Why the most isolated research station on Earth drifts ten meters every single year

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Perched at the geographic South Pole, the Amundsen-Scott Station is a feat of extreme engineering. Built on a shifting ice sheet 2,835 meters above sea level, the facility moves ten meters annually. It serves as a vital hub for astrophysics and climate science in one of the planet's harshest environments.

Established in 1956 as part of Operation Deep Freeze, the station was created to support the International Geophysical Year. The original base, known as the Old Pole, was constructed by a U.S. Navy crew who became the first humans to winter over at the South Pole. Before this, no permanent artificial structures existed in the Antarctic interior, and human presence was largely restricted to coastal regions. The station was named to honor Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott, the leaders of the first two expeditions to reach the pole in 1911 and 1912.

The station has undergone significant evolution since its inception. In 1975, a geodesic dome was added to house modular buildings, but this was eventually replaced by an elevated structure completed in 2008. This modern design helps the facility resist snow accumulation and extreme weather. Today, the station supports a wide range of scientific endeavors, including the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the South Pole Telescope, and various atmospheric and seismic studies. Its location offers unique advantages for astronomy, benefiting from a dry atmosphere, clear skies, and a complete absence of light pollution.

Living at the South Pole remains a formidable challenge. The environment is a polar desert with no native plant or animal life. During the six-month polar night, temperatures can plummet below -80°C, and the sun remains invisible until the equinox. The station population fluctuates significantly, peaking at around 150 people during the summer season, while dropping to about 42 during the winter. Supplies are delivered via ski-equipped aircraft or surface traverses from McMurdo Station, ensuring that this critical outpost remains operational despite the isolation and the constant, slow migration of the ice sheet beneath it.

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