Solitary seismology

A Concordia crew member inspecting seismographs that record electric current in the Earth’s crust and mantle three km from Concordia research base in Antarctica.

During the cold and dark winter it is impossible to access the seismographs so they are placed in insulated containers to keep them at operating temperature.

Concordia base is too far to supply the seismographs electricity from its generators so batteries are used. The batteries are stored in separate containers and recharged by solar panels. The batteries store enough energy to operate the equipment during the winter period when no sunlight is visible for four months.

In the summer, when the weather is warm enough that diesel does not freeze, the seismograph equipment can be reached by vehicle for inspection and maintainance.

ESA sponsors a medical research doctor in Concordia to study the effects of isolation in preparation for future missions.