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The field station, which was a container building of 36 square metres, was erected 13 years ago. An earthquake in the ocean off Bouvetøya in 2006 measured 5.5 on the Richter scale by the European Mediterranean Seismic Centre in Strasbourg, France. It is possble that the earthquake damaged the wires and the foundations of the station, and that exreme winter storms have blown the container building into the sea.
Norwegian scientists regularly visit Bouvetøya to study foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins. The monitoring is part of an international programme (CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - CEMP) for the Antarctic marine ecosystem. It has high priority in Norwegian Antarctic research policy. The monitoring is also part of a research agreement between Norway and South Africa.
Read more about the news here: Reuters Photo: Øystein Mikelborg/NP |
