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P°U*STE. 1 Comandante Ferrai bram. 2 Henry Arctowski poiano 3 Teniente Jubany Argentina 4 Artigas uruguav 5 Teniente Rodotto Marsh chu Bellingshausen uss« Great Wall china 6 Capitan Arturo Prat cmhe

7 General Bernardo O'Kiggtns cmie 8 Esperanza argentine 9 Vice Comodoro Marambio arocntina 10 Palmer usa 11 Faraday uk 12 Rothera uk 13 Teniente Carvajal cmiu 14 General San Martin Argentina

NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY MAP COPYRIGHT Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic ANTARCTIC (successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")

Vol. 12 No. 1 Contents Issue 133 Polar New Zealand Australia 12 United Kingdom 14 United States 22

Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island 23 General Mt. Huggins 23 ANTARCTIC is published quarterly by the New Zealand Polar Medals 24 New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., 1978. Greenpeace 26 Tourism 27 ISSN 0003-5327 Editor: Robin Ormerod O b i t u a r y ° Giles Kershaw 28 Please address all editorial inquiries, contribu tions etc to the Editor, P.O. Box 2110, Book review Wellington, New Zealand. Drygalski 32 Telephone: (04) 791-226 International: + 64-4-791-226 Fax: (04) 791-185 Cover: The Polarstern is a far cry from International: + 64-4-791-185 the Gauss, built in 1901 for Germany's second expedition to Antarctic waters All administrative inquiries should go to Bul P32. The ship is featured off the Filchner letin "Co-ordinator", P.O. Box 1223, Christ church. Ice Shelf. Photo: Gary Ball, Monteath Collection. Back and missing issues, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch. Correction: Cover of Vol. II No 12. featured Dr Shepherd. His christian © No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without name is Doug not Alan as printed. the prior permission of the publishers. Apologies. Antarctic Vol. 12 No. 1

NZARP Diverse scientific programme completed in spite of poor conditions

On 7 June, 1990 a US Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141 Starlifter delivered more than 71,000 US pounds of fresh food, cargo and mail to the US personnel at McMurdo Station and the 11 men and women wintering at New Zealand's Scott Base. The aircraft then flew onto the South Pole where it dropped a further 11,765 pounds of materials having been refueled in flight. Two days later further supplies were flown into McMurdo. On 22 August, the first of five winter flights took staff from DSIR, Antarctic, a photographer, maintenance personnel and a scientist observing changes in ozone levels, south. After the last flight, 15 people remained at Scott Base to be relieved when field work commences again early in October. The flights ended the isolation which began for the New Zealanders on February 15 when the last of the summer team returned home. In spite of the weather and resulting logistical problems a diverse scientific programme was completed last summer.

