AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 The Australian Antarctic Division, a Division of the Department of the Environment and Energy, leads Australia’s Antarctic program and seeks to advance Australia’s Antarctic interests in pursuit of its vision of having ‘Antarctica valued, protected and understood’. It does this by managing Australian government activity in Antarctica, providing transport and logistic support to Australia’s Antarctic research program, maintaining four permanent Australian research stations, and conducting scientific research programs both on land and in the Southern Ocean.

Australia’s Antarctic national interests are to: • Preserve our sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic FUTURE CAPABILITIES Territory, including our sovereign rights over the adjacent offshore areas. 2 Antarctic icebreaker afloat • Take advantage of the special opportunities Antarctica offers for scientific research. • Protect the Antarctic environment, having regard to its special qualities and effects on our region. • Maintain Antarctica’s freedom from strategic and/or political confrontation. • Be informed about and able to influence developments in a region geographically proximate to Australia. • Derive any reasonable economic benefits from living and non-living resources of the Antarctic (excluding deriving SCIENCE such benefits from mining and oil drilling).

14 Krill, whales and poo power Australian Antarctic Magazine is produced twice a year (June and December). Australian Antarctic Magazine seeks to inform the Australian and international Antarctic community about the activities of the Australian Antarctic program. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment and Energy.

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2018 IN BRIEF HISTORY 31 Sealers, shipwrecks and survivors Australian Antarctic Magazine is licensed by the 22 Opening up the Antarctic skies inspire new names on Heard Island Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see CONTENTS https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Melting beneath Totten Glacier driven by natural variability 19 This publication should be attributed as ‘Australian , Commonwealth of Australia 2018. Nick Gales’ message 1 ‘Cucumber-cam’ assists conservation 20 Antarctic Magazine The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable FUTURE CAPABILITIES VIRTUAL REALITY efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party]’. Antarctic icebreaker afloat 2 Antarctic virtual reality trial to assist astronauts 21 Data to the bunk 4 Editorial enquiries, including requests to reproduce material, or contributions, should be addressed to: Tractor traverse to support deep field research 5 HISTORY The Editor Grand sub-Antarctic designs 6 Opening up the Antarctic skies 22 Australian Antarctic Magazine Australian Antarctic Division SCIENCE VALE 203 Channel Highway Kingston, 7050 Could e-DNA enhance ecosystem monitoring? 8 Pat Quilty 26 Tasmania, Australia.

Hungry humpbacks take migratory snack breaks 9 Australian Antarctic Division Antarctic ice shelf collapse triggered by IN BRIEF Telephone: (03) 6232 3209 wave action following sea ice loss 10 (International 61 3 6232 3209) email: [email protected] Yellow submarine prepares for first Facsimile: (03) 6232 3288 Antarctic mission 12 FREEZE FRAME (International 61 3 6232 3288) Krill, whales, and poo power 14 Editor: Wendy Pyper Antarctic krills’ secret weapon Production: Nisha Harris, Jessica Fitzpatrick against ocean acidification 16 Graphic Design: Giraffe VCM Seeking molecules that scrub the sky 17 ISSUE 35: December 2018

ISSN 1445-1735 (print version) ABOUT THE COVER Australian Antarctic Magazine is printed on Casey Station Leader, Rebecca Jeffcoat, took this Monza satin recycled paper; a 50% post consumer photo of a late-winter campsite near Robbo’s Hut, waste and 50% FSC certified fibre stock. overlooking Odbert Island, during a visit to the Australian Antarctic Magazine can be viewed online: island to undertake maintenance of seabird nesting www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine cameras. She used a Canon 6D EOS Mk II (ISO 400, f10, 1/160 sec). Rebecca is on secondment from @AusAntarctic the Royal Australian Navy. She previously visited AusAntarctic Antarctica on a resupply voyage and a Station AusAntarctic Leader familiarisation trip. ausantarctic Photo: AdamRoberts to themassivechallenges wefacewithclimatechange. Thereisavery to humaninfluence, andtoinformingourability mitigateandadapt fundamental toour understandingofjusthowvulnerable Antarcticais our globalclimateandweather. We alsoknowthatthesciencewedois We nowknowthatAntarcticaandtheSouthernOcean drivemuchof challenge towhichwemustcontinue torise. governance, andthesignificance of Antarcticatotheplanet,isa Communicating theimportanceof ourAntarcticresearchand the continentwasgoverned. but sawlittlerelevancetotheirdailylivesinourworkorhow 25 yearhistory. Australians knewalittleaboutAntarctica’s heroicera, in Australia,andtheAntarcticTreaty had changedverylittleoverits a winteratDavisresearchstation,ourwaslargelyunknown career in1985asa(very)youngbiologistonHeardIsland,andthen The changesinAntarcticaareprofound.WhenIstartedmyAntarctic rapidly changingenvironmentalandpoliticalarenasinAntarctica. strengths thatwenowneedtoharnessenableusrespondthe our AntarcticProgram,suchawonderfulexperience.Itisthesesame part oftheAustralianAntarcticDivision,orheadingsouthas It isthissenseofpurposeandprideinourworkthatmakebeing remaining apartofthiscommunityformuchof,orall,theircareers. again toourAntarcticandsub-Antarcticstations, andKingstonstaff and commitmenttoourjobs, withexpeditionersreturningtimeand a longtraditionofsharedendeavourinAntarctica.We allbringpassion Research Expeditions(ANARE)Clubwhoremindusthatwearepartof Antarctic legacy. We areindebtedtotheAustralianNationalAntarctic are definedby, andproudof,ourrichhistorythosewhobuilt The AustralianAntarcticDivisionandthebroaderProgram Antarctic Programtoitscurrentstate. deeply privilegedtohaveplayedasmallroleinguidingthe I leaveatatimeofgreatchangeandopportunityfeel Australia’s AntarcticProgram. life, andanewDirectorwillbetakingthehelmof embarking onanewandexcitingchapterofmy of theAustralian Antarctic MagazineIwillbe As youflickthroughthepagesofthislatestedition From theDirector

Australian Antarctic Division Dr NICKGALES Fair windsandfollowingseastoyou all. with manyofyouinthefuture,and Ilookforwardtothat. Hobart communitiesaresmallenough toensurethatmypathwillcross provide thatsamelevelofsupport tomysuccessor. TheAntarcticand received fromsomanyofyouovermyyearshere,andIhope I’m immenselygratefulforthesupportandencouragementIhave influential inarapidlychangingandincreasinglythreatenedAntarctica. a futurethatembracesthenecessarychange,toremainrelevantand Our greatstrengthsthatarebuiltfromourpast,needtobefocused on continued andurgentlyneededleadershipinfluenceinthe Treaty. Program functions, and will setusuptodeliveronthepromiseof nature ofthewayAustralianAntarcticDivisionand These investmentswilldriveafundamentalchangeinthescaleand support greaterandmoresustainedfundingforscience. research stationandupgradesatotherstations),mechanismsto traverse capability),stationinfrastructure(thenewMacquarieIsland RSV Nuyina,aproposednewaerodromenearDavis, anddeep-field support commitments, includingtransport(ournewAntarcticicebreaker leadership roleinAntarcticabysettingplacemajorscienceand environmental protectionarebeingchallenged. central tenantsoftheAntarcticTreaty systemofpeace,scienceand At thesametimethatwerecognisehowimportantAntarcticais, the the future. and thewellbeingresilienceofAustraliansAustraliansocietyin clear anddirectlinebetweenthesciencewedo,policyitinforms that embraces change. focused onafuture our past,needtobe that are builtfrom Our great strengths strengthens Australia’s Action Plan.Thisstrategy Strategy and20Year 2016 Australian Antarctic Division, hasbeenthe of theAustralianAntarctic Scientist andthenDirector to, inmyroleasChief most proudofcontributing One ofthethingsIam

1 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 2 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 FUTURE CAPABILITIES 1 top oftheweatherradaronmain mast. measuring 50.2metresfromthekeelto 10 decksatnavigationbridgelevel, When complete,theshipwillriseto in place(seenextstory). shaft lines, propellersand rudderswereall science deck),andtheengines, generators, the shiphadreacheddecklevelfour(the At thetimeoffloating,constructionon it’s completed.” the 16,000tonneweightofshipwhen wet dock,whichwillbeenoughtosupport “There’s about10 metresofwaterinthe five metreseitherside. dock is35metreswide,sowehadlessthan The shipis25.6metreswideandthedry pull theshipintopositioninwetdock. “Then weusedaseriesofcontrolledlinesto out,” MrBrownesaid. the bowandsternwerelevelforfloating strategic placesaroundtheshiptoensure “We had34buoyancybagstetheredin into theadjacentwetdock. manoeuvre theshipabout250metres it wasaprecisionoperationtothen Project Manager, MrNickBrowne,said Australian AntarcticDivisionIcebreaker ship about30centimetresofftheground. dock floorandfloatingthe 10,751 tonne raising thewaterlevelsixmetresabove from thenearbyriverintodrydock, It tooktwodaystopumpenoughwater pools ofwaterwerepumpedintothedockswhereshipisbeingbuilt,inSeptember. Australia’s newAntarcticicebreaker, RSVNuyina,isnowfloating,after50Olympicswimming Antarctic before she’llbesailingintoHobartin2020.” the nextfewmonths;itwon’tbelongnow “We’ll seetheNuyina rapidlytakingshapeover Mr Brownesaid. see theshipfinallyfloatinginwater,” two yearsofconstruction,itwasathrillto “After sixyearsof planningandmorethan 2. 1. (Photo: MichielJordaan) gate betweenthedry andwetdocks. The Nuyinapriortotheremoval ofthe (Photo: MichielJordaan) ensure itremainedlevelwhilefloating. strategic placesaroundtheshipto Buoyancy bagswereattachedin icebreaker afloat

3

2 4. 3. (Photo: MichielJordaan) is correctlyaligned withtheship’s engine. a lasersighting,to ensure thepropellershaft ship. Thecrossatthefrontoftunnel isfor ice brokenupbyknivesattherear of the propeller shafttunnelwillhelpdeflect sea propeller shafts.Thelengthofsteelabove the One oftwogondolasthatwillholdthe ship’s 10,751 tonneship.(Photo: Damen) The drydockfillingwithwatertofloatthe

4 ahead propels construction were installed. were installed. of theship’s propulsionsystem a numberofcriticalcomponents September (seepreviousstory) tubes,” MrBrownesaid. sending alaserbeamthroughthe stern “The propellershaftswerealigned by the ship. through thehullwithoutwaterleaking into a ‘sterntube’,whichallowsthemto pass hubs) atthestern.Theshaftseachsitinside of theshipto40tonnepropellers(and shafts connectthemainenginesatcentre shafts couldbealigned.The50metres-long With thegondolascomplete,propeller wooden-soled shoestocopewiththeheat.” another tookover, and they hadtowear “Each welderspentonehouronthejobbefore causing thesteeltofracture,”MrBrownesaid. unevenly, affecting alignmentandpossibly cold steelcancauseittoexpandandcontract before weldingcouldcommence,as “Each gondolawaspre-heatedto150°C specialist teamof27welderstoinstallthem. and precisenatureofthegondolasrequireda Manager, MrNickBrowne,saidthecomplex Australian AntarcticDivisionIcebreakerProject ship’s propellershafts(seephotos). made of80tonnessteel–whichholdthe First weretheship’s two‘gondolas’–each RSV In preparationforthe Nuyina Nuyina’s floatingin ’s ’s

5 are installedbeneath theiceknives. the bow. Rudders, each weighing33.5tonnes after ithasbeenbroken upbytheweightof to splitanddistributeiceunderthe vessel ice knivesatthesternofship. These help The gondolasandpropellersareprotected by propeller is5.65metres,” MrBrownesaid. each. Thetotaldiameterofthecomplete stainless steelandweighingabout4.5tonnes “Each propellerhasfourbladesmadeoutof pitch ofthepropeller. are filledwithoiltoactuatethevariable almost 21 tonnes.Duringoperationthehubs and are1.94metresindiameterweigh are madeofnickel,aluminiumandbronze bolted, couldbeattached.Thepropellerhubs propeller hubs, onwhich thebladesare With thepropellershaftsinplace, 34: 2-3,2018). to study(seeAustralian Antarctic Magazine marine organismsthatthescientistswant can affectthebehaviouroffishandother with scientificacousticinstrumentsand gear boxesandpropellers.Thisinterferes from thepropulsionsystem–engines, In openwaterthemainnoiseonshipis scientific surveys.” to thesilentoperationofshipduring failure oftheshafts, andwillcontribute to preventpropellerwobbleandstructural “Perfect alignmentoftheshaftsiscritical

7 7. 6. 5. Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER boat deploymentandcargooperations. range ofseastates, aswellduringsmall deployment ofscientificequipmentina thrusters willholdtheshipinplaceduring electrical powerformaximumthrust.The at thesterneachrequire1300kWof Three thrustersatthebowandthree (dynamic positioning)with±20maccuracy. spin onadimeandholdsetposition Finally, sixtunnelthrustershelptheship 40 tonnes.(Photo:Michiel Jordaan) added thestructure willweighalmost 21 tonnes.Oncethefourblades are this propellerhub, whichweighsalmost The ship’s propellerbladesareboltedto (Photo: MichielJordaan) into place.Eachbladeweighs4.5tonnes. The finalbladeofapropellerbeingcraned Michiel Jordaan) water leakingintotheship.(Photo: shaft topassthroughthehullwithout tube enablestherotatingpropeller enclose apropellershaft.Thestern This 12.7metre-longsterntubewill 6

3 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 3235 20182017 FUTURE CAPABILITIES 4 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 FUTURE CAPABILITIES

