Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The coldest temperatures in winter can reach close to -90°C and there’s less precipitation than in the Sahara Desert. Fierce storms can have wind speeds of 60 meters per second.

Antarctica is one of the most unpolluted places on Earth. Even the slightest changes can be observed in the air, snow, ice, water – and even rock. Finnish climate research in Antarctica is concentrated on the interaction of the atmosphere with snow, sea ice and the sea. Oceanography and geology are also important fields of research in Antarctica.

The Finnish research station Aboa opened in 1989 and is located in Queen Maud Land, 130 kilometres from the shore. It is built 480 meters above sea level on Basen nunatak (a mountain peak reaching above the ice sheet) in Vestfjella mountain range. The Swedish research station Wasa is located close by, and the stations are co-operating in logistics and research.

The exhibition Antarctica – Science in Extreme Conditions tells about the careful preparations before going to Aboa, how to travel there and how is researcher’s daily life in extreme conditions. 

During the 30 years of research in Aboa, a huge amount of research data has been collected about the state and changes of the Earth. The station is maintained and the fieldwork coordinated by the Finland Antarctic Operations FINNARP. Researchers are working in the station during the southern hemisphere summer season, usually from November to February. 

Documentary film about Finnish researchers in Antarctica

Sounding Far South (81 mins) is a documentary film about Finnish climate researchers' work in Antarctica shot and directed by Niko Nurminen. 
The 8-member expedition studied the albedo of snow and ice from December 2018 to February 2019 based at the Finnish Antarctic research station Aboa. During their mission the researchers face isolation, storms, monotonous routines and beauty. Finnish and English audio with English subtitles.


Sounding Far South Documentary premiere on Thursday 15.9.2022 at 18:00 in Polarium hall, Arktikum. Free entrance. 

Antarctica – Science in Extreme Conditions is open for visitors 16.9.2022–23.4.2023 in Arktikum Science Centre.
The exhibition has been made possible by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Meteorological Institute/FINNARP and the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus.

Arktikum opening hours and ticket prices: www.arktikum.fi

More information about the document:

Niko Nurminen
niko.nurminen@gmail.com 
040 5760 157

More information about the exhibition:

Leena Rantamaula
Exhibition designer
leena.rantamaula(at)ulapland.fi
0406598062