[A storm blew up](https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2025-03-16-sa-team-fear-for-safety-at-antarctica-base-after-assaults-death-threat/) in mid-March 2025 when a researcher at South Africa’s isolated Sanae IV base in Antarctica accused one of its nine team members of becoming violent. Geomorphologist David William Hedding, who has previously carried out research from the frozen continent, explains the work researchers do in Antarctica, what conditions are like and why it matters.
**What do researchers focus on when they’re working in Antarctica?**
Currently, the main focus of research in the Antarctic revolves around climate change because the White Continent is a good barometer for changes in global cycles. It has a unique and fragile environment. It’s an extreme climate which makes it highly sensitive to any changes in global climate and atmospheric conditions. Importantly, the Antarctic remains relatively untouched by humans, so we are able to study processes and responses of natural systems.
Also, the geographic location of Antarctic enables science that is less suitable elsewhere on the planet. An example of this is the work on space weather (primarily disturbances to the Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity). Studying space weather is significant because the magnetic field of the Earth can impact communication platforms, technology, infrastructure and even human health.
**How many countries have teams working there? Where does South Africa fit in?**
About 30 countries have research stations in the Antarctic but these bases serve a far wider community of researchers. Collaboration is a key component of research in the Antarctic because many study sites are isolated, logistics are a challenge and resources are typically limited.
The South African base in Antarctica, named SANAE IV usually has between 10 and 12 researchers and base personnel. This research station is situated on a nunatak (a mountain piercing through the ice) in Western Dronning Maud Land. It is an extremely remote location about 220km inland from the ice-shelf.
The researchers and base personnel remain in Antarctica for about 15 months working through the cold and dark winter months.
**What have been some of the biggest ‘finds’?**
The biggest research finding from the Antarctic was the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. This discovery led to the creation and implementation of the Montreal Protocol, a treaty to phase out chlorofluorocarbons (synthetic chemical compounds composed of chlorine, fluorine and carbon) which destroy ozone. This was a major breakthrough in terms of slowly healing the ozone layer.
The second most significant piece of research to come from the Antarctic has been the use of ice cores to reconstruct past climates.