1 bunk to the Data other workorwatchingamovieon theirbunk. continue doingotherthings, whetherthatbe a deploymenthastorun,sothattheycan they cannowsee,forexample,howlong “No matterwherepeopleareontheship, something moreaccessible,”MrSymondssaid. and distilstheessentialinformationinto displays, aswelltheship’s underwaydata, complex informationfromourscientific “DIRT isanaggregatorofdata–soittakes depth (CTD)probes. nets andconductivity, temperature and oceanographic equipment,suchastrawl screen duringlongdeploymentsof need tostaygluedasinglecomputer said thenewservicemeansscientistsdon’t Technical ServicesManager, LloydSymonds, temperatures, andwindspeeds. on theship’s position,theairandwater They canalsogetthelatestinformation phones orlaptops, anywhereontheship. scientific instrumentsviatheirmobile and expeditionerstoreceivedatafrom allowing scientists, voyagemanagers, crew Division’s ScienceTechnical SupportTeam, developed bytheAustralianAntarctic ‘Data InRealTime’isanewwebservice of theirownbunks. on theship,fromcomfort the ‘DIRT’onwhat’s happening the Expeditioners andcrewonboard Aurora Australis cannowget

begin Antarcticoperationsinlate 2020. the newship,RSVNuyina,whichisexpectedto The challengenowistoadaptthe software for a greaterchanceofgettingitright ontheday.” “While it’s notexactlythe same,itgivespeople catch thekrillinrealtime. line upavirtualkrillnetonshipto echosounder datafromavoyagetohelpthem how itallworks.Forexample,wecanuse into ourofficeatKingstonandshowthem “With thistechnologywecanbringthem button topush,”MrSantarossasaid. a krillnetorCTD,andtheydon’tknowwhich screen ontheshipiswhentheyneedtodeploy “Often thefirsttimepeopleseecomputer deployments usingthisstoreddata. scientists topracticecomplexoceanographic Santarossa, havedevelopedsoftwaretoallow his colleague,electronicsengineerMichael later, fortrainingpurposes.MrSymondsand The technologycanalsostoredatatoreplay close ittogetthemaximumamountofkrill. to deployanet,aswellwhenopenand They canthenmakedecisionsaboutwhen computer screen. the shipandappearsasbrightblobson – whichbouncesoffkrillswarmsbeneath them toviewacousticechosounderdata For krillscientists, thetechnologyallows equipment acrosseightcomputerscreens. DIRT andinformationfromotherscientific Once inthecontrolroom,scientistscanview control roomandcompletethejob.” the relevantpersonnelcangotoscience “Then, whenthedeploymentneedsattention,

1 Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER latest DIRTwouldbeeasy. It’s abigjob, butnooneeversaidgettingthe and software. Nuyina, allowingthemtoaccessexampledata has someofthesameinstrumentationas Marine NationalFacilityRVInvestigator, which The pairareworkingwithateamfromthe times persecond,”MrSymondssaid. will tellusourpositionbetween10 and100 of theshiponcepersecond,butNuyina “The Aurora Australis tellsustheGPSposition volume ofdatabeingcollected. They willalsohavetocontendwithalarger simulation softwarefortraining.” develop theonboarddisplays, aswellthe each oftheinstrumentsonnewshipand “But ourbiggestchallengeistounderstand can designtheirownscreens. we’ve comeupwithasystemwherepeople “We candevelopnewscreensfairlyrapidlyand Symonds said. we can’tdisplayontheAurora Australis ,” Mr the capacitytodisplayadiversityofdatathat control room,ratherthaneight,sowe’llhave “The Nuyinawillhave18screensinthescience 1. real time’(DIRT).(Photo: GlennJacobson) science controlroom anddeliver‘datain set uptomimicthe AuroraAustralis Santarossa infrontofcomputerscreens Lloyd Symonds(left)andMichael as DomeC. 1200 kilometresinlandatalocation known 2021 andsetupamobileresearchstation Australia’s Caseyresearchstationinearly The firstexpeditionisplannedto depart up to1500kilometresinland. eight expeditionersandwillbeabletotravel The traversewillbemanagedbyateamof for extendedperiodsoftime.” and extremepartsoftheAntarcticicesheet support teamstosomeofthemostremote “It willallowustodeployscientistsand traditionally accessbyaircraft,”MrHullsaid conditions, andintoareas thatwecan’t and equipmentdeepinlandinallweather rapidly movelargequantitiesofcargo “This isastep-changeinourabilityto generation andupto160,000litresoffuel. communal areas, scientificfacilities, power trains carryingfoodsupplies, accommodation, and twosnowgroomersthatwilltowsled traverse fleetwillhavefiveheavytractors Lead ProjectOfficer, AnthonyHull,saidthe Australian AntarcticDivisionTraverse Systems for amillionyearicecore. operations, includingthesearch support Australia’s deepfield vehicles willbeharnessedto A newfleetofheavytracked deep fieldresearch Tractor traversetosupport

1 Ommen said. team todothathereinHobart,”Dr van and builtin-house,wehavethe right specialist designsthathavetobeconstructed “Many ofthecomponentsweneedare of extractingicecores3000metresdeep. new drilldesignfortheprojectthatiscapable Antarctic Divisionhavealsobegunworkona Scientists andengineersattheAustralian understand presentdayclimatechange.” shift, becausewebelieveitcanhelpusbetter collaborators tounderstandwhatcausedthis “We areworking closely withourinternational Dr vanOmmensaid. regular pacingoficeagesgraduallyslowed,” climate systemtookplace,andwhenthe into atimewhenmajorshiftintheEarth’s “The millionyearicecorewillbeawindow Magazine 33:6,2017). ice coreclimaterecord(Australian Antarctic search fortheEarth’s longestcontinuous ambitious scienceprojects, includingthe will openuptheAntarcticinteriorto Dr Tas vanOmmen,saidthenewcapability Australian AntarcticDivisionglaciologist, up tothreemonths. flying intoundertakescientificresearchfor The stationwillbeabletosupport16people 1. Australian AntarcticDivision DAVID REILLY 20 years. scientific andoperationalneedsforthenext The newtraversesystemwillmeetAustralia’s will occuroverthenext18months. procurement ofothertraversecomponents vehicles iscurrentlyunderwayand The tenderprocessfortheheavytracked Strategy and20 Year ActionPlan. ice coreaspartofthe Australian Antarctic traverse capabilityanddrillforthemillionyear million in2016 tore-establishanoverland The AustralianGovernmentcommitted$45 three-to-four yeardrillingperiod.” get tothebottomoficesheetovera core, todrillmostefficiently, andhopefully that willallowustorecoverthebestquality “We areincorporatingthelatesttechnology (Photo: Todor Iolovski) Antarctic Magazine 33:4-6.2017). of anewAustralian capability(Australian methodologies toassistwiththedesign information ontraversetechnologiesand and Frenchtraverseteamstogather Australia travelledwithbothBritish from Caseyresearchstation.In2016-17 system totravel1200kilometresinland Australia willre-establishatraverse

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Grand sub-Antarctic designs

How do you design a group of Station Infrastructure project officers, Travis The station will be self-sufficient in its Thom and Alison McKenzie, said the brief water, power and waste management buildings that can withstand the considers all the design requirements and needs, with adaptable and flexible buildings wild Southern Ocean weather constraints, such as legislation, building codes, to accommodate scientific activities and and three-tonne elephant maintenance, the function of each building, population fluctuations. It will also be resilient current and future scientific and operational to future environmental and climate impacts seals on the doorstep, while needs, and the station’s environmental impact. through the siting of the main station buildings more than 50 metres from the coast accommodating the needs “The functional design brief is a guide to and at an elevation of at least 6.5 metres of a diverse, self-sufficient what we want to achieve from an end-user above sea level. community, living and working perspective, and sets out the requirements and constraints that could have design To minimise operational and maintenance far from home and conducting implications,” Ms McKenzie said. costs, the team will use thermally efficient building materials, energy saving technologies globally significant science? “The primary function of the station is to and modern construction techniques. provide living and working facilities for a This is the challenge facing the Australian self-sufficient community for the next 50 “We will also use systems and materials Antarctic Division’s Macquarie Island years, and support scientific and long-term that require limited specialist training Modernisation Project team, as they embark monitoring programs.” to operate, maintain and to repair if on the design of a new Macquarie Island damaged,” Mr Thom added. research station. The brief is also the principle document for the Managing Contractor, VEC Civil To help balance the functional needs The project is part of the government’s Engineering Pty Ltd, appointed in July, to of the station with its environmental Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year complete the design and construction, with impact, buildings with complimentary Action Plan, and includes the renewal assistance from the project team. functions will be clustered together to of the island’s network of field huts and keep the footprint small, allow efficient

FUTURE CAPABILITIES FUTURE Among the design principles enshrined decommissioning of the existing 70 year- movement around the site, and provide in the brief are maintaining year-round old station. spaces for resupply operations, recreation, operations, minimising operational and revegetation and wildlife. While the four-person project team is well maintenance costs, balancing station function qualified for the job – with experience in and environmental impacts, and creating a Fenced-off building clusters, with wildlife engineering, architecture and trades – they’re sense of community. Common to all of these corridors between, will also help protect 35 2018 not doing it alone. principles is a smaller station. the station, people and wildlife (especially As well as Australian Antarctic Division elephant seals), from each other. ISSUE “One of our main goals is to reduce the staff, key personnel at the Australian Bureau number of buildings from 48 to between Macquarie Island Executive Officer Mr Noel of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, the 15 and 20,” Mr Thom said. Carmichael, of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Service, said that during the breeding season, “A smaller station will be more efficient and Safety Agency, and the Tasmanian Parks the beaches on either side of the isthmus, have less impact on the island.” and Wildlife Service, have also fed their where much of the current station sits, are requirements into a ‘functional design brief’. occupied by the largest concentrations of elephant seals in the reserve.

1. The new Macquarie Island research station will be sited further south of the isthmus AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN (pictured here) and will reduce the number 6 of station buildings from 48 to between 15 and 20. (Photo: Justin Chambers) 2. using partofitscurrentfootprint(seemap). station, justsouthoftheexistingstationand Committee approvedasiteforthenew Based onthiswork,inJuneaSelection from theoldstationtonewone. how thestationoperationswilltransition out designandoperationalissues, including the stationreviewedsketches, teasing Antarctic DivisionstaffatKingstonand and increasingstormsurgefrequency. processes, andthepotentialriskofrisingseas into windeffects, groundconditions, coastal investigations alongthelengthofisland, functional designbriefandtwoseasonsof The sketchesweredevelopedbasedonthe station operations. and betterunderstandtheenvironment island, togatherfeedbackfromexpeditioners of potentialmasterplanningoptionstothe In March2018 theprojectteamtooksketches quarters.” so youdon’twantthemlyingoutsideliving “Elephant sealscanalsobenoisyandsmelly, he said. services theymaycomeincontactwith,” seals meanstheycandamagebuildingsand “The sizeandnaturalbehaviourofelephant Alison McKenzie) occupied byelephant seals.(Graphic: that issubjecttostorm surgesandoften station islocatedonanarrow isthmus will bedecommissioned. Thecurrent to theexistingstation(blue),which the newstationbuildings(red)relative plan conceptandindicativelocationfor This mapshows apreliminarymaster

2 3. Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER complete in2022. The newstationisexpectedtobe design. side bar)toprogressthenextphaseof around thecurrentstationbuildings(see a 360degreevirtualtourwithinand functional designbrief,masterplan,and VEC CivilEngineeringwillnowusethe good accessforconstruction. storm surgeareaontheisthmusandhas exists furthersouth.It’s alsooutsidethe days, aswelltheswampygroundthat artefacts relatedtotheisland’s sealing congregations, nestingareasandheritage The siteavoidsintensivewildlife Antarctic Division) (Photo: SkyAvenue/Australian Macquarie Islandresearch station. generators produceelectricityfor the mainpower house,wherediesel A 360degreepanoramicimageof

3 to thelocation. information, images andvideosrelevant points ofinterestinthetourprovide more with virtualrealityheadsets.‘i’icons on also haveanoptiontoviewthetour tablets andmobilephones.Phone users The tourcanbeviewedoncomputers, Antarctic Magazine34:8,2018). the islandinMarchthisyear(Australian Design (seeFreezeFrame),whovisited business SkyAvenuePhotographyand The tourwasdevelopedbyHobart-based observation yard.” station andthesurfaceweather laboratories, theradionuclide monitoring visiting placeslikethebiologyandcleanair science that’s conducted ontheisland,by “They canalsogetagoodsenseofthe and howthespaceshavebeenconfigured. specialist equipmenthasbeeninstalled, of furnishingareinplace,whatkind to goinsidebuildingsseewhatkind “By usingthevirtualtourthey’llbeable Thom, said. Strategic InfrastructureProjectLead,Travis is onlyoneortworesupplyshipsayear,” make sitevisitstotheisland,becausethere engineers, willhavelimitedopportunitiesto Engineering, andtheirarchitects “The ManagingContractor, VECCivil 360 degreepanoramas. 1338 photosstitchedtogethertoform The virtualexperienceismadeupof be criticaltothedesignofnewstation. island, andprovidesalevelofdetailthatwill to getaninsightintolifeandworkonthe The newpublicinteractivetourallowsviewers https://tourview.com.au/macca.html. virtual tourofthecurrentstationsite from thecomfortoftheiroffice,thankstoa story) cannowgetasenseofspaceandplace Macquarie Islandresearchstation(seemain The designersandbuildersofthenew of MacquarieIsland Take avirtualtour

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Could e-DNA enhance ecosystem monitoring?

