Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Dome A

Dome A, also known as Dome Argus, is the highest ice dome on the East Antarctic Plateau, situated at approximately 80°22′S 77°21′E with a surface elevation of 4,093 meters above sea level.^[1] This remote inland location, about 1,200 kilometers from the Antarctic coast and near the center of East Antarctica, features an ice thickness exceeding 3,000 meters and lies along a 60-kilometer-long ridge.^[1] It has one of the lowest recorded temperatures on Earth, with the lowest air temperature measured at −82.5°C on July 20, 2005, by an automatic weather station, and average annual temperatures around −54°C at 2 meters height.^[2]^[3] The site's extreme climate results from its high elevation, minimal precipitation (annual snow accumulation of about 2.3 cm water equivalent), and persistent katabatic winds that contribute to frequently clear skies.^[2]^[4] These conditions, combined with low humidity, thin atmospheric boundary layer, and average wind speeds below 4 m/s, make Dome A the premier terrestrial location for ground-based astronomy.^[5]^[6] Astronomical observations at Dome A benefit from median optical seeing of 0.31 arcseconds—superior to other global sites—and exceptionally low atmospheric water vapor (around 0.2–0.3 mm precipitable water vapor in winter), enabling high-resolution imaging in optical, infrared, and submillimeter wavelengths.^[7] Site testing since 2008, including the PLATO automated observatory, has confirmed its advantages for exoplanet searches, cosmic microwave background studies, and terahertz astronomy, with nearly continuous darkness during the polar winter. Recent advancements as of 2025 include the deployment of the first near-infrared telescope at Kunlun Station, supporting continued astronomical research.^[6]^[8]^[9] Human presence at Dome A is limited to seasonal research expeditions, primarily through China's Kunlun Station, established in 2009 at 4,093 meters elevation, which supports automated instruments and occasional overwintering teams for glaciology, atmospheric science, and ice core drilling.^[10] The site's inaccessibility, with no permanent infrastructure beyond automated weather and astronomical stations, underscores its role as a pristine natural laboratory for studying polar climate dynamics and ice sheet stability.^[1]^[5]

Location and Geography

Coordinates and Regional Context

Dome A, officially designated as Dome Argus, is situated at precise coordinates of 80°22′S 77°21′E, placing it approximately 1,200 km inland from the Antarctic coast within East Antarctica.^[11]^[12] This location positions it on the vast Antarctic Plateau, a high-elevation expanse forming part of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which covers over 10 million square kilometers and constitutes the majority of the continent's ice mass.^[13] The site's regional context underscores its profound isolation, with key reference distances including 1,248 km to China's Zhongshan Station on the Prydz Bay coast.^[14] This remoteness amplifies logistical challenges, as Dome A is accessible solely via over-snow traverses, which can take weeks, or infrequent airdrops due to the absence of permanent runways and harsh environmental barriers.^[4] The naming of Dome Argus originates from the Scott Polar Research Institute, which formally assigned it in 2005, drawing from Greek mythology where Argus constructed the ship Argo for Jason and the Argonauts; it is commonly referred to as Dome A in scientific literature.^[11] Contributing to its featureless terrain, the region experiences an annual snow accumulation of 1–3 cm water equivalent, which minimally alters surface morphology and preserves ancient ice layers beneath.^[15] Subglacially, Dome A overlies the Gamburtsev Mountains, a buried range influencing the overlying ice dome structure.^[16]

Topography and Geological Features

Dome A, also known as Dome Argus, stands as the highest point on the Antarctic Plateau at an elevation of 4,093 meters (13,428 ft) above sea level.^[17] This summit forms a broad ice dome characterized by gentle slopes and a relatively flat topographic profile, with the elevated ice surface extending across an area approximately 70 km in diameter.^[18] The ice thickness at Dome A exceeds 3,000 meters, contributing to its prominence as a stable, elevated feature amid the vast East Antarctic Ice Sheet.^[19] Beneath this thick ice cover lies the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, an ancient mountain range buried entirely under the ice sheet.^[20] This subglacial topography features rugged peaks and valleys, with maximum elevations reaching around 3,400 meters above the bed and an average altitude of about 1,400 meters, making its scale comparable to or exceeding that of the European Alps.^[21] The mountains were detected through radio echo sounding techniques, which revealed their complex structure despite the overlying ice obscuring surface visibility.^[22] The formation of Dome A results from the convergence of ice flows across the Antarctic Plateau, where accumulation and dynamic balancing create a persistent summit region.^[16] This process leads to a stable ice dome with minimal katabatic winds at the summit, as the flat topography and central location reduce drainage-driven flows, resulting in average wind speeds as low as 1.6–3.3 m/s.^[23]

