Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is an American research station at Earth's South Pole in Antarctica. This makes it the southernmost continually inhabited place on the planet. The station's name honors Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott, who attained the South Pole in 1911 and 1912.

Related Topics:
American - Earth - South Pole - Antarctica - Roald Amundsen - Robert F. Scott - 1911 - 1912

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The station was originally constructed in November 1956 to support the International Geophysical Year in 1957, and has been continuously occupied since then. It currently lies within 100 meters (330 feet) from the Geographic South Pole, and drifts towards the pole at the rate of about 10 meters per year.

Related Topics:
1956 - International Geophysical Year - 1957

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Recorded temperature has varied between −13.6° C (7.52° F) and −82.8° C (−117° F). Annual mean is −49° C (−56.2° F); monthly means vary from −28° C (−18.4° F) in December to −60° C (−76° F) in July. Average wind is 5.5 meters per second (12 mph); peak gust recorded was 24 m/s (54 mph).

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Snow accumulation is about 6–8 centimeters (water equivalent) per year (3 in/yr). The station stands at an elevation of 2,835 meters (9,301 ft) on interior Antarctica's nearly featureless ice sheet, about 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) thick at that location.

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