by Ria Olivier | Jun 27, 2024 | Antarctica, Newsletters>SANAE Newsletters, SANAE, SANAP
SANAE 63 Overwintering Team first newsletter now available. Introducing the team members and sharing their memories.
READ NEWSLETTER HERE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
This first edition of the S63 newsletter introduces the team members with highlights of the memorable moments thus far. I hope this edition is fruitful for all our readers. – Tankiso H. Moso, Editor
LETTER FROM THE DEPUTY TEAM LEADER
I remain impressed with everyone’s work ethic. Each person has certainly found his/her stride here at SANAE IV and my overall impression is one of a strong group made up of respectable and mature individuals with a shared identity and purpose whose aim is to hold the legacy of South African National Antarctic Expedition proudly up high. Personally, I am grateful to each and every one of them for making the task of being a Deputy Team Leader a pleasant and gratifying experience for me. I can already see that bonds of friendship are being formed here that will outlive our stay at SANAE IV. – Thulani “Thulz” Ngwaqa, S63 Deputy Team Leader and Base Engineer
MEET THE S63 TEAM – introducing S63 members.
Page through their photo memories
by Ria Olivier | May 31, 2024 | Antarctica, SANAE
The reason for losing direct sunlight for a good two months is due to the fact that the Earth is tilted on its own axis of rotation by around 23.5°. The Poles are designated at being at 90° latitude North or South. 90° minus 23.5° puts us at a latitude of 66.5°: the Arctic or Antarctic circles. Anything North of the Arctic Circle (officially designated as 66.30° N) or South of the Antarctic Circle (66.30° S) has alternatively 24 hours of sunlight or 0 hours of sunlight.
Sharing images taken by SANAE63 Team Leader and Medical Abigail Paton taken during the last week
When the South Pole is pointing toward the Sun in the summer, the Sun doesn’t set. Similarly, when it is pointing away from the Sun in the winter, the Sun doesn’t rise. Additionally, the long days and nights pair with the near-constant cold.
Sunrise and Sunset in Antarctica
by Ria Olivier | May 22, 2024 | Announcement, Antarctica, Jobs, SANAE
The following vacancies are advertised by The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for positions based on Antarctica.
Antarctica, SANAE IV (the 4th South African National Antarctic Expedition Station):
The successful applicant will spend a full year (December 2024 to February 2026) at SANAE IV base.
Job Information available
- Diesel Mechanic
- Medical Doctor
- Communications Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Instrumentation Technician
- Electro-Mechanical Technician
- Senior Meteorological Technician
by Ria Olivier | Jul 24, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, Newsletters>SANAE Newsletters, Overwintering Team, Research, SANAE, SANAE IV, SANAP, Science, Stations, Team member
The 62nd South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) team has published their second newsletter – May edition and is now available on the ALSA archive.
Get a glimpse into the life of overwintering team members at the SANAE IV research station.
A message from the Editor:
“You know there’s different ways to try and express the vast beauty of this world that can be articulated without a single phase. We don’t always consciously realise how magnificent nature can be. From witnessing auroras for the first time, or an optical phenomenon such as the light pillar effect and immensely strong winds with temperatures dropping below -45 °C, at wind chill”.
Read in the newsletter about:
- Chasing Auroras
- Weather data for May 2023
- Winter Solstice (Midwinter)
- Super Darn Radar
- Photo: see the weather circumstance during smelly duty (melting ice and snow for water)
Click here: SANAE 62 May Newsletter
View the S62 newsletters here!
This newsletter was written and compiled by the 62nd SANAE Overwintering Team. The team decided to name their newsletter ‘The Nunatak’, but for archival and consistency it will be archived as The Endurance (name of SANAE Newsletters).
Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa & Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 24 July 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Mar 30, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, News, Newsletters>SANAE Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAE, SANAE IV, SANAP, Stations, Team member
The 62nd South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) team left Cape Town in middle December 2022 and will return to Cape Town in February 2024. This team will maintain the SANAE IV base for the year, collect meteorological data (under the South African Weather Service) and work on various space science and engineering projects (under the South African National Space Agency).
The SANAE62 team has released their first newsletter for the year. Each of the 9 team members introduce themselves in this first edition.
The team decided to call their newsletter The Nunatak, find out why in the newsletter.
The SANAE62 newsletters published throughout this coming year will give “a glimpse into the life of an overwintering expeditioner at the South African National Antarctic Expedition research base” – DJ van Wyk (South African National Space Agency Engineer, S62 deputy team leader and editor of the S62 newsletter).
DJ has also started his own blog – read more about his time as an expeditioner here.
SANAE 62 February Newsletter
March Birthday Celebration
On social media
DJ van Wyk shares his first aurora experience. Click on the image to visit his profile on Instagram.
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, Data Products and Society Node, 30 March 2023
by Ria Olivier | Jan 10, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, Current Event, Environment, News, SA Agulhas II, SANAE, SANAE IV, SANAP, Science, Stations
Media Release by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment
Minister Barbara Creecy visits Antarctica, 9 to 12 Jan
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Ms Barbara Creecy, will on Monday (9 January 2023) visit the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Research Station as a guest of the Government of Belgium for four days.
The Ministerial visit to the research station is being hosted by the Government of Belgium and the International Polar Foundation, as the operator of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica under mandate from the Belgian Polar Secretariat.
While at the base the Minister will have an opportunity to learn more about the first zero emissions research station in Antarctica, which has become a showcase for best practice in the use of renewable energies to reduce the environmental impact of operations on Antarctica. The Belgians have expressed their desire to sharing Best Practice to improve the environmental performance of the South African Research Infrastructure in Antarctica.
The Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) uses Cape Town as its gateway.
On Tuesday, 10 January 2023, Minister Creecy will travel from the Belgian base to the South African Antarctic Programme’s Research Station, known as SANAE IV, in Queen Maud Land. At the base, which is managed and administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Minister Creecy will interact with station crew and also inspect the facilities used by the South African scientists. During the visit to the biodiversity hotspot, the Minister will learn about the threats of pollution and research into the human impact on ocean and marine ecosystems threatened by global climate change and earth systems observations.
The S.A. Agulhas II departed Cape Town in December with the team for 2023, also delivering equipment, supplies and fuel.
The department has maintained South Africa’s research presence in Antarctica and the Prince Edward Islands. The scientific data that is collected during voyages is critical to the understanding of amongst other things, the impacts of climate change and weather information associated with extreme events.
The first South African built Antarctic base, a wooden structure, SANAE I, was a Meteorological research station constructed in 1961/62. South Africa has not only maintained an uninterrupted presence in the Antarctic since 1960 but played an active role in the management and conservation of the vast continent and contributed to the pool of scientific knowledge.
MEDIA RELEASE
For media inquiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 6490 2871
Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 10 January 2023
Page through their photo memories
Sharing images taken by SANAE63 Team Leader and Medical Abigail Paton taken during the last week
When the South Pole is pointing toward the Sun in the summer, the Sun doesn’t set. Similarly, when it is pointing away from the Sun in the winter, the Sun doesn’t rise. Additionally, the long days and nights pair with the near-constant cold.
The following vacancies are advertised by The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (
