Intellasia News Services -- Korea to build second research base in Antarctic

Korea to build second research base in Antarctic
Source: 19-MAR-2010 Intellasia | Asia News Network
19 Mar, 2010 - 7:00:00 AM
Korea has selected Terra Nova Bay for the establishment of its second research base in the South Pole, as part of its effort to expand scientific research on the ice continent, the government said yesterday.

The ministry of land, transport and maritime affairs said it has chosen the region based on information and data collected by the country's first icebreaker Araon. The ship recently returned from its three-month exploration around the region.

Scientists on Araon had been conducting research on two candidate sites, Cape Bucks in the western part of the Antarctic and Terra Nova Bay. The government has chosen Terra Nova Bay because the region is easier to access and has better environmental conditions for research projects. The location also allows Korean scientists to join operations and research with other bases run by other countries, the ministry said.

"Based on the analysis and opinion by officials and experts from the private sector, we have decided to build Korea's second research base in Terra Nova Bay located near the Ross Sea on the southeastern tip of the Antarctic," the ministry said.

This is Korea's second research base for the frozen continent, the first being the Sejong Science Base on King George Island, which is located in the north of the Antarctic and was built in 1988. Currently, 17 scientists are conducting research there.

The new research base will be built on 3,300-sq-m of frozen land, located 74 degrees south latitude and 164 degrees east longitude.

The ministry of maritime affairs said it will submit a detailed plan in May to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, a gathering of international observers and experts who provide guidelines on the management of the region. It might take at least two years to get approval from the ATCM, officials said.

The ministry plans to complete building the new base by the end of 2014. The construction of the new station will cost more than 100 billion won ($88 million). The new base, consisting of five separate buildings, will accommodate about 60 scientists, it added.

Currently, 20 countries are running or building 39 bases in Antarctica. But only eight including the United States operate more than two research bases.

"The second base will help us emerge as a global powerhouse in researching polar regions," the ministry said.

The new base will help Korean scientists carry on new projects such as research on the upper atmosphere, glaciers, meteorites, the continent and continental shelf, it added.

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