Climate and Meteorology

Temperature Extremes

Dome A, situated at an elevation of 4,093 meters on the East Antarctic Plateau, experiences some of the most extreme cold temperatures on Earth due to its high altitude and clear-sky conditions that promote radiative cooling. The lowest surface skin temperature recorded in the vicinity of Dome A, measured by satellite infrared observations, reached -93.2 °C on August 10, 2010, over a ridge between Dome A and Dome Fuji.^[24] Ground-based measurements at Dome A itself, using thermometers at automated weather stations, have recorded a low of -82.5 °C on July 20, 2005.^[2] The site's annual temperature range is vast, with winter months (June to August) featuring average temperatures around -60 °C or lower, driven by prolonged darkness and minimal atmospheric moisture that enhances nocturnal cooling. In contrast, summer highs (December to February) typically reach around -20 °C during peak insolation, though daily means remain well below freezing at approximately -25 °C. These extremes are exacerbated by Dome A's elevation, which reduces air density and allows for efficient heat loss to space under clear skies, and its location in a region of very low precipitation that limits insulating cloud cover. The annual mean 2 m air temperature at Dome A is approximately -54 °C.^[3] The 10 m firn temperature is -58.3 °C, the lowest reliably recorded for any location on Earth's surface.^[5] Compared to other Antarctic sites like Vostok Station, Dome A is colder on average, owing to its greater elevation (4,093 m versus Vostok's 3,488 m) and drier atmospheric conditions that diminish greenhouse warming effects. While Vostok holds the previous ground record low of -89.2 °C from 1983, Dome A's sustained winter minima frequently dip below -80 °C, underscoring its status as one of the planet's coldest inhabited-research spots, though the absolute coldest point remains the nearby satellite-detected ridge. Temperature data at Dome A have been collected continuously since 2005 via the PANDA automatic weather station network, which deploys sensors at multiple heights above the snow surface for precise near-surface readings, complemented by infrared satellite validations from instruments like NASA's MODIS for broader spatial confirmation. The network continues to provide hourly data as of 2025.^[25]^[26]

Atmospheric Conditions

Dome A exhibits extremely low precipitation, making it one of the driest regions on Earth, with annual snow accumulation typically ranging from 5 to 11 cm of snow depth, equivalent to 1–3 cm of water.^[5]^[27] This sparse snowfall, primarily in the form of diamond dust under clear skies, classifies the site as a cold desert, where the arid conditions result from the persistent subsidence of dry air over the Antarctic plateau. The atmosphere at Dome A is exceptionally clear, characterized by minimal water vapor content, with precipitable water vapor often as low as 0.1 mm during winter months—the lowest recorded globally—alongside low turbulence and over 300 clear nights annually, equivalent to about 83% clear-sky time. These conditions stem from the site's high elevation and isolation, which limit moisture influx and promote stable, dry air masses. Reduced aerosol levels, consistently low as indicated by optical depth measurements near 0.01 or less, further enhance atmospheric transparency, with minimal particulate interference observed in long-term monitoring.^[28]^[29] Wind patterns at Dome A are notably calm, with average speeds below 3 m/s, primarily due to its summit position that minimizes katabatic flows draining from the plateau slopes. The atmospheric boundary layer remains shallow, typically around 30 m in model predictions, confining turbulence to a thin surface layer and contributing to overall stability. Ongoing operations of the PANDA automatic weather station network have provided hourly meteorological data, confirming these persistent low wind and aerosol conditions across seasons.^[3]^[30]^[25]

History of Exploration

Early Surveys and Detection

The identification of Dome A as a prominent feature on the Antarctic Plateau began with airborne radio-echo sounding surveys conducted between 1967 and 1979 as part of a collaborative program involving the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI, UK), the National Science Foundation (NSF, US), and the Technical University of Denmark (TUD). These expeditions used pulse radar systems to penetrate the ice sheet and map subglacial topography across large portions of East Antarctica, covering approximately 40% of the region.^[31]^[32] The surveys revealed a broad dome structure rising over the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, with internal ice layering deformed by streamline flow and steeply inclined reflectors indicating complex basal topography. This confirmed Dome A as the highest point on the East Antarctic ice sheet, provisionally designated based on the emerging data. The Gamburtsev Mountains, buried beneath up to 2,500 meters of ice, formed a key subglacial highland influencing ice flow convergence toward the dome summit.^[33]^[22] In 1983, D.J. Drewry formalized the feature's recognition in the Antarctica: Glaciological and Geophysical Folio, naming it Dome A and providing the first comprehensive topographic map derived from the radio-echo data integrated with earlier ground traverses. The folio estimated the surface elevation at approximately 4,093 meters above sea level, highlighting its potential as a prime site for glaciological studies due to minimal ice flow disturbance. This provisional naming and mapping laid the foundation for prioritizing Dome A in subsequent Antarctic research agendas.^[34] During the 1980s and 1990s, numerical ice-sheet models built on these datasets to simulate flow dynamics and predict summit elevations around 4,000 meters, emphasizing Dome A's stability and low accumulation rates. These models, such as simplified multi-scale representations of central Antarctic ice elevation variations, incorporated radio-echo profiles to forecast minimal surface undulations, making the site attractive for future overland traverses. Early international efforts also saw involvement from Australian programs through the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE), which contributed to broader plateau surveys via shared data and logistical support in East Antarctica.^[35]^[36]