Environmental DNA or e-DNA could be the next ‘disruptive innovation’ when it comes to monitoring changes in Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Australian Antarctic Division molecular To find out, Dr Deagle and his colleague “We need to ensure that our processing ecologist, Dr Bruce Deagle, said the Andrea Polanowski collected about 200 method captures all the eDNA in the technology allows scientists to identify two-litre water samples during a voyage sample and not just a subset of what’s hundreds of species in an environmental to Macquarie Island in March this year*. At there,” he said. sample – such as water or soil – by the same time, they collected zooplankton If the technique works, it could open up sequencing DNA in the sample. samples using a Continuous Plankton new discussion in the Southern Ocean Recorder (CPR) – a century-old technology. The approach relies on ‘barcodes’, which are research community about whether it is a segments of DNA unique to different species. The CPR is towed behind the ship and useful addition, or replacement, to existing These genetic markers are amplified from catches phytoplankton and zooplankton ecosystem monitoring methods. the total DNA extracted from the sample, on a silk mesh that slowly winds through “DNA could be a good tool for monitoring and their sequences are then compared to a the instrument. The organisms captured but we have to decide if we want the data reference database to identify the organisms. on the silk can then be identified under in that form – if it’s going to be useful,” Dr the microscope. “If we can collect a small volume of water Deagle said. and characterise what’s in it, this technique “We’ll be able to compare the CPR “Use of the technology could disrupt old, could be very useful for monitoring changes zooplankton samples with our eDNA results

SCIENCE long-term ecosystem monitoring datasets, in the occurrence of organisms in the to see how well they match,” Dr Deagle said. but at his stage, our focus is on showing Southern Ocean,” Dr Deagle said. “While we don’t have a direct comparison what’s possible.” “We can already monitor phytoplankton for fish, we’ll compare our eDNA results and bacteria using this method, but we with our knowledge of what fish species WENDY PYPER want to see if we can identify larger should be there. We’d expect to see a good 35 2018 zooplankton, like copepods and krill, fish community, but if we only get a handful Australian Antarctic Division as well as different fish species, and of eDNA results, then that may suggest the *Australian Antarctic Science Project 4313 ISSUE potentially even penguins and seals. method is not very useful. “e-DNA has been used in lakes and ponds, “We’ll also try to identify penguins and seals, where the inhabitants don’t move much and just to see if we can detect free-floating DNA the water doesn’t move in large volumes, but from these animals.” we don’t know yet whether it will be useful 1. Andrea Polanowski examines zooplankton Dr Deagle and his team are now for open ocean samples.” specimens collected on silk by the Continuous experimenting with different sample Plankton Recorder (silver box on right) as it processing methods to find one that is was towed behind the ship. (Photo: Bruce easy to use and provides consistent and Deagle) comprehensive results. 2. Dr Bruce Deagle is trialling methods to AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN identify zooplankton and fish in seawater 8 samples by amplifying environmental DNA. (Photo: Glenn Jacobson) 1

Hungry humpbacks take migratory snack breaks

Satellite tracking data has “The satellite data shows us they travel The paper also examined the characteristics of east via New Zealand, south via Tasmania, the Antarctic feeding ground, which scientists identified new warm water or west via the Pacific Ocean.” believe could be responsible for the strong feeding areas for south-bound recovery of the population after whales were The research also showed that the whales hunted to near extinction in the 1950s and humpback whales en route to fed more during their migration than early 1960s. the krill-rich seas of Antarctica. previously thought, spending time foraging in warmer temperate waters on their way “The whales time their arrival for when the to Antarctica. This counters traditional ice is retreating rapidly towards the continent, A paper published in Scientific Reports in assumptions that humpbacks adopt a ‘feast and the data shows they concentrate their August, examined the movements of and famine’ approach to migration – feasting foraging where the ice was located two 30 humpback whales tracked via satellite in Antarctica and then fasting for the rest of months prior,” Dr Andrews-Goff said. tags over three consecutive summers, the year as they migrate to and from their from 2008 to 2010. “We can see that the whales move with the low latitude breeding grounds. ice as it melts and retreats, and it’s this melt Australian Antarctic Division marine mammal “As the whales migrate south they are that releases new production, triggering the scientist and the paper’s lead author, Dr stopping for up to 35 days to forage for krill accumulation of Antarctic krill.” Virginia Andrews-Goff, said the research* is – either off the New Zealand coast, in Bass the first to examine the foraging habits and While the marginal ice zone in the whales’ Strait, or off the east coast of Tasmania,” migration path of East Australian humpbacks. foraging area provides good foraging and Dr Andrews-Goff said. protective habitat for adult and larval krill, “For the first time we have been able to see “These observations of ‘supplemental feeding’, Dr Andrews-Goff said the timing and location the varied routes East Australian humpbacks which have been observed in other Southern of sea ice formation within the area was take on their migration to Antarctica, some of Hemisphere humpback populations, may help highly variable. which were unknown until now,” Dr Andrews- refuel their energy reserves prior to reaching Goff said. “The overall trend indicates an increase in ice their Antarctic feeding grounds.” season duration over the past 30 years, along with decreasing sea surface temperature and primary productivity, which ultimately may SCIENCE result in less food for krill,” she said. 2 “So ongoing monitoring of the humpback population is important to understand and predict the whales’ ability to adapt.” 35 2018 The research will help inform whale

2 management and conservation policy. ISSUE

ELIZA GREY and WENDY PYPER Australian Antarctic Division

*Australian Antarctic Science Project 4101

1. Humpback whales forage extensively between their breeding grounds and Antarctica. (Photo: Ari Friedlaender)

2. Migratory pathways for 30 humpback whales, satellite tagged off the east MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN 9 coast of Australia (at Eden and the Sunshine Coast) and in Antarctica, over three consecutive summers. (Photo: Australian Antarctic Division) 10 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE and calving,”DrMassom said. onset andcatastrophic large-scalefracturing large icebergseverydecadeorso, to asudden departure fromnaturally-recurring calvingof “Disintegration marksanunprecedented shelf behind(seesatelliteimages). and rapidrunawaycollapseofthe weakened this outer-margincalvingcausesthe abrupt of extensivesurfacemeltingandfracturing, the iceshelfisseverelyweakenedbydecades provide structuralstabilitytotheiceshelf.If This calvingremoves“keystoneblocks”that ‘sliver’ icebergscalveofftheshelffront.” enlarge pre-existingfracturesuntillong,thin “The cumulativeeffectofthisflexingisto few kilometrestoflex. reach theexposediceshelfandcauseitsouter storm-generated oceanswellscanreadily “But wherethereisregionallossofseaice, Massom said. before theyreachtheiceshelfedge,”Dr shelves, bydampingdestructiveoceanswells “Seaiceactsasabuffertoprotect to flexandeventuallybreak. swells, causingtheirvulnerableoutermargins exposed iceshelvestostorm-generatedocean Antarctic Peninsula sincethelate-1980s said thatreducedseaicecoverageoffthe and EcosystemsCooperativeResearchCentre, Antarctic DivisionandtheClimate Lead author, DrRobMassom,oftheAustralian regional lossofadjacentseaice,accordingtoresearch*publishedinNature inJune. Storm-driven oceanswellscantriggerthecatastrophicdisintegrationofAntarcticiceshelvesfollowing by waveactionfollowingseaiceloss iceshelfcollapsetriggered Antarctic 1 capacity ofnon-disintegrating iceshelves.” decades, whichalsoreducesthebuttressing ocean-driven thinningoficeshelves inrecent “These dramaticeventsareinaddition to Southern Ocean,does. tributary glaciersbehindtheiceshelf, intothe floating, theresultingacceleration ofthe raise sealevel,becausetheshelvesarealready “While iceshelfdisintegrationsdon’tdirectly the continenttoocean. land-based glacialicefromtheinteriorof by buttressingandslowingthetransferof important roleinmoderatingsealevelrise, the Antarcticcoastlineplayacrucially that fringeaboutthreequartersof “Ice shelvesandfloatingglaciertongues sea levelrise,”DrBennettssaid. uncertainty inprojectionsofglobalmean Sheet iscurrentlythegreatestsourceof “The contributionoftheAntarcticIce sea levelrise,asclimatechanges. the contributionofAntarctica’s icesheetto of theremainingiceshelvesandbetterpredict scientists tomoreaccuratelyforecastthefate This willbeakeysteptowardsenabling to beaccountedforinicesheetmodelling. highlight theneedforseaiceandoceanwaves Mathematical Sciences, saidthefindings the UniversityofAdelaide’s Schoolof Study co-authorDrLukeBennetts, from 2 when oceanwaveswerelarge. was significantlyreducedorabsent, and event occurredduringperiodswhen seaice Wilkins IceShelfin2009.Eachdisintegration 2002, and1450square kilometresfromthe kilometres fromtheLarsenBIceShelfin Larsen AIceShelfin1995,3320square of 1600squarekilometresicefromthe These includedtheabruptandrapidlosses 1995 and2009. occurred ontheAntarcticPeninsula between major iceshelfdisintegrationeventsthat and mathematicalmodelling,toexaminefive ocean wavedatawithsurfaceobservations research teamcombinedsatelliteimagesand The discoverycomesaftertheinternational ocean processes,” hesaid. sea iceactsasaprotectivebufferagainst coastal exposure,particularlyinregionswhere Antarctica, toimprovepredictionoffuture driving recentseaicetrendsaround understanding andmodellingthemechanisms “Our studyalsounderlinestheimportanceof shelf stability. appreciated linkbetweenseaicelossand the researchidentifiesapreviouslyunder- Australian BureauofMeteorology, said Study co-author, DrPhilReid,fromthe *Australian Antarctic ScienceProject 4116 Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER absences ofseaice.” well becapableofsurvivingprolonged “Some remainingiceshelvesmay surface flooding,”hesaid. setting, andthedegreenatureof glaciological characteristics, physical “Their responsewillalsodependontheir ocean swells. way incomingdecadestoseaicelossand shelves arelikelytorespondinthesame Dr Massomsaidnotallremainingice contributing moretosealevelrise. faster intheyearfollowingdisintegration, its tributaryglacierstofloweighttimes the iceshelfbuttressingeffectalsocaused for theprevious11 500years.Removalof an areaoficeshelfthathadbeeninplace the LarsenBIceShelfin2002 removed In onlyamatterofdays, thecollapseof

3 doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0212-1) www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0212-1; loss andoceanswell.Nature, 2018 (https:// Ice shelfdisintegrationtriggeredby seaice Squire, andSharonE.Stammerjohn. Antarctic Luke G.Bennetts, PhillipReid,Vernon A. Massom, RobertA.,TheodoreA.Scambos, (New Zealand). Vernon SquireoftheUniversityOtago the UniversityofColoradoBoulder, and Prof. the InstituteofArcticandAlpineResearchat Boulder (USA),DrSharonStammerjohnof Center (NSIDC)attheUniversityofColorado Scambos oftheNationalSnowandIceData Also involvedinthestudywereDrTed

4 4. 3. 2. 1. swells. (Photo:Nick Roden) shelves ontheAntarctic Peninsula toocean 1980s hasledtoincreasedexposureof ice Reduced seaicecoverage sincethelate fractures. (Photo:IanPhillips) margins byflexingandworkingpre-existing to thebreak-up(calving)ofoutericeshelf Storm-generated ocean swells can contribute image: NSIDC/NASA) Shelf haddisintegrated.(MODISsatellite By March7,2002, mostoftheLarsenBIce image: NSIDC/NASA) Shelf onFebruary17,2002. (MODISsatellite Sliver icebergscalveofftheLarsenBIce

