Artigas Base

The Artigas Base depends on the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute Plans & Operations Direction which is ruled by an Interministerial Council, with delegates of MoD, Foreign Affairs and ministry of Education and Culture. Uruguay, a Consultative member of Antarctic Treaty since 7 October 1985, has a permanent, active and autonomous activity as a National Governmental Program in Antarctic. It comes to effect operating an all year round station in King George Island, South Shetland, and seasonally at Antarctic Peninsula, and onboard its vessel, where performs scientific activity based on SCAR & Treaty needs and recommendations, supported by own logistic sea and air transport, and operating under COMNAP guidelines. Has delegates and members as full member of SCAR, SCAR-WG, COMNAP-SCALOP networks & WG, CCALMR and ATCM.-

Since 1984 research has been performed in these areas:

Glaciology: General Glaciology on KGI, South Shetlands, and Antarctic Peninsula, in various fields aiming to detect environmental changes due to anthropogenic activities and those related as response to climatic changes. This program is in scope of SCAR recommendations and is being carried out in cooperation with other nations operating in Antarctica(KORDI)

Atmospheric sciences Calibration of effects of the atmosphere on metals commonly used in the Antarctic Mossbauer spectroscopy to identify atmospheric corrosion products Installation and operation of an ionospheric laboratory at Artigas, the Uruguayan year-round research station on King George Island

Ocean sciences Comparative studies of physical and chemical variables in coastal waters of Fildes Bay Observations of the Antarctic Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) Marine meteorology of Drake passage, according to SCAR and Treaty objectives.

Earth sciences Satellite geodesy applications for SCAR_EPOCH & GIANT Program

Life sciences Medical research Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) vascular and lipid characteristics Modification of collagen disease and atheroma in rabbits by adding krill to their diet Ornithological observations in Fildes Peninsula (King George Island), South Bay (Livingston Island), and Harmony Point (Nelson Island), South Shetland Islands Behavioral studies in a penguin colony in the South Shetland Islands

Logistics: Are provided by the National Defense Ministry (of which the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute is a part) and the armed forces (army, navy, and air force), which also contribute to scientific programs.

Transport methods include Hercules C-130B airplanes, Bell 212 helicopters, Navy Ships and other seaborne units, amphibious vehicles, and various land vehicles.

Uruguayan Antarctic research is generally proportional to overall national efforts, although there is a special emphasis on life sciences and those related to changes in the environment.

Uruguay is particularly mindful of environmental matters and abides by all agreements and treaties pertinent to the Antarctic, so develops continuous environment monitoring programs complementing the impact assessments of its activities.

The following science activities are carried out at Base Cientifica Antárctica Artigas:

• Environmental monitoring (since 1998)
• Geodesy/mapping (since 1986)
• Glaciology - continental (since 1991)
• Human biology (since 1985)
• Ionospheric/auroral observations (since 1992)
• Meteorological observations (since 1984)
• Stratospheric ozone monitoring (since 1998)
• Tide measurement (since 1989)

• Ice
  • Ice breakout: October
  • Fast ice formation: late May
• Shipping
  • 1 ship visit(s) per season
  • 1 resupply visit(s) per season (in January)
  • 300 m from station to anchorage
  • 30 m deep anchorage
• Air transport
  • 7 intercontinental flights per season
  • Aircraft used: Hercules C-130
  • Light aircraft/helicopter available December–March
  • Types used: Bell 212
  • 1 concrete & 1 rock for Helicopter airstrip surface
  • at base from station to airstrip
• Other support transport
  • Tracked personnel carriers: 2x Hagglunds
  • Snowmobiles: 1x snowmobile
  • Rough terrain quads/tricycles: 1x quad
  • Outboard watercraft: 2x zodiacs
• Trucks
  • 1xIFA
• Tractors, loaders, excavators
  • Wheeled tractor(s): 1 massey ferguson

• List of Antarctic research stations
• List of Antarctic field camps

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Artigas Station.

• (in Spanish) Uruguayan Antarctic Institute
• (in Spanish) Antarkos 23, the 2007 Artigas Base Crew
• OMNI article: 11th Sep 2007, eclipse of sun views from Artigas base
• Antarctica Trip, a Cristy Trembly report on her visit to Artigas and ECARE bases in 2000.
• Antarctica Marathon 2007: William Smith blog´s post including Artigas Base views and comments
• COMNAP Antarctic Facilities
• COMNAP Antarctic Facilities Map