Basic Information

Location: (60°43"S, 45°36"W)
The Signy Base is located towards the northern-most extend of the winter pack ice.

History

Signy was established in 1947, mainly as a meteorological station. Then, in 1936, it was developed into a major biological station with new living areas, laboratories and diving facilities. Signy was the center of the BAS biological science until 1995, when the marine component was transferred to Rothera. In 1995 to 1996 the station was rebuilt for the third time as a summer only station. The new main building, Sørlle House, has living accommodation, laboratories and offices.

Science

The small island of Signy (20km2 ), is a sub-Antarctic island, and is composed of metamorphic rocks. It serves as a home for a variety of plants and animals. Roughly half the island is ice-free and includes a number of small freshwater lakes, and several streams. The island has 17 breeding bird species and 3 species of seal. Research at the Signy Base has covered most aspects of freshwater, terrestrial and marine biology, and also meteorology and geology. Biogeochemistry, micrometeorology, sea-ice duration, and bird and seal population dynamics has also been studied there. Current research at Signy Island includes lake chemistry, micrometeorology, microbial community dynamics, catchment-lake interactions and the CCAMLR penguin survey.

Other Information

The Signy Base is open from November to April with a maximum population of eight to ten. It is 6.5 km long and less than 5 km wide, and there’s a permanent ice cover over a large part of the island, which rises 288m high. In the summer, large areas of moss and some grasses are revealed.