King Edward Point

King Edward Point
King Edward Point
Location of King Edward Point and Grytviken in South Georgia
King Edward Point
Coordinates: 54°17′00″S36°29′42″W / 54.283333°S 36.495°W / -54.283333; -36.495
Country	United Kingdom
Territory	South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Operator	British Antarctic Survey
Established	1950 (1950)
Population  (2018)
• Summer	22
• Winter	12
Time zone	UTC−02:00 (GST)
UN/LOCODE	GS
Active times	All year-round
Status	Operational
Activities	Support sustainable fishing

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.

History

Main articles: History of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Falklands War

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 biologists 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

Main article: South Georgia § Geography and fauna

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)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
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)	12	13	14	14	12	15	15	14	11	12	11	11	154
Average relative humidity (%)	72	69	69	70	74	75	74	73	72	70	69	71	72
Mean monthly sunshine hours	152	160	127	66	34	12	22	74	123	171	174	167	1,282
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)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
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)	12	13	14	14	12	15	15	14	11	12	11	11	154
Average relative humidity (%)	72	69	69	70	74	75	74	73	72	70	69	71	72
Mean monthly sunshine hours	152	160	127	66	34	12	22	74	123	171	174	167	1,282
Source 1: Globalbioclimatics/Salvador Rivas-Martínez [12]
Source 2: DMI/Danish Meteorology Institute (sun, humidity, and precipitation days 1931–1960) [13]

See also

• List of Antarctic research stations
• List of Antarctic field camps

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. 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. "Temp/Rain 1901–1950" (PDF). Globalbioclimatics. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
13. 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

• Burton, Richard, ed. (2012). A Field Guide to the Wildlife of South Georgia. Princeton University Press.
• Poncet, Sally; Crosbie, Kim (2012). A Visitor's Guide to South Georgia (2 ed.). Princeton University Press. ISBN   9780691156583.

External links

• King Edward Point
• British Antarctic Survey Research Station King Edward Point, South Georgia