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Passage de port aux fran ais
Port-aux-Français is the capital settlement of the Kerguelen Islands, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, in the south Indian Ocean. The port station is located on the Gulf of Morbihan, at 49.35°S 70.219°E / -49.35; 70.219. It has about 45 inhabitants in winter; the population can rise to more than 120 in summer.
Contents
- Passage de port aux fran ais
- Map of Port aux FranC3A7ais French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- Organisation
- Tidal gauges
- Climate
- References
Map of Port-aux-Fran%C3%A7ais, French Southern and Antarctic Lands
The station was selected in 1949 by the chief of mission Pierre Sicaud because of its sheltered position which was suitable for a runway that was never built. From 1955 to 1957, and using Australian equipment, a French slaughterhouse company called Sidap constructed a sealing factory. The factory opened following the first marriage on the islands, that of Marc Pechenart and Martine Raulin on 16 December 1957. The factory closed in 1960, and the equipment was sent to Réunion in 2005.
Organisation
Port-aux-Français has a shallow seaport and a quay for unloading supply ships, including the Marion Dufresne. The station, in addition to logistics necessary to its operation, consists of scientific laboratories (biology, geophysics), technical installations (meteorology, telecommunications, satellite tracking, et cetera), and a small medical centre.
Tidal gauges
The base of Port-aux-Français is equipped with a recently installed marigraphic station, having 4 measuring devices:
The two marigraphs and the radar send data to a local server, which relays them hourly to the Internet via the Argos satellite system.
Climate
Port-au-Francais has an ocean moderated tundra climate (Köppen climate classification ET). Temperatures (without windchill) tend to remain fairly stable throughout the year, rarely reaching over 18 °C (64 °F) or falling below −8 °C (18 °F). The average temperature in February, the warmest month, is 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) with a maximum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) during the day and 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) during the night. In winter, August and July are the coldest months, averaging 4.8 to 5.0 °C (40.6 to 41.0 °F) during the day and −0.8 °C (30.6 °F) at night. Snowfall is possible in all months, even in summer though it is more common during the winter months than during the summer months. The climate is windier than in most places, with wind speeds that can reach 80m/s. The lowest recorded temperature was −9.5 °C (14.9 °F) on 11 August 2014, which beats the old record of −9.4 °C (15.1 °F) set in June 1953. The highest temperature was 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) on 30 January 1959.