‘Hallowe’en crack’ threatens Antarctic base

THE future of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) at the South Pole is in doubt after scientists were forced to abandon their research station for the second time after cracks lengthened in the ice sheet.

The renowned Halley VI ice base, from which the hole in the ozone layer was first detected, has already been relocated 14 miles across the Brunt Ice Shelf because of an encroaching fissure.

But another fracture in the floating ice shelf – dubbed the Hallowe’en Crack – has been steadily growing to the north of the base since last year. Crews were evacuated earlier this year, and yesterday the BAS announced that, for safety reasons, it would be closing Halley VI for the Antarctic winter, which runs from March to November.

Although the BAS says nobody is immediate danger, they cannot be sure that conditions would not worsen during the difficult conditions of the southern polar winter when an evacuation would be impossible.

Dame Jane Francis, director of BAS, said: “What we are witnessing is the power and unpredictability of nature. The safety of our staff is our priority in these circumstances. Our Antarctic summer research operation will continue as planned.”

The latest assessment from BAS glaciologists confirms that the northern movement of the chasm, which had previously been dormant for around 35 years accelerated during the last 7 months, and the second Hallowe’en crack continues to extend eastwards.

The 14 staff will be redeployed, either at other Bas-operated stations or in its Cambridge headquarters.