COVID puts Antarctic science on ice, halves summer expedition

Australia’s Antarctic operations are on ice, amid warnings Covid-19 threatens vital science.

Expeditioners at South Masson Range. Science and field work have been curtailed for this summer by the COVID-related scaling-back of Australia's Antarctic program. Picture: Matt Williams

Coronavirus has forced a major scaling-back of Australia’s Antarctic operations this summer, amid warnings the disease poses a threat to the future of vital science on the frozen continent.

To reduce the risk of the virus wreaking havoc on isolated stations, the Australian Antarctic Division will slash expeditioner numbers for this summer from the usual 500-600 to just 250-270.

“They are the core people who maintain the station; keep the lights on,” AAD operations and safety chief Charlton Clark told The Weekend Australian.

“We’re making a conscious decision to reduce the scale and scope of the season and focus on resupplying the stations and changing over the personnel.”

The move will significantly curtail science, delay major projects, including the Macquarie Island Station rebuild, and force dozens of expeditioners already in Antarctica for 12 months to spend another summer on the ice.

Fixed-wing aircraft usually brought from Canada to operate transport between Australia’s three continental stations have been cancelled. These must fly to Antarctica via several COVID-hot spots; a move deemed too risky.

In response to the resulting logistical challenges, and to further minimise risks, the entire winter crew of 24 at Davis Station, there since November 2019, as well as several at Mawson Station, will stay put for another summer.

Davis Station leader David Knoff said this had inflicted a “heavy impact” on some.

“The thought that it would be an additional four months until they can see their family and friends and Australia took some time to digest and took the wind out of their sails … a second Christmas down here will be full of mixed emotions.”

Antarctic science this season will be largely limited to a sea voyage and use of monitoring sensors and penguin cameras, as well as assessing existing data.

Much field work, such as tagging penguins and plant surveys, would not be possible, said AAD chief scientist Dirk Welsford.

“There is definitely going to be substantially less scientific activity this year,” Dr Welsford said. “If this problem runs much longer, then it will start to have a real impact on our ability to deliver big science outcomes.”