[The Norwegian Antarctic expedition 1989-1990--medical contingency, work and research]

Antarctica is the world's coldest, driest, highest and most windy continent. The ice may reach a thickness of nearly five km, and the greater part of the world's fresh water is bound in this ice cap. The lowest temperature ever measured is -90 degrees C. The weather during this summer expedition was pleasant, and the temperature seldom fell below -30 degrees C. The 35 persons in the land party included two physicians and one nurse. No serious injury or disease occurred. The participants seemed experience an increase in lean body weight and loss of fat during five weeks in tents. Extensive data were collected for medical-psychological projects on immunology, adaptation to cold, exhaustion from cold and stress. Some results have been published in separate reports.