Modern Expeditions and Achievements

The 21st Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE-21) achieved the first human summit of Dome A in January 2005, traversing 1,228 km overland from Zhongshan Station using over-snow vehicles and confirming the site's elevation at approximately 4,093 m through geodetic surveys and GPS measurements.^[18]^[10] This milestone validated remote sensing predictions from earlier surveys regarding Dome A's position as the highest point on the East Antarctic Plateau.^[37] Subsequent annual traverses by Chinese teams from 2006 to 2009 built on this success, with expeditions in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 focusing on logistical consolidation and equipment deployment to support ongoing operations.^[38] These efforts involved convoys of tractors and sleds establishing fuel caches at intermediate depots to sustain the multi-week journeys across the featureless ice sheet, overcoming challenges like extreme cold and whiteout conditions.^[39] In 2008 and 2009, preparations advanced for a semi-permanent presence, including site assessments and material staging that paved the way for year-round infrastructure.^[40] Ongoing collaborations between Australia and China, initiated in 2005, have enhanced monitoring capabilities along the Zhongshan-Dome A route through automatic weather stations as part of a broader joint effort to maintain shared environmental data networks.^[1] China has proposed designating an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) around Kunlun Station at Dome A multiple times since 2013 to coordinate activities and protect the site's scientific and environmental values, but these proposals have been rejected by Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) parties due to concerns over potential restrictions on access.^[41]^[42] Recent activities include the 40th CHINARE traverse in 2024, where international cooperation supported telescope installations and maintenance at the site.^[7]

Research Infrastructure

Automated Stations and Monitoring

The first automated weather station (AWS) at Dome A was deployed in January 2005 by a Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 21) team in collaboration with Australia, following a 1,228 km over-snow traverse from Zhongshan Station.^[1] This initial station measured key meteorological parameters including air temperature at multiple heights (1 m, 2 m, and 4 m above the snow surface), atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, snow temperature at various depths, incoming solar radiation, and snow-fall rate.^[2] In 2008, the monitoring infrastructure was upgraded with the deployment of the PLATeau Observatory (PLATO), an automated, self-powered platform transported to Dome A via a Chinese over-ice tractor convoy.^[43] PLATO incorporated solar panels and diesel engines for redundant power generation, enabling year-round autonomous operation in extreme conditions.^[44] Its meteorological instruments included sonic anemometers on a 15 m tower for high-frequency (20 Hz) measurements of wind speed and temperature, supporting detailed boundary layer profiling.^[43] The PANDA (Polar Area Meteorology and Climate Detection Network of Automatic Weather Stations) network, which encompasses Dome A as its inland terminus, began expanding in the early 2010s to provide comprehensive transect coverage from the coast to the Antarctic interior.^[25] Since incorporating Dome A, the network has delivered near-real-time meteorological data, including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and wind profiles relevant to boundary layer dynamics, with transmissions facilitated by the Argos satellite system on polar-orbiting platforms.^[25] By 2022, PANDA comprised 11 stations along the Zhongshan-to-Dome A route, enhancing regional monitoring capabilities.^[25] Instruments across these systems feature robust sensors suited to polar extremes, such as thermistors for air temperature, Vaisala HMP35D probes for relative humidity (operable from -80 °C to +30 °C), Paroscientific digiquartz barometers for pressure, and cup or sonic anemometers for wind measurements.^[25] Data are recorded at hourly resolution and archived in public repositories, including the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center and Australian Antarctic Data Centre, for global access and integration into climate models.^[25] Maintaining these remote stations presents significant logistical challenges due to Dome A's isolation, with annual servicing requiring over-snow traverses from coastal bases like Zhongshan Station to perform tasks such as battery replacements and fuel additions for hybrid-powered systems like PLATO.^[44] These expeditions, typically conducted during the austral summer, ensure operational continuity amid harsh conditions including extreme cold and limited visibility.^[1]