11 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE 12 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE and venturebeneath.” From therewe’llplanoursafestentry path understand theshapeofcavity opening. depth oftheicefacebelowsurface,to we’ll buildamapoftheseafloorand “As wegetcloser tothefaceoficeshelf column,” MrKingsaid. density layersandcurrentsinthewater in frontoftheiceshelf,tounderstand required, thenwe’llsurveytheopenwater ensure allthesystemsareperformingas “First we’lltesttheAUVinopenwaterto performance isassessed. increasing distanceanddurationastheAUV’s and, allgoingwell,venturebeneathit,with sensors tosurveythefrontoficeshelf that theteamwillusearangeofon-board of Tasmania’s AustralianMaritime College,said AUV engineerPeter King,fromtheUniversity surface istooclose,andwhentocome‘home’. sea floorisshallowerthanexpectedortheice in theenvironment,suchaswhattodoif and establish‘rules’forencounteringchanges draw missionlinesforthevehicletofollow a geographicinformationsystempackageto autonomously. To providethistheteamuse have alltheinformationitneedstooperate under theoceansurfaceandiceshelfitmust will communicatewithitoverWiFi,butonce While theAUVisatsurfaceteam the glacier, about11 kmsouth-eastofDavis. ramp andtravelalongsideitinasmallboatto torpedo-shaped AUVfromthestation’s boat team ofscientistsandengineersdeploythe Antarctic GatewayPartnership*, willseea Director oftheAustralianResearchCouncil’s The project,ledbyProfessorRichardColeman, missions underlargerAntarcticiceshelves. and developtheAUV’s capabilityforfuture the seafloorandundersideoficeshelf, Glacier, nearDavisresearchstation,tostudy be deployedaroundandbeneaththeSørsdal autonomous underwatervehicle(AUV),will The sevenmetre-long,1600kilogram under aniceshelf. summer foritsfirstmission will headtoAntarcticathis A high-techyellowsubmarine mission for firstAntarctic Yellow submarineprepares the SørsdalGlacier. very firstlookattheshapeof underside of Dr GwythersaidtheAUVwouldprovide the regions aresodifficulttoaccess.” interacts withtheicesheetbecausethese ocean, butweknowlittleabouthowtheocean melted offtheundersideoficeshelvesby “Half ofthemasslossicesheetis ice sheetwillcontribute,”DrGalton-Fenzisaid. sea levelisunderstandinghowtheAntarctic “One ofthedifficultiesestimatingfuture level rise. and thecontributionoficeshelfmelttosea speed oficeshelfretreatinEastAntarctica Division, whoareworkingtounderstandthe Galton-Fenzi, fromtheAustralianAntarctic Dr DavidGwyther, fromIMAS,andDrBen critical informationtoice-oceanmodellers, The upwardlookingechosounderwillprovide of geologicalfeatures. magnetometer thatmeasuresthemagnetism temperature, depth,salinityandvelocity, anda floor sediment,instrumentstomeasurewater sub-bottom profilerthatcanseebeneathsea the shapeoficewalls.Alsoonboardarea side-scan sonarcanpointsidewaystomap map theshapeandroughnessofice.A and depth)oftheseafloor, orupwardto downward tomapthebathymetry(shape environment. Theechosoundercanpoint returning echoes, tobuildapictureofthe that emitssoundwavesandlistenstothe The AUVhasamulti-beamechosounder 1 1. and biologicalcommunitiesaround it.” times, youoftengetabuild-upofmethane you havethicksedimentsandlong residence “We mayalsoseesomebiology, asanytime and geologicalhistoryoftheregion,”shesaid. cold seeps, whichcantell usabouttheglacial under theice,suchasglacialmorainesand “I’d liketoseeifthereareanyglacialfeatures project investigatingunderwaterhabitats. looking echosounderisofmostinteresttoher information revealedbythedownward- For IMASPhDstudentEricaSpain,the essential forprojectionsofsealevelrise. improve modelsofice-oceaninteractions, is moving.Thisinformationwillhelpscientists the continentalshelf),andspeedwater has comefrom(suchaswarmerwater the waterthatenterscavityandwhereit important informationonthetemperatureof beneath theiceshelfwillalsoprovide Measurements ofoceancharacteristics refreezing, whichwillappearrougher.” which willappearsmoother, andicethatis discriminate betweenicethatismelting, “The side-scansonarmayalsohelpus this affectsmelting. mixed upfromtheoceancavitybelow, and “The rougherthesurface,moreheatis the iceshelf,”hesaid. creates turbulenceinthewaterasitflowspast shelf isimportantbecauseits‘roughness’ “The topographyoftheundersideice Lake StClair. (Photo: Wendy Pyper) and AntarcticStudies pushestheAUV into Erica Spainfromthe InstituteforMarine (Photo: ISE) Antarctic ScienceProject 5138. Tasmania. Professor Colemanleads Australian for MarineandAntarctic Studies,University of Gateway Partnership ishostedattheInstitute *The Australian Research Council’s Antarctic Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER the vehicle. College contributed$3milliontothecostof global climatesystem.TheAustralianMaritime of AntarcticaandtheSouthernOceanin that aimstoprovidenewinsightsintotherole Initiative oftheAustralianResearchCouncil Partnership —a$32millionSpecialResearch Government throughtheAntarcticGateway Aborigines) isfundedbytheAustralian sea’ inpalawakani,thelanguageofTasmanian The AUV(namednupirimukaor‘eyeofthe shelves,” DrGalton-Fenzisaid. sea levelrise,suchastheTotten andAmeryice locations thatarelikelytobemorecriticalfor the AUVwillhelpshapefuturedeploymentsat “The lessonslearnedfromthisdeploymentof icy missions. challenges andlearningsinthisfirstofmany as expected,buttherewillnodoubtbe team areconfidenttheAUVwillperform After ayearofpreparationandpracticethe to simulatingAntarcticconditions.” highlands inwinter–theclosestwecouldget rehearsal atLakeStClairinTasmania’s “Most recentlyweconductedafulldress accurate thatdatais,” shesaid. out ofitwithminimalprocessing,andhow and lookingtoseehowmuchdatawecanget we expecttofindundertheSørsdalGlacier “We’ve beenmappingfeaturesatspatialscales Bass Strait. and spongegardensinnorthernTasmania and vehicle’s capabilitiesformappingsandwaves AUV teamforthepast12monthstotest Ms Spainhasbeenworkingcloselywiththe OAS POP-UP POP-UP BUOY PAYLOAD SONAR VB ACOUSTIC ACOUSTIC ACOUSTIC ACOUSTIC MODEM MODEM processing respectively. AUV’s powersupplyandinformation system. VCCandDSPCrelatetothe Base Line’,ispartoftheAUV’s navigation The USBL,whichstandsfor‘Ultra-Short doubled withasecondbattery. (140 km).Thisendurancecanbe lithium ionbatteriesfor24hours The AUVispoweredbyrechargeable the watercolumn. waves scattered backfromparticleswithin using the Dopplereffectofsound current velocitiesover adepthrange Current Profiler(ACDP)measures water distance travelled.TheAcousticDoppler velocity trackertohelpcalculatethe The DopplerVelocity Log(DVL)isa updated missiontasksoverWiFi. AUV teamcanexchangesensordataand When thevehicleisatsurface, to transferdatasuchasvehiclestatus. with thevehiclewhenit’s belowthesurface, An acousticmodemenablescommunication its positioninthewater. ballast (VB)systemhelpstheAUVmaintain echosounder (‘sonarpayload’).Avariable hardware –theside-scanandbathymetric avoidance system(OAS)andthescientific At thefrontofvehicleisanobstacle collect informationaboutitsenvironment. various technologiesthatallowittooperateautonomouslyand International SubmarineEngineeringinCanada,showsthe This cut-awayoftheExplorerclassAUV,developedby LIFT LUG SENSOR DEPTH 2 DVL/ADCP DVL/ADCP USBL DSPC BATTERIES VCC LIFT LUG COMMUNICATION tow linetoaidinrecovery. triggered acoustically, releasing afloating an emergency. Thepop-up buoycanbe needs toquicklyreturnthesurfacein The dropweightisreleasedwhentheAUV end oftheAUVarepartitssafetysystem. The pop-upbuoyanddropweightateach 3. 2. (Photo: GuyWilliams) metres depth,supported byasmallboat. of 10-plus kilometremissions atover 100 metres atitsdeepest.TheAUV ranaseries St ClairinTasmania, whichisabout167 tested inAustralia’s deepestlake,Lake In preparationforAntarcticatheAUV was (Photo: Wendy Pyper) (pictured) andtheseafloorbeneathit. floating portionoftheSørsdalGlacier to buildapictureoftheunderside The AUV willuseon-board instruments 3 WEIGHT DROP DROP PLANES MAST THRUSTER

13 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE 1 Krill, whales, and poo power Do krill swarms affect the distribution and behaviour of whales, and does the potent mix of predators, prey and their poo, positively affect productivity in the Southern Ocean?

2 1. Australian Antarctic Division marine mammal scientists Dr Elanor Bell (left) and Dr Mike Double (right) will lead the science contingent on the voyage. (Photo: Dave Brosha)

“This voyage will provide the first detailed, three-dimensional description of the variability of krill swarms in East Antarctica, and the first assessment of iron fertilisation by whales and krill and its effects,” Dr Double said. A range of modern technologies will be used throughout the voyage. To begin with, Australian Antarctic Division These are just some of the questions a team of The voyage will look specifically at the acoustician, Dr Brian Miller, will use krill, whale and biogeochemistry experts hope distribution and behaviour of Antarctic blue small underwater listening devices, called to answer during an ambitious 49 day voyage whales in the Ross Sea region, in the presence sonobuoys, to track and locate blue whales aboard the CSIRO Marine National Facility’s RV and absence of Antarctic krill once the ship leaves Hobart. SCIENCE Investigator this summer. “We’ll track Antarctic blue whales in real time, Sonobuoys can detect blue whale vocalisations Voyage Chief Scientists from the Australian from hundreds of kilometres away, using up to 1000 kilometres away, and once the Antarctic Division, Dr Mike Double and Dr passive acoustic technology that detects their team get within about 50 kilometres of the Elanor Bell, said krill swarms can be deep or low frequency calls,” Dr Bell said. vocalising whales, multiple sonobuoys can be shallow, dense or diffuse. deployed to triangulate their precise location.

35 2018 “Once we find whales we’ll study their However little is known about how these distribution and behaviour in the presence Once whales are located within the survey

ISSUE different swarm types are distributed across and absence of krill. We’ll also look at the area, the team will count and photograph the the Southern Ocean and whether some are characteristics of krill swarms in the presence whales and use video tracking technology to more attractive to whales than others. and absence of whales.” record movements, swimming speeds, and “Previous research suggests that large, dense Biogeochemists on the voyage will test blow and diving intervals. These recordings swarms may be targeted by fast-moving blue whether there is more iron in aggregations of can then be used to compare whale activity in and fin whales that engulf their food, while feeding whales than in areas containing only areas with and without krill. smaller, deeper krill swarms may be suited to krill, or neither species. more manoeuvrable whales, like humpbacks They will also investigate whether the iron and minkes,” Dr Double said. in whale poo stimulates phytoplankton and “Understanding which swarms are favoured by bacteria growth in the local area, and if this which whales will inform the development of has broader effects on the ecosystem. 2. Dr Brian Miller will deploy sonobuoys AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN ecosystem management tools for whales and (pictured) to pick up blue whale vocalisations

14 the expanding krill fishery.” from hundreds of kilometres away. (Photo: David Donnelly)

3 bacterial growth. dissolved organiccarbon,whichcan stimulate faeces isalsorichinothernutrients, suchas and excretingthemetalintheirfaeces. Whale ocean withiron,afterconsumingiron-richkrill One theoryisthatwhalescanfertilisethe growth, comparedtoothernutrients. means there’s notverymuch ofitavailablefor However itisa‘limiting’nutrient,which phytoplankton growthintheSouthernOcean. Iron isanessentialtracemetalfor the biogeochemists’ironstudies.” samples awayfromwhalesandtheship,for faeces insurfacewater, aswell ascleanwater “We’ll alsotrytousethedronecollect contaminants. as exhaledmicrobesandenvironmental which willcontainthewhale’s DNA,aswell the mucusinablowwhenwhaleexhales, “But wehopetohaveasystemcollect Dr Williamssaid. don’t knowwhatwe’llbeabletoachieve,” “This isreallynewtechnologyandwe any faecesinthesurfacewater. potentially collectsamplesoftheirblowsand rotor dronestophotographthewhales, and also aimstodeployfixed-wingandmulti- Institute forMarineandAntarcticStudies, A teamledbyDrGuyWilliams, fromthe species, biomassandsize,”DrDoublesaid. trawls forkrillwillprovideinformationonthe dimensional structureofthekrill,whiletarget “Multibeam mappingwillgiveusthethree- about theirshape,sizeanddensity. in thewatercolumn,providinginformation environment, whichreflectofforganisms instruments sendpingsofsoundoutinthe whale aggregationsandelsewhere.These size anddensityofanyswarmswithin to lookforkrillandcharacterisethe multibeam echosounderswillbeused Throughout thevoyage,ship’s bioavailable,” DrWestwood said. time, astheironpotentiallybecomes more communities inthepatchchange over and whetherprimaryproductionor bacterial sampling willtellhowfasttheiron sinks, water containingthefaecesandrepeated “The markerbuoywillfloatwiththebodyof sample thepatcheachdayoverfivedays. buoy intoasuitable‘poopatch’andreturnto Finally, theteamaimto deployamarker contributes totheformationofclouds. (DMS) -agasproducedbyphytoplanktonthat and theproductionofdimethylsulphide changes inbacteria-drivennutrientcycling, Water sampleswill alsobemeasuredfor feed onveryefficiently,” Dr Westwood said. you getalotoflargediatoms, whichkrillcan “Generally whenthere’s alotofironaround, will beassessedbyDNAsequencing. species composition,whilemicrobialdiversity be examinedunderthemicroscopetolookat bacteria overtime.Phytoplanktonsampleswill of phytoplankton(primaryproduction)and whether thereisanincreaseinthegrowth incubated intheship’s laboratoriestosee Samples fromthesecollectionareaswillbe whales only, krillonly, andneitherspecies. different depths, inareaswithwhalesandkrill, concentrations inwatercollectedfrom To dothistheteamwillmeasureiron that affectclimate.” production ofgasesbymarinemicrobes “We’ll alsolookatitseffectonthe community,” DrWestwood said. production andcompositionofthe locally, andwhetheritchangesthe faeces onphytoplanktonandbacteria “We’ll aimtoassesstheeffectofwhale first in-fieldexperimentstotestthistheory. University ofTechnology, willconductthe and DrBonnieLaverockfromAuckland Ratnarajah fromtheUniversityofLiverpool, Dr Karen Westwood, alongwithDrLavenia Australian AntarcticDivisionbiogeochemist, 5. 4. 3. National Facility. time onRV This research issupportedbyagrant ofsea Australian AntarcticDivision WENDY PYPER the day, whodoesn’tlikeagoodpoostory. than thesumofitsparts.Andatend ecosystem thatwill,asaresult,begreater an understandingoftheSouthernOcean their expertiseandtechnologiestobuild different scientificdisciplinestocombine It’s anexcitingopportunityforthreevery Melinda Rekdahl) blue whales(pictured) thanothers.(Photo: swarm typesaremore attractivetoAntarctic the SouthernOceanandwhethersome dense ordispersed)aredistributedacross Antarctic krillswarms(shallow ordeep, Scientists aimtounderstandhow different the SouthernOcean.(Photo:StacyDeppeler) phytoplankton andbacterialcommunitiesin other nutrientsinwhalefaecesonthe team willlookattheeffectofironand Dr Karen Westwood andherbiogeochemistry National Facility) Ocean biogeochemistry. (Photo:Marine blue whales, Antarctic krillandSouthern Facility’s RVInvestigator studyingAntarctic spend 49daysaboardtheMarineNational An internationalteamofscientistswill Investigator from theCSIROMarine

5 4

15 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE 1 Antarctic krills’ secret weapon against ocean acidification

Adult Antarctic krill have a “The krill were able to maintain the pH of their haemolymph and this may be the key to their secret weapon for survival successful survival, maturity and growth in a

in a high carbon dioxide future high CO2 world,” Ms Ericson said. world, according to research* “In contrast, eggs and embryos have published in Communications no capacity to regulate the pH of their extracellular fluid, so they are totally at the Biology in November. mercy of their environment.” Ms Ericson cautioned that the ability for krill Australian Antarctic Program scientists have to maintain their haemolymph pH beyond found adult krill have special ion pumps in one year and into their spawning season is their gills that allow them to maintain the pH currently unknown. of their body fluid (blood-like ‘haemolymph’) Her experiments also provided a constant under a wide range of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. food supply, rather than the regionally and seasonally variable food supply experienced PhD student Jessica Ericson, working with krill by wild krill, which may have enabled the biologists Dr So Kawaguchi, of the Australian experimental krill to maintain their normal 2 Antarctic Division, and Dr Patti Virtue of the physiology. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, made the discovery after exposing adult krill While her research offers hope that this to acidified seawater for one year. critical Southern Ocean species will endure in the face of climate change, Ms Ericson said SCIENCE “Oceans around the world are becoming more the overall resilience of Antarctic krill will acidic as they absorb increasing amounts of depend on long-term effects occurring at all CO from the atmosphere,” Ms Ericson said. 2 life history stages, and how krill respond to “Our research suggests adult Antarctic krill ocean acidification in combination with other are resilient to this increasing ocean acidity changes such as ocean warming. 35 2018 and may not be affected by the predicted CO 2 Previous research at the Australian Antarctic levels for the next 100 to 300 years.”

