Law-Racoviță Station

Law-Racoviță Station (Romanian: Stația Law-Racoviță) is the first permanent Romanian station for research and exploration in Antarctica, named after the Romanian explorer Emil Racoviță and inaugurated on January 13, 2006 at the location of a station constructed in 1986 by Australia and donated to Romania. The station may be found in Princess Elizabeth Land, in the Larsemann Hills, 2 kilometers away from China's Antarctic Zhongshan Station.

Location

Law-Racoviță Station is placed in a rocky area about 3 kilometers from the Ingrid Christensen coast in Princess Elizabeth Land, in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica, at the coordinates 69°23'18.61" S, 76°22'46.2" E.

It is located at a distance of 2 kilometers from Zhongshan Station of China and Progress II of the Russian Federation, which permits considerable cooperation between these countries. The station is located 13,352 km from the capital of Romania, Bucharest.

Access to the station is made in one of two ways: via helicopter from Davis Station, approximately 80 kilometers northeast, or by land from Zhongshan or Progress II.

History

In 1986, Australia constructed Law Station for polar research where Law-Racoviță now stands for the use of Australian researchers in the polar summer.

Explorer Teodor Negoiță's attempt to develop a Romanian base in Antarctica began in 1997, when he began to present his work for the Antarctic Treaty, which Romania ratified in 1971. No Romanian had previously contributed evidence of research. Following recognition of his research by polar researchers from other countries, no progress was made on the creation of a Romanian polar station until 2000, when Negoiță benefited from the honor of delivering the opening speech at the meeting of Antarctic Treaty nations in London, before delegations from 43 countries. The scope of this meeting entailed elaboration on a code of navigation in Antarctica, with special focus on the discussion of papers presented by Romania, the United States, and England. Negoiță presented the study "Directions on Antarctic maritime transport and protection of nature".

After two years of negotiations, during the 2005 meeting of the Antarctic Treaty in Stockholm, an agreement was signed through which Australia donated to the Romanian Antarctic Foundation and the Romanian Institute for Polar Research one of their research stations on the east coast of Antarctica, Law Station, which was renamed Law-Racoviță Station, after Romanian explorer Emil Racoviță and placed under the directorship of Negoiță. The signing of this agreement took place in the presence of the Romanian and Australian ambassadors to each other's countries.

"After more than 100 years, I brought Racoviță back to Antarctica. I had the greatest satisfaction in my career when I acquired the base from the Australians. I was so emotional then that I couldn't even sign the treaty."- Teodor Negoiță

Following the inauguration of the station in Antarctica, Teodor Negoiță made his thirteenth expedition to the polar region, celebrating two and a half months in the Antarctic, with his team of researchers (including the first Romanian women scientists in Antarctica, a biologist and biochemist on his team). They conducted research on the soil, sediment, and microorganisms of the continent.

On February 20, 2006, the station was officially handed over to Romania from Australia.

The base

Law-Racoviță is constructed from anti-corrosive and insulating materials - a necessity in Antarctica - with one large laboratory building and five domed red dormitories, a radio station, and a deposit station for combustibles and other waste. The buildings are designed to adapt to the cold environment, fixed to small platforms which may be adjusted by foot, with a minimal impact on the environment. The building which serves as a laboratory is constructed from prefabricated panels, which require a minimum of time to assemble. The dormitories are red and constructed with a fiberglass exterior and polyurethane foam isolation on the interior, and windows constructed from double-paned polycarbonate. All waste produced is deposited in a receptacle evacuated daily by members of the expedition. The base is supplied by electric energy through a small gas generator and a solar panel. The nearby lake contains potable water, and water is also obtained from melting snow. Contact is maintained with other stations via a permanent VHF radio, powered by the solar panel. For contact elsewhere, every expedition has access to a satellite telephone.

Research

Law-Racoviță Station is named after Philip Law, the first researcher to study East Antarctica, and Emil Racoviță, the first Romanian to reach the continent of Antarctica, a scientist on the expedition of the ship Belgica (1897-1899).

"It is a first for Antarctic research in Romania, a signatory country to the Antarctic Treaty in 1971, which gives us the right to use the territory in the extreme south in a peaceful way. (...) It is easier for a country in Romania's position to use an old base than to construct a new one." - Teodor Negoiță

The annual cost of use of this station by Romanian expeditions in the region is estimated at around 20,000 USD.

Law-Racoviță Station welcomed the first team of researchers in December 2006 at the beginning of the austral summer. The Romanian team undertook bioprospecting, ecological, meteorological, seismic, geomagnetic, and radio research.

The research program includes studies on polar law, biochemistry and biotechnology, pharmaceutical and agricultural research, hydrological and limnological studies, medical research, meteorology, and astro-climatic research. Data from these studies is analyzed in Romanian laboratories.

Law-Racoviță is privately funded by the Romanian Antarctic Foundation through the Romanian Institute of Polar Research.

External links

• Institutul Român de Cercetări Polare - Stația Law-Racoviță
• (Romanian) Maria Bărbulescu, "Cercetătorul Teodor Negoiţă pleacă spre unica baza românească din Antarctica", Gândul, August 12, 2005
• (Romanian) Mihail Lechkun, "Staţia de cercetări polare a României a pornit", România Liberă, March 16, 2006
• (Romanian) Alexandra Olivotto, "Guvernul nu dă nici un pol pe românii de la Polul Sud", Cotidianul
• (Romanian) Mihaela Roman, "Tricolorul românesc s-a întors în Antarctica", Gândul, March 20, 2006
• Michael Stoddart, "The Inauguration of Law-Racovita Station", Australian Antarctic Magazine, Spring 2006
• COMNAP Antarctic Facilities
• COMNAP Antarctic Facilities Map