Kunlun Station and Observatories

Kunlun Station, China's first inland Antarctic research outpost, was established on January 27, 2009, at the summit of Dome A by the 25th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition.^[45] The station serves as a seasonal summer facility capable of accommodating up to 20 personnel, featuring modular buildings equipped with laboratories, living quarters, power generation systems, and storage for scientific equipment.^[45]^[46] These structures support multidisciplinary research, with a focus on enabling astronomical observations through stable infrastructure in the extreme environment.^[47] Astronomical development at Kunlun Station began with the deployment of the PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) in early 2008, an automated, self-powered platform housing four specialized instruments, including wide-field telescopes for photometric monitoring and site-testing.^[48]^[49] Complementing PLATO, the Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) was installed in January 2008, consisting of four 14.5 cm aperture telescopes equipped with g', r', i', and unfiltered passbands to conduct continuous photometric surveys over a 20 square degree field of view.^[50] These early facilities demonstrated the feasibility of robotic operations at Dome A, capturing high-cadence data during the polar winter for variable star studies and exoplanet transit searches.^[51] Subsequent expansions included the Antarctic Survey Telescopes (AST3), a series of three 0.5 m aperture modified Schmidt telescopes designed for time-domain astronomy. The first, AST3-1, was deployed in January 2012 and equipped with a 10k × 10k CCD camera and SDSS i-band filter for wide-field imaging surveys covering transients and variable sources.^[52] AST3-2 followed in 2014, enhancing capabilities for rapid-response observations, such as follow-up on gravitational wave events.^[53] These instruments, operated remotely from Kunlun Station, have produced extensive point-source catalogs, underscoring Dome A's advantages for uninterrupted monitoring.^[54] In 2024, during the 40th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition, significant upgrades were made to the astronomical infrastructure, including the deployment of a J-band near-infrared telescope with a 150 mm aperture and 1° field of view for daytime photometric observations.^[7] Additionally, repairs were performed on AST3-2 to restore full functionality, and a 30 cm wide-band Antarctic terahertz antenna (ATE30) was installed to probe atmospheric conditions at 462 and 493 GHz.^[7] These enhancements build on the station's role as a hub for optical and infrared instrumentation. Looking ahead, plans for larger-aperture telescopes at Dome A include the proposed Kunlun Dark Universe Survey Telescope (KDUST), a 2.5 m optical/infrared instrument aimed at deep-field surveys, with potential deployment in the coming years through collaborations involving Chinese and international partners.^[55] Longer-term visions encompass 6–8 m class telescopes for advanced infrared observations, leveraging Kunlun Station's logistics to support expanded international astronomical efforts.^[47] Access to Kunlun Station has been facilitated by the development of an ice runway near Dome A, with the first successful fixed-wing aircraft landing achieved in January 2017 by the Chinese Snow Eagle 601, a ski-equipped Basler BT-67, enabling efficient transport of personnel and heavy equipment beyond ground traverses.^[56] This airstrip has since supported seasonal operations, reducing reliance on overland expeditions for observatory maintenance and upgrades.

Scientific Significance

Astronomical Applications

Dome A, located at an elevation of 4,093 meters on the Antarctic Plateau, offers unparalleled conditions for ground-based astronomy due to its exceptionally cold temperatures averaging around -54°C at 2 m height and extremely low water vapor content, which minimize atmospheric distortion and thermal emission. A 2020 study published in Nature conducted the first direct measurements of astronomical seeing at the site, revealing a median value of 0.31 arcseconds at 8 meters above the surface—superior to any other Earth-based location—and confirming Dome A as the premier site for optical observations. This exceptional seeing arises from the thin boundary layer of turbulence, typically confined to within 14 meters of the ice surface, allowing telescopes elevated on towers to access "space-like" image quality. Additionally, the site's low infrared sky background, resulting from the cold, dry air that reduces thermal radiation to levels around 600–1100 μJy arcsec^{-2} in the J-band, makes it ideal for near-infrared astronomy, outperforming mid-latitude sites by factors of 2–3 in background brightness.^[57]^[7] Compared to established observatories like Mauna Kea, where median seeing ranges from 0.6 to 0.8 arcseconds, Dome A's conditions are approximately twice as favorable, enabling sharper resolution without adaptive optics for many applications.^[7] This advantage extends to infrared wavelengths, where the minimal precipitable water vapor—often below 0.3 mm—allows ground-based detection of faint sources that typically require space telescopes. As a result, Dome A facilitates high-precision exoplanet transit surveys and cosmological studies, such as measuring galaxy redshifts and weak lensing, with sensitivities rivaling those of orbital observatories like Hubble or JWST for certain targets.^[58]^[7] These capabilities stem from the site's stable, laminar airflow and prolonged periods of darkness during the Antarctic winter, providing up to 120 continuous observing nights annually. Early astronomical efforts at Dome A included the PLATO (PLATeau Observatory) instrument, deployed from 2008 to 2015, which conducted wide-field photometry using the CSTAR telescopes to monitor approximately 10,000 stars per field. This dataset produced comprehensive catalogs of variable stars, identifying over 188 objects including Cepheids, RR Lyrae stars, and eclipsing binaries, with 67 newly discovered variables that enhanced understanding of stellar evolution in the Galactic halo.^[59] More recent projects, such as the Antarctic Survey Telescopes (AST3) operational since 2012 and upgraded through 2025, focus on time-domain surveys contributing to supernova cosmology and transient event follow-up.^[54] In 2024–2025, the Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope (AIRBT) initiated infrared time-domain monitoring, targeting rare events like gravitationally lensed supernovae to probe cosmic expansion and dark energy with unprecedented temporal resolution. Looking ahead, Dome A's potential is exemplified by plans for the Dome A Terahertz Explorer (DATE5), a 5-meter telescope designed for submillimeter and terahertz observations, which leverages the site's driest atmospheric windows—among the lowest precipitable water vapor globally—to map cosmic dust and early universe signals.^[60] With over 80% clear-sky fraction during the winter months and minimal cloud interference, this facility, targeted for deployment in the coming decade, will enable millimeter-wave astronomy comparable to space-based platforms, advancing studies of star formation and galaxy evolution.^[61]

