Casey Station
title: "Casey Station" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["outposts-of-antarctica", "wilkes-land", "1969-establishments-in-australia", "earth-stations-in-the-antarctic-territory-australia", "1969-establishments-in-antarctica"] topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Station" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Casey Station |
| native_name_lang | |
| settlement_type | Antarctic base |
| image_skyline | Casey Station November 2005.jpg |
| imagesize | 270px |
| image_caption | Casey Station, viewed from the air. |
| flag_size | 110px |
| flag_border | no |
| image_map | Casey recreation limits 14598.jpg |
| mapsize | 270px |
| map_caption | Location on Bailey Peninsula |
| pushpin_map | Antarctica |
| pushpin_map_alt | Location of Casey Station in Antarctica |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location of Casey Station in Antarctica |
| pushpin_mapsize | 270px |
| pushpin_relief | yes |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Australia |
| subdivision_type1 | Territory |
| subdivision_name1 | Australian Antarctic Territory |
| subdivision_type2 | Subdivision |
| subdivision_name2 | Wilkes Land |
| subdivision_type3 | Administered by |
| subdivision_name3 | Australian Antarctic Division |
| established_title | Established |
| established_date | |
| extinct_title | Evacuated |
| named_for | Richard, Baron Casey |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| area_urban_footnotes | |
| area_rural_footnotes | |
| area_metro_footnotes | |
| area_magnitude | |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | 32 |
| population_as_of | 2017 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_blank1_title | Summer |
| population_blank1 | 99 |
| population_blank2_title | Winter |
| population_blank2 | 21 |
| utc_offset1 | +8 |
| blank_name_sec1 | Type |
| blank_info_sec1 | All year-round |
| blank1_name_sec1 | Period |
| blank1_info_sec1 | Annual |
| blank2_name_sec1 | Status |
| blank2_info_sec1 | Operational |
| blank_name_sec2 | Activities |
| blank_info_sec2 | |
| blank1_name_sec2 | Facilities |
| blank1_info_sec2 | |
| code1_name | UN/LOCODE |
| code1_info | AQ CAS |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Casey Station | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Antarctic base
| image_skyline = Casey Station November 2005.jpg | imagesize = 270px | image_caption = Casey Station, viewed from the air.
| image_flag = | flag_size = 110px | flag_border = no | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt =
| nickname = | motto = | image_map = Casey recreation limits 14598.jpg | mapsize = 270px | map_alt = | map_caption = Location on Bailey Peninsula
| pushpin_map = Antarctica | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Casey Station in Antarctica | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Casey Station in Antarctica | pushpin_mapsize = 270px | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label_position =
| coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Australia | subdivision_type1 = Territory | subdivision_name1 = Australian Antarctic Territory | subdivision_type2 = Subdivision | subdivision_name2 = Wilkes Land | subdivision_type3 = Administered by | subdivision_name3 = Australian Antarctic Division
| established_title = Established | established_date = | extinct_title = Evacuated | extinct_date =
| named_for = Richard, Baron Casey | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric tags -- | area_footnotes = | area_urban_footnotes = | area_rural_footnotes = | area_metro_footnotes = | area_magnitude = | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 = | area_total_ha = | area_land_ha = | area_water_ha = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_ha = | area_blank1_ha = | area_blank2_ha = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 32 | population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_blank1_title = Summer | population_blank1 = 99 | population_blank2_title = Winter | population_blank2 = 21 | population_density_km2 = | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = +8 | timezone2 = | | blank_name_sec1 = Type | blank_info_sec1 = All year-round | blank1_name_sec1 = Period | blank1_info_sec1 = Annual | blank2_name_sec1 = Status | blank2_info_sec1 = Operational | blank_name_sec2 = Activities | blank_info_sec2 = | blank1_name_sec2 = Facilities | blank1_info_sec2 =
| postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | code1_name = UN/LOCODE | code1_info = AQ CAS | website = | footnotes =
Casey Station, commonly called Casey, is one of three permanent stations and research outposts in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Casey lies on the northern side of the Bailey Peninsula overlooking Vincennes Bay on the Budd Coast of Wilkes Land in the Australian Antarctic Territory, a territory claimed by Australia. Casey is 3880 km due south of Perth, Western Australia.
Casey was named in honour of Richard, Baron Casey.
History
Casey is close to the now-abandoned Wilkes Station, established by the United States of America to support science and exploration of Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957–1958.
