In September 2001, the Bonner...
Illustration
In September 2001, the Bonner Lab at Rothera, Antarctica, part of the British Antarctica Survey (BAS) burned to the ground. High winds up to 100 km/h fueled the fire, and, coupled with the failure of snow blowing machinery, meant scientists had to watch helplessly as the lab burned down.
The Bonner lab provided a wide range of marine and terrestrial biological research. It contained a flow-through seawater aquarium and a SCUBA diving facility that included a recompression chamber to support the sampling of animals in a near-shore marine environment. The roof of the lab contained a sensor for the Bentham radiometer that accurately measured the intensity of light, data that is used in conjunction with studies on the damage caused to living organisms due to the thinning of the ozone layer.
Despite the harsh climate and the devastating loss of research data and equipment, the British vowed to rebuild. In January, 2002, a crew began the work of cleaning up the debris left after the fire. They were hindered by snow accumulation over the sight of up to two meters. Then, beginning in the summer of 2002 and continuing through 2003, crews worked to rebuild an entirely new structure.
Construction went well, and a target date of Christmas, 2003, was set for having the facility operational. In January, 2004, opening ceremonies took place to officially re-open the facilities.
One day, God will remake not only the Bonner Lab, but all of heaven and the earth.
The Bonner lab provided a wide range of marine and terrestrial biological research. It contained a flow-through seawater aquarium and a SCUBA diving facility that included a recompression chamber to support the sampling of animals in a near-shore marine environment. The roof of the lab contained a sensor for the Bentham radiometer that accurately measured the intensity of light, data that is used in conjunction with studies on the damage caused to living organisms due to the thinning of the ozone layer.
Despite the harsh climate and the devastating loss of research data and equipment, the British vowed to rebuild. In January, 2002, a crew began the work of cleaning up the debris left after the fire. They were hindered by snow accumulation over the sight of up to two meters. Then, beginning in the summer of 2002 and continuing through 2003, crews worked to rebuild an entirely new structure.
Construction went well, and a target date of Christmas, 2003, was set for having the facility operational. In January, 2004, opening ceremonies took place to officially re-open the facilities.
One day, God will remake not only the Bonner Lab, but all of heaven and the earth.
