international
polar
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With a work schedule ranging from 7 am to noon and 1 pm to 7 pm, work is progressing at a fine pace in Antarctica. Sunday, however, is a day for relaxation, laundry and travel.

A couple of days ago, nurse Vaska Van Beneden celebrated his 37th birthday. While he had already been called on duty in Antarctica during BELARE 2006-2007, this is the first time he spends his birthday on the continent. A magical present was given to him just before dinner: a picture of him signed by all the members of the team.

This past Sunday, the Utsteinen crew decided to visit the surrounding mountains. Going for a walk alone can be rather dangerous so they decided to go on a group tour, aboard one of the Prinoth trailers. After an hour's trip through Tangarden, they reached the summit of the Vikinghögda (1300 metres elevation). The seats may not have been very comfortable but it seems it had all been forgotten when they finally reached the top and saw the magnificent view. "A landscape of unimaginable beauty", as describes Fons, one of the team members. They had a clear view all the way to the horizon.

Utsteinen, the summit of the base camp, is a very dominant feature on the terrain. From far away, however, it is no more than a peak that emerges from the surrounding glaciers. The highest summits in the region are the Wideroefjellet and the Birger Bergersenfjellet. The mountains in the Sør Rondane all carry Norwegian names. This is because the Norwegians were the first to map the region in the 1950s. But the Japanese must have also visited the region, because the team members found a Japanese film roll dating back 1987!

Four new team members have reached Utsteinen Base Camp: Gaëlle, Toto, Daniel and Francis. Twenty-four people are now on site, bringing the team to a fully operational number to complete the first phase of the expedition.

Aboard the plane which flew in yesterday were the last two team members and the 4500 kg of drilling equipment everyone had been waiting for. The phase1 team is now fully operational and complete. The number of people on site will stay the same until the end of December, when the Ivan Papanin ship comes in at Breid Bay with 16 more people and the 120 containers.

As the plane flew in rather late yesterday, the team invited the pilots to stay for dinner...a delicious dinner prepared by Toto and Gaëlle. Toto is a professional Italian cook who decided to close his restaurant in Brussels to come and cook for the Belgian Antarctic expedition. Not only were the pilots appreciative of the food they were served, they were also impressed by the organization and comfort of the base camp. In fact, it seems that everybody who sees the base camp is amazed by its sophisticated arrangements: individual tents, a heated and spacious mess room and a fully equipped kitchen with a hyper modern coffee machine!

Each morning, the weather station at Neumayer gives the weather forecast for the next few days. But the climate changes very little from one day to another. Around noon, temperatures revolve around 0 degrees. This is the most comfortable time of the day. There is no wind, a clear sky and a pleasant sun. Only in the evening does the sun disappear behind the Sor Rondane Mountains until about half past midnight, when it is back in sight! In a few days, only the Utsteinen pyramid will hide the sun for a couple of hours.

Next week, certain team members will take part in a scientific research project of the VUB University (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) entitled "circadian rhythms, physical activity and their influence on sleep-wake regulation during an Antarctic summer expedition". The purpose of this study is to measure the impact on human behaviour of a 24-hour exposure to sunlight. This study aims to demonstrate that the omni-presence of daylight can deregulate normal biological rhythms and cause the body to sleep less.

Overall, the expedition members seem happy and do not regret Belgium's bad weather. On the contrary, they are enjoying the "warm" Antarctic summer!

On October 15th, the new BELARE (Belgian Antarctic Expedition) team gathered in Brussels for an informative meeting at the Belgian Military Hospital. BELARE 2007-2008 will build the new Belgian research station in Antarctica: Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.

Presentations included an overview of the project along with the time scales, a program review of on site events, a close look at the unloading in Breid Bay and crossing procedure from the coast to Utsteinen ridge, and an introduction to the Antarctic Treaty and the Environmental Protocol. For some, this was the time to raise such practical questions as "What is the weight limit of my baggage?" or "What sort of gear will I need?".

Team members will reach East Antarctica through two different routes:

• by plane, via the Norwegian Troll station or the German Novolazarevskaja station
• by ship (the Ivan Papanin), via South Africa, destination Breid Bay, east coast of AntarcticaThe departure date is approaching quickly, with the first team members leaving by plane scheduled to take off on November 2nd

Teams will work in shifts, meaning that several team departures are planned throughout November to February, either to or from Antarctica. The Ivan Papanin should leave Antwerp on November 5th and reach Breid Bay some four weeks later.

BELARE 2007-2008 will be divided into five separate shifts:

• November: set-up camp, anchoring, building garage, first crossing to Breid Bay
• December: route preparation Breid Bay-Utsteinen (coast and route securing trip) and unloading
• January: construction begins, transport of equipment from Breid Bay to Utsteinen
• February: completion of construction, seal joints
• March: camp shut down and closing up of the station

Cooks will work in shifts of 2-3 months in teams of 3, while the nurses will work solo and swap over in mid-January. January will see the most people on site (roughly 40).

