British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica. BAS addresses key global and regional issues. This involves joint research projects with over 40 UK universities and more than 120 national and international collaborations.

History

Operation Tabarin was a small British expedition in 1943 to establish permanently-occupied bases in the Antarctic. It was a joint undertaking by the Admiralty and the Colonial Office. At the end of the war it was renamed the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) and full control passed to the Colonial Office. At this time there were four stations, three occupied and one unoccupied. By the time FIDS was renamed British Antarctic Survey in 1962, 19 stations and three refuges had been established.

The Antarctic explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs was Director of BAS from 1958 to 1973.

Bases

Bases in Antarctica

The BAS operates five permanent bases in the British Antarctic Territory:

• Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island
• Halley Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf
• Signy Research Station on Signy Island
• Fossil Bluff Logistics Facility on Alexander Island
• Sky Blu Logistics Facility in......
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