Soviet experience at vostok and plans for Antarctic astronomy

• Published in: Highlights of Astronomy
• Main Author: Burdyuzha, V
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1992
• Subjects: General Medicine; Antarctic; Amundsen-Scott; Mirny; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1539299600022632; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1539299600022632

The station Vostok is on the polar cap at an altitude of about 3500 m. Vostok comprises a special complex for geophysical research together with accommodation and power generating facilities. Its location far inland at a high altitude provides a unique astroclimate. From 1958 to 1980, the mean annual temperatures were -55.3°C at Vostok, -49.3°C at Amundsen-Scott (S. Pole), and -11.3°C at Mirny (near the coast). Mirny recorded an average of 199 days/year with strong wind, Vostok only 3.2. The mean number of days/month with heavy cloud were 3.4 at Vostok, 4.0 at Amundsen-Scott, and 6.6 at Mirny. The number of days/year with little cloud: Vostok : 361, Mirny : 174.