In our last report, it was mentioned that all the containers had been recovered from Breid Bay and that the camp site was slowly filling up with equipment. The building team is preparing the Utsteinen Ridge for the station's anchoring points and making progress on constructing the wind turbines.

Over the past few days, the sun has continued to shine, raising temperatures above zero degrees around mid-day. However, at night, it quickly turns cold. A couple of nights ago, they had the coldest night so far: -16°C. But no one complains, given their warm and protective sleeping bags!

On top of the ridge, the wind chill factor makes it feel even colder, so it is necessary for the workers to wear a heavy jacket and gloves to avoid getting fostbitten. Members from the drilling company have removed loose rocks and cleared the points where they intend to anchor the polar station. They will start to drill as soon as the rest of their drilling equipment arrives on site in just a few days. Defining the exact position of the station requires very precise calculations and needs to take into consideration the topography of the ridge. To do this, the drilling specialists are using a large number of computers and other measuring devices, which seem to be taking up quite a lot of space in the office of the expedition's headquarters.

The team working on the wind turbines has made good progress. Holes have been drilled where the first turbine will be placed and they have begun fixing the steel bars that will anchor the turbines with special resin that must be heated for 48 hours before they can be installed. As a reminder, six containers containing enough carpentry for the crew to get a head start on the garage were left behind last year. An area measuring 80 x 80 metres has been cleared next to the ridge (see picture) where the garage is to be built.

As of today, Nov. 15th, four more team members will fly in from Novolazarevskaia with 4,500 kg of food as well as more base camp materials and building equipment. Building a new polar station takes a lot of organisation!

A first report was received from Alain Hubert and the building team in Antarctica. Twenty-one people are now on site, working away on the wind turbines and getting started on the station's anchoring points.

Alain Hubert and 8 other people left Cape Town on November 2nd, destination Russian station Novolazarevskaia. From there, they boarded a Basler flight (DC-3 plane) heading for Utsteinen. They landed just 3 kilometres from the construction site and walked the remainder of the way. Their first 36 hours on site were devoted to setting up camp and restoring stored equipment. Riding the Prinoth tractors, Alain Hubert and Philippe Van Den Broeck drove to the coast a first time to fetch wood and fuel that had been stored in a container in Breid Bay during BELARE 2006-2007. On the way, the Hammar side loader sledge got stuck in a small crevasse. A rescue operation is scheduled today (the 12th of November).

After a second trip to the coast, Alain Hubert confirms that the snow route prepared last year is very good, shortening the trip between Utsteinen and Breid Bay by 5 hours! It now only takes 15 hours to travel the approximate 190 km, versus 20 hours before the circuit existed.

The weather is splendid in Utsteinen (21 degrees Celsius in the sun) while the rest of Antarctica is being swept by heavy winds. So much so that the flight scheduled to leave Cape Town on the 7th was delayed until the next day. With twelve new people now on site, the workers number twenty-one. The heavy drilling material has been held in customs in Cape Town and won't be released before November 18th. Work has nonetheless begun on the wind turbines and on preparing the building's site (anchoring points for the station).

The moment has finally come for all to say farewell to the Belgian polar station. The Ivan Papanin, a Russian ice class cargo ship, left the port of Antwerp on November 6th, 2 pm.

The moment has finally come for all to say goodbye to the Belgian polar station. The Ivan Papanin, a Russian ice class cargo ship, left the port of Antwerp on November 6th, 2 pm.

A press conference was held on the port's pier by project manager Johan Berte and Defence coordinator Philippe Herman. A tour of the ship was then offered to the press, a chance to see where the ship crew and passengers are to spend their evenings and nights until arrival in Breid Bay around mid-December.

Carrying 106 containers of equipment and station elements, the Ivan Papanin will stop over in Cape Town for refuelling at the end of the month of November. After a first stop for equipment drop-off at the Norwegian station, Troll, the ship will end up in Breid Bay, where the station's containers will finally be disembarked.

In total, the team is composed of 57 members (including the ship crew), spread out over 9 departures. Members of the Belgian Defence will meet the ship in South Africa, from where they will pursue their trip by boat.

Over all, the Defence has been a tremendous help to the International Polar Foundation. They provided logistical support during the September inauguration of the station in Brussels and allowed the containers to be transported to Antwerp. Their technical assistance and lent equipment were also greatly appreciated. Their services will also be called upon for the transmission of satellite images, indispensable for portraying the state of the sea ice and for advancing within the dangerous Antarctic terrain.

