Staff and scientists have been recalled from Antarctica

Oct 9, 2013 20:16 GMT  ·  By

The National Science Foundation in the US has announced that, because of the government shutdown, the Antarctic research season is to be suspended for an indefinite period.

By the looks of it, staff and scientists at the country's research bases in Antarctica have already been recalled. Once they leave the facilities, the latter are to be put in “caretaker status,” Nature tells us.

Apparently, a so-called skeleton crew will remain at each of these bases in order to ensure that they are properly maintained.

Work at these research bases in Antarctica is to be resumed as soon as the government shutdown ends and the National Science Foundation once again has money to fund the projects.

Still, given the fact that some operations can only be carried out during certain times of the year, it is likely that, by the time the bases reopen, some seasonal windows for research will have already passed.