Map showing Rothera research station, Alexander Island and Palmer Land. Note George VI Ice Shelf.
Our November 2012 field season to Alexander Island (Ablation Point Massif and Fossil Bluff) operated out of Rothera, a research station of the British Antarctic Survey. We flew to Rothera from Punta Arenas airport in a Dash-7 aircraft, and were quickly inducted.
You can explore Rothera Research Station through the Google Map below.
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- Rothera base station, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula
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- A twin otter approaches Rothera
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- The view of the Antarctic Peninsula from the Dash-7 on our flight in
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- The view of the Antarctic Peninsula from the Dash-7 on our flight in
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- A twin otter plane lands on the Rothera runway
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- Walking Around The Point at Rothera, with the base in the background
Fieldwork training
Our first task was to complete the mandatory training for deep fieldwork. This involved spending a night camping out at Vals as well as walking Reptile Ridge with our field assistant, Ian Hey. This meant that we could practise using crampons and ice axes, get to know each other, and Ian could assess our fitness and abilities.
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- Ian Hey and Mike Hambrey about to ascend Reptile Ridge
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- Climbing Reptile Ridge
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- Reptile Ridge
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- Ian Hey leads the way, kicking in steps in the snow
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- Footprints in the snow
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- Ian Hey
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- Rothera sits just behnd Reptile Ridge
Wildlife at Rothera
When we arrived at Rothera it was still ice-bound with no wildlife. However, when we returned in mid-December, the sea ice had blown away and the seals and penguins had returned. You can see them in this video showcasing some of the wildlife around Rothera:
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- Blue eyed shags
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- Seal, iceberg, Antarctica.
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- Iceberg
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- Big skies Around the Point
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- Big skies behind the Comms Tower
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- Out on the boat trip
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- Iceberg
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- Tamsin leads the way
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- Elephant seals fighting
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- And again
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- And again…
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- This one looks a little deflated
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- Sizing each other up
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- Posture is everything
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- Hello! An Adelie penguin
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- Elephant seals
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- Just checking you out
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- Iceberg
Working at Rothera
Many people conduct science and research from Rothera research station. There is a long-term environmental monitoring and research project, investigating marine ecology around Rothera Point. In December, the divers were out in full force.
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- Paul putting on his neoprene hood
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- Phil assists Bel
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- Bel with her underwater camera
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- Going down
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- The topside team (including Bethan in the yellow drysuit, left). Photo credit: Belinda Vause
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- Bel measures sediment depth and takes core samples underwater. Photo credit: Belinda Vause
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- Benthic communities at the West of Rose Garden site, with a nudibrach (sea slug). Photo credit: Belinda Vause
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- The underwater world has a surprisingly diverse assemblage. Starfish at the West of Rose Garden dive site. Photo credit: Belinda Vause
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- A Ctenophore, similar to a jelly fish, swims in the cold water. It lights up with flashing lights down its side. Photo credit: Belinda Vause
Recreation at Rothera
Rest and recreation on your days off at Rothera includes skiing, walking, or persuading a field assistant to take you down a crevasse.
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- Roger the Field Assistant guides a novice through the art of abseiling
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- Adam the Pilot
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- Bethan descends down into the dark
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- The fixed line and narrow passageway
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- Safety equipment from last year is well frozen in!
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- Blue light filters through the snow bridge (don’t step on it!)
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- Adam the pilot amonst the icicles
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- Cheese is belaying people down into the deeper chamber
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- It’s a tight squeeze!
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- Navigating the chambers, following the fixed line
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- Descending into the depths of the crevasse
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- The main channel and fixed line. Note the flat floor, made of re-frozen water ice.
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- The main passageway with icicles
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- Huge icicles grow down from the ceiling
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- Brilliant icicles
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- Some of the icicles rotate as the ice around them deforms
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- You’re not serious.
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- Adam the Pilot
