Why Dome C? Dome C was originally selected for glaciological reasons: more than 3,300 meters of layered ice, have a great potential for long time palaeoclimatic reconstruction (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica - EPICA). But Dome C has many other valuable characteristics that amply justify the building and the operation of a scientific station:

• Dome C is located inside the polar vortex where the ozone hole can be detected in the Austral spring;
• the Antarctic plateau is a well recognized, favourable site for astronomical observations due to its geographic location and its extremely dry (1 mm STP), cold and rarefied atmosphere;
• Dome C, far away from any marine perturbations, is an ideal place for studying Solid Earth Geophysics, especially seismology;
• Dome C, at 3,220 m above the continental crust, is protected from any magnetic perturbations by earth crust anomalies and is an ideal place for studying magnetism;
• Dome C is a very isolated site with severe climatic conditions. It's an excellent site for evaluating techniques and procedures for future work on other planets. It is also an excellent site for studying the behaviour of small groups of people in conditions close to those encountered in space vehicles or orbital stations;
• Dome C is still in the line of sight of geostationary satellites and the future AUSAT communication satellite, at the same longitude as Dome C, will provide a way for fast data transmission.

Meteorological characteristics
Main air temperature -50.8 °C -59 °F
Minimum air temperature -84.6 °C -120.3 °F
Typical monthly average air temperature in summer -30 °C -22 °F
Typical monthly average air temperature in winter -60 °C -76 °F
Mean wind speed 2.8 m/s 5.4 knots
Maximum wind speed 17 m/s 33 knots
Mean air pressure 645 hPa
Yearly precipitation range (snow) 2-10 cm