Mawson Station

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title: "Mawson Station" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["australian-antarctic-territory", "east-antarctica", "outposts-of-antarctica", "1954-establishments-in-australia", "commonwealth-heritage-list", "earth-stations-in-the-antarctic-territory-australia", "1954-establishments-in-antarctica"] topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawson_Station" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameMawson Station
native_name_lang
settlement_typeAntarctic station
image_skylineMawson from Welch Island Dec 26 2008 pjs.jpg
imagesize270
image_captionMawson Station looking toward the David Range
flag_size110px
flag_borderno
mapsize350px
pushpin_mapAntarctica
pushpin_map_altLocation of Mawson Station in Antarctica
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Mawson Station in Antarctica
pushpin_mapsize270
pushpin_reliefyes
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameAustralia
subdivision_type1Location in Antarctica
subdivision_name1Australian Antarctic Territory
subdivision_type2Subdivision
subdivision_name2Holme Bay
Mac Robertson Land
East Antarctica
subdivision_type3Administered by
subdivision_name3Australian Antarctic Division
established_titleEstablished
established_date
named_forSir Douglas Mawson
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m15
population_as_of2017
population_footnotes
population_blank1_titleSummer
population_blank153
population_blank2_titleWinter
population_blank215
timezone1MAWT
utc_offset1+5
blank_name_sec1Type
blank_info_sec1All-year round
blank1_name_sec1Period
blank1_info_sec1Annual
blank2_name_sec1Status
blank2_info_sec1Operational
blank_name_sec2Activities
blank_info_sec2
blank1_name_sec2Facilities
blank1_info_sec2
code1_nameUN/LOCODE
code1_infoAQ MAW
website
::

::callout[type=note] the Mawson Antarctic base ::

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Mawson Station, commonly called Mawson, is one of three permanent bases and research outposts in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Mawson lies in Holme Bay in Mac. Robertson Land, East Antarctica in the Australian Antarctic Territory, a territory claimed by Australia. Established in 1954, Mawson is Australia's oldest Antarctic station and the oldest continuously inhabited Antarctic station south of the Antarctic Circle. It houses approximately 20 personnel over winter and up to 53 in summer.

Mawson was named in honour of the Australian Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson.

Mawson was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 2001 and listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004, reflecting the post-World War Two revival of Australia's scientific research and territorial interests in Antarctica.

Purpose

Mawson Station is an active base for scientific research programs including an underground cosmic ray detector, various long-term meteorological aeronomy and geomagnetic studies, as well as ongoing conservation biology studies, in particular of nearby Auster rookery, a breeding ground for emperor penguins and Adélie penguins.

History

In 1946, the Minister for External Affairs, H.V. Evatt indicated his support for a proposal by Douglas Mawson for the establishment of a permanent Australian base in Antarctica. It was another seven years before a suitable ship, the Kista Dan could be chartered to set up facilities on the southern continent.

The station site was chosen in 1953 by Phillip Law, the first director of the AAD, who drew aerial photographs taken during the U.S. Operation Highjump (OpHjp) of 1946-1947 to select the site for its large natural harbour (Horseshoe Harbour) and permanently exposed rock for building. The station was built during 1954. Some of the small pre-fabricated huts used in the first years remain on the station, but these are overshadowed by large steel-framed modular buildings dating from a major rebuilding program that started in the late 1970s.

By 1959, the facilities at Mawson Station had expanded significantly. Personnel at that time included 6 scientists, 4 technicians, 2 pilots, 2 weather observers, and 10 others. Scientific disciplines represented included cartography, geology and geomagnetism, glaciology, seismology, ionospheric and auroral physics, meteorology, and physiology. Vehicles included 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver aircraft, 3 Caterpillar D4 tractors, 1 TEA-20 Ferguson, and 1 Sno-Cat.

Geography

Mawson Station is located at Holme Bay in Mac Robertson Land, East Antarctica, named in January 1930 by Sir Douglas Mawson during the first British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) voyage, aboard Discovery. It is in a region which Mawson proclaimed as British territory on several occasions in 1930 and 1931 (including at Proclamation Island, Scullin Monolith and Cape Bruce), and later became Australian Antarctic Territory.

Some notable geographic features in the region include the Framnes Mountains, which form the dramatic backdrop to Mawson Station. The Framnes Mountains were named in the 1930s by Norwegian explorers financed by the shipowner and whaling magnate Lars Christensen.

Climate

Mawson Station experiences a Polar climate: |location = Mawson Station |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 10.6 |Feb record high C = 8.0 |Mar record high C = 4.0 |Apr record high C = 0.0 |May record high C = 0.4 |Jun record high C = 0.7 |Jul record high C = 5.0 |Aug record high C = 6.7 |Sep record high C = 0.7 |Oct record high C = 1.5 |Nov record high C = 8.2 |Dec record high C = 9.3 |year record high C = 10.6 |Jan high C = 2.5 |Feb high C = -1.4 |Mar high C = -7.2 |Apr high C = -11.8 |May high C = -13.5 |Jun high C = -13.5 |Jul high C = -15.0 |Aug high C = -15.5 |Sep high C = -14.2 |Oct high C = -9.9 |Nov high C = -2.6 |Dec high C = 2.0 |year high C = -8.3 |Jan low C = -2.7 |Feb low C = -7.3 |Mar low C = -13.3 |Apr low C = -17.4 |May low C = -19.3 |Jun low C = -19.6 |Jul low C = -21.0 |Aug low C = -21.7 |Sep low C = -20.5 |Oct low C = -16.4 |Nov low C = -8.8 |Dec low C = -3.3 |year low C = -14.3 |Jan record low C = -10.0 |Feb record low C = -17.3 |Mar record low C = -26.3 |Apr record low C = -33.3 |May record low C = -34.5 |Jun record low C = -34.0 |Jul record low C = -36.0 |Aug record low C = -35.9 |Sep record low C = -35.8 |Oct record low C = -29.0 |Nov record low C = -20.0 |Dec record low C = -11.7 |year record low C = -36.0 |Jan sun = 257.3 |Feb sun = 220.4 |Mar sun = 167.4 |Apr sun = 114.0 |May sun = 49.6 |Jun sun = 0.0 |Jul sun = 18.6 |Aug sun = 93.0 |Sep sun = 150.0 |Oct sun = 235.6 |Nov sun = 258.0 |Dec sun = 272.8 |year sun = |source= Bureau of Meteorology{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_300001_All.shtml |title = Monthly Climate Statistics for Mawson |publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |work = Climate statistics for Australian locations |access-date = 13 November 2016}}