Glaciological and Climatic Studies

Dome A, as the summit of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, presents exceptional potential for deep ice core drilling due to its extremely low annual snow accumulation rate of approximately 1.5 cm water equivalent and the stable isotopic composition of its surface snow, which features lower δ¹⁸O and δD values compared to other East Antarctic domes.^[62] These conditions minimize vertical advection of cold air and preserve ancient ice layers with minimal disturbance, making it a candidate for recovering ice older than 1 million years to extend paleoclimate records beyond the current 800,000-year limit from sites like EPICA Dome C.^[63] Radar surveys conducted in the region, including model-based evaluations from ice-penetrating radar data over the underlying Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, have identified optimal coring sites near the divide where ice thickness reaches up to 3,400 meters and flow is minimal, enhancing the feasibility of accessing pre-Quaternary ice.^[63] Such cores could reveal critical insights into Mid-Pleistocene Transition climate dynamics and atmospheric CO₂ variations. Glaciological research at Dome A leverages seismic and radar data to investigate ice flow dynamics and subglacial features, contributing to assessments of East Antarctic Ice Sheet stability. Seismic surveys, integrated with ice-penetrating radar, have mapped subglacial water networks and hydraulic heads beneath the ice dome, revealing interconnected lakes and channels that influence basal sliding and overall ice sheet grounding.^[64] These studies indicate a frozen bed in much of the region due to low geothermal heat flux and cold basal temperatures around -2°C, promoting long-term ice preservation and limiting dynamic instability compared to marine-terminating sectors.^[65] Automated weather station (AWS) observations complement these efforts by providing surface data to model ice flow velocities, which average less than 1 m/year near the summit, underscoring the site's role in maintaining the ice sheet's structural integrity against potential collapse scenarios.^[65] Climatic studies utilize long-term AWS records from Dome A, operational since 2005, to track polar amplification and inform global climate models. These datasets capture extreme cold temperatures averaging around -54°C annually at 2 m height and document enhanced warming trends in East Antarctica, with surface energy balance analyses showing increased longwave radiation absorption contributing to amplification factors exceeding 1.5 relative to global means.^[66] Analyses from 2022 to 2025 have linked AWS-derived temperature and pressure anomalies to projections in coupled ice sheet-climate models.^[65] Research in ancillary fields, such as atmospheric chemistry, draws on ice and snow samples collected during traverses to Dome A. Expeditions in 2024, part of the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE), conducted atmospheric chemistry investigations from these samples and traverses, quantifying trace elements like mercury and identifying long-range transport from mid-latitudes as a primary source, with isotopic signatures indicating minimal local volatilization.^[67]

