Final answer:
Personnel who complete winter service in Antarctica are eligible for a bronze clasp inscribed with "Wintered Over" for the Antarctica Service Medal. The continuous daylight during summer and darkness in winter on the continent can significantly alter daily life for the personnel. Research stations house the human population in Antarctica, which varies with the seasons, ranging from about 1,000 in winter to over 5,000 during summer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The personnel who stay on the Antarctic Continent during the winter months shall be eligible to wear a bronze clasp with the words "Wintered Over" on the suspension ribbon of the large medal only for the Antarctica Service Medal. This signifies their winter service in the harsh and extreme conditions of the Antarctic winter. Living and working in Antarctica, especially during the winter months, presents unique challenges due to the extreme cold and the unusual day-night cycles. The continent experiences perpetual darkness during the winter and continuous daylight during the summer due to its location within the Antarctic Circle.
The days and nights on the Antarctic Continent are vastly different from most other places on Earth. During the traditional U.S. Christmas vacation weeks, when it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the South Pole experiences almost continuous daylight, which could affect sleep cycles and require adjustments in daily routines for those on the research expedition.
Research stations in Antarctica are the primary habitation for humans on the continent, with a year-round population of about 1,000 people that expands during the summer months. These stations, like the Russian research stations, may rotate personnel, including specialized roles such as priests, and employ various service workers.
The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica and is characterized by the West Wind Drift or the Antarctic Circumpolar Current which moves in a clockwise rotation around the continent. This oceanic movement is one of the many unique environmental features observed by scientists and personnel stationed on the icy continent.