Research

During March and April 1960, an ANARE survey party from Mawson Station carried out a barometric mapping control traverse along the route of a 242 km dog sledge journey from Cape Batterbee through the Napier Mountains to Martin Island in Edward VIII Bay. The members of this survey party — led by Syd Kirkby — were the first people to set foot in the Napier Mountains. The highest peak of this small range — Mount Elkins — was identified and named at this time for Terence James Elkins. Many other terrain features were mapped, visited or named as a result of this expedition, including Armstrong Peak, Bird Ridge, Mount Griffiths, Newman Nunataks, Wilkinson Peaks, and the Young Nunataks.

In 2018, astronaut and academic Jay C. Buckey conducted research using virtual reality, at the Australian Antarctic Division’s Mawson Station, wherein the expeditioners used VR headsets to view Australian beach scenes, European nature scenes, and North American nature scenes of forests and urban environments, which were different from the isolation of the whiteness and silence of Antarctica. The research will inform psychological techniques to support long-duration spaceflight such as for astronauts going to Mars.

Logistics

Mawson is 5475 km from Hobart, the AAD's main supply hub for Antarctic operations, and 5201 km from Fremantle.

Communications

Mawson's infrastructure includes an ANARESAT satellite antenna Earth station for communication.

Air transport

In early summer when sea ice conditions are most favourable, a ski landing area (SLA) is constructed adjacent to Mawson. As sea ice conditions progressively worsen over summer, operations are moved to Rumdoodle SLA, a field camp on the inland ice plateau 10 km from Mawson.

Rumdoodle SLA has been in use since the 1950s, and the glacier surface requires annual inspection and preparation prior to use. It is accessible from Mawson by Hägglunds ground vehicles.

Sea transport

Mawson Station is accessible by sea for only a short period each austral summer, between February and March. It has a deep, sheltered natural harbour and is ice-free in February. A direct voyage from Hobart to Mawson takes about 10—12 days, due to variable weather and sea-ice conditions. The approach to Horseshoe Harbour is through the Mawson Corridor and the Entrance Shoal.

Between 1953 and 1987, Mawson was supplied by the ice-strengthened polar research vessels, including Kista Dan, Magga Dan, Thala Dan, and Nella Dan. This period came to an end when Nella Dan ran aground and sank at Macquarie Island on 3 December 1987.

Wind power

Mawson is the only Antarctic station to use wind generators designed to take advantage of the fierce katabatic winds. Two 300 kW wind turbines were installed in 2003, but one failed in 2017.

References

References

  1. (August 2017). "Antarctic Station Catalogue". [[Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs]].
  2. (6 November 2002). "Living at Davis". Department of the Environment, Australian Government.
  3. (12 August 2010). "Mawson station: a brief history". Australian Antarctic Division.
  4. ''Australian Philatelic Bulletin'', Vol. 16, p. 28
  5. {{cite AHD. 105444. Mawson Station, Mawson Station, EXT, Australia. (22 June 2004)
  6. (21 August 2006). "Mawson science". Australian Antarctic Division.
  7. Scott, Keith. (1993). "The Australian Geographic book of Antarctica". [[Australian Geographic]].
  8. (1959). "International Antarctic Analysis Centre". The Polar Record.
  9. Lambert, B.P.. (1967). "Report on geodetic and cartographic activities, 1960-65". The Polar Record.
  10. {{cite gnis
  11. (2021). "Mount Elkins". [[Australian Antarctic Data Centre]], Department of the Environment and Energy.
  12. {{cite gnis
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  18. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-10/virtual-reality-on-icy-continent-helping-astronauts/10356956 Virtual reality beaches in Antarctica beating isolation and helping future astronauts], Carla Howarth, [[ABC News Online]], 2018-10-10
  19. [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/ Stations] Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  20. (1 March 2006). "Wired for sound…and email…and video". Australian Antarctic Division.
  21. [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/travel-and-logistics/aviation/intracontinental-operations/ski-landing-area-locations/ Intracontinental ski landing area locations], Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  22. [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/stations/mawson/2012/this-week-at-mawson-3-february-2012/ This week at Mawson: 3 February 2012], Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  23. [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/mawson/living/ Living at Mawson], Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  24. (2017). "Lauritzen 'Dan' ships 1953-1987". Australian Department of the Environment and Energy.
  25. [https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/amenities-and-operations/renewable-energy/wind-power/ Wind power], Australian Antarctic Division. 21 July 2022 .Retrieved 28 January 2023.

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