhaul of the snow tractors and skidoos. The team also plan to  improve the communication network for scientists working in the field while in Antarctica.

Princess Elisabeth Antarctica’s design and construction seamlessly integrates passive building technologies, renewable wind and solar energy, water treatment facilities, continuously monitored power demand and a smart grid for maximising energy efficiency.

“After five seasons at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, we are proud to remain at the vanguard of  exploring new, durable ways of using and conservating energy and resource use to influence ” said Hubert. “However, these methods and technologies should not remain in Antarctica – they should be an inspiration for how we use energy all over the world”.

Princess Elisabeth Antarctica’s operator, the International Polar Foundation supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.