Abstract:
Estonia acceded to the Antarctic Treaty on May 17, 2001. On March 19,
2002 Estonian Polar Research Committee adopted the preliminary program
for starting national Antarctic activities.
The first stage of the program is a project named the Estonian
Antarctic Expedition. The key elements of the project are described in
Information Paper 12 presented by the Estonian delegation at the XXV
Antarctic
... Treaty Consultative Meeting held in Warsaw from 10th to 20th
of September 2002.
In January 2003 a representative of the Estonian Antarctic Expedition
visited the Ross Sea and coast of Victoria Land in the region of Terra
Nova Bay and Wood Bay. The aim of the trip was to carry out a
reconnaissance of the future operation area and to select a suitable
site for establishing a polar research station. The Italian and New
Zealand Antarctic Programs to whom we are sincerely grateful made this
possible by providing a full logistical support.
The passage aboard RV Italica provided a very useful insight into the
sea ice conditions in the Ross Sea, which were extremely difficult
during the last austral summer. Four reconnaissance flights using
Squirrel helicopters were made from Terra Nova Bay Station, covering
the whole coastline from Inexpressible Island to Tinker Glacier
Tongue. Altogether five potential sites on this stretch of coast were
examined and only one found entirely suitable for the planned
activities. The rest had a very rough terrain or poor access in the
inland direction.
The selected area is a small snow and ice-free coastal oasis on the
coast of Wood Bay. A potential location for establishing a polar
station was found at coordinates 74o 21.6' S and 165o 07.8' E which is
near the NE end of the oasis about 50 meters from coastline. Please
find an aerial oblique photograph of the area, made from approximately
100 meters height and roughly from the east, attached. The selected
area stretches approximately 700 meters inland and has a width of 100
- 200 meters. The terrain is basaltic moraine. At least five small
shallow lakes were found in the area, most of them connected by a
stream discharging into the Ross Sea. The area is characterized with
patches of relatively rich vegetation and inhabited by a limited
number of Skua gulls. A penguin rookery indicated on earlier maps was
found non-existent.
The planned summer-only research station for 6 persons will include
two 5 X 5 meters prefabricated huts, fuel storage and a small
shed/workshop for over wintering two snowmobiles. The latter will be
the only means of land and sea ice transport of the station. The total
area of the station is planned to be 100 X 50 meters including the
helicopter landing spot. All buildings will be erected without any
removal of terrain and snowmobiles used only on sea or land
ice/snow. All movements on the snow-free and ice-free territory of the
area will be by walking along depicted paths and only for scientific
purposes in order to keep the area intact as much as possible. The
water supply is planned to use stream water from the nearest point to
the station. All waste except grey water will be removed from
Antarctica. For the disposal of grey water the tidal crack will be
used with a condition that the dilution factor is considered. The
electric power supply of the station will be a port able diesel
generator with maximum output of 10 kW. However, solar panels and wind
generators as well as heat exchangers will be used in order to
minimize the fuel consumption.
The research program is in initial stage of design. The experience and
results of the earlier Antarctic research made by Estonians are being
used and developed and call for new ideas has been launched among the
scientific community of Estonia. Depending on the geographical range
of planned activities in the Ross Sea Region, in general terms most
projects will aim at history, structure and function of marine and
terrestrial environments and ecosystems. More specifically, so far
sketches of projects have been proposed in geological evolution
(incl. volcanics) of the lithosphere and in meteoritics, in the
lithology and stratigraphy of the Precambrian and Palaeozoic
sedimentary rocks, in recent climate change and sea ice research using
isotope-geochemical methods, in the functioning and the evolution of
lake ecosystems, and in some other fields.
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared all necessary
documentation for accession to the Protocol on Environmental
Protection. At the time being Estonian Ministry of Environment and
Estonian Ministry of Justice are processing this matter and the final
and positive decision by Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) will
hopefully be made during autumn 2003.
Estonian Antarctic Expeditions, a newly formed institution responsible
for the logistics of all Antarctic activities, has submitted a
preliminary environmental impact assessment (Environmental Memorandum
according to Estonian legislation) of the planned research station to
the Ministry of Environment where this is currently reviewed according
to the Protocol and Estonian legislation. The results will be made
available to all interested Parties as soon as possible. 
