This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(July 2021)
The station, designed, built and operated by the International Polar Foundation, is the first polar base that combines eco-friendly construction materials, clean and efficient energy use, optimization of the station's energy consumption and clever waste-management techniques.
Testing phase in Brussels and building construction in Antarctica was coordinated by Belgian main contractor BESIX.[1]
The station is built against a ridge (The Utsteinen ridge) that is exposed to gales of up to 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph). The station can withstand such strong winds through its aerodynamic shape and its foundation anchoring of several metres deep into the permafrost.[citation needed]Philippe Samyn, a Belgian architect, was involved in designing the shell and underlying structure. The upper deck of the building is the actual station and looks over the ridge edge. The lower deck contains a garage for snowcat vehicles and other utilities.
The Princess Elisabeth base is the only zero-emission base on the Antarctic, and runs on solar and wind energy through the use of a micro smart grid, which has lead-acid batteries as well as backup generators. The station is connected to nine wind turbines that stretch out along the Utsteinen ridge.[2] It houses up to 16 scientists at a time.
During the Covid pandemic that started in 2020, 11 of 30[4] of the base's personnel contracted the disease in December 2021 despite having been vaccinated. The first case was a person who had arrived on 7 December, and was found to have covid on 14 December. The cases were mild, and as of 1 January 2022[update] none were expected to be evacuated on a flight scheduled for 12 January 2022.[5]
Ownership dispute
There was a protracted dispute between the government of Belgium and the explorer Alain Hubert as to which party controls the base.[6] The Belgian Government has alleged financial mismanagement by the base's private operators, the International Polar Foundation.[6] Disputes over ownership and control of the base have led to a reduction in scientific research being undertaken at the base.[6] As per L'Echo, the head of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, René Delcourt, has stated that no Belgian scientists would be sent to the station in 2017.[7]
The dispute was resolved on 9 June 2017 as a judgement ruled by the Belgian Council of State. Publicly announced on 30 June 2017 as the "Pax Antarctica", the settlement between the International Polar Foundation and the Belgian government includes the Belgian government fully owning the base, the International Polar Foundation receiving contracts to operate the base for the next six years, and a cessation of all legal proceedings.[8] Research work resumed in November 2017, with 24 scientists from twelve countries expected at the base.[9]
^Andreas Frei: Wie Corona in die Antarktis kam – und was dabei optimistisch stimmt. In: Tages-Anzeiger, 5 January 2022, retrieved 6 January 2022.
^"Coronavirus pandemic: Antarctic outpost hit by Covid-19 outbreak". BBC News. 1 January 2022.
^ abcEnserink, Martin (January 17, 2017). . Science. 355 (6322): 231–232. Bibcode:2017Sci...355..231E. doi:10.1126/science.355.6322.231. PMID 28104844. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017.
^Vincent, Christopher (December 9, 2016). "Princess Elisabeth polar station – Canadian scientist expected in January, uncertainty about Belgians". The Brussels Times. Retrieved January 20, 2017. The announcement coincided with a report in l'Echo daily in Belgium that there "will be no [Belgian] State mission to Antarctica this year" [...] The daily reported that the head of Belgium's Federal Science Policy Office, René Delcourt, had informed the International Polar Foundation in a letter dated the 1st of December that Belgium would not send any scientists to the polar station this year.
^"PAX ANTARCTICA". International Polar Foundation. June 30, 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^Apelblat, M. (26 Nov 2017). "Belgian polar station in Antarctica starts to work again". Brussels Times. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Princess Elisabeth Station.
