2. Antarctic station: entrance to the unknown world

Syowa Station, the Japanese Antarctic station, was built in 1956 on Ongul Island (S 69°00 , E 39°350 ) 4 km off the main landmass. One of the key features of the polar region is the dramatic difference in night-time: there is both a polar night period (24 hour of darkness) and a white night period in which the sun shines all day. At Syowa Station, from November 20 to January 20, the sun does not set, and from the end of May to July 10, the sun never rises.

The eastern part of Antarctica, where the station is situated, is known for its inaccessibility. Because Japan started to explore Antarctica later than other developed nations, it had no choice but to build its station on this isolated island (Figure 3).

Each summer, the icebreaker carries not only a new wintering participant but also the fuel, food, and observation instruments needed for overwintering. When the short summer is over, the ship must leave the shores of Antarctica for Japan lest it be stranded in the ice, carrying with it the researchers and logistical staff whose annual mission has come to an end.

In winter, members of the station are truly isolated; the ship cannot keep pace with the thick ice mass. To complicate matters further, air routes are closed by stormy weather conditions and extreme darkness. This makes it impossible to deliver additional supplies or expedition members. Antarctica becomes almost lifeless and impenetrable. Even cold-resistant penguins and seals disappear from the landscape. The wintering-over team at the outpost must live in the narrow, enclosed space without means of escape for a long year.

Station members endure harsh conditions caused by both nature and the confinement of their outpost; indeed, the conditions are similar to what might be experienced on a Mars station in the future.

Three factors determine the number of wintering team members (Figure 4). One is the amount of goods that can be carried to the station, which has increased as the new generation of ship enters service. The immense thickness of winter ice makes it impossible for even a modern ship to reach the station. However,

#### Figure 3.

Syowa Station. The station is located on Ongul Island, 4 km off the Antarctic continent. There are no nearby bases, and when a ship departs for Japan, the station is completely isolated for 1 year.

The first role of doctors going to Antarctica is to provide practical medical care. However, as this seasickness issue shows, the medical data also highlight the unique influence of the special environment of the Antarctic on the minds and bodies of human beings. The effects of Antarctica on human residing there will be illustrated

Icebreaker Shirase en route to its destination though the sea ice. (Copy right NIPR).

After clearing the storm area, the Shirase's crew discovers a calm sea dotted with huge icebergs and covered with ice and snow. The ship makes its way to its destination, slowed by the need to make hundreds of back-and-forth manoeuvres to cut through the thick ice (Figure 2). Temperatures here are much lower than those in late autumn in Japan. Nights gradually become shorter, indicating that summer is starting in Antarctica. During the "white night", when the sun does not set, the crew gathers on the bow deck to see with their own eyes the immensity of the polar

Syowa Station and Dome Fuji Base. The Japan Antarctic Expedition team built Syowa Station (S 69°00<sup>0</sup>

) in 1956 and has continuously conducted wintering activities ever since. In 1995, Dome Fuji Base

), altitude of 3810 m) was built inland about 1000 km away from Syowa Station.

,

in this chapter.

Figure 1.

Antarctica - A Key to Global Change

continent.

Figure 2.

E 39°35<sup>0</sup>

(S 77°19<sup>0</sup>

104

, E 39°42<sup>0</sup>

this remains a significant challenge, as many people who manifest psychological and social problems during overwintering are known to have led a normal life before setting foot in Antarctica. The behavioural gap makes it difficult to identify individuals who may be unfit for the mission during the selection process. A screening

Meanwhile, the importance of leadership in the Antarctic context is of growing interest. Spending a long time in isolation is always challenging. Managing individual personalities for the benefit of the team is critical to the success of the mission

White nights end around mid-January. Towards the end of February, nights begin to become darker still, and during nice weather, the aurora dazzles onlookers in against a sky full of stars. The length of the day decreases by 5 hours per month up to the polar night. The speed of change is fast enough for observers to notice the difference in brightness within 2 days. The weather deteriorates and the tempera-