ISSUE Division has shown that krill egg hatch rates Ocean acidification has been proven to have and embryonic development were impaired as negative effects on some marine organisms, ocean acidity increased (Australian Antarctic reducing their ability to form shells, decreasing Magazine 25: 4-5, 2013). or delaying growth and reproduction, and 1. PhD student Jessica Ericson found that adult causing abnormalities in offspring. WENDY PYPER krill can survive, grow and reach sexual However Ms Ericson found that adult krill Australian Antarctic Division maturity when exposed to near-future ocean were able to survive, grow and reach sexual acidification, due to ion pumps in their gills *Australian Antarctic Science Project 4037 maturity when exposed to predicted near- that allow them to maintain the pH of their body fluid. (Photo: Wendy Pyper) future CO2 levels. This research was a collaboration between the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO, Institute for 2. Jessica Ericson worked with Australian

AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN Marine and Antarctic Studies, Aker Biomarine and Antarctic Division krill biologist Dr So Griffith University through an ARC Linkage grant 16 Kawaguchi at the Division’s unique krill LP140100412. facility. (Photo: Wendy Pyper)

1 is carbondioxide(CO While themajorityofgreenhousegasemitted harmful gases. detergents’ cleansetheairof to whichnatural ‘atmospheric summer toreveal theextent Antarctic icesheetthis scientists willdrillintothe An internationalteamof Seeking moleculesthatscrubthesky air bubblestrappedinside. molecules withanunpairedelectron) fromthe atmospheric levelsofhydroxylradicals (OH of 250metres, tomeasurepre-industrial The researchteamwilldrillicecores todepths the atmosphere. processes thatremovethese‘other’gasesfrom States, seekstounderstand thenatural the UniversityofRochesterinUnited Dr DavidEtheridge*andVas Petrenko from Antarctica, ledbyCSIROatmosphericphysicist This season’s expedition to LawDomeinEast climate changeandozonedepletion. 40 othergasesthatcontributesignificantlyto 2 ), therearemorethan laboratory atLawDomeforthree months. Casey researchstationandsetup a temporary will traversemorethan100 kilometres from To findout,scientistsandasupportteam questions.” atmosphere iskeytoansweringthese “Knowing howhydroxylvariesinthe warming willtheycause?” will theydototheozonelayer?Howmuch that remainintheatmosphere?Whatdamage greenhouse gasesorozonedepleting scenario, whatwillbetheamountof “For example,underacertainemissions Etheridge said. all greenhousegasesintothefuture,”Dr are tomoreaccuratelypredictthelevelsof fundamental toourclimatemodels, ifthey are removednaturallybyhydroxylis “Understanding howmuchofthesepollutants deplete ozone. like methane,andindustrialchemicalsthat by chemicallydestroyinggreenhousegases reactive oxidant,whichactsasan‘airpurifier’ Hydroxyl isanaturallyoccurring,highly Etheridge said. on toformcarbon-14monoxide( 1. of theisotopecarbon-14( atmosphere andproducingsmallamounts “Cosmic raysareconstantlybombardingthe that’s beentagged bycosmicrays. with hydroxyl,likecarbonmonoxide(CO) molecules controlledbythechemicalreaction Instead, theresearchersareseekingtracer less thanasecond. directly, becausetheyare soreactiveeachlasts that hydroxylradicalscannotbesampled The keychallengefortheteam,however, is Etheridge said. and preservesitatdepthforcenturies,” Dr its enormousrateofsnowfalltrapsairquickly get trappedoldairforthisproject,because “Law Domeisthebestplaceonplanetto processed andanalysedinthefieldlaboratory. Operations willextracticecorestobe the UnitedStatesIceDrillingDesignand Three drillsrunbycollaboratorsfrom (Photo: GordonTait) drill atLawDomeduring aprojectin2015. Dr Etheridgeextracts acorefromtheice 14 C) thatgoes 14 CO),” Dr

17 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE 18 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 SCIENCE of snowandcanalterthe in air, theyalsopenetratetheupperlayers unwanted additional because thisshieldingminimizesany and rapidburialatLawDomeareimportant snow-pack. Thisiswherethehighsnowfall of allthe enough materialtoanalyse.Thetotalmass Another challengefortheprojectiscollecting contamination processwillstop. This willbecollectedincanisterswherethe of kilogramsicetoyieldafewlitresair. the surface.Eachsamplewillmelthundreds from theicecoresassoontheyarriveat To getaroundthis, theteamwillextractair Dr Etheridgesaid. the processofcontaminationstarts,” is onceagainexposedtocosmicrays, and “Once theiceisbroughttosurface,it the UnitedStates. Sydney, afterinitialanalysisandpreparationin Science andTechnology Organisationin mass spectrometerattheAustralianNuclear sample willbemeasuredbyanaccelerator contain avanishinglysmallamountofthe to aboutonekilogram.Eachairsamplewill The amountofthe sand grainonabeach,”DrEtheridgesaid. miniscule it’s liketrying to spotoneparticular “The concentrationswe’relookingforareso While cosmicrayscreateauseful tell usaboutthehydroxyllevels.” amount thatremainsintheatmospherewill a fewpartsperhundredmilliontrillion(10 14 “This CO tracermolecules, inthe concentrationof 14

2 CO isremovedbyhydroxylsothe 14 CO intheatmosphereamounts 14 C isotopesofCOineach 14 CO production. 14 CO levelsinthe 14 CO tracer 20 ). *Australian Antarctic ScienceProject 4425 Australian AntarcticDivision MARK HORSTMAN future. into howtheatmospherewillchangein climate models, andproviding deeperinsights to improvingthepredictivepowersofglobal These tinypiecesofthepuzzlewillbecrucial atmosphere,” DrEtheridgesaid. simulate thechemistryandphysicsof to providedataforearthsystemsmodelsthat have changedoverthatperiod,wecanstart in thetracerthattellsushowhydroxyllevels the past150years, andquantifiedthetrend “Once we’vemeasuredthesesamplesacross

3 3. 2. Australian Antarctic Division. the USNationalScienceFoundation,and Rochester, ScrippsInstitutionofOceanography, Organisation (ANSTO), theUniversity of the Australian NuclearScienceTechnology and atmosphericscientistsfrom CSIRO, collaborative project involvingglaciologists The LawDomeexpeditionisaUS-Australian Basin Northin2013. (Photo:Tas vanOmmen) Dr Etheridgeinside thedrillingtentatAurora depleting gases.(Photo:Tony Fleming) purifier’ byremoving greenhouseandozone- atmosphere, whichactasanatural‘air the variabilityofhydroxylradicalsin three monthsatLawDomeinvestigating This seasonDavidEtheridgewillspend

1 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 repeated for200years. a yearofnormalclimate,andthiswas the modelwerechosensothatitrepresented wind, heatlossandseaiceformation)for Shelf. Theatmospheric‘forcings’(factorslike continental shelfandbelowtheTotten Ice to simulatehowwarmwaterflowsontothe To dothisanoceanmodelwasconfigured Totten IceShelf. and whymeltingwasvaryingbeneaththe Magazine 21: 14-15,2011) topickaparthow (previously describedinAustralian Antarctic University ofTexas, usedcomputersimulations Australian AntarcticDivision*,CSIRO, and In anewstudyIandmyco-authorsfromthe it isthinningandbeginningtoretreat. level rise.Previousstudieshavesuggestedthat back atleastthreemetresofpotentialsea for climatechangeinEastAntarctica,holding is thoughttobethe‘canaryincoalmine’ The Totten Glacier, nearCaseyresearchstation, Nature Communications. research recently publishedin natural variability, according to Glacier isstrongly influencedby Melting beneaththeTotten driven bynaturalvariability Melting beneathTotten Glacier ° ° ° ° ° ° ° 105 S S S S S S S a ° 110 E ° 115 E ° 120 E ° 125 E ° E 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

phenomena likeENSOorclimatechange. as theforcedresponseduetoatmospheric the internalresponseofsystem,aswell ice shelfandglacierchangeshouldconsider Any futuresatelliteorfieldobservationsof response intheoceansystem. there isthepossibilitythattheyareanatural period. Ratherthanbeingaresultofclimate, in interpretingchangesobservedoverashort Our findingindicatesthatcautionisneeded climate change. are oftenprescribedasbeingaresultof Antarctic iceshelves, whereshort-termtrends detection andattributionofchangein This findingisespeciallyimportantforthe (see graphic). as largethefullclimate-forcedresponse melting duetointrinsicvariabilityarealmost 1949–2007. We foundthatthechangesin model runwiththefullclimaticforcingfrom ocean-variability-only model,toanother We comparedtheimpactofthisintrinsic and seasurfacetemperatures). Oscillation (aperiodicvariationinwinds forcings suchastheElNiño–Southern variability, separatefromexternalclimate producing long-terminternalor‘intrinsic’ This demonstratesthattheoceanis atmospheric data. we didnotforcethemodelwithmulti-year slowly overmulti-yearperiods, eventhough annually, butalsofluctuatedrandomlyand beneath theiceshelfdidnotjustvary We weresurprisedtofindthatmelting melt rate (m/yr) 4.5 5.5 6.5 4 5 6 b 9015 9016 9017 9018 9019 002005 2000 1995 1990 1985 1980 1975 1970 1965 1960 1955 1950 Area-averaged meltrate 1. *Australian Antarctic ScienceProject 4287 Studies, UniversityofTasmania Institute forMarineandAntarctic DAVID GWYTHER remote environmentsisasgoodpossible. so thatthedatawebringbackfromthese feed theseresultsbackintofieldcampaigns can’t yetwithobservations.Butweneedto cryospheric processesinawaythatyou the long-termimpactofmanydifferent Numerical modelsallowustoexamine natural, intrinsicvariability. changes willbedetectableaboveany 33, 12-13,2017) becauseanylong-term observations (Australian Antarctic Magazine: These locationswouldbeusefulforon-ice susceptible tonatural,intrinsicvariability. regions oftheTotten IceShelfthatareless Results fromthisstudyalsopredict 2018 doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05618-2) (Graphic: NatureCommuncations 9(1),3141, due tothefullclimate forcing(orangeline). processes (blueline)iscomparableto that Ice Shelf,duetonatural,intrinsicocean the changeinmeltingbeneathTotten Dr Gwytherandcolleaguesfoundthat COREv2 forced COREv1 forced

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SCIENCE 1 the pitchblackforlongperiodsoftime. operating reliablyunderextremepressurein from thesideofaboat,andwouldcontinue “We neededsomethingthatcouldbethrown be extremelydurable,”DrWelsford said. longlines intheSouthernOcean,soitneedsto electronics isdesignedtoattachtoothfish “The housingthatprotectsthecameraand (CCAMLR). of AntarcticMarineLivingResources Ocean –theCommissionforConservation international bodymanagingtheSouthern capturing importantdatathatinformsthe Dr DirkWelsford, saidthecamerasare Australian AntarcticDivisionfisheriesscientist fishing bytheAustralianAntarcticDivision. system developedforcommerciallong-line was discoveredusinganunderwatercamera been filmedbeforeintheGulfofMexico, The unusualcreature,whichhasonlyever Island andtheMcDonaldIslands. in deepSouthernOceanwatersoffHeard a ‘headlesschickenmonster’,hasbeenfilmed 1. cucumber, Enypniastes eximia For thefirsttime,aswimmingsea conservation. Ocean, tohelpimprove marine unseen speciesintheSouthern shining alightonpreviously Australian researchers is technology developedby New underwatercamera assistsconservation ‘Cucumber-cam’ predators tosee.(Photo: NOAA) deep ocean,makes itdifficultfor purple-red colourwhich, inthe Enypniastes eximiaisadeep The swimmingseacucumber , also knownas 2. (Photo: JessicaFitzpatrick) ready tobedeployed onlonglines. Two of thedeep-seacameras surface, offHeardIsland,wasasurprise. cucumber, about1600metresbelowthe Dr Welsford saidthediscoveryofsea should beavoided.” of fishingoccurs, andthesensitiveareasthat organisms ontheseafloorwherethistype information aboutthehabitatsand “Most importantly, thecamerasareproviding the world. species wehaveneverseeninthispartof from thecamerasisbreathtaking,including “Some ofthefootagewearegettingback

2 Australian AntarcticDivision DAVID REILLY andNISHAHARRIS in HobartOctober. presented attheannualCCAMLRmeeting The datacollectedfromthecameraswere fishing practices,” Dr Welsford said. directly contributingtoimprovingsustainable “It’s asimpleandpracticalsolutionthatis headquarters inTasmania. fabricated attheAntarcticDivision’s strengthened cameradevices, whichare Kingdom arealsousingthesuper- such asChile,France,andtheUnited Dr Welsford saidotherCCAMLRnations, it’s aboutthesizeofabasketball.” looks abitlikechicken,it’s gotwingsand it the‘headlesschickenmonster’because “Scientists intheUnitedStateschristened and itswims. but thisoneisinterestingbecauseithasfins “Sea cucumberstypicallyrestontheseafloor, 1 4

Mawson research station Medical Officer, Dr Helen Cooley, and expeditioner Nate Payne, test a virtual reality headset for the Virtual Space Station program. (Photo: Nick Cullen)

Antarctic virtual reality trial to assist astronauts Virtual Reality forests, beaches “Expeditioners at our Antarctic stations Astronaut, physician and Professor at are isolated in a confined and extreme Dartmouth College, Jay C. Buckey Jr., said and cities are being trialled with environment for up to nine months of the evidence suggested that the immersive nature expeditioners at Australia’s year, which is one of the longest confinements of virtual reality could improve mental health. on earth,” he said. Antarctic stations to inform “Virtual reality allows you to immerse people VIRTUAL REALITY VIRTUAL the development of programs “This virtual reality research at Davis and in different natural settings, so they can be Mawson stations, will help us understand in the Bavarian Alps, or they can be on a supporting astronauts on long- whether a self-help tool can assist with beach in Australia, and there’s evidence that duration space flights – like a training and support for the well-being and exposure to nature, which we all like and seek mission to Mars. behavioural health of individuals and teams out, can be restorative and help to relieve in such environments.” stress. It can also help perhaps improve 35 2018 people’s attention and mental functioning,” Expeditioners have the choice of virtual The trial is a collaboration between the Professor Buckey Jr said. ISSUE reality Australian beaches, European nature Australian Antarctic Division’s Polar Medicine scenes or North American natural and urban “There aren’t that many people who live Unit and Human Resources team, and the environments – the polar opposite to the in challenging, isolated, and confined Giesel School of Medicine at Dartmouth whiteness and silence of Antarctica. environments, so the information we get from College in the United States, to understand Antarctica will be so valuable because it will how virtual reality can help with mental health Other program modules, which are tell us how people in this kind of environment and well-being in isolated environments. self-directed and available on station, would use a tool like this.” explore conflict management, stress and Australian Antarctic Division Chief Medical mood, to optimise expeditioner and team Watch the video at http://www.antarctica.gov. Officer, Dr Jeff Ayton, said wintering in performance. The modules build on existing au/news/2018/virtual-space-station Antarctica is analogous to a long-term pre-departure training and support from space mission. the station community, the station doctor CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN and experts in Australia.