Belgian Antarctic Research Station - Princess Elisabeth Station
International Polar Foundation
Belgian Polar Platform
The Princess Elisabeth Polar Station: a case study on Constructalia
Zero-Emissions Station A slideshow about the Princess Elisabeth Station, Allianz Knowledge, July 2008
The Pricess Elisabeth Station at Philippe Samyn and Partners
princess, elisabeth, antarctica, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, july, 2021, located, utsteinen, nunatak, queen, maud, land, 9499. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article July 2021 Princess Elisabeth Antarctica located on Utsteinen Nunatak in Queen Maud Land 71 57 00 S 23 20 49 E 71 949944 S 23 347079 E 71 949944 23 347079 is a Belgian scientific polar research station which went into service on 15 February 2009 Princess Elisabeth Station Prinses ElisabethbasisStation Princesse ElisabethPrinzessin Elisabeth StationAntarctic StationTest build and public presentation September 2007 BrusselsPrincess Elisabeth StationLocation of Princess Elisabeth Station in AntarcticaCoordinates 71 57 00 S 23 20 49 E 71 949944 S 23 347079 E 71 949944 23 347079 Coordinates 71 57 00 S 23 20 49 E 71 949944 S 23 347079 E 71 949944 23 347079Country BelgiumLocation in AntarcticaUtsteinen NunatakQueen Maud LandAntarcticaAdministered byInternational Polar FoundationEstablished15 February 2009 2009 02 15 Elevation1 382 m 4 534 ft Population TotalUp to 40TypeSeasonalPeriodSummerStatusOperationalPrincess Elisabeth SkiwayIATA QAPICAO AT99SummaryAirport typePrivateLocationUtsteinen NunatakQueen Maud LandCoordinates71 57 27 S 23 13 12 E 71 957375 S 23 220126 E 71 957375 23 220126Websiteantarcticstation wbr orgMapPrincess Elisabeth SkiwayLocation of airfield in AntarcticaRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m4 650 1 420 Blue Ice Contents 1 History 1 1 Ownership dispute 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe station designed built and operated by the International Polar Foundation is the first polar base that combines eco friendly construction materials clean and efficient energy use optimization of the station s energy consumption and clever waste management techniques Testing phase in Brussels and building construction in Antarctica was coordinated by Belgian main contractor BESIX 1 The station is built against a ridge The Utsteinen ridge that is exposed to gales of up to 300 kilometres per hour 190 mph The station can withstand such strong winds through its aerodynamic shape and its foundation anchoring of several metres deep into the permafrost citation needed Philippe Samyn a Belgian architect was involved in designing the shell and underlying structure The upper deck of the building is the actual station and looks over the ridge edge The lower deck contains a garage for snowcat vehicles and other utilities The Princess Elisabeth base is the only zero emission base on the Antarctic and runs on solar and wind energy through the use of a micro smart grid which has lead acid batteries as well as backup generators The station is connected to nine wind turbines that stretch out along the Utsteinen ridge 2 It houses up to 16 scientists at a time The station is named after Princess Elisabeth Duchess of Brabant the eldest daughter of King Philippe of Belgium 3 During the Covid pandemic that started in 2020 11 of 30 4 of the base s personnel contracted the disease in December 2021 despite having been vaccinated The first case was a person who had arrived on 7 December and was found to have covid on 14 December The cases were mild and as of 1 January 2022 update none were expected to be evacuated on a flight scheduled for 12 January 2022 5 Ownership dispute Edit There was a protracted dispute between the government of Belgium and the explorer Alain Hubert as to which party controls the base 6 The Belgian Government has alleged financial mismanagement by the base s private operators the International Polar Foundation 6 Disputes over ownership and control of the base have led to a reduction in scientific research being undertaken at the base 6 As per L Echo the head of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office Rene Delcourt has stated that no Belgian scientists would be sent to the station in 2017 7 The dispute was resolved on 9 June 2017 as a judgement ruled by the Belgian Council of State Publicly announced on 30 June 2017 as the Pax Antarctica the settlement between the International Polar Foundation and the Belgian government includes the Belgian government fully owning the base the International Polar Foundation receiving contracts to operate the base for the next six years and a cessation of all legal proceedings 8 Research work resumed in November 2017 with 24 scientists from twelve countries expected at the base 9 See also EditBelgian Antarctic Program List of Antarctic research stations List of Antarctic field camps List of airports in AntarcticaReferences Edit Project Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Polar Station Retrieved 2 September 2017 Winter Kate 11 November 2019 Antarctica s first zero emission research station shows that sustainable living is possible anywhere phys org Marine Gazetteer Placedetails Andreas Frei Wie Corona in die Antarktis kam und was dabei optimistisch stimmt In Tages Anzeiger 5 January 2022 retrieved 6 January 2022 Coronavirus pandemic Antarctic outpost hit by Covid 19 outbreak BBC News 1 January 2022 a b c Enserink Martin January 17 2017 Science suffers in cold war over polar base Science 355 6322 231 232 Bibcode 2017Sci 355 231E doi 10 1126 science 355 6322 231 PMID 28104844 Archived from the original on January 18 2017 Vincent Christopher December 9 2016 Princess Elisabeth polar station Canadian scientist expected in January uncertainty about Belgians The Brussels Times Retrieved January 20 2017 The announcement coincided with a report in l Echo daily in Belgium that there will be no Belgian State mission to Antarctica this year The daily reported that the head of Belgium s Federal Science Policy Office Rene Delcourt had informed the International Polar Foundation in a letter dated the 1st of December that Belgium would not send any scientists to the polar station this year PAX ANTARCTICA International Polar Foundation June 30 2017 Retrieved 24 February 2018 Apelblat M 26 Nov 2017 Belgian polar station in Antarctica starts to work again Brussels Times Retrieved 24 February 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Princess Elisabeth Station Belgian Antarctic Research Station Princess Elisabeth Station International Polar Foundation Belgian Polar Platform The Princess Elisabeth Polar Station a case study on Constructalia Zero Emissions Station A slideshow about the Princess Elisabeth Station Allianz Knowledge July 2008 COMNAP Antarctic Facilities COMNAP Antarctic Facilities Map The Pricess Elisabeth Station at Philippe Samyn and PartnersPortals Earth sciences Geography Belgium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Princess Elisabeth Antarctica amp oldid 1120381431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