Australia took Wilkes over after the IGY, but the American buildings were already unusable due to the build-up of ice around them. Australia built the first Casey Base, originally as "Repstat", referring to "replacement station", on the opposite south side of the Newcomb Bay in 1964, with works completed in February 1969. This set of buildings was a unique attempt to prevent the problem of ice build-up by elevating the buildings on stilts, to encourage the wind to blow beneath as well as above, and connecting the entire line of buildings with a corrugated iron tunnel. This would, it was hoped, clear the buildup of snow each year, while allowing personnel to move between buildings without having to brave the elements. It worked for some time until corrosion occurred.
The current Casey Station headquarters (the "Red Shed") was built in the late 1980s as part of the Australian Government's Antarctic Re-building Program. It was prefabricated in Hobart, Tasmania, by Hobart construction firm Contas Pty Ltd; trial-erected on the wharf at Hobart; then dismantled, packaged and shipped to Antarctica. Erected at Casey by tradespeople employed as workers on the normal summer expedition crews, it incorporates innovative design features to prevent the transfer of heat through the structure. The "Shed" is conspicuously located near the top of the hill on which the old radio masts stood. It is probably the largest single structure on Antarctica and was first occupied in 1988. The station has two other sheds, the green shed for storing food and the yellow shed for brewing. Homebrew beer is served at the station's bar, "Splinters".
Current research
Since 2008, scientists based at Casey have contributed to research into study of the Law Dome, the bedrock geology and structure of the East Antarctic ice sheet and its glaciological processes. In more recent years, Casey has served as a base for marine biologists to examine changes to polar seafloor communities exposed to different carbon dioxide concentrations. Adélie penguin research is conducted at Casey. Scientists are also studying the influence of climate change and human impact on extensive and well developed moss beds that grow at and near Casey.
Infrastructure
Casey is 3443 km from Hobart, the AAD's main supply hub for Antarctic operations, and 2722 km from Fremantle Peak, Heard Island.
Access methods
Access to Casey is possible via a four-hour flight from Hobart, followed by a four-hour ride in an over-snow bus.
Road
The old and new stations are connected by a 1.5 km road. The road is excavated by a bulldozer/excavator set at the end of every winter, providing a means to get supplies from the wharf to the new station, leaving ice walls 8 m tall in places.
Earth stations
Casey has a dome-covered satellite tracking antenna. The antenna was upgraded in March 2016 to communicate with a Himawari-8 satellite, allowing the station to monitor and track weather related information. There is also an ANARESAT satellite for communication.
Airstrips
| name = Casey Station Skiway | ensign = | ensign_size = | ensign_alt = | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = Karte der nördlichen Windmill-Insel, Antarktika.png | image-width = 270 | image_alt = | caption = Location east of Casey Station proper | image2 = | image2-width = | image2_alt = | caption2 = | IATA = QAJ | ICAO = YCSK | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | type = Private | owner-oper = | owner = | operator = Australian Antarctic Division | city-served = | location = Budd Coast Wilkes Land | opened = | closed = | passenger_services_ceased = | hub = | focus_city = | built = | used = | commander = | occupants = | timezone = | utc = UTC+8 | summer = | utcs = | elevation-f = 1,179 | elevation-m = 359 | metric-elev = | coordinates = | website = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | r1-number = 9/27 | r1-length-f = 6,547 | r1-length-m = 1,996 | r1-surface = Ice | metric-rwy = | h1-number = | h1-length-f = | h1-length-m = | h1-surface = | stat1-header = | stat1-data = | stat-year = | footnotes =
Casey is significant as a transport hub for the Australian Antarctic program, with the introduction of intercontinental jet flights for scientists and operational staff from Hobart to the Wilkins ice runway, 65 km inland from Casey station. The inaugural landing of the AAD's Airbus A319 aircraft was on the evening of 9 December 2007.
The smaller Casey Station Skiway () is located 10 km east of the station, and opened on 30 December 2004.
In March 2009, the Australian ABC Foreign Correspondent international affairs television program featured air operations at Casey Station as part of a report titled Antarctica - What Lies Beneath.
