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Davis
last update: Oct 29, 2010 01:42 PM
History: Opened 13th January 1957.
In January 1965 Davis was temporarily closed to allow concentration of the Australian Antarctic Division's resources on the building of Casey as a replacement for Wilkes. It was reopened on the 15th February, 1969 and has been continuously occupied since that time.
In the 1980s Davis was substantially rebuilt. Steel-framed structures on concrete foundations replaced the cramped accommodation of earlier times, with purpose-built laboratories providing scientists with unprecedented facilities and space for their work.
Location: Vestfold Hills, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land – (68°35'S 77°58'E)
Notes: Davis Station is the most southerly Australian Antarctic station and is situated 2,250 nautical miles south-south-west of Perth, Australia.
The Vestfold Hills area is bare, low-lying hilly country, deeply indented by sea-inlets. Numerous islands fringe the coast out to 5 km. An ice-free area of about 400 km2, the region is the largest coastal ice-free area in Antarctica, and has the greatest variety and number of lakes.
The region is biologically unique because of its freshwater and hyper-saline (very salty) lakes which support microscopic invertebrates. The temperature of Deep Lake, which is nearly as salty as the Dead Sea, falls to about minus 18 degrees C in winter, yet it still supports life and does not freeze due to its high salinity.
At Marine Plain, fossilised whales and dolphins have been found-the only known vertebrate fossils in the Antarctic from the last 40 million years. The unique setting of Davis puts it close also to penguin colonies, numerous Weddell seals and an elephant seal haul out area.
Science programmes carried out:
Science is directed by the Science Strategy 2004/05-2010/11, developed by the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee and approved by the Australian Government in October 2004. Its four priority programs are:
- Ice, ocean, atmosphere and climate
- Southern Ocean ecosystems
- Adaptation to environmental change
- Impact of human activities in Antarctica
Area and buildings:
There are 29 buildings at Davis Station.
Interesting Trivia:
Weather Conditions: +10C°C maximum temperature, -40C°C minimum temperature
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