ANTARCTICA

About:

• Chinese scientists will build a 4-kilometer-long, 50-meter-wide runway for fixed-wing aircraft in during the 25th expedition in the Antarctic.
  
  
• The airport is expected to be located along the ice sheet, 28 kms from the China-built Zhongshan station in Antarctic
  
  
• By this, China will join the S., Russia, Britain, Australia and New Zealand among others in having airfields in the Antarctic
  
  
• Significance:
  • It is a significant move as Antarctic is rich in natural resources such as silver, gold, platinum and coal.
    
    
  • The establishment of the Permanent airport will help China gain management authority of airspace over the South Pole. It will provide logistical support to scientists and enhance airspace management in the Antarctic.
    
    
  • It will complete China's aviation security system in the Antarctic, including the communications and meteorological support systems.
    
    
  • Specifically, the airport will decrease the exposure time of researchers in the polar environment, as well as medical aid time.
    
    
  
  
  
• Challenges:
  • The project faces many difficulties as around 99.5 per cent of the polar land is covered with accumulations of thick snow leading to a lack of hardness to build an airport
    
    
  • Also, the flat area in the Antarctic is not enough either, and some original districts have already been occupied by other countries.