Australian Antarctic Division 21 22 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 HISTORY

1 meteorological instrumentsaloftin 1907. Edgeworth David’s useofboxkitestocarry a tetheredhydrogenballoonin1902, and included RobertFalconScott’s ascentin Antarctic experimentswithairborne craft air extremelyappealing.Someoftheearliest the prospectofsurveyingcontinentby difficulties ofoverlandtraversehavemade exploration, thevastdistancesand Since theearliestdaysofAntarctic November 1928. George HubertWilkins,on16 by Australian adventurer Sir powered flightoverAntarctica anniversary ofthefirst This yearmarksthe90 skies Antarctic up the Opening th th Vega 1. Antarctica inNovember1928,a Lockheed of makingthefirstpoweredflight over Hubert Wilkins, whowouldclaimthehonour another Australianadventurer, SirGeorge went intohiatusforalmost15years.Itwas of theGreatWar in1914, Antarcticaviation After Mawson’s setback, andwiththearrival as apropeller-drivensled. the airframesouth,whereitwasrepurposed opportunity, Mawsonshipped theremnantsof and reluctanttogiveuponthepublicity Adelaide justbeforedeparture.Undeterred, a fund-raisingdemonstrationflightover Mawson’s flyingmachine crashedduring technology atthetime,butunfortunately horsepower motor. Thiswasstate-of-the-art air cockpit,spokedwheelsandatiny60 wire andfabriccontraptionwithanopen- Mawson selectedaVickersREPmonoplane, was high. appetite fordaringpolaradventurestories traverses totheSouthPole, andthepublic Amundsen wouldmaketheirfamousoverland fanfare. ThiswasthesameyearthatScottand explore thefrozencontinentbyair, withgreat at Kittyhawk,Mawsonannouncedhisplanto years aftertheWrightBrothers’famousflight Antarctic Expeditionin1911. Amereeight aerial surveying,aspartoftheAustralasian the potentialoffixed-wingaviationfor Australia’s SirDouglasMawsonconsidered 1. essential elementofAntarcticexpeditions. exploration. Themodernaircraftwasnowan to civilisationheraldedanewdawnforpolar traverse bydogsled.Theirtriumphantreturn an areathatwouldhavetakenmonthsto one 11 hourjourney, thetwomensurveyed land wasbeingdiscoveredfromtheair”. In to notethat“Forthefirsttimeinhistory, new photographs andmakingsketches, exhilarated Peninsula. Wilkinsrecordedallhesaw, taking over 2100 kilometresacrosstheAntarctic weather. OnDecember20,1928,theyflew the nextfewmonths, ofteninatrocious Wilkins andEielsonmademanyflightsover around theislandandintohistorybooks. Shetlands, the20minuteflighttookthem rough airstripatDeceptionIslandintheSouth on theAntarcticPeninsula. Taking offfroma adventurers settheirsightsonGrahamLand magnate, WilliamRandolphHearst,thetwo With fundingfromtheAmericanpublishing pilot CarlBenEielsoninaLockheedVega 1. flight acrosstheArcticwithformerUSArmy April thatyear, whenhemadethefirst Wilkins hadmadeanameforhimselfin First poweredflight Harbour. (Photo:John Hunter) was abandonedon theshoresofBoat smashed andtheengine failed.Theframe On itssecondoutingthepropellerwas into anairtractorbyFrancisBickerton. with itswingsremoved andconverted Douglas Mawson’s Vickersmonoplane, prosecution ofthegeographicalprogramme.” proved amostimportantfactorinthe 1932, Mawsondeclaredthat“theaeroplane beyond EnderbyLand.Inapaperpublishedin Antarctic Territory, fromtheRossSeato of whatwouldlaterbecometheAustralian mapped alargestretchalongthecoastline through thepackice.Theysuccessfully Discovery onoccasions, toidentifyroutes Stuart Campbell,flewtheaircraftaheadof Mawson andhisfellowexpeditionpilot, Magazine 22:13-15,2012). claim tonewterritory(Australian Antarctic goals ofcollectingscientificdataandlaying proved usefulinachievingtheexpedition’s on acable.Thefloat-mountedbiplanequickly deploying theaircraftoversidesuspended Gipsy MothaboardtheshipDiscovery, Expedition (BANZARE). HetookaDeHavilland and NewZealandAntarcticResearch again in1929aspartoftheBritish,Australian ambitions, SirDouglasMawsonvoyagedsouth still determinedtorealisehisownaviation Witnessing thesuccessofWilkins, and

2 3. 2. programme”. (Photo:FrankHurley) the prosecutionof the geographical “proved amostimportantfactorin during BANZARE(1929).Theaircraft Gipsy Mothover thesideofDiscovery Campbell swingtheDeHavilland Eric Douglas(left)andStuart Law. (Photo:PhillipLaw) station in1954,flown byPhillip to establishMawsonresearch the KistaDanduringvoyage An AusterMkVIonskisbeside visit inarockcairnateachsite. Australian flaganddepositedarecordofthe extent oftheVestfold Hills.Heflewthe to thesouth-westernandnorth-eastern point, landingattheRauerIslands, thenon responded byflyingtothenorthernmost over territoryclaimedbyMawson,Wilkins Resolving toreassertAustraliansovereignty that hadpreviouslybeenclaimedbutnotseen. story atsea,announcingplanstomapland Wilkins recallsthatEllsworthchangedhis Antarctica onbehalfofhishomecountry. that hehadnointentionofclaiminglandin departure, EllsworthhadassuredWilkins all metalNorthropDelta.Beforetheir aboard theWyattEarpwithasingle-engine, led AntarcticexpeditionsailingfromHobart In 1938,WilkinsjoinedanotherEllsworth- Hollick-Kenyon. the continentwithfellowAmerican,Herbert later madethefirstsuccessfulflightacross Gamma, withWilkinsasthepilot.Ellsworth the firsttrans-Antarcticflight,inaNorthrop three unsuccessfulattemptsin1933tomake York millionaire,LincolnEllsworth,whomade new generationofexplorerswastheNew of adventure-seekingaviators.Amongthis were justtwomenamongacolourfulcast By themid-1930s, MawsonandWilkins Adventurous aviators Lincoln bomber. the islandusinganAustralian-builtRAAF boat in1948,andasuccessfulairdropto Macquarie IslandstationinaCatalinaflying first directflighttothenewly-established capability. Progresswasapparentinthe refine andimproveitsAntarcticaviation experimentation thathelpedAustralia mixed success, itwasaperiodofproductive Although thisandotherexpeditionshad and wreckedonabeachatAtlasCove. was rippedfromitstie-downsinablizzard made onlyonesuccessfulflightbeforeit Heard Islandin1947.However, theaircraft flying boattoestablishaweatherstationat included theuseofaSupermarineWalrus around thesub-Antarcticislands.This Expeditions (ANARE),particularlyinand Australian NationalAntarcticResearch aircraft wereputintoservicebythe surplus RoyalAustralianAirForce(RAAF) During thepost-waryears, avarietyof reliable underpolarconditions. instruments, andwouldprovemuchmore with sophisticatedradioandnavigation and morepowerfulaircraftwereequipped Antarctic aviation.Thesebigger, sturdier wartime wouldbringaboutanewerain technological advancementsmadeduring Antarctic aviatorsonhold,theenormous World War placedtheambitionsof Although thearrivalofSecond

3

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4 Charles Mountains. mountains inEnderbyLandandthe Prince and Davisstations, andinthediscovery ofthe to establishthefirstairlinkbetweenMawson research station.TheBeaverwasalsoused out surveysnearwhatlaterbecameCasey Beaver andanAusterwereusedtocarry Antarctic Territory. In1956,adeHavilland large-scale reconnaissanceovertheAustralian so didtheuseofski-equippedaircraftfor As ANARE’s activitieson thecontinentgrew, and surroundingarea. used forlocatingandsurveyingtheharbour Auster MarkVI,flownbyDrPhillipLaw, was Mawson stationin1954.AdeHavilland support wasobtained,Australiaestablished suitable ice-strengthenedshipandlogistic base inAntarcticawasrequired.Oncea Antarctic program.Apermanentcontinental needs andambitionsoftheAustralian based aviationcouldnolongerservethe By theearly1950sitwasclearthatship- flight Continental 4.

5 Antarctic Program.(Photo:MadiGambleRosevear) Twin OttersandAS350helicoptersareakeypartoftoday’s modernAustralian depressurisation and jammednosegear. failures, includingradarmalfunction,cabin a seriesofpotentiallycatastrophic technical The flightwasplaguedbybadweather and recalled thatithadalmostendedin disaster. was amongthepassengerson flight, landed atByrdStation.DrPhillipLaw, who after 16hoursandover7000 kilometres, mail andnewspapersattheSouthPole and, from Melbourne,undertookanairdropof four-engine heavytransportaircraftflew United StatesNavyC-130Hercules.The from AustraliatoAntarcticabyaski-equipped changed in1964,withthefirstdirectflight The relianceonshipstoaccessthecontinent as flying. Antarctica couldbeashazardoustoanaircraft and provedthatbeingonthegroundin regular inter-stationflyingforoveradecade, slope ofacoastalicecliff.Thisshutdown nearly 20kilometresandfinisheduponthe in afourdayblizzard.Theaircraftwasblown a yearofitsarrival,theDC3wasdestroyed Douglas DC3atMawsonin1959–60.Within They werejoinedbyotheraircraft,includinga exploration anddiscoverywellintothe1960s. hundreds ofthousandssquarekilometres These toughandreliableworkhorsescovered Over timetwomoreBeaversjoinedthefleet. serve inAntarctica. became thefirstfemaleaircrew member to In 1995,helicopterengineerVanessa Noble earlier whentheDouglasDC3was destroyed. continental stationsthatwaslost 30 years which reopenedthedirectairlinkbetween introduction oftheSikorskyS76helicopters, point cameinthemid-ninetieswith Otter inthelateeighties.Asignificantturning in theseventiestodeHavillandTwin of fixedwingaircraft,fromthePilatus Porter intra-continental aviation,alongsideanarray Helicopters wereincreasinglyimportantin technology andoperatingprocedures. steady improvementsinAustralia’s aviation From the1970s therewerecontinuousand cooperation inAntarcticatoday. of internationalscientificandlogistics pro quoarrangements, remainalynchpin cooperative agreements, alongsideotherquid intercontinental airoperations.Thesefriendly other countriestoleveragefromexisting number ofcooperativeagreementswith In followingyears, Australiaentereda for rapidlogisticalsupportinAntarctica. that intercontinentalairtransportprovided had demonstratedthenewpossibilities Despite thehitches, thispioneeringflight the continentusingA319. and efficienttransportofpeople and cargoto opening upnewpossibilitiesforrapid, flexible Division’s scienceandlogisticscapability, has transformedtheAustralianAntarctic short operatingwindow, Wilkins Aerodrome due tosurfacemelting.Evenwithitsrelatively each year, butclosesat theheightofsummer runway operatesbetweenOctoberandMarch over 40yearsbefore.Today, itsblueice brought tofruitionaconceptfirstmooted Antarctic aviationpioneer, WilkinsAerodrome Named inhonourofAustralia’s legendary (Australian Antarctic Magazine14:23,2008). official passengerflightthefollowingyear an AirbusA319 LRin2006–07, andthefirst first demonstrationflightstotherunwayin aerodrome beganintheearly2000s, withthe a blueicerunwaynearCasey. Work onthe Antarctic Divisiondevelopedaproposalfor was notresumed.In1999theAustralian prevented itfromgoingahead,andtheproject season. Poor weatherandheavysnowfalls planned RAAFHerculestrialflightlatethat the 1989–90summer, inpreparationfora compacted runwaywasconstructedduring station onatleastthreeoccasions.Atrial intercontinental runwaytoCaseyresearch investigated thepossibilityofestablishingan from AustraliatoAntarctica,ANARE In thedecadesafterfirstdirectflight aerodrome Antarctic the AustralianArmy’s 176 airdrops ofsuppliesandparts(preparedby possible. Thisincludesrecentoutofseason is continuingtoexpandthelimitsofwhat’s research andresupplyoperations, aviation While shippingremainscentraltoAustralian Antarctic Magazine30:24-25,2016). land andaerialdeliverymissions(Australian and time-criticalcargohasbeenusedforboth III aircraft.Thisairlogisticsupportforoversize program offlightsusingaC-17AGlobemaster RAAF heavy-liftcapabilityprovidingaregular through OperationSouthernDiscovery, with supported theAustralianAntarcticDivision Since 2016, theAustralianDefenceForcehas Expanding possibilities round pavedrunwaynearDavisresearch intention toconstructAntarctica’s firstyear- with theannouncementofGovernment’s Antarctica. Thiswasfollowedinearly 2018 round aviationaccessbetweenHobart and investigation ofoptionstodeliver year- Australian Governmentfundedthe Strategy and20Year ActionPlan,the In 2016, throughtheAustralian Antarctic Antarctic Magazine33:7,2017). southbound legofthejourney(Australian KC-30A MultiRoleTanker Transport onthe Davis, itneededanair-to-air refuelfroma the rangetomakeairdropmission stations, bytheC-17A.To givetheaircraft Squadron) toCaseyandDavisresearch th AirDispatch Australian AntarcticDivision DAVID REILLY and Lawcouldscarcelyhavedreamedof. aviation thatpioneerslikeWilkins, Mawson forecasting haveledtoimprovementsin in manufacturing,navigationandweather program ofvitalscientificresearch.Advances logistics system,supportingayear-round an integratedandhigh-techtransport Island on16November1928,hasbecome and bumpy20minuteflightoverDeception over Antarctica.Whatbeganwithacold the progressmadeinopeningupskies historic firstflight,itistimelytoreflecton As wemark90yearssinceSirHubertWilkins’ intercontinental runwayonEarth. six hours, itwouldbethemostremote from Hobart,andwithaflighttimeofaround throughout theyear. Almost5000kilometres East Antarcticathatremainslargelyice-free Vestfold Hills, oneofahandfulareasin identified alocationfortherunwayin A teamofgeotechnicalengineershas the climatewarms runways, whichareexpectedtoincreaseas seasonal limitationsassociatedwithice to emergencies.Itwillalsoovercomethe capacity, particularlyourabilitytorespond scientific research,andouroperational Australia’s abilitytoconductworld-class The projectwillbeanotherstepchangein station, subjecttoenvironmentalapprovals. An OccasionalSeries No.3,1991. Experience. RoyalAirForceMuseum. David Wilson,Alresco Flight.TheRAAFAntarctic Information forthisarticlewassourced from: 5. since 2016. (Photo:JustinHallock) through OperationSouthernDiscovery supporting theAntarcticDivision to fitintheA319. TheRAAFhasbeen priority, outsizecargothat’s toobig Antarctic Divisiontomove high The RAAFC17-Aallows theAustralian