References

[1]
Dome Argus - Australian Antarctic Program
Feb 16, 2018 · Dome Argus (Dome A) is the highest place in East Antarctica. An ... Dome Argus has a surface elevation of 4,093 m. It is the highest ...Missing: astronomy | Show results with:astronomy
[2]
Detailed weather data from Dome A - Australian Antarctic Program
Jul 20, 2005 · The coldest temperature reached to date was −82.5 °C in July 2005. Temperature. The Dome A automatic weather station has temperature sensors at ...
[3]
Meteorological data for the astronomical site at Dome A, Antarctica
Aug 1, 2014 · The average temperatures at 2m and 14.5m are -54^{\circ}C and -46^{\circ}C, respectively. We find that a strong temperature inversion existed at ...
[4]
Preliminary evidence indicating Dome A (Antarctica) satisfying ...
These facts indicate that Dome A is the “pole of cold” on the Earth. The total amount of snow accumulation rate in 2005 and 2006 was only 0.16 cm, equaling ...
[5]
Surface characteristics at Dome A, Antarctica: first measurements ...
Sep 14, 2017 · (3) The average wind speed observed at Dome A (<4ms–1) is lower than at other sites along IDEA. Together, these parameters, combined with radio- ...
[6]
[2010.04972] Astronomy from Dome A in Antarctica - arXiv
Oct 10, 2020 · Dome A in Antarctica has been demonstrated to be the best site on earth for optical, infrared, and terahertz astronomical observations by more and more ...
[7]
Exploring the Antarctic sky: Dome A's astronomical endeavors ... - NIH
Apr 25, 2024 · Dome A exhibits a minimum seeing value of 0.13" at an elevation of 8 m above ice-cold ground, with a median value of 0.31". When positioned at a ...
[8]
Site testing Dome A, Antarctica - SPIE Digital Library
This self-powered observatory will be equipped with a suite of site testing instruments measuring turbulence, optical and infrared sky background, and sub- ...
[9]
Dome A in Antarctica is the Best Site for Optical Astronomical ...
Aug 3, 2020 · Dome A is the highest place on the polar ice cap, with an altitude of 4093m. Kunlun Station is the only station there, but has not yet been ...Missing: elevation | Show results with:elevation
[10]
Dome Argus - Australian Antarctic Data Centre
Mapped in detail by radio echo sounding by the Scott Polar Research Institute and formerly designated Dome "A". Named after Argus the ship that carried Jason ...Missing: 2005 | Show results with:2005
[11]
GPS coordinates of Dome A, Antarctica. Latitude: -80.3667 Longitude
It is the highest ice feature in Antarctica, consisting of a dome or eminence 4,091 metres (13,422 ft) elevation above sea level. Latitude: -80° 21' 59.99" S
[12]
Map showing the location of Dome A (or Dome Argus) in Antarctica ...
... the dividing line of East Antarctica are several gigantic domes, including Dome A (80°22 ′ S, 77°22 ′ E, 4092.5 m above sea level, and 1228 km away from ...
[13]
Spatial variability of surface mass balance along a traverse route ...
Sep 8, 2017 · The traverse route starts at Zhongshan and ends at the Dome A summit, covering a distance of 1248 km (Fig. 1). The transect is located on the ...
[14]
Deep ice-core drilling to 800 m at Dome A in East Antarctica
Apr 5, 2021 · The annual average temperature and snow accumulation rates at Dome A are −58.6°C and 23 mm water equivalent a –1, respectively. The original ...
[15]
Trends of perchlorate in Antarctic snow: Implications for atmospheric ...
Aug 31, 2016 · Previous investigation has shown that Dome A has an average snow accumulation rate of 2.3 cm w.e.a−1 [Jiang et al., 2012]. During the 2009–2010 ...
[16]
Dated radar-stratigraphy between Dome A and South Pole, East ...
Nov 13, 2024 · We identify, trace and date three key internal reflection horizons (IRHs) across multiple radar surveys from South Pole to Dome A, East Antarctica.
[17]
[PDF] Antarctica in Context
Height. Bed elevation ice depth. Dome A. 81°S 77°E. 4093 m. 1597 m. 2486 m. Dome C. 75°S 125°E. 3264 m. 249 m. 3015 m. Dome Fuji (Valkyrie). 77°S 37°E. 3786 m.
[18]
[PDF] The first geodetic investigation at the summit of Dome A, Ant- - arctica
During the 2004/2005 austral summer, the traverse was extended to the summit of. Dome A which is 1228 km from Zhongshan Station by 21st Chinese National ...
[19]
A new detailed ice thickness and subglacial topography DEM for ...
A new detailed ice thickness and subglacial topography DEM for Dome A, East Antarctica ... ice thickness of about 2500 m may be ideal to preserve the oldest ice.Missing: paper | Show results with:paper
[20]
AGAP-GAMBIT - Polar Geophysics Group
The ice at 'Dome A' (the highest point on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet) is 3,200 meters (~2 miles) thick, and the Gamburtsev Mountains are below it The goal of ...
[21]
Tectonic Implications for the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, East ...
The average altitude of the subglacial terrain is ~1.4 km, and the maximum height reaches ~3.4 km. Its colossal scale exceeds the European Alps [7]. The GSMs ...
[22]
Geophysical Surveys: The Gamburtsev Mountains - Antarctic Glaciers
