Arbiter Station

Arbiter Station
Research station
Arbiter Islands Climate Research and Scientific Outpost
Western side of Arbiter Station
Country	The Vanna
Administered by	Climate Research Board of the Department of Science
Established	10 February 1983 (1983-02-10)
Area
• Land	2.12 km2 (0.82 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population
• Summer	388
• Winter	36
Time zone	UTC+9 (unofficial)
Type	Permanent
Period	Annual
Status	Operational

Arbiter Station is a Vannese polar research outpost located on Great North Island, which is one of two islands that make up the Arbiter Islands (the other being Whitescape Island). It is operated by the Department of Science's Polar Science Team, a branch of the Climate Research Board. The station is the northernmost community in the world, capable of supporting up to 400 residents, and serves as the northernmost permanent polar research station in the world. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from the station must land at the Whitescape Ice Runway before traveling across the sea ice to Arbiter Station.

History

Construction and Early Science

In the 1970s, the Vannese Government approved a permanent research station on Great North Island which now hosts the Arbiter Station research base. The station was completed with the help of in 1981. In 1994, The station was opened up for foreign participation with the creation of the The Treaty on the Peaceful Use of the Arbiter Islands.

The Longest 16 Days

After a storm ravaged the base in mid-December of 1999, the station's heaters and communication systems failed, leaving scientists and researchers stranded for just over two weeks. After the crisis, the base was heavily renovated with improved systems to prevent a disaster like that from happening again.

The details of the event will be released in a book on November 1st, 2021 made by survivor and former Vannese Logistics/Safety Officer and mechanic Matthew Amos, along with the witness testimony of other survivors. Others such as former Ice Core Caretaker Donald Billings and Tech Specialist Esther Cardona were critical of Amos. The book is titled with the same name of the event.

The cover of the book detailing the event

Contemporary

The station is currently the most expensive single Vannese endeavor outside of its borders.

Politics

The Treaty on the Peaceful Use of the Arbiter Islands, which governs foreign use of Arbiter Station and the Arbiter Islands provides that tourism and military equipment are strictly prohibited on the islands and that the islands are only used for scientific and exploratory purposes of the far north. The treaty also states that the Vanna gives up any economic exclusive zone associated with the islands. The treaty was drafted in February of 1998.

List of Nations Having Operated at the Arbiter Islands:

Country	Agency:	Operations Began:	Operations Ended:
The Vanna	Polar Science Team, Climate Research Board, Department of Science	1981	N/A

Climate

Climate data for Arbiter Station 1982-present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	−13 (9)	−14 (7)	−11 (12)	−6 (21)	3 (37)	10 (50)	13 (55)	12 (54)	7 (45)	9 (48)	0.6 (33.1)	0.7 (33.3)	13 (55)
Average high °C (°F)	−29 (−20)	−31 (−24)	−30 (−22)	−22 (−8)	−9 (16)	0 (32)	2 (36)	1 (34)	0 (32)	−8 (18)	−25 (−13)	−26 (−15)	−15 (6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−31 (−24)	−32 (−26)	−31 (−24)	−23 (−9)	−11 (12)	−1 (30)	1 (34)	0 (32)	−1 (30)	−10 (14)	−27 (−17)	−28 (−18)	−16 (3)
Average low °C (°F)	−33 (−27)	−35 (−31)	−34 (−29)	−26 (−15)	−12 (10)	−2 (28)	0 (32)	−1 (30)	−2 (28)	−11 (12)	−30 (−22)	−31 (−24)	−18 (−1)
Record low °C (°F)	−47 (−53)	−50 (−58)	−50 (−58)	−41 (−42)	−24 (−11)	−12 (10)	−2 (28)	−12 (10)	−31 (−24)	−21 (−6)	−41 (−42)	−47 (−53)	−50 (−58)
Average relative humidity (%)	83.5	83.0	83.0	85.0	87.5	90.0	90.0	89.5	88.0	84.5	83.0	83.0	85.8
Source: Arbiter Station Temperature Log