The Dumont d'Urville Station () is a French scientific station in Antarctica on Île des Pétrels, archipelago of Pointe-Géologie in Adélie Land. It is named after explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, whose expedition landed on Débarquement Rock in the Dumoulin Islands at the northeast end of the archipelago on January 21, 1840. It is operated by the "French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor", a joint operation of French public and para-public agencies. It is the administrative centre of Adélie Land.

History

thumb|left|A station in 1959, [[Archives Nationales (France)|Archives Nationales]]

A pioneering French Antarctic research station, Port Martin, located east of D'Urville, was destroyed by fire on the night of January 23, 1952, without death or injury. In 1952, a small base was built on Île des Pétrels to study a rookery of emperor penguins. This base was called Base Marret. As the main base Port Martin was a total loss, Base Marret was chosen as overwintering site for 1952/1953. The new main base, Dumont D'Urville station, was built on the same island and opened on January 12, 1956, to serve as the centre for French scientific research during the Antarctic International Geophysical Year 1957/1958. The station has remained in active use ever since.

The station allows 30-40 people to come ashore at one time. Ice and strong katabatic winds often prevent landings, either by boat or by helicopter. The station can accommodate about 30 winter-overs and 90 during the summer.

Chemistry of the atmosphere

The laboratory in atmospheric chemistry of the base is used to analyse, among other things, sulfur compounds present in the atmosphere.

Geophysics

Nowadays, the study of geophysics is less present in the base. Nonetheless, several tools are still in use, notably a tide gauge, a cosmic rays detector, a GPS to measure the dip of the Antarctica into the upper mantle, and a lidar, which allows the analysis of the ozone depletion and the ozone holes.

Logistics

The proper functioning of the base and supplying Concordia requires significant logistics, especially in the summer. Technicians, including electricians, plumbers, mechanics for the electric plant and auto mechanics are essential for the proper functioning of the base all year round.

In the 1950s the station had a small narrow-gauge railway for transporting supplies from a landing jetty to the main base. This was the only recorded railway ever in Antarctica.

Climate

Dumont d'Urville Station has an ice cap (EF) climate with conditions milder than inland. This station experienced record warm temperatures and precipitation due to an unprecedented atmospheric river event in March 2022. Due to its mild ice cap climate, with summer temperatures often rising above freezing, some animal life, and a few plant species (moss and lichen) can grow in this location.

<gallery widths="350" mode="packed">

NASA Tº D'Urvi 1950-2012.gif|Climate graph of 1950-2012 air average temperatures at D'Urville Station

Colonie de manchots Adélies.jpg|A colony of Adélie penguins

Dumont d Urville panoramque toit geophy.ogv|Panorama of the Dumont d'Urville Station in 2005

</gallery>

See also

  • List of Antarctic research stations
  • List of Antarctic field camps
  • List of airports in Antarctica
  • Concordia Station

References

  • Official website IPEV Institut Polaire Français Paul Emilie Victor
  • Terre Adélie - Dumont d'Urville Station, site of Samuel Blanc
  • Base Dumont d'Urville site from Ifremer
  • l'Astrolabe
  • A winter at the station
  • COMNAP Antarctic Facilities
  • COMNAP Antarctic Facilities Map