Alain Hubert has just published his fifth book, entitled "L'Appel des glaces". Inspired by his latest expedition, "The Arctic Arc", Alain Hubert tells the story of his trip through a mix of prose, poetic phrases and beautiful pictures.

The book, available for the moment in French only, is 160 pages long and includes 137 photographs and illustrations. Not only will the reader see how "The Arctic Arc" fits in as a project for society, he will also be keyed in to Alain Hubert's various activities in collaboration with the International Polar Foundation (Polaris observatory for climate change, Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, etc.). The book is due to be released in Dutch at the beginning of November, and may be translated into English later on.

A press conference was held just before Alain Hubert's departure for Antarctica, in the prestigious office of the expedition's principal sponsor "Rolex". Alain Hubert has already left for the southern hemisphere, to set up the BELARE (Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition) 2007 expedition which is due to begin construction of the Princess Elisabeth Station this upcoming austral summer.

This book offers a wonderful opportunity to learn recent information about the Arctic sea ice, be introduced to polar jargon and discover the poetry of the Polar Regions. Not only does the language and tone of the book suit young teenagers who are interested in the northern latitudes, it provides inspiration and hope to anyone who adheres to the values of sustainable development that IPF aims to convey.

Wednesday October 24th, the 80 containers carrying the Princess Elisabeth Station were loaded on to the Icelandic Samskip barge at the Port of Brussels. Under a polar wind blowing in from the North, a faithful public watched as the last containers left Brussels.

Organized by the Port of Brussels, a press conference was held in presence of Mrs. Laurence Bovy, President of the Port, Mrs. Brigitte Grouwels, Secretary of State in charge of the Port of Brussels, Mr. Pierre Guerin, CEO of the Compagnie Française de Navigation Rhénane (CFNR) and Mr. Thierry Touchais, Executive Director of IPF.

Through its activity, the Port of Brussels reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the capital of Belgium by roughly 90,000 tons annually. Practically, one barge is capable of replacing 80 road trucks. There is no doubt that sea and rivers represent an interesting alternative to roads and air routes. The transport sphere currently accounts for one of the four sectors (i.e. domestic, industry, agriculture and transport) releasing the most Greenhouse Gas in the world. It appears evident that ameliorations in this sector are to be encouraged and privileged.

Mr. Pierre Guerin explained and stressed that river freight is a conscious decision, based on political priorities. Choosing fluvial over road transport has proven to be advantageous given several situations:

• congestion at port terminals when loading and unloading containers,
• road congestion between Antwerp and Brussels
• clients wanting to keep an eye on their containers
• politicians wanting to take concrete action towards solving the general problem of obstruction

In line with IPF's objective of sustainability for the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic project, the containers are thus being sent by barges to Antwerp, and then from there to Antarctica aboard the Russian ice-class cargo ship named IVAN PAPANIN. As Thierry Touchais so rightly reminded us in his speech, climate change is above all a problem linked to energy use and production. "The alternative that river transport offers to road freight is highly relevant if we wish to reduce the contribution of this sector [transport] to Greenhouse Gas Emissions."

Over the 5-day period during which DAMOCLES was exhibited at ESRIN/ESA, more than 500 people visited the exhibition. DAMOCLES is now getting ready for its next stop: the Snow & Ice Sculpture Festival in Bruges, Belgium.

Hosted at the European Researcher's Night as a contribution of ESRIN/ESA to the yearly event, about 400 external visitors and 150 ESRIN employees attended the exhibition between September 28th and October 4th 2007. The European Researcher's Night, organized by the European Commission, aims to promote the role and importance of European scientific research and applications among the general public and younger generations.

DAMOCLES fulfilled its role. It is now time to move on to its next venue in Bruges, where it will be mounted from 23rd November 2007 until 13th January 2008. So, let's all head this way!

The IPF's educational team brings the effects of climate change alive in class rooms throughout Wallonia. Sponsored by the Belgian Region of Wallonia, 40 classroom sessions have been scheduled during October and November. All sessions were booked in no time and children have responded very positively to the first ones, raising interesting questions and complementary remarks.

Directed towards children aged 10 to 14, these educational sessions of about 2 hours use games and interactive learning processes to introduce polar regions, global warming and the future effects of a changing climate.

A conventional session is divided into three periods:

• Introduction on the IPF and its activities;
• Presentation of both Polar Regions, their specificities and their importance in understanding global climate history;
• Introduction to the effects of climate change in our own country: Belgium.

A Biodiversity CD-Rom

These activities actually put into practice the various subjects that the future "Biodiversity and Climate Change" CD-Rom will enter upon.

This "Biodiversity and Climate Change" CD-Rom is expected to be released at the end of October and will comprise of 15 themes, covered using animations and teaching dossiers.

As usual, all flash animations will be made available on the EducaPoles website and teaching dossiers will be proposed for download.