25 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 HISTORY 26 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 VALE 2. 1. ground…I wentover…and putabitofitunder metres awayIsaw apileoffragments onthe one ofthelakes,andthenabout10-15 “We were wanderingaround theedgesof was glaciated34millionyearsago(Ma). found, whicharedatedafterthecontinent Antarctica wherefossilvertebrateshavebeen Australia’s Davisstation.Itistheonlysitein at MarinePlainintheVestfold Hillsnear of fossilwhaleanddolphinbonesin1984, of hiscareerhighlightswasdiscovery In interviews, ProfessorQuiltysaidthatone research papers. 1999 andpublishedmorethan200scientific Division’s scienceprogrambetween1980and Professor QuiltyledtheAustralianAntarctic University ofTasmania in1969. Wisconsin. HereceivedhisPhDfromthe field palaeontologistwiththeUniversityof Quilty firstvisitedAntarcticain1965asa University ofWestern Australia,Professor of Science(Honours)degreefromthe After graduatingin1962withaBachelor science community. in theinternationalAntarctic 26 August,playedaleadingrole AM, whopassedawayon Professor Patrick (Pat) Quilty Division ChiefScientist, Former Australian Antarctic

1 (Photo: D.Adamason) an AntarcticSpecially ProtectedArea. to thedesignation of MarinePlainas and thatofothermarinefossils, led and dolphinbones.Thisdiscovery, 1988, wherehediscovered fossilwhale Professor QuiltyatMarinePlainin scientists. (Photo:GlennJacobson) mentored agenerationofAntarctic intellectual, gentlemanscientist,who Professor Quiltywasahard-working,

and relevancetothepalaeoecological exceptional scientificinterest Plain’s Marine fossils namedafterhim.To recognise international recognitionandhehadfive This discoveryearnedProfessorQuilty more rapidthanpreviouslythought. the presentglacialregimewerelaterand present andsuggestedthatchangestowards warmer atvarioustimesinthepastthan theorised thatAntarcticawasconsiderably (ca. 2.6–5.3Ma)sediments, ProfessorQuilty vertebrates andmicrofossilsinPliocene Through thefossilof discovery first ofthedolphins.“ back toAustralia -anditturnedouttobethe collected itcarefully inbags.Ibrought thislot the large fragments, re-photographed it, the area, photographed it,numbered all interesting. AndsoIwrapped these...sketched piece oflegboneorarib, itwassomething of larger onesthattoldmeitwasn’tjusta “I didn’tknowwhatI’dfound…..Acouple from Antarctica is40millionyears oldormore. old. Theonlyothervertebrate materialknown was vertebrate material,3.5–4millionyears recognised thesignificanceofit,becausehere the handlens….anditwasbone.Iimmediately

2 Quilty Pat loss ofscienceleader communitymourns Antarctic

Australian Antarctic Division CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS geologist fortheirprogram. to recognisehiscontributionasfield party extending overeightmilesinWest Antarctica, named QuiltyNunataks, agroupofnunataks The UnitedStatesAntarcticResearch Program contributions. near Davisstation,inrecognitionofhis named QuiltyBayintheLarsemannHills, The AustralianAntarcticNamesCommittee and thePhillipLawMedal2016. Member oftheOrderAustralia(AM)1997 Alumnus -UniversityofTasmania 1997, of Tasmania Medal 1996,Distinguished Antarctic ServicesMedal1974,RoyalSociety He wastherecipientofUnitedStates science wasrecognisedthroughouthiscareer. Professor Quilty’s significantcontributionto School ofEarthSciences. Professor attheUniversityofTasmania’s In lateryears, hewasHonoraryResearch and researchattheUniversityofTasmania. Division, ProfessorQuiltyundertookteaching After leavingtheAustralianAntarctic Royal SocietyofTasmania in2011. in 2004,andtheMawsonSymposiumfor Australian GeologicalConventioninHobart of Science.ProfessorQuiltyconvenedthe17 New ZealandAssociationfortheAdvancement state andfederalcouncilsoftheAustralian& Society ofAustralia.Healsoservedonboth and FederalSecretaryoftheGeological Association ofAustralasianPalaeontologists, At anationallevel,hewasPresidentofthe Vestfold HillsandMacquarieIsland. Hobart in1988,aswellsymposiaonthe served asChairofthe20 Research (SCAR)from1994–1998.Healso of theScientificCommitteeonAntarctic Antarctic leadership,servingasvice-president Professor Quiltywasactiveininternational (ASPA). site anAntarcticSpecialProtectedArea Antarctic Treaty Committeedesignatedthe palaeoclimatic recordofAntarctica,the th SCAR meetingin

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3. above all;andveryconsciousofopinions. family, includingIrishancestry, andfaith and popularperson,whileprivatelyplacing persona reflectingagregarious, easily engaged I observedanothersideofPat Quilty–apublic gentleman scientist. this hard-working,intellectual, had beenfortunatetoknow He enrichedthelivesofallwho of Antarcticscientists. who mentoredageneration and friendofmanyyears, Pat Quiltywasaclosecolleague scientist gentleman A passionate the Vestfold Hills.(Photo: AAD) (Australodelphis mirus ) atMarinePlainin site ofthefossildolphindiscovery assistant NatalieSchroderatthe Professor Pat Quiltyandresearch

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Australian AntarcticDivision Former HeadofPolar Medicine, DES LUGG had onthosethatmethim. dolphin”. SuchwastheeffectPat’s passion about icebergs, hadbeenspoutingabouthis Pat, whenhehadtimeleftfromtalking stating: “All thewaytoDavisinship and whalefossils, withMurray-Smith devoted toMarinePlainandthedolphin discovered. Sixpagesofthebookare doing moreworkonthefossilshehad visited Pat atMarinePlain,wherehewas Later Murray-Smithandotherjournalists Patrick’s ancestors, andmuchmore.” together –abouttheday, andtheplace, who feeltheyhavedonesomethingdramatic more withaffectionandwarmthofcomrades cabin forawhisky, andwetalkforanhouror “And sotothatshower, andPat Quiltyintothe Smith recallsreturningtotheship... Expedition atCommonwealthBay, Murray- and thesiteofAustralasianAntarctic emotional dayinspectingMawson’s Hut just priortosailing.Aweeklater, afteran Murray-Smith metPat forthefirsttime think isgoingon”. charge to“givemeyourviewsonwhatyou an unpaid‘MinisterialObserver’,withthe the voyagebyMinister, BarryJones, as Stephen Murray-Smith,whowassenton by academic,historianandauthor, thelate The bookwasSittingonPenguins, written that thisassessmentwasunscientific. describing thevoyage.Itwasacknowledged mentions thanhedid,intheindexofabook that onlytheVoyage Leaderreceivedmore researchers, Pat revealedhowchuffedhewas including internationalandnational there weremanydistinguishedpassengers, Antarctica insummer1985–86,onwhich In discussingahighprofilevoyageto prominent inhisoffice. an administrator, withamicroscope always research intereststhroughouthistimeas He alwaysmaintainedhisownactive supported, alldisciplinesofscientificresearch. had agenuineenthusiasmfor, andstrongly Even so,itquicklybecameobviousthatPat contacts withhimwerelimited. University ofMelbourne,somyinitialpersonal section, whereIworked,wasstillbasedatthe Antarctic Divisionin1980theglaciology When Pat QuiltyjoinedtheAustralian Vale Pat Australian AntarcticDivision Former ProgramLeader, IAN ALLISON was lengthierthanmine. a team.Invariablythough,Pat’s commentary 20,000 feetabovetheice,weworkedwellas different aspectsofwhatyoucanseefrom the firsttime.Sincewecoveredsomewhat exuberance ofthoseseeingthecontinentfor continue doingtheseflightsbythedelightand of Antarctica.We werebothinspiredto providing commentaryfortouristoverflights him onthesmallflightdeckofaB747,jointly the last25yearsIspentalotoftimewith disseminator ofAntarcticinformation.Over enthusiastic advocateforscienceanda Pat continuedasanactiveresearcher, an was notaretirementfromscience,and Retirement fromtheAntarcticDivision of bubblytocelebrate. also come.Hedulyarrivedbearingtwobottles when toldwasdelightedandaskedifhecould arrangements, askedwhatitwasabout,and work BBQ.Pat caughtuslaughingaboutthe prize intoliquidrefreshmentsforanafter- “winner-take-all” wedecidedtoturnthe than hispersonalinvolvement.Insteadof about thephilosophyandethicsofscience of hishour-longseminar, Pat spokemore number wasonly26because,inthelasthalf and significantreligiousfigures).Thefinal mention (withdoublepointsforviceroyalty guess howmany“famous”peoplehewould audience ranacompetition($2perentry)to Antarctic Division,asmallgroupinthe seminar hegaveonretirementfromthe good humour. Duringthe“career-summary” this wasalwaysexpressedwithhonestyand of hisownself-worthandstatusinlife.But Pat hadanoverwhelminglypositiveconviction and larger(anddevelopastoryaroundit). opportunity tomoveonsomethingnew about anything.Everyexperiencewasjustan a badturnofeventspersonallyorwasbitter outlook, whateverhappened.Henevertook of life,whichcombinedtogivehimapositive enjoyment andappreciationofthefinerside also hadjoiedevivre, asenseofhumourand to sharehisinterestandknowledge.Pat was anexcellentraconteur, alwaysdelighted Antarctic explorationandscience,he in thehistoryofscience,andespecially his personality. Healsohadakeeninterest Hobart, Igottoknowtheotherfacetsof and especiallyafterglaciologymovedto After spendingtimewithPat onNellaDan,

27 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 VALE Briege Whitehead (second from left) at the premiere of her virtual reality film The Antarctica Experience, with Minister Simone McGurk (left), WA Museum CEO Alec Coles Airdrop ensures and Australian Antarctic Division Operations Manager and former Davis Station Leader Robb Clifton (right). (Photo: Nisha Harris) Australia’s Antarctic runway opened on schedule An airdrop of mechanical equipment to Casey research station in September, ensured Australia’s Antarctic runway opened in time for summer operations. A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster III dropped 600 kg of parts to the station, for two Wilkins Aerodrome snow blowers. Australian Antarctic Division Operations Manager, Robb Clifton, said the snow blowers were essential for preparing the glacial runway surface.

The Antarctica Experience

A lucky audience received an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience of Antarctica at the premiere of The Antarctica Experience at the Western Australian (WA) Maritime Museum in August. The RAAF C-17A drops spare parts for snow blowers near Casey research station. (Photo: Dominic Hall) The 360-degree 3D film allowed viewers to learn more about life at Davis research station, penguin research, and climate science on the Sørsdal Glacier, alongside Australian Antarctic Division personnel.

