INPE's Note About the Accident in Ferraz

Hello reader!

It follows one note published on the day (02/27) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) about the accident at Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF).

Duda Falcão

INPE's Note About the Accident in Ferraz

Monday, February 27, 2012

The Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE), which has an important participation in the Brazilian Antarctic Program, deeply regrets the accident at Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF) and sympathizes with the families of the two members of Brazilian Navy who died in the tragedy, and with everyone involved in PROANTAR.

At the time of the accident, two INPE’s workers were at EACF. José Roberto Chagas, from Space Geophysics Division, and José Valentin Bageston, from Aeronomy Division, have lived in Antarctica since Feb.10 and intended to return in March. They are safe and landed in Rio de Janeiro early this Monday with the rest of the team, coming from Punta Arenas, Chile, by Brazilian Air Force’s airplane (FAB). They might arrive at São José dos Campos today.

According to technician’s reports, as soon as the flames were detected in the engine room, the Navy Base Group, responsible for maintain EACF, advised people to leave the Station immediately, following instructions of the training that everyone usually do as a condition to work in Ferraz. INPE’s technicians had waited inside the module used for ozone research until they headed to Chilean Base Eduardo Frei. Other researchers headed to Meteoro module, which also has installations of the institute.

None of INPE’s laboratories were hit by the fire. The two of them nearest of the station are Ozônio and Meteoro. Ionosfera module is sited about 300 meters from the station, while Alta Atmosfera module, wherein are radar and optical instruments, is sited about one kilometer away.

Activities that prepare equipments to face the coming winter were ongoing, but due to the accident, was not possible to protect them. The researchers are now evaluating the return to Ferraz, to prevent damage to instrumentation, which is without power, and to continue the research projects.

Projects

INPE has three projects in EACF. The first one is called “The Antarctic Atmosphere and Connections with South America” and is under the coordination of Neusa Paes Leme. Linked to the Brazil’s National Institute of Science and Technology for Antarctic and Environmental Research (INCT-APA), the project carries out research on: High Neural Atmosphere, Ionosphere Monitoring, Ozone and UV Radiation, Meteorology and Minority Gases.

The second one is “ATMATAR”, which brings actions related to International Polar Year projects, also coordinated by Neusa Paes Leme. And the third project is called “Monitoring upper atmosphere in the Antarctic region and South America,” which is coordinated by Emilia Correia. The projects are carried out in collaboration with other national and foreign institutions.

In addition to projects based on EACF, INPE performs activities under PROANTAR with the support of oceanographic research vessels and, since January, has Criosfera module, installed on the interior of the continent (at latitude 85°S, about 500 kilometers from Geographic South Pole – while Ferraz Station, inaugurated 28 years ago, is located at latitude 62°S, on the edge of the continent).

INPE has guided research in that region since the beginning of the Brazilian Antarctic Program, 30 years ago, and studied atmosphere dynamics, ozone layer, weather, greenhouse gases, ultraviolet radiation, the sun-earth relationship, pollution transport, oceanography and ocean-atmosphere interaction.

Meteoro and Ozônio modules

Overview of the Station. Ozônio and Meteoro
modules on the corner of the photo (right)

Ionosfera module (Station at the background)


Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

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