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Proposed Construction and Operation of Halley VI Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf,Antarctica

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Proposed Construction and Operation of Halley VI Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf,Antarctica Proposed Construction and Operation of Halley VI Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf,Antarctica DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (CEE) February 2005 COVER: Artist’s impressions of concept designs for Halley VI Research Station. From top: Hopkins/Expedition/atelier ten – ‘walking’ buildings using hydraulic legs; FaberMaunsell and Hugh Broughton – modular buildings and service pods on skis; and Buro Happold and Lifschutz Davidson – ‘icecraft’ buildings on telescopic legs. DRAFT CEE HALLEY VI CONTENTS CONTENTS NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. i 1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 The role of Halley Research Station............................................................................................................1 1.2 History of Halley Research Station .............................................................................................................2 1.3 Scientific research at Halley ........................................................................................................................4 1.4 The future development of Halley...............................................................................................................5 1.5 Preparation and production of the CEE for Halley VI.................................................................................7 2. Description of the proposed activity ........................................................................................................9 2.1 Scope ...........................................................................................................................................................9 2.2 Location.......................................................................................................................................................9 2.3 Principal characteristics of the proposed activity ........................................................................................9 2.4 General specification for Halley VI...........................................................................................................10 2.5 Construction of Halley VI .........................................................................................................................11 2.6 Area of disturbance....................................................................................................................................12 2.7 Timescale, duration and intensity ..............................................................................................................13 2.8 Decommissioning of Halley VI .................................................................................................................14 3. Design concepts for Halley VI ................................................................................................................15 3.1 Buro Happold and Lifschutz Davidson .....................................................................................................15 3.2 FaberMaunsell and Hugh Broughton.........................................................................................................21 3.3 Hopkins/Expedition/atelier ten ..................................................................................................................26 4. Alternatives to the proposed activity .....................................................................................................32 4.1 Discontinue scientific research at Halley...................................................................................................32 4.2 Attempt to extend the life of the existing facilities at Halley V................................................................32 4.3 Move existing facilities at Halley V eastwards on the Brunt Ice Shelf .....................................................32 4.4 Relocate and build Halley VI away from the Brunt Ice Shelf on grounded ice at the Lyddan Ice Rise....33 4.5 Commission alternative designs for Halley VI and build a new station at a safe loction on the Brunt Ice Shelf...........................................................................................................................................................34 5. Initial environmental reference state of the Brunt Ice Shelf...............................................................35 5.1 The Brunt Ice Shelf....................................................................................................................................35 5.2 Sea ice........................................................................................................................................................35 5.3 Glaciology .................................................................................................................................................36 5.4 Climate.......................................................................................................................................................38 5.5 Flora and fauna ..........................................................................................................................................41 5.6 Tourism......................................................................................................................................................43 5.7 Protected areas...........................................................................................................................................44 5.8 Human activities ........................................................................................................................................44 5.9 Prediction of the future environmental reference state in the absence of Halley VI .................................44 6. Identification or prediction of impacts, including preventative or mitigating measures..................45 6.1 Methods and data used to predict impacts and mitigation measures .........................................................45 6.2 Impact of construction activities................................................................................................................45 6.3 Impact of operation....................................................................................................................................50 6.4 Cumulative impacts ...................................................................................................................................59 6.5 Impact matrices..........................................................................................................................................59 7. Assessment and verification of impacts and monitoring......................................................................67 7.1 Station environmental monitoring .............................................................................................................67 7.2 Glaciological monitoring of the Brunt Ice Shelf and Stancomb–Wills Ice Stream ...................................67 7.3 Snow and atmospheric chemistry monitoring............................................................................................69 7.4 Environmental audit...................................................................................................................................70 8. Gaps in knowledge and uncertainties ....................................................................................................71 9. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................72 10. Authors of the draft CEE and contact details.......................................................................................73 11. Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................73 12. List of references......................................................................................................................................74 13. Acronyms..................................................................................................................................................76 14. Appendices ...............................................................................................................................................77 DRAFT CEE HALLEY VI CONTENTS FIGURES Figure 1. Location of Halley Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica. ....................................... 1 Figure 2. Halley V Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf. ................................................................................... 2 Figure 3. Left: Scientist releasing meteorological balloon. Right: High Frequency Southern Hemisphere Auroral Radar Experiment (SHARE) at Halley V station............................................................... 5 Figure 4. Timeline diagram showing the stages for the design competition and for the draft and final CEE for Halley VI.................................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 5. Brunt Ice Shelf showing Halley V and the proposed location of Halley VI. ................................ 10 Figure 6. Layout of Halley V Research
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