PopSci's Best of What's New 2007

Engineering
National Science Foundation Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

Never snowed in

The American Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station’s design allows researchers to spend more time studying the climate and less time shoveling snow. Facing into the 15mph prevailing wind, snow blows under and over the wing-like station, instead of up against it, leaving the surrounding area clear and saving 16,000 gallons of fuel and 1,500 man-hours of snow-clearing a year. Computer simulations suggest that snow will creep underneath the station in about 15 years, so each supporting column has 50-ton hydraulic jacks that can raise the entire structure 24 feet, buying it up to 30 additional years of plow-free life. After nine years of building, the final scientific instruments were installed in January. nsf.gov

SLIDESHOW
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ANIMATION
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