The British Antarctic Survey is seeking to protect its Antarctica research facilities and staff against climate-change impacts. The agency has commissioned a European design-build team for a $125-million upgrade of one key site and stopped all approaching winter activities at another, which is being moved inland as new ice cracks are found.
For the project to upgrade the research facilities at its Rothera port site on the Antarctic peninsula, the agency chose U.K.-based units of Dutch contractor Royal BAM Group and Sweden-based engineer Sweco. The work will take between seven and 10 years and is expected to present “unique challenges, given the continent is the highest, driest, coldest and windiest on earth,” said the contractor. Commissioned by Britain’s Natural Environment Research Council, the modernization program represents a long-term U.K. partnership between the Antarctic research group and Royal BAM. In a joint statement, they said it would enable a “world-leading capability to ensure that Britain remains at the forefront of climate, biodiversity and ocean research in the polar regions.”