Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island on the Antarctic Peninsular studies marine and terrestrial biology, geology, glaciology, meteorology and upper atmospherics.
It is also the capital of the British Antarctic Territory and the logistics centre for British Antarctic Survey.
The base was founded in 1975 after the old Adelaide Station became unusable.
A lot of scientific field programmes are being supported from Rothera. Studies into glacial retreat, ice coring for the study of atmospheric chemistry, and geological data collection to monitor the movement of ice sheets.
The is a dedicated lab for the study of marine and terrestrial biology. The Bonner building was built in 1996/1997, but burnt down due to an electrical fault. Rebuilt and reopened in 2004 it is a state of the art dive facility. With access to decompression chamber, warming bath and compressor, the dive programme continues all year round, with holes being cut into the sea ice during the winter. There are three dry labs, one wet lab, an aquarium, library and microscope room. During the summer months, as many as 30 science staff and more than 10 divers could be using the facility. In the winter however, staffing numbers drop. As a minimum there is a Dive Officer, Terrestrial Biologist and two Marine Biologists.
