King Edward Point

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King Edward Point
King Edward Point on South Georgia 1.jpg
King Edward Point
Grytviken and KEP location.svg
Location of King Edward Point and Grytviken in South Georgia
Atlantic Ocean laea relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
King Edward Point
Coordinates: 54°17′00″S36°29′42″W / 54.283333°S 36.495°W / -54.283333; -36.495
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Territory South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Operator British Antarctic Survey
Established1950 (1950)
Population
 (2018)
  Summer
22
  Winter
12
Time zone UTC−02:00 (GST)
UN/LOCODE GS
Active timesAll year-round
StatusOperational
ActivitiesSupport sustainable fishing
Southeast view from Cumberland East Bay, with Grytviken in the left background King Edward Point (South Georgia).jpg
Southeast view from Cumberland East Bay, with Grytviken in the left background

King Edward Point (also known as KEP) is a permanent British Antarctic Survey research station on South Georgia island and is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. [1] It is situated in Cumberland East Bay on the northeastern coast of the island. [2] The settlement is the second smallest capital in the world by population, after Ngerulmud in Palau.

Contents

History

King Edward Point was named in honour of King Edward VII. Grytviken (pot cove in Norwegian and Swedish) is nearby and was named after sealers' trywork. [3] Both of these are along the King Edward Cove. [4]

The Post Office in King Edward Point was established in 1909, and has been in operation since then with the exception of the Falklands War. [5] The oldest building in King Edward Point is the customs warehouse and jail built in 1914. [6]

Discovery House, a prefabricated laboratory, was established in 1925, and used by biologist collecting specimens from whale carcasses for six years. In 1929, Discovery II was opened for use in oceanographic study. [7]

Argentina soldiers arrived near King Edward Point on 24 March 1982, and occupied it on 3 April. The British retook King Edward Point in late April. [8]

Environment

Elephant and fur seals inhabit the area. [3] Cats were brought to King Edward Point, but the last one died in 1980. [9]

Climate

King Edward Point and Grytviken have a tundra climate (Köppen ET) with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The highest temperature ever recorded at Grytviken/King Edward Point was 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) on 10 March 1922. [10]

Climate data for Grytviken/King Edward Point (normals and extremes 2006–2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)23.0
(73.4)
23.0
(73.4)
21.6
(70.9)
21.7
(71.1)
17.1
(62.8)
14.1
(57.4)
14.9
(58.8)
13.9
(57.0)
16.0
(60.8)
20.2
(68.4)
20.4
(68.7)
26.4
(79.5)
26.4
(79.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)10.0
(50.0)
10.8
(51.4)
9.4
(48.9)
6.1
(43.0)
3.9
(39.0)
2.2
(36.0)
1.7
(35.1)
2.4
(36.3)
4.5
(40.1)
6.9
(44.4)
8.9
(48.0)
9.8
(49.6)
6.4
(43.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)6.3
(43.3)
6.9
(44.4)
5.8
(42.4)
3.2
(37.8)
1.0
(33.8)
−0.4
(31.3)
−1.2
(29.8)
−0.6
(30.9)
1.1
(34.0)
3.3
(37.9)
5.0
(41.0)
6.1
(43.0)
3.0
(37.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)2.6
(36.7)
3.1
(37.6)
2.2
(36.0)
0.2
(32.4)
−2.0
(28.4)
−4.6
(23.7)
−4.0
(24.8)
−3.7
(25.3)
−2.3
(27.9)
−0.3
(31.5)
1.0
(33.8)
2.3
(36.1)
−0.5
(31.2)
Record low °C (°F)−2.5
(27.5)
−3.0
(26.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
−7.0
(19.4)
−10.0
(14.0)
−11.2
(11.8)
−15.1
(4.8)
−13.0
(8.6)
−11.0
(12.2)
−9.5
(14.9)
−5.0
(23.0)
−4.0
(24.8)
−15.1
(4.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)92
(3.6)
114
(4.5)
136
(5.4)
139
(5.5)
137
(5.4)
135
(5.3)
149
(5.9)
149
(5.9)
92
(3.6)
80
(3.1)
93
(3.7)
88
(3.5)
1,394
(54.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)121314141215151411121111154
Average relative humidity (%)72696970747574737270697172
Mean monthly sunshine hours 15216012766341222741231711741671,282
Source 1: Meteomanz [11]
Source 2: Globalbioclimatics/Salvador Rivas-Martínez (precipitation 1901–1950) [12] DMI/Danish Meteorology Institute (sun, humidity, and precipitation days 1931–1960) [13] Météo Climat (extremes) [14]
Climate data for Grytviken/King Edward Point (normals and extremes 1901–1950, sunshine 1931–1960)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)24.5
(76.1)
26.5
(79.7)
28.8
(83.8)
19.1
(66.4)
17.5
(63.5)
14.0
(57.2)
13.6
(56.5)
13.2
(55.8)
17.0
(62.6)
20.0
(68.0)
22.5
(72.5)
21.5
(70.7)
28.8
(83.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8.4
(47.1)
9.1
(48.4)
8.4
(47.1)
5.6
(42.1)
2.9
(37.2)
0.9
(33.6)
1.2
(34.2)
1.5
(34.7)
3.5
(38.3)
5.4
(41.7)
6.5
(43.7)
7.5
(45.5)
5.1
(41.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)4.6
(40.3)
5.1
(41.2)
4.4
(39.9)
2.3
(36.1)
0.0
(32.0)
−1.6
(29.1)
−1.5
(29.3)
−1.8
(28.8)
−0.1
(31.8)
1.6
(34.9)
2.7
(36.9)
3.7
(38.7)
1.6
(34.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)1.4
(34.5)
1.7
(35.1)
1.0
(33.8)
−0.8
(30.6)
−3.1
(26.4)
−4.6
(23.7)
−4.7
(23.5)
−4.9
(23.2)
−3.3
(26.1)
−1.8
(28.8)
−0.5
(31.1)
0.4
(32.7)
−1.6
(29.1)
Record low °C (°F)−4.1
(24.6)
−3.7
(25.3)
−6.3
(20.7)
−9.8
(14.4)
−11.4
(11.5)
−14.6
(5.7)
−15.2
(4.6)
−19.2
(−2.6)
−18.4
(−1.1)
−11
(12)
−6.4
(20.5)
−5.4
(22.3)
−19.2
(−2.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)92
(3.6)
114
(4.5)
136
(5.4)
139
(5.5)
137
(5.4)
135
(5.3)
149
(5.9)
149
(5.9)
92
(3.6)
80
(3.1)
93
(3.7)
88
(3.5)
1,394
(54.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)121314141215151411121111154
Average relative humidity (%)72696970747574737270697172
Mean monthly sunshine hours 15216012766341222741231711741671,282
Source 1: Globalbioclimatics/Salvador Rivas-Martínez [12]
Source 2: DMI/Danish Meteorology Institute (sun, humidity, and precipitation days 1931–1960) [13]

See also

References

  1. "Local laws and customs - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  2. "Google Maps". 54°17'00.0"S 36°29'39.0"W. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 108.
  4. Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 109.
  5. Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 44.
  6. Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 114.
  7. Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 38.
  8. Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 40.
  9. Burton 2012, p. 19.
  10. Remarkable Temperatures in the Argentine and South Georgia . Meteorological Magazine. 57 (6): 138. June 1922.
  11. "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Temp/Rain 1901–1950" (PDF). Globalbioclimatics. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  13. 1 2 Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens. "South Georgia–Grytviken" (PDF). Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 242. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  14. "Weather extremes for Grytviken". Météo Climat. Retrieved 21 March 2024.

Works cited