[ad_1]
After months of preparation, a crew of 12 scientists, explorers, and workers at Europe’s Concordia analysis station in Antarctica are braced for lengthy winter nights as Antarctica goes darkish for 4 months. The Antarctic evening and the winter will probably be a goldmine for analysis because the European Area Company (ESA) commences residing and dealing in isolation for six months on the frigid continent.
The penultimate sundown at Concordia analysis station marked the start of the lengthy evening, the place no daylight will probably be seen on the continent because it submerges in full darkness. ESA stated that medical physician Hannes Hagson and his crew are prepared, “lastly embarking on their ‘actual’ mission in Antarctica: residing and dealing in isolation for six months within the identify of spaceflight analysis.”
Positioned 3233 m above sea degree the place temperatures are anticipated to drop to almost -80 levels Celcius, the Italian-French outpost Concordia will perform with the solar disappearing behind the horizon.
Whereas the world experiences 4 main seasons, Antarctica has simply two, summers and winters because it stays coated in thick ice. The area has six months of daylight in its summer season and 6 months of darkness in its winter.
This picture was taken by Hannes on 3 Could. The final full sundown happened the day after however appeared solely as a skinny sliver within the sky. (Picture: ESA)
Seasons on Earth are brought on by the lean of the planet’s axis in relation to the solar and because the Earth orbits the solar, totally different components of the planet are uncovered to direct daylight. In keeping with Nasa, Throughout summer season, Antarctica is on the facet of Earth tilted towards the solar and is in fixed daylight. Within the winter, Antarctica is on the facet of Earth tilted away from the solar, inflicting the continent to be darkish.
WHY IS THIS OPTIMAL CONDITION FOR RESEARCH?
In the course of the lengthy winter, no provides or individuals will be flown in and the excessive altitude causes the crew to expertise power hypobaric hypoxia or lack of oxygen within the mind. “These circumstances are as near residing on one other planet as people can get on Earth,” ESA stated, making it a goldmine for spaceflight knowledge.
In the course of the Antarctic winter, Hannes will conduct biomedical experiments on himself and his crewmates to grasp how people deal with residing in excessive isolation. The workforce can even conduct sleep research to intestine well being measurements to aware practices.
“The crew are poked and prodded to assist researchers perceive and overcome the challenges excessive environments, like house, pose to current and future explorers.”
[ad_2]
Source link