Satellites hold the key—claim

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 9

Satellites hold the key—claim

Satellites held the key to better Antarctic communication, said the director of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Mr Bob Thomson, yesterday. Mr Thomson will leave on Monday for a conference of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research at Bremerhaven, West Germany. He is chairman of S.C.A.R.’s logistics working group and of the finance committee. A workshop on telecommunications will be held for the working group during the conference. Atmospheric conditions above Antarctica made high frequency radio communication almost impossible, he said. Contact between bases on the continent was difficult at times and communication with “the outside world” unreliable. Lack of communication was a problem for the World Meteorological Organisation. The world’s

weather was “made” in the Antarctic and when data could not be received from the area, forecasting became difficult. Better communication would also improve safety. Many aircraft flying from New Zealand to Antarctica turned back when there was a radio blackout. Others took the risk of flying on, not knowning what was ahead of them.

“It is a hazardous operation, especially when you do not know what the conditions are like at the other end,” said Mr Thomson. “There have been some mishaps and some very close mishaps.” Satellite communication was “the way to go” although there were financial and technical difficulties, he said. Satellite Earth stations were expensive, about $l5 million — “the cost of a new base.” Because the dishes were so large, they distorted in the cold and had to be

heated. Enough fuel to run a whole base would be needed to heat one satellite dish, said Mr Thomson. The problems might be overcome as technology advanced. Dishes might not need to be so large; thej> might be made from new materials that did not distort in the cold; or newer generators could be made which produced more heat from less fuel, he said. Countries such as Japan, West Germany, and the United States needed to be able to work together to produce the most efficient system the world could provide. Most satellites were low on the horizon from Antarctica. Newer satellites would be higher and Earth station dishes would not need to be so large, he said. Japan had run a satellite Earth station in Antarctica for five years and Britain for three years. The New Zealand Post Office had conducted “very successful”

experiments with an Earth station last summer, said Mr Thomson. He thought that all Antarctic bases would be hooked up to satellites by the early 19905. A series of “mother” bases with Earth stations, feeding “daughter” stations was likely. New Zealand and the United States would probably be linked in a joint project, he said. “It would be marvellous for the people down there. They would be able to pull in all sorts of television programmes.” said Mr Thomson. The conference at Bremerhaven will mark an increase in international awareness of Antarctica. Previous conferences, which are held every two years, attracted delegates from 12 countries. Mr Thomson said that more than 20 countries would be represented this year.

The conference was held to co-ordinate and exchange information on Antarctic

research. Sea and air transport, new equipment, and new construction methods were among subjects to be discussed. The Antarctic Treaty Organisation would also ask S.C.A.R. for its opinion on some matters. It was proposed to extend and create new protected areas to minimise man’s impact upon the environment. Mr Thomson will meet United States delegates in Washington before the conference begins. He has been asked to give them a presentation on New Zealand’s Antarctic programme. It will also be an opportunity to formalise final details of several joint programmes to be conducted by the two countries this summer. Mr Thomson is New Zealand’s alternative delegate to the conference. The other delegate is Professor George Knox, until recently professor of zoology at the University of Canterbury and immediate past president of S.C.A.R.