The Halley Research Station, named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656–1742), was originally founded in 1956. Ozone measurements have been recorded continuously at Halley since 1956, and led to the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985. Researchers at the station collect data on climate change, weather and the Earth’s atmosphere.

The current station, Halley VI, started operating in 2012 and is the sixth in a series of structures to have been located on the Brunt Ice Shelf, which floats on the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica. Built on enormous hydraulic skis, it was the first fully relocatable research station in the world. During the winter months there are usually around 14 staff, mostly technicians who are required to keep the station and the scientific experiments running. In the peak summer period, from late December to February, the staff increases to about 70.