Climate
Casey Station experiences an ice cap climate (EF) bordering on a tundra climate (ET), with its warmest month, January, having a mean temperature just below freezing, -0.1 C: This station experienced record warm temperatures and precipitation due to an unprecedented atmospheric river event in March 2022. |location = Casey Station |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |open = Yes |Jan record high C = 9.2 |Feb record high C = 6.6 |Mar record high C = 5.6 |Apr record high C = 3.0 |May record high C = 4.5 |Jun record high C = 4.2 |Jul record high C = 3.0 |Aug record high C = 5.8 |Sep record high C = 3.9 |Oct record high C = 3.2 |Nov record high C = 4.9 |Dec record high C = 8.0 |year record high C = 9.2 |Jan high C = 2.2 |Feb high C = −0.1 |Mar high C = -4.1 |Apr high C = -7.5 |May high C = -11.1 |Jun high C = -10.4 |Jul high C = -10.2 |Aug high C = -10.2 |Sep high C = -9.7 |Oct high C = -8.0 |Nov high C = -2.5 |Dec high C = 1.4 |year high C = -5.9 |Jan low C = -2.6 |Feb low C = -5.0 |Mar low C = -9.8 |Apr low C = -14.6 |May low C = -18.5 |Jun low C = -18.3 |Jul low C = −18.4 |Aug low C = −18.0 |Sep low C = −17.1 |Oct low C = −15.1 |Nov low C = -9.0 |Dec low C = −3.7 |year low C = -12.5 |Jan record low C = -10.3 |Feb record low C = -18.0 |Mar record low C = -25.1 |Apr record low C = -31.3 |May record low C = -34.4 |Jun record low C = -34.1 |Jul record low C = -36.4 |Aug record low C = -37.5 |Sep record low C = -33.8 |Oct record low C = -31.2 |Nov record low C = -23.4 |Dec record low C = -13.0 |year record low C = -37.5 |Jan precipitation mm = 9.3 |Feb precipitation mm = 15.2 |Mar precipitation mm = 18.0 |Apr precipitation mm = 20.6 |May precipitation mm = 25.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 27.5 |Jul precipitation mm = 28.5 |Aug precipitation mm = 21.0 |Sep precipitation mm = 17.3 |Oct precipitation mm = 16.5 |Nov precipitation mm = 12.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 12.9 |year precipitation mm = 222.5 |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation days = 6.6 |Feb precipitation days = 7.5 |Mar precipitation days = 8.9 |Apr precipitation days = 9.3 |May precipitation days = 9.7 |Jun precipitation days = 11.2 |Jul precipitation days = 10.3 |Aug precipitation days = 8.5 |Sep precipitation days = 8.6 |Oct precipitation days = 8.1 |Nov precipitation days = 5.9 |Dec precipitation days = 5.9 |year precipitation days = 100.5 |Jan sun= 161.2 |Feb sun= 135.6 |Mar sun= 99.2 |Apr sun= 60.0 |May sun= 21.7 |Jun sun= 3.0 |Jul sun= 12.4 |Aug sun= 43.4 |Sep sun= 87.0 |Oct sun= 139.5 |Nov sun= 213.0 |Dec sun= 182.9 |year sun= |source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_300017_All.shtml |title = Climate Statistics for Casey |publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |work = Climate statistics for Australian locations |access-date = 23 October 2012}} |date=August 2010
References
References
- (August 2017). "Antarctic Station Catalogue". [[Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs]].
- (18 December 2006). "Living at Casey". Department of the Environment, Australian Government.
- ''Australian Philatelic Bulletin'', Vol. 16, p. 28
- (2012). "Founding Davis and Casey". [[Australian Antarctic Division]].
- "Casey station: a brief history". [[Australian Antarctic Division]].
- [[Australian Antarctic Division]]. "Wilkes Station".
- (17 August 2006). "Casey science". [[Australian Antarctic Division]].
- [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/ Stations], Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- (1 March 2014). "Life at Antarctica's Casey station". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
- Rubin, Jeff. (2008). "Antarctica". Lonely Planet.
- (1999). "Road From the Station to Old Casey". Australian Antarctic Data Centre.
- (21 November 2014). "The annual Casey road building challenge". [[Australian Antarctic Division]].
- "This week at Casey: 4 March 2016". Bureau of Meteorology.
- "About environmental satellites". Bureau of Meteorology.
- (1 March 2006). "Australian Antarctic Magazine Issue 10". Australian Antarctic Division.
- "History-making flight a breeze". [[Australian Antarctic Division]].
- Corcoran. (3 March 2009). "What Lies Beneath?". [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel).
- "Monthly mean surface temperature at Casey station". British Antarctic Survey.
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