Antarctica - Science in Extreme Conditions

Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The coldest temperatures in winter can reach close to -90oC and there’s less precipitation than in the Sahara Desert. Fierce storms can have wind speeds of 60 meters per second.

Antarctica is one of the most unpolluted places on Earth. Even the slightest changes can be observed in the air, snow, ice, water – and even rock. Finnish climate research in Antarctica is concentrated on the interaction of the atmosphere with snow, sea ice and the sea. Oceanography and geology are also important fields of research in Antarctica.

The Finnish research station Aboa opened in 1989 and is located in Queen Maud Land, 130 kilometres from the shore. It is built 480 meters above sea level on Basen nunatak (a mountain peak reaching above the ice sheet) in Vestfjella mountain range. The Swedish research station Wasa is located close by, and the stations are co-operating in logistics and research.

The exhibition tells about the careful preparations before going to Aboa, how to travel there and how is researcher’s daily life in extreme conditions.

During the 30 years of research in Aboa, a huge amount of research data has been collected about the state and changes of the Earth. The station is maintained and the fieldwork coordinated by the Finland Antarctic Operations FINNARP. Researchers are working in the station during the southern hemisphere summer season, usually from November to February.

The exhibition has been made possible by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Meteorological Institute/FINNARP and the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus.

Picture: Priit Tisler / FINNARP