Most of the scientists that work in Antarctica are in a base camp. McMurdo is the American base, and Scott Base the New Zealand one. (It is a lot smaller). They travel out from there to smaller research stations to do their investigations.

Transport

Helicopters, cargo planes, and snowmobiles are the most common forms of transportation. It is too cold to travel very far on skis (although they are a popular form of recreation around McMurdo, America's main base). The airports have ice runways and airplane wheels are replaced by skis.

Vehicles hitched up to a heating cable, which stops the engines freezing.

Buildings

Research stations at the Pole or McMurdo have a number of connected rooms or separated buildings that provide for different types of activities. They include housing in dormitories. You would probably sleep in a room with several beds and have at least one or more roommates. Of course, there are places where food is prepared and eaten. There are science laboratories and storerooms for equipment such as snowmobiles, generators, gas-powered ice augers, rock drills, chain saws, portable dive compressors, and anything else that you might need to take to your research field site.

This is a photo of the buildings at Scott Base, taken from the air.

 Find out more about living conditions in Antarctica, and how you deal with the cold and with the rubbish or waste.

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