and diesel fuel and requires yearly service and refuelling. Extreme temperatures The coldest air temperature recorded by thermometer at Dome A since January 2005 was in July 2005. This may have been beaten by an unconfirmed reading of in June 2019. The lowest surface temperature ever measured on the surface of the Earth () was recorded by satellite on August 10, 2010, between Dome Argus and Dome Fuji. Analysis of satellite data and atmospheric models shows that Ridge A, which is located southeast of Dome A, is potentially an even better location to look for the lowest temperatures on Earth. Observatory The Polar Research Institute of China deployed a robotic observatory called PLATO (PLATeau Observatory) on the dome in January 2008. PLATO was designed and built by the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia to provide a platform from which astronomical observations and site-testing could be conducted. Various institutions from Australia, US, China and the UK provided instruments that were deployed with PLATO, these instruments included CSTAR, Gattini, PreHEAT, Snodar, Nigel and the PLATO web cameras. The Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, Chinese Academy of Sciences established a wireless network technology based observation system called Dome A-WSN on the dome in January 2008. The Kunlun Station, China's third station in Antarctica, was set up at the dome on January 27, 2009. Thus far the Antarctic Kunlun Station is suitable as a summer station, but there are plans to develop it further and build an airfield nearby to ease servicing, as it is not reachable by helicopters. See also Pole of Cold Pole of Inaccessibility Ridge A Dome C (also known as Dome Circe, Dome Charlie or Dome Concordia) Dome F (also known as Dome Fuji or Valkyrie Dome) East Antarctica Ranges List of Ultras of Antarctica References Further reading Li Yuansheng, Polar Research Institute of China (2005). Introduction to Chinese Dome A Inland Traverse. External links AAD website NASA-USGS Landsat 8 Satellite Pinpoints Coldest Spots on Earth PLATO – Dome A Robotic Observatory Live Webcams From Dome A International Polar Foundation coverage PLATO – Dome A Robotic Observatory – Chinese Translation China to Build Third Station in Antarctica (China Daily, Oct 14 2004) Photo Gallery (People's Daily, Jan 19 2005) Chinese Engineer Receives Medical Treatment After Falling Ill During Antarctic Traverse (US National Science Foundation, Jan 19 2005) Expedition Photographs (People's Daily, Jan 21 2005) An account of the