Ice thicknesses vary between 1 to 3 km across the high peaks and deep valleys. At its thinnest, ice is less than 400 m thick above some peaks, but reaches over ...
[23]
Near surface climate of the traverse route from Zhongshan Station to ...
Apr 16, 2010 · The minimum wind speed is experienced on the inland plateau (Eagle and Dome A) with a range of 1.6–3.3 m s -1. This is because LGB69 is in a ...
[24]
Recent accumulation rate at Dome A, Antarctica | Science Bulletin
We speculate Dome A as a potential site to discover the oldest ice in Antarctica due to its tremendous ice thickness (> 3000 m), extremely low accumulation rate ...Missing: paper | Show results with:paper
[25]
Precipitable Water Vapor above Dome A, Antarctica, Determined ...
In this article we estimate the precipitable water vapor at Dome A using optical spectra of the diffuse solar irradiance in the zenith direction.
[26]
Weather at selected astronomical sites – an overview of five ...
Dome A, Dome C, and Siding Spring show the smallest average values for vertical wind over the entire year. In Southern Asia, vertical wind velocity is strongly ...
[27]
[PDF] Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C and F, and Ridges A ...
The thin lines are streamlines at —500m. and Gallee (2006a), the predicted boundary layer thickness at Dome A itself is over 30m, i.e. 50% worse than ...
[28]
The PANDA automatic weather station network between the coast ...
Nov 15, 2022 · This paper introduces a unique multiyear dataset and the monitoring capability of the PANDA automatic weather station network.
[29]
Atlas of Antarctica
Dome Argus (first called “Dome A”) was mapped by the SPRI-NSF-TUD airborne radio- echosounding program (1967–1979) (Alberts 1995, p. 26); the abbreviations ...
[30]
A 60-year international history of Antarctic subglacial lake exploration
May 25, 2017 · Lake Whillans was first identified through analysis of time-series satellite altimetry; the ice surface was observed to rise and lower twice as ...
[31]
[PDF] Radio echo exploration of the Antarctic ice sheet
Deformation of internal layering over the Gamburtsev Mountains, showing streamline flow from 0 to 50 km and the occurrence of steeply inclined reflecting sur-.
[32]
[PDF] Ice Sheet And Satellite Altimetry - UCLA Physics & Astronomy
Drewry, D.J.: 1983, Surface of Antarctica ice sheet, in D.J. Drewry (ed.), Antarctica: Glaciological and Geophysical Folio, Scott Polar Research Institute ...
[33]
[PDF] A new bed elevation model for the Weddell Sea sector of the West ...
Apr 9, 2018 · The first topographic representation of the land sur- face beneath the Antarctic ice sheet (Drewry, 1983) was pub- lished by the Scott Polar ...
[34]
A simplified multi-scale model for predicting climatic variations of the ...
Jan 20, 2017 · A simplified multi-scale model for predicting climatic variations of the ice-sheet surface elevation in central Antarctica - Volume 23.
[35]
[PDF] Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions 1947-66 (1).tif
He proposed a two-year research expedition working eastwards along the Antarctic coast south of Australia, from Enderby Land to the Ross Sea, surveying the c e ...
[36]
The first geodetic investigation at the summit of Dome A, Antarctica
During the 2004/2005 austral summer, the traverse was extended to the summit of Dome A which is 1228 km from Zhongshan Station by 21st Chinese National ...Missing: Distance | Show results with:Distance
[37]
Dome A site testing and future plans - NASA/ADS
... 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. These traverses resulted in the installation of many site-testing and science instruments, supported by the PLATO observatory. The ...
[38]
Dome A traverse and Kunlun Station - polar science magazine
Dec 18, 2008 · In addition, the traverse team will be pick some 22 tons of empty fuel drums from one of two aircraft refuelling stations established on the ...Missing: caches | Show results with:caches<|separator|>
[39]
[PDF] Overview of China's Antarctic research progress 1984–2016
Dome A Observatories (PANDA) project during the. International Polar Year (IPY) 2007−2008. PANDA was the major Chinese-led contribution to IPY 2007−2008.
[40]
Location of AWS between Zhongshan Station and Dome-A.
AAD designed and built automatic weather station (AWS) were deployed as part of Australian-Chinese collaboration along the 1228 km CHINARE traverses from ...
[41]
Antarctic Treaty
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica.Antarctic Treaty Consultative... · Antarctic Treaty database · ATCM 47 · Parties
[42]
The PLATO Dome A Site-Testing Observatory: Instrumentation and ...
The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory ... Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January.Missing: Plateau | Show results with:Plateau
[43]
The PLATO Dome A site-testing observatory: Power generation and ...
Several factors suggest that Dome A, a currently unmanned site lying at the highest point ( ∼ 4100 m ) on the Antarctic plateau (see Fig. 1), should have ...
[44]
Antarctic Kunlun Station - Polar Research Institute of China