IN BRIEF IN “The blowers are used to remove the snow that The film was shot at the station in February by Perth film maker Briege Whitehead, builds up over winter,” Mr Clifton said. London-based VR and digital producer Phil Harper, and Perth drone operator “Unfortunately, both blowers had separate Dean Chisholm (Australian Antarctic Magazine 34: 6-7, 2018). mechanical issues and we had to source During post-production Ms Whitehead worked with sound designer David Raines at replacement parts from Germany and Norway. 35 2018 Warner Bros and in consultation with Dolby Atmos, in Los Angeles, to create an immersive “The airdrop ensured our intercontinental flights sound experience for the film. She also collaborated with multiple award-winning special ISSUE could start as scheduled at the end of October.” effects firm DNEG (who have worked on the Harry Potter and Marvel films, amongst many others) to do the visual effects. Her final coup was snagging Australian actor It took the C-17A about 10 hours to make the David Wenham to provide narration. 7000 kilometre return trip from Hobart to Casey station. The snow blowers were repaired on station The film featured at the WA Maritime Museum until October and is now touring and driven the 70 kilometre inland to Wilkins Australia and internationally. Aerodrome. WENDY PYPER The RAAF has been supporting the Australian Correction: In our last issue we ran a story about The Antarctica Experience on page 6. Antarctic Program through Operation Southern We neglected to mention that the film received funding support from the Western Australian Discovery since 2016. Museum, Screenwest, Lotterywest and Screen Australia. Atlantic Productions were not involved

AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN with the film. NISHA HARRIS 28 extended contract end inMarch2019. the Aurora Australis’s ownerandoperator, P&OMaritime, wasdueto The existingcontractbetweentheAustralianAntarcticDivisionand new icebreaker, RSVNuyina,isduetoarriveinHobart. taking theship’s Antarcticservicethroughto2020, whenAustralia’s The contractoftheicebreaker Aurora Australis has beenextended, Australis Aurora

WENDY PYPER featured/#5320 Further informationathttp://speakpercussion.com/projects/ Contemporary ArtfromJanuary20-24, 2019. The nextperformanceisatthePerth Instituteof with SpeakPercussion. The soundinstallationhasbeendevelopedincollaboration on earth,”DrSamartzissaid. the perspectiveofcoldest,windiestanddriestcontinent by addressingnotionsofhumanfragilityandisolationfrom “Polar Forceexploresour relationshiptothenaturalworld multi-channel fieldrecordingsofAntarctica. pressurised air, iceand water, willcombinewithhigh-fidelity Custom-built instrumentsmadeforthelivemanipulationof performance space. Force issetinsideawhite,inflatable,temperaturecontrolled The immersiveandmulti-sensoryperformanceofPolar fellowship inanationaltourearlynextyear. 2015) DrPhilipSamartziswillpresentworkarisingfromhis Sound artistandformerAustralianAntarcticArtsFellow(2009, Force tour Polar The performancespaceforPolar Force. (Photo:ClareBritton)

29 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 IN BRIEF 30 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 IN BRIEF 70 Phillip LawMedalatadinnermarkingthe Dr Patricia SelkirkAAMwasawardedthe Phillip LawMedal the icycontinentandthosethatliveworkthere.” “The A-Factor willexplorethechallenge,thrill,beautyandcharacterof which willbringanintimateauthenticitytotheproject,”MsAllensaid. working alongsideotherexpeditionersandhearingstoriesfirst-hand, “This isarareopportunitytobeimmersedinanAntarcticcommunity, the dailylifeofexpeditionersatanAntarcticresearchstation. research, deviseandwriteaTVseries, The A-Factor,whichwilldelveinto During theirthreemonthtriptoMawsonresearchstationtheywill Fellowship. Seconds, ChasingtheLight)havebeenjointlyawarded2018 Love Child) andaward-winningnovelistDrJesseBlackadder(Sixty Leading TVscreenwriterJaneAllen(Cleverman,JanetKing,Wentworth, Antarctic ArtsFellowship. station willbedevelopedthissummeraspartoftheAustralian The firsttelevisiondramaseriessetatanAustralianAnta dramaforthesmallscreen Antarctic Australian AntarcticProgram. Antarctic Medalforhercontribution tothe In 2004shewasawardedtheAustralian expeditions. Australian, NewZealandandFrench Antarctic and onetoÎlesKerguelen asamemberof to theAntarcticcontinent,oneHeardIsland mapping. Shealsoundertookfiveexpeditions genetics, landscapeecology, andvegetation to studyplanttaxonomy, adaptations and Macquarie Islandbetween1979and2004 Dr Selkirkundertook11 expeditionsto station inAugust. th Dr JesseBlackadder(pictured) willjoinJaneAllentodevelopatelevisiondrama setinAntarctica. (Photo:DavidHosken) anniversary ofMacquarieIslandresearch ELIZA GREY 1949 until1966. Division, aposition inwhichheservedfrom founding DirectoroftheAustralianAntarctic and achievementsofDrLaw. DrLawwasthe Expedition Clubin2011, tocelebratethelife the AustralianNationalAntarcticResearch The PhillipLawMedalwasestablished by Macquarie Island. on thephysicalandbiologicalfeaturesof University Press1990)–adefinitivereference Island: Environment and Biology(Cambridge major referencework Subantarctic Macquarie sub-Antarctic publications, which includethe Dr Selkirkhasover80refereedAntarcticand the university. research worktodayasanHonoraryFellowat Macquarie University. Shecontinues her developing anAntarcticresearchunitat research projectsandwasinstrumentalin participated inmanymulti-disciplinary Throughout hercareerDrSelkirkledand rctic research SACHIE YASUDA provide developmentfundingfortheTVseries. the AustralianNetworkforArtandTechnology. CreateNSWwillalso Arts Fellowsreceivefinancialsupportthroughapartnershipwith Secret LifeofUs, andNeighbours. series, includingAustralianclassics BlueHeelers, McLeod’s Daughters, producers andcreators.ShehaswrittenforovertwentydifferentTV Ms AllenisoneofAustralia’s mostexperiencedtelevisionwriters, founder ofStoryBoardcreativewritingandisanemergingscreenwriter. Dr Blackadderhaswrittenninenovelsforadultsandchildren.Sheis Dr Blackaddersaid. Antarctica, wheretheyareunexpectedlyforcedtosurviveontheirown,” international competitiontostayatthefirstchildren’s stationin “In ourseriesofadventurenovels, sixkidsarechosenfroman adventure bookseriesforyoungreaders. In additiontotheTVprogrampairwillalsowriteanAntarctic the PhillipLawMedal (2018). (Photo:AAD) Australian Antarctic Medal(2004) andnow Dr Patricia Selkirkistherecipient of the Nuclear monitoring facility certified

The Davis Infrasound Facility (IS03), which monitors nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, became operational in September after being officially certified by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). Certification and acceptance of IS03 completes Australia’s obligation under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty of establishing and operating 21 facilities in Australia, including the Australian Antarctic Territory. The ISO3 sensing array consists of seven sensing nodes (one pictured Data generated by the facility is now available for integration into the here) that detect infrasound frequencies generated by atmospheric International Monitoring System (IMS) — a system of 337 facilities disturbances, including nuclear explosions. Each node consists of a wind around the world that verify compliance to the Treaty. noise reduction system connected to a central vault containing the electronics that record the data. (Photo: Sara Pearce) During the 2017–18 summer season a Geoscience Australia field team, supported by the Australian Antarctic Division, installed and commissioned a seven sensor array and associated power and This summer, Geoscience Australia and the Antarctic Division’s Antarctic fibre optic cabling to the Central Power Distribution Facility, which Infrastructure section will perform minor works to finalise the installation was constructed and commissioned in 2016–17 (Australian Antarctic and commence the operational maintenance phase of this program. Magazine 32: 14-15, 2017). Over the six months since the installation, Geoscience Australia and ASHLEY PYM the Australian Antarctic Division, in coordination with the CTBTO, Electrical Technical Specialist, Australian Antarctic Division performed the initial testing and validation of the facility.

Sealers, shipwrecks and survivors inspire new names on Heard Island

Prominent features along the rugged shore of sub-Antarctic Heard Heard Island’s rich history is reflected in the new names, Island have been named after sealers, shipwrecks and survivors. which were suggested by a range of individuals with an interest in the island. The Australian Antarctic Division’s Place Names Committee officially named 13 places on Heard Island, 5355 kilometres from “Alfred Point is named after the whaling schooner, Alfred, Hobart, and six in Antarctica, in August. which was wrecked on Heard Island in 1854,” Committee

Chair, Ms Gillian Slocum, said. BRIEF IN “Watson Rock and Kelly Rock are named for survivors of the shipwrecked whaling bark, Trinity, which ran aground in 1880.” In Antarctica, the Committee named an island near Mawson research station Maggs Island, after the late Tom Maggs, who 35 2018 contributed to the Australian Antarctic Program for more

than four decades as a station leader, voyage leader and ISSUE leading Australia’s involvement in the Antarctic Treaty system (Australian Antarctic Magazine 34: 25–27, 2018). Other Antarctic place names include Wild Nunataks in Queen Mary Land, named in recognition of John Robert Francis ‘Frank’ Wild, a member of five Antarctic expeditions including the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–14). Mukluk Island near the Vestfold Hills is named after a soft book traditionally made by Inuit people from sealskin, and was a style of footwear worn by Australian expeditioners in the early days of the Australian Antarctic Program. Thirteen prominent features along the rugged shore MAGAZINE ANTARCTIC AUSTRALIAN ELIZA GREY of Heard Island have been named after sealers, 31 shipwrecks and survivors. (Photo: Matt Curnock) 32 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 35 2018 IN BRIEF retired inNovember. (Photo:AdamRoberts) Australian Antarctic DivisionDirector, DrNick Gales, his home-builtyacht. time withhisfamilyandcruisingtheworldin the Director onpage1).Heplanstospendmore period ofrapidchangeandgrowth(seeFrom lead Australia’s AntarcticProgramthrougha Dr Galessaidithadbeenahugeprivilegeto to theInternationalWhalingCommission. he wasappointedasAustralia’s newCommissioner was announcedinApril2016. InJuneofthatyear Antarctic Strategy and20Year ActionPlanwhich and stagedimplementationoftheAustralian Program. He wasinstrumentalinthedevelopment responsible fordeliveringAustralia’s Antarctic In 2015 DrGaleswasappointedDirector, research agencies. between theUniversitysectorandpubliclyfunded research outputsinvolvingstrategicpartnerships (2011–2021) todeliverahigh-impactrangeof the Australian Antarctic ScienceStrategic Plan Scientist. Heimplementedthefirstphaseof In 2011 DrGalesbecametheDivision’s Chief Antarctic Magazine26:6,2014). Southern Oceanwhalingprogram(Australian International CourtofJusticefindingagainstJapan’s acting asawitnessforAustraliainthesuccessful Whaling Commission;arolethatculminatedin the AustralianscienceeffortinInternational the AustralianMarineMammalCentreandled Division. Here,amongotherthings, heestablished a seniorresearchroleattheAustralianAntarctic family movedtoHobartin2001 wherehetookon and NewZealandgovernments, DrGalesandhis research programsfortheWestern Australian sea lions.Afterperiodsrunningmarinemammal Antarctica andundertakingaPhDonAustralian before movingintoappliedresearchworkingin Western Australiaworkingwithmarinemammals, Dr Gales’beganhiscareerasaveterinarianin Chief Scientist,DrNickGales, retiredinNovember. Australian AntarcticDivisionDirectorandformer Director retires Sidney Jeffryes remembered Sidney Jeffryes Thanks toAssociateProfessor Elizabeth Leaneforassistancewiththisarticle. team relayedmessagesfromAntarcticatoAustralia”. communications betweentheAAEMainBaseandMacquarieIsland where a five-man and QueenslandbornJeffryesiscreditedwithestablishingreliabletwo-way states that“Mawson’s expedition wasthefirsttousewirelessinAntarctica Thebronzeplaqueathisgravesite,commissionedbytheMawson’s HutsFoundation, Insane inMarch1914 andlatertoitshigh-securityfacility, J-Ward. until theAurora returnedinlate2013. JeffryeswascommittedtotheHospitalfor what wenowclassifyasschizophrenia.Hewaslaterrelievedofhisduties byMawson, By June,Jeffryesbeganexhibitingunusualbehaviourandsymptoms consistent with (Walter Hannam had sentacoupleofmessages, butneverreceivedany). communication hadbeenestablishedbetweenAntarcticaandtherestofworld men tocommunicatewiththeirlovedones.Thiswasthefirsttimetwo-way Jeffryes establishedwirelesscontactwithAustraliainMarch2013, allowingthe disastrous circumstances(Australian Antarctic Magazine 22:4-7,2012). a sledgingjourney. OnlyMawsonreturned,withNinnisandMertzhavingperishedin his twocompanions, BelgraveNinnisandXavierMertz,whowerelatereturning from Jeffryes andfiveoftheoriginalAAEmenremainedbehindtowaitforMawson and The AAEteamhadbeenduetodepartCommonwealthBayaboardthe Walter Hannam. operator aboardtheSYAurora, replacingtheoriginalAAEwirelessoperator, Jeffryes joinedtheAAEinFebruary1913, fromhispositionasashipboardradio manifested duringtheAAEinhisroleasawirelessoperator. Jeffryes diedin1942after28yearstheAraratHospitalforInsane.Hisillness at hisformerlyunmarkedgrave,acemeteryinArarat,Victoria. Australasian AntarcticExpedition(AAE)of1911–14, hasbeenrecognisedwithaplaque Heroic eraradiooperator, SidneyJeffryes, andhiscontributiontoDouglasMawson’s commissioned bytheMawson’s HutsFoundation.(Photo:ElizabethLeane) The bronze plaquemarkingthesiteofSidneyJeffryesgrave inArarat, Aurora, but R Freeze Frame E P Y P

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H surrounds for a virtual tour (see page 7). They used a DJI Mavic Pro drone set at 1/2000 sec P known work includes virtual tours of the Marine National Facility RV Investigator, the Burj Al and f2.2, from 70 metres up. This photo provides a sense of scale and context for the research Arab Hotel in Dubai, and drone footage of the Hobart waterfront. See more of their work at station. It is made up of 34 images stitched together to form a 360° aerial panorama that sets https://skyavenue.com.au/ the scene for the virtual tour. ANTARCTICA valued, protected and understood

www.antarctica.gov.au