British scientists stranded in freezing Antarctic research station

Mail Online ^ | 8 August 2014 | Dan Bloom

[citizen]

British scientists are stranded after their Antarctic base lost power in the depths of winter as temperatures plummeted to a record low of minus 55C.

There is no way of rescuing the 13 researchers from the Halley VI Research Station - which has been hit by a 19-hour blackout - for months until the hostile winter subsides.

The British Antarctic Survey admitted it was a 'serious incident' and has suspended all experiments as the workers heat up emergency accommodation which has not been used for months.

Some of the fallout from the power cut, which happened a week ago but was only revealed today, is still ongoing as the workers face sleeping on the floor of a garage.

But despite the perilous conditions the scientists, 10 English, one Scottish, one Romanian and one Polish, have remained upbeat - and even Tweeted about their ordeal.

Renewable energy engineer Anthony Lister wrote: 'Whilst all the fun was happening at #halley6 (not that it's over) we had the lowest ever recorded temps down here at -55.4. Which was nice.

[citizen]

All caused by AGW/climate change, eh?

[a fool in paradise]

Cold day in H.E.2xHockeystick.

[puppypusher]

Sounds like a plot right out of Ice Station Zebra.

[Sacajaweau]

We need people there like we need........Obamacare!

[citizen]

It says :Researcher Tweeted relief at having ‘lots of Yorkshire Tea and a big kettle’

Hope they stay warm.

[dfwgator]

Where’s Global Warming when you need it?

[skinkinthegrass]

"..on the floor?" .. no elevated?
that seems somewhat crazy.

[Klemper]

“Unexpected”

[beebuster2000]

the ice sheet they are on is moving at 400 meters per year. wow, thats a lot of motion. surprising

[Klemper]

I’m making quotation marks with my fingers.

[beebuster2000]

the ice sheet they are on is moving at 400 meters per year. wow, thats a lot of motion. surprising

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

That’s -67.72*F. The coldest temperature I’ve experienced, while outdoors, was only -59.5*F. That type of cold has a fearsome quality. At -67*F, you probably can’t have a conversation outdoors. If you try, you’d have to pick up your words, and carry them indoors to thaw out by the stove. It’s important to heat them up in order, otherwise your speech would be garbled.

[corlorde]

Proof positive that yes, the climate does indeed change lol. Oh wait, do we have to rescue them as well?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Sounds like the first chapters of AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS by H P LOVECRAFT.

[buffyt]

No, no, no, it just cannot be true! Al Gore and B Hussein Obama have spoken. The earth is warming. It has a fever! It is millions and millions of degrees just under the dirt in your yard! There is no more snow. We are burning up. It has not been the coldest summer on record. This cannot be true! If it is true, it means Al Gore and Obama LIED to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL

[buffyt]

Super cool here on the Texas gulf coast today, 70s F. NICE! We have been sitting out on the porch all day. It is about 20 degrees below average here! LOVE IT!

[mountainlion]

The coldest official temperate in Colorado was -61. These people must have been totally unprepared.

[Hugin]

Or the John Carpenter remake of The Thing.

[Klemper]

“THEY” in trouble.

[reg45]

Too cold for mercury thermometers. They freeze solid at -39°C (-38°F).