It was built on January 27, 2009 with geographical coordinates of and a straight-line distance of 1260 km from Antarctic Zhongshan Station. The Kunlun Station ...
[45]
[PDF] Sleep architecture, periodic breathing and mood disturbance of ...
Sep 9, 2020 · ... Kunlun Station at Dome A. The study examined 10 male volunteers of ... capacity to accommodate 20–28 research personnel. Based on ...
[46]
China's research programmes at Kunlun Station - SciencePoles
Nov 27, 2012 · China's flagship project during the IPY was the January 2009 construction and inauguration of Kunlun Station. Located at Dome A (the summit of ...
[47]
PLATO-A Dome A robotic observatory
PLATO-A is situated at a longitude of 77:05.74, a latitude of -80:25.043, and an elevation of 4100m (as measured with the GPS in the PLATO-A Iridium OpenPort ...
[48]
[PDF] The PLATO Dome A Site-Testing Observatory: Instrumentation and ...
Mar 2, 2009 · The physical altitude is 4093 m, while the pressure altitude ... and operation of the Chinese Dome A Station in Antarctica prepared by the.
[49]
Chinese small telescope ARray (CSTAR) for Antarctic Dome A
Aug 9, 2025 · ... ... The CSTAR images were also used to study the observing conditions at Dome A. It is promising that the sky was almost clear in the winter ...
[50]
Optical system of the Three Antarctic Survey Telescopes
The first-generation Chinese Antarctic optical telescope CSTAR has been operating on Dome A since 2008 January. The second-generation Chinese telescopes ...
[51]
The First Release of the AST3-1 Point Source Catalogue from Dome ...
May 15, 2018 · AST3-1 is a 500\,mm aperture modified Schmidt telescope with a 680\,mm diameter primary mirror. AST3-1 is equipped with a SDSS i filter and a ...
[52]
Performance of the second Antarctic Survey Telescope at Dome A
Jul 6, 2018 · The second Antarctic Survey Telescope (AST3-2), the largest optical telescope in Antarctica so far, is a 0.5m entrance diameter large field of ...
[53]
The first release of the AST3-1 Point Source Catalogue from Dome A ...
ABSTRACT. The three Antarctic Survey Telescopes (AST3) aim to carry out time-domain imaging survey at Dome A, Antarctica. The first of the three telescopes.
[54]
Astronomy from Dome A in Antarctica - ResearchGate
Aug 10, 2025 · Dome A in Antarctica has been demonstrated to be the best site on earth for optical, infrared, and terahertz astronomical observations by ...
[55]
China's Snow Eagle lands on highest Dome A, makes history - Xinhua
Jan 10, 2017 · The aircraft made the historical landing on Sunday at the airport of the Kunlun Station near Dome A, 4,093 meters above sea level, at 2:35 p.m. ...Missing: airfield | Show results with:airfield
[56]
Researchers reveal early results in sky-brightness measurements in ...
Apr 21, 2023 · By calculating and analyzing the zenith angle data, the sky background intensity of Antarctic Dome A in J, H, and Ks bands are 600 ~ 1100 μJ ...
[57]
An Antarctic ice dome may offer the world's clearest views of the ...
Jul 29, 2020 · Night-time measurements of astronomical seeing at Dome A in Antarctica. Nature. Published online July 29, 2020. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2489-0.
[58]
PHOTOMETRY OF VARIABLE STARS FROM DOME A, ANTARCTICA
We identified 188 variable stars, including 67 new objects relative to our 2008 observations, thanks to broader synoptic coverage, a deeper magnitude limit, and ...
[59]
Conceptual design of a 5-m terahertz telescope at Dome A
The Dome A 5-m terahertz telescope (DATE 5) will be operated at sub-millimeter waveband taking the unique advantage of the transparent atmospheric windows ...
[60]
First Daytime Near-infrared Photometric Observations at Antarctic ...
Mar 26, 2025 · ... Dome A is estimated to be around one event per year. Nova are much more common than supernovae, and some exhibit repeated outbursts within a ...
[61]
Preliminary evidence indicating Dome A (Antarctica) satisfying ...
Aug 7, 2025 · The distance of the expedition route was 1248 km and the altitude rose from sea level at Zhongshan Station to 4093 m at Dome A. Detailed ...
[62]
CP - Using ice-flow models to evaluate potential sites of million year-old ice in Antarctica
### Summary of Dome A Ice Core Potential, Radar Surveys, and Gamburtsev Mountains
[63]
Identification and control of subglacial water networks under Dome ...
Apr 24, 2013 · However, the large-scale structure of the hydraulic head is determined by the overall ice surface geometry of Dome A (Figures 1a and 1c). Over ...
[64]
Joint Inversion for Surface Accumulation Rate and Geothermal Heat ...
Apr 15, 2021 · Dome A is the summit of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, underlain by the rugged Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains. The rugged basal topography ...1 Introduction · 3 Ice Sheet Flow Field · 4.3 Divide Stability
[65]
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020JF005936
[66]
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025JD044304
[67]
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL112649