King Edward Point
King Edward Point | |
---|---|
GST) | |
UN/LOCODE | GS |
Active times | All year-round |
Status | Operational |
Activities | Support sustainable fishing |
King Edward Point (also known as KEP) is a permanent
History
The area was explored by the
Research station
On 1 January 1950, the station ownership was assumed by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey. The station was manned from 1 January 1952 to 13 November 1969. The British Antarctic Survey provided the British presence at the station until 1982.
At the beginning of the
On 22 March 2001, the British Antarctic Survey reopened the station on behalf of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI). Most of the old, dilapidated (and arguably historic) buildings were destroyed to make way for new ones, with the exception of Discovery House (1925) and the Gaol (1912).
Currently twelve BAS personnel overwinter at the station, rising to around 22 in summer. Two Government Officers plus partners are stationed on KEP, overlapping by about three months during the busy winter fishing season. Summer staff from the Museum at Grytviken are also accommodated at KEP.
The continued occupation of the station serves a political purpose as well: it helps to maintain British sovereignty against Argentina's claim for ownership of the territory.
The chief activities of the station are applied fisheries research on behalf of the Government of
Climate
King Edward Point has a tundra climate (Köppen ET) with long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Climate data for Grytviken/King Edward Point (Köppen ET) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 24.5 (76.1) |
26.5 (79.7) |
28.8 (83.8) |
19.1 (66.4) |
17.5 (63.5) |
14.0 (57.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
13.2 (55.8) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
28.8 (83.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
8.4 (47.1) |
5.6 (42.1) |
2.9 (37.2) |
0.9 (33.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
6.5 (43.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
5.1 (41.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
4.4 (39.9) |
2.3 (36.1) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
1.6 (34.9) |
2.7 (36.9) |
3.7 (38.7) |
1.6 (34.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
1.7 (35.1) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −4.1 (24.6) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−15.2 (4.6) |
−19.2 (−2.6) |
−18.4 (−1.1) |
−11 (12) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−19.2 (−2.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 92 (3.6) |
114 (4.5) |
136 (5.4) |
139 (5.5) |
137 (5.4) |
135 (5.3) |
149 (5.9) |
149 (5.9) |
92 (3.6) |
80 (3.1) |
93 (3.7) |
88 (3.5) |
1,394 (54.9) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 154 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
72 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 69 | 71 | 72 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 152 | 160 | 127 | 66 | 34 | 12 | 22 | 74 | 123 | 171 | 174 | 167 | 1,282 |
Source 1: Globalbioclimatics/Salvador Rivas-Martínez[3] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: DMI/Danish Meteorology Institute (sun, humidity, and precipitation days 1931–1960)[4] |
See also
References
- ^ "Local laws and customs - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Google Maps". 54°17'00.0"S 36°29'39.0"W. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Temp/Rain 1901–1950" (PDF). Globalbioclimatics. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens. "South Georgia–Grytviken" (PDF). Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 242. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2018.