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Concordia Station and the surrounding facilities have been conceived to be a long term support to valuable scientific programmes not only European but international. Several programmes are at the moment being carried on at Dome C or planned for the next future. Here below the description of the present programmes should also be taken as an example of what Dome C site can be suitable for.
Glaciology
By drilling a 3270.20 m ice core, the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA), supported by the European Union by the European Science Foundation and by ten individual European countries, obtained the longest continuous record of past atmosphere and climate changes, which will cover at least 5 complete glacial-interglacial cycles (around 890.000 years).
Studies on glacier flow, down-hole temperature and surface snow properties will allow the refining of climatic interpretations. Another interesting feature is the presence of several sub-glacial lakes in the Dome C area.
Atmospheric Sciences
The atmospheric science programmes, to be conducted in conjunction with similar programmes carried out at the two French and Italian coastal stations of Dumont d'Urville and Mario Zucchelli, will focus on the study of:
- the evolution of the ozone hole during spring and from year to year. The three stations are all an integral part of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Changes (NDSC);
- the physics and chemistry of the troposphere and ice-air relationship;
- the polar boundary layer and triggering mechanism of katabatic winds.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Present main objective is to study the anisotropy and polarisation of the cosmological radiation at 3 kelvin. In conjunction with The Joint Australian Centre for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica (JACARA), the Dome C site is being tested in view of future astronomical observations in the visible and infrared ranges.
Earth Sciences
The global geophysical networks suffer from a lack of observatories on the Antarctic ice cap.
A seismic observatory at Dome C, to be included in the GEOSCOPE network, is invaluable in the detection of earthquakes and in the study of Earth's internal structure. On the other hand, a magnetic observatory to be included in the Intermagnet network permits studies of the Earth's magnetic field as well as external magnetism studies, e.g. on magnetosphere and magnetic storms.
Human biology and medicine
The research programmes in biology and medicine aim at understanding human adaptation to hostile conditions, related especially to the cold, the altitude and the isolation. Programmes can address several medical, physiological and psycho-sociological issues.
Remote Sensing
The homogeneity of Dome C snow surface makes it an ideal site for calibrating and validating satellite sensors operating in the visible and the infrared. The field experience will allow the study of physical parameters involved in the interactions between the electromagnetic radiations and the snow.
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