At the outpost, work progresses smoothly. The medical office has adequate space in the narrow station. One of the two station doctors is a surgeon. Most stations in Antarctica have only one doctor, which is risky, as he or she may also require medical attention. To avoid this hazard, stations such as JARE make the presence of

The total number of injuries and diseases during JARE's first 43 wintering-over periods is 4931 cases (from 1956 to 2002) [2]. The percentage of occurrences sorted by specialty is shown in Figure 5 above. The most common cases comprise injuries, followed by internal medicine issues and dental problems, respectively. Dental problems are known to be prevalent at every Antarctic station. Because all kinds of medical troubles including dental problems occur among Antarctic overwintering

Medical consultations of wintering crew members. The total number of medical consultations at Syowa Station cases from 1956 to 2003 was 4931. Among them, 4633 cases with known onset month were analysed. The most common cases were surgery and orthopaedics, followed by internal medicine and dental problems, respectively.

two doctors mandatory. There are no other medical staff such as nurses.

method that can be universally recommended has not yet been found.

and the wellbeing of all members.

Human Beings in Antarctica

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81974

ture drops rapidly.

Figure 5.

107

The diseases covered every field.

3. At the bottom of the dancing aurora

participants, doctors universally act as generalists.

#### Figure 4.

Trends in number of crew members and their average ages. The first team was composed of 11 members. The number has increased to peak at 44 and then decreased to around 30. The average age has increased gradually. The most recent team's average age is 37 years.

icebreaking capacity has progressed significantly since Japan began sending Antarctic expeditions, and Japan has been forced to abandon overwintering of the second expedition team in 1957 and to reduce the number of wintering-over members for the 55th and-56th expedition in 2013—2014 when only one doctor was available. The second factor affecting wintering team member size is the capacity of the station. The station is expanded every year, and it is scalable to accommodate more than 40 wintering members. The third is the size of the research plan. Due to observation automation and the use of aircraft in the summer, the number of summer parties expanding their activities has increased and the number of wintering members is decreasing. Japan's first team consisted in 11 members; the number increased, peaking with 44 members in 2003. More recently, wintering parties have comprised about 30 people.

The wintering-over member's average age has been trending upward year and year. In 2015, the average age of wintering team was 37 years old.

Women have been participating in Japanese Antarctic wintering-over team since 1998. They totalled 5% of participants from 2002 to 2015.

The composition of the wintering-over party is decided a year prior to departure. Candidates are subjected to a rigorous health check including head CT, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonic examination, and electroencephalogram. The examination also includes a psychological assessment. Researchers and some logistics staff are selected by recommendation. Other staff members, such as medical doctors and cooks, are recruited through public offering.

Each new group meets when they begin to prepare for the trip. The selected candidates participate in two training camps in winter and summer. After completing the camp trainings, they start gathering supplies at the expedition centre 5 months before departure. They also complete a 24-hour shared life experience on the outbound ship. Through this training, mutual understanding and relationships gradually develop. In such isolated conditions as those in Antarctica, cooperation within the team is indispensable not only for research but also for the safety of the station and wintering-over members. Despite their extensive training, some members might have difficulty adapting to their new environment. Cases of severe depression and suicide have been reported at other international stations. Methods for screening for unsuitability at the time of selection have been studied, though

#### Human Beings in Antarctica DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81974

this remains a significant challenge, as many people who manifest psychological and social problems during overwintering are known to have led a normal life before setting foot in Antarctica. The behavioural gap makes it difficult to identify individuals who may be unfit for the mission during the selection process. A screening method that can be universally recommended has not yet been found.

Meanwhile, the importance of leadership in the Antarctic context is of growing interest. Spending a long time in isolation is always challenging. Managing individual personalities for the benefit of the team is critical to the success of the mission and the wellbeing of all members.
