POLAR FIELD TENT SHELTERS AND WELL-BEING OF USERS

Polar research teams often spend extended periods of time away from ba se stations, living and working in remote field camps of portable tent shelters. This article reports on a study of the design and use of po rtable field tent shelters being deployed in Antarctica and other circ umpolar areas. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the shelters on health and well-being of their users from an environm ent-behavior perspective. Preliminary analysis indicates that although the design and use of field tent shelters were generally satisfactory , there are areas in which the shelters had some adverse bearing on he alth and well-being of a considerable number of shelter users. This ar ticle concludes with suggestions that can be used for future design an d manufacture of portable field tent shelters.