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″S 36°29′42″W / 54.283333°S 36.495°W | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Territory | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
| Operator | British Antarctic Survey |
| Established | 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 |
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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
[edit]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
[edit]Elephant and fur seals inhabit the area.[3] Cats were brought to King Edward Point, but the last one died in 1980.[9]
Climate
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Local laws and customs - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Google Maps". 54°17'00.0"S 36°29'39.0"W. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 108.
- ^ Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 109.
- ^ Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 44.
- ^ Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 114.
- ^ Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 38.
- ^ Poncet & Crosbie 2012, p. 40.
- ^ Burton 2012, p. 19.
- ^ Remarkable Temperatures in the Argentine and South Georgia. Meteorological Magazine. 57 (6): 138. June 1922.
- ^ "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Temp/Rain 1901–1950" (PDF). Globalbioclimatics. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Weather extremes for Grytviken". Météo Climat. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
Works cited
[edit]- 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
[edit]
Capital: King Edward Point | |||||||
| General | |||||||
| Settlements / Whaling stations | |||||||
| South Georgia islands | |||||||
| South Sandwich Islands |
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| Seamounts | |||||||
| Landmarks |
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| International | |
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