Mirny Station
Mirny (Russian: Мирный, literally Peaceful) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) science station in Antarctica, located on the Antarctic coast of the Davis Sea in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Named after support vessel Mirny captained by Mikhail Lazarev during the First Russian Antarctic Expedition (led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on Vostok).
The station was opened on February 13, 1956 by the 1st Soviet Antarctic Expedition. It was originally used as main base for the Vostok Station located 1,400 km from the coast, this function is now served by Progress Station.[1] In summer, it hosts up to 169 people in 30 buildings, in winter about 60 scientists and technicians. The average temperature at the location is –11 °C, and on more than 200 days per year the wind is stronger than 15 m/s, with occasional cyclones.
Main areas of research are glaciology, seismology, meteorology, observation of polar lights, cosmic radiation, and marine biology.
Historic monuments
Some 2 km south of the station stands a metal stele with an inscribed plaque. It was erected on a sledge on the land transport route between coastal Mirny and inland Vostok Station. It commemorates Anatoly Shcheglov, a driver-mechanic who died while performing his duties. It has been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 8) following a proposal by Russia to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Other similarly designated historic sites in the vicinity of Mirny are Ivan Khmara’s Stone (HSM 7) and the Buromskiy Island Cemetery (HSM 9), both on Buromskiy Island 2.7 km north of the station.[2]
Climate
| Climate data for Mirny Station | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 1.1 (34) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−10.8 (12.6) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−12.2 (10) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−8.02 (17.57) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−13.9 (7) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−15.4 (4.3) |
−16.6 (2.1) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−16.4 (2.5) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−7.2 (19) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−11.27 (11.71) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −4.6 (23.7) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−18.5 (−1.3) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−19.6 (−3.3) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−19.3 (−2.7) |
−16.6 (2.1) |
−10.3 (13.5) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−14.25 (6.35) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 14.8 (0.583) |
17.1 (0.673) |
31.2 (1.228) |
43.5 (1.713) |
57.3 (2.256) |
70.3 (2.768) |
71.7 (2.823) |
62.1 (2.445) |
57.9 (2.28) |
43.5 (1.713) |
34.0 (1.339) |
23.7 (0.933) |
527.1 (20.754) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72.5 | 70.5 | 71.6 | 73.9 | 74.7 | 76.0 | 75.1 | 74.2 | 72.8 | 70.1 | 70.4 | 72.4 | 72.85 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 278.7 | 214.4 | 153.2 | 95.4 | 32.3 | 1.7 | 11.1 | 66.9 | 125.8 | 234.6 | 290.7 | 354.2 | 1,859 |
| Source: Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute[3] | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ http://www.aari.nw.ru/projects/Antarctic/stations/mir/mir_en.html
- ↑ "List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM (2012)" (PDF). Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
- ↑ "Mirny observatory (89592)". Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
External links
- AARI Mirny Station page
- Official website Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
- COMNAP Antarctic Facilities (Archived April 24, 2008 at the Wayback Machine)
- COMNAP Antarctic Facilities Map (Archived September 15, 2009 at the Wayback Machine)
Coordinates: 66°33′9.66″S 93°0′34.05″E / 66.5526833°S 93.0094583°E
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