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Ongoing and future scientific research is the primary justification for the Amundsen-Scott Station. Research at the station includes aeronomy, astrophysics, glaciology, climatology, and seismology.  To ensure that station development would not compromise the station’s scientific mission, it was necessary to perform a detailed site analysis to optimize the location of the new elevated station and related support facilities.

The analysis consisted of a review of the existing and proposed station components in relation to climate, the airstrip and typical flight patterns, the effects of structure generated snowdrifting, the annual migration of the polar ice cap (10 meters per year), and the existing science sectors surrounding the site. The results of the analysis indicated that the station activities could be defined as four primary zones, labeled as Quadrants A - Operations Sector, B - Clean Air Sector, C – Quiet Sector, and D – Downwind Sector (See Figure 3).

Quadrant A was determined to be the best site for the new station.  Development in this quadrant would avoid wind borne contaminants that could affect atmospheric research in the Clean Air Sector, was sufficiently far from seismic research in the Quiet Sector, did not pose height problems for balloon experiments in the Downwind Sector, facilitated easy access to the airstrip, and localized snowdrifting to areas which were identified to remain undeveloped.  The complete site analysis can be found in the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Conceptual Design and Programming Study, prepared for the National Science Foundation in March, 1994 (See List of References).