[2008.01.17] Snow place like home 冰天雪地 宾至如归

Antarctic science
南极科考

Snow place like home
冰天雪地 宾至如归
Jan 17th 2008 | THE SOUTH POLE
写于2008年1月17日|南极
From The Economist print edition
译自：《经济学家》印刷版

America’s new research station at the South Pole is officially opened
美国新建的南极科考站正式开放

MOVING house is always traumatic, and the odd tear would have been forgivable as the flag came down over America’s old base at the South Pole. It was handed from person to person along a line of scientists and support staff like an egg being passed between penguins. Slowly, it made its way past the marker that represents the exact point of the Pole, and then on to its new staff outside the third incarnation of the Amundsen-Scott station that is the home of America’s scientific effort at the Pole. This new station, which formally opened for business on January 12th, took almost 20 years to design and build, and cost $174m. It will house researchers from fields as diverse as neutrino astronomy, cosmology, seismology and atmospheric physics.
举家搬迁难免令人黯然神伤，看着国旗从美国南极站老基地上缓缓移下，即使潸然泪下也是情有可原。科学家及后勤人员排成一线依次传递国旗的情景，俨然一幅雌雄企鹅接替孵卵的画面。国旗缓慢地途经南极极点的标志物，然后在阿蒙森－斯科特站的第三代南极站点外的新旗杆上冉冉升起，这第三代科考站就是美国科学家在南极艰苦奋斗的家园。这座新的科考站于1月12日正式营业，设计和施工用了大约20年，花费达17400万美元。科考站将迎接来自各个领域的研究人员，研究领域涉及：微中子天文学、宇宙学、地震学和大气物理学。

The first polar base was established in 1957, during the International Geophysical Year. Eventually, it succumbed to the elements and was buried under years of snowdrift. It was followed by a geodesic dome, an unheated structure filled with small shipping containers that served as buildings. That, too, is now partially buried and is scheduled for demolition over the next few years.
首座南极科考基地建于1957年，当时正值国际地球物理学年。最终，因恶劣环境难逃劫难，被多年积雪覆灭。接着，一座网壳屋顶建筑建成，它是一个不能供热的建筑物，内部填满了小型船舶集装箱以作房屋。现在，它同样部分已被埋没，预计几年后爆破拆除。The latest station, though, is designed to stave off the fate of its predecessors by using the very elements against themselves. The building rests on 36 steel columns, elevating it four metres above the surface of the ice. Using detailed computer simulations, its designers have arranged its orientation and aerodynamic exterior to accelerate the gale-force winds that blow over the pole and channel them underneath the station. The resulting gusts scour the ice surface, depositing snow on the other side instead of letting it build up against the station itself.
最新的科考站为了避免重蹈覆辙，采取以环境之道还治环境之身的方法。基地建筑搭建在36条钢筋柱上，离冰地四米之高。通过严密复杂的电脑模拟，设计师安排设计建筑的方位和其空气动力学外壳，让强风加速吹过钢筋柱使风力转移到基地之下。这样，被转移的强风冲刷着冰面，对面的积雪就不会堆积起来抵住科考站。However, in Antarctica, the elements are relentless. Eventually, over a period of about 15 years, snowdrifts will build up. When they do, the designers have another trick up their sleeves. Using hydraulic jacks, the entire building can be raised. Extensions another four metres long can be added to the steel columns, and the scouring can begin anew. Two such extensions will add 30 years to the base’s life.
然而，在南极洲，自然环境是冷酷无情的。最终，大约15年后，科考站就会积雪如山。到那时，设计师将会掏出另一个锦囊妙计。水压千斤顶会把整个建筑全盘托起。钢筋柱将会另加高四米，风对积雪的冲刷将会重新开始。这将会使基地的寿命再延长30年之久。