The second of a four-part study of micro- structure of the mats, their light capturing, bial-ecosystem processes on the McMurdo light-shielding and photosynthetic properties Ice Shelf was completed by Dr Warwick and determined how the assemblages derive Vincent and Malcolm Downes of the Taupo their carbon, nitrogen and energy supply. Research Laboratory. DSIR. They were joined Comparative measurements were also made by an NZARP guest scientist, Professor Dick of the communities at a number of other sites Castenholz of the University of Oregon, USA. on the iceshelf. Preliminary results indicate Initiated by the Laboratory as part of the that the mats contain a broad range of pig multi-disciplinary Ross Ice Shelf Ecosystem ments that are highly effective at screening programme (RISE),the first season was led by out harmful ultraviolet radiation. Dr Clive Howard-Williams. His team ana Also working at Bratina Island as part of lysed some of the basic chemical and biologi the RISE programme were Dr Steve de Mora, cal properties of the ice shelf ecosystem at a Alan Grout and Dave Shooter from the wide array of sites. Chemistry Department, University of Auck Last season's team focused on the micro land. They investigated the water column biology of the cyanobacterial mat, the basic within the ponds containing the cyanobac biological element of the McMurdo Ice Shelf terial mats, taking samples from beneath the ecosystem and also the dominant component mats and from the atmosphere to analyse of many other Antarctic habitats. The pig sulphur levels. These are of particular interest mented mats coat the interconnected lakes, because sulphur gases of biogenic origin, pools and streams of the ice shelf providing once they escape into the atmosphere, can be food for a range of secondary producers oxidised to small particles which can act as including rotifers, heterotrophic bacteria and cloud condensation nuclei and may increase protozoa. the earth's albedo or reflectivity. While it is Working mainly among the undulating ice not suggested that ponds on the McMurdo Ice around Bratina Island they examined the Shelf have exerted a global influence, ongo- Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic ing processes are representative of the geo flora, adjacent to the east face of the Canada chemical sulphur cycle. Glacier, was mapped in detail. A 2.8ha area Some 40 ponds in all were sampled and of more sporadic cover, slightly to the north, 248 chromatograms recorded using a gas was also mapped and described for the first chromatograph with a flame photometric time. The entire area is now enclosed as a detector. Preliminary results exposed two modified site of special scientific interest reduced sulphur gases - dimethyl sulphide and number 12. carbon disulphide - in all the pond waters but An additional moss species, Bryum pseu- in varying amounts probably due to differences dotriquetrum was found; B. argenteum was in biological source strengths as the communi confirmed and B antarcticum was found to ties differed from pond to pond. Samples from have disappeared but Portia heimii was iden anoxic waters beneath the mats contained a tified. Protozoa, rotifers, tardigrades and greater variety of reduced sulphur gases. nematodes were found in numbers similar to Samples of atmospheric sulphur, also identi areas in the sub-Antarctic islands. The ani fied as DMS and CS2. Future research will mals were able to resume activity within 20 concentrate on biological activity within the minutes of the moss plants being rewetted. ponds themselves as well as further investiga One specimen of microturbellarian was found, tions of atmospheric sulphur compounds. for only the second time on the Antarctic Rod Seppelt from ANARE made his first continent. visit to the McMurdo region of Antarctica last A detailed survey of the vegetation re summer when he joined project leader Dr vealed various types of damage that could be Allan Green and masters student Anne-Maree accurately dated to previous years. It included Schwarz from Waikato University in a study of the removal of cores for analysis, slabs of the composition and fragility of vegetation in plants taken for photosynthetic studies, and the dry valleys. footprints from uncontrolled walking over the The overall objective was to describe the area. Most damage had occurred nine to ten terrestrial bryophyte vegetation in the Lower years ago and significant recovery was found; Taylor Valley and try to establish its sensitivity the recolonization by plants occurring either by mapping recovery from damage in previous by regrowth from beneath, surrounding plants, years. or inwash of propagules. Some paths that One sixth of a hectare of rich bryophyte had been formed across the area in 1979 had

International Antarctic Centre Change of address From 8 September 1990 Antarctic, DSIR office, library and store will be located at the International Antarctic Centre, Ground floor, Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport.

The postal address will be: P.O. Box 14-091 Christchurch Airport NEW ZEALAND

Telephone: (00 64 3) 358-0200 Facsimile: (00 64 3) 358-0211 Telex: NZ4432 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

almost disappeared. This was a faster rate of Scientists collecting samples as part of the recovery than expected but full growth of the Ross Ice Shelf Ecosystyem Studies. Photo damaged areas could take centuries. Paul Broady. The party visited Botany Bay, Granite Harbour, an area which has not received evaporation ponds, and the marginal melt of significant botanical attention since its discov lakes of the Victoria and eastern McKelvey ery by Scott's expedition in 1911. It was Valleys. exceptionally rich in plant life with six moss Sites included the Upper Victoria Glacier species and 20 lichens found. A single liver drainage, Lake Victoria, Lake Vida and lower wort species, Cephaloziella exiliflora was also Victoria Glacier drainage and the associated found in the area, 9 degrees latitude further brine and meltwater pools, Lake Thomas and south than previous records in unheated or the ice-covered pools at the entrance of the non-thermal soil. Barwick Valley on the top of Mt. Insel and in Collecting data which will help assess the Bull Pass. impact of human activity on parts of Antarc The samples were assayed for major ele tica is being undertaken by many treaty na ments in conjunction with the Marine and tions. Freshwater Science division of DSIR, for Dr Jenny Webster and Kevin Brown of DSIR's Chemistry Division in Wellington nitrogen and phosphorous-based nutrients. focused on the collection of environmental Initial results indicate that major elements and base-line data from the Victoria Valley to nutrient chemistry of the meltwaters sampled compare with similar information obtained in differ from that of meltwaters in the Wright the more frequented nearby Wright Valley to Valley. In particular evaporation ponds evolved use for subsequent analysis of impact. They towards sodium chloride rather than calcium studied the meltwater, ice chemistry and chloride brines. Subsequent chemical analy nutrient concentrations in each of the major sis will include pollutant trace metals such as drainage features such as meltwater streams, copper, zinc, lead. Evaporite salts collected Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

from the margins of lakes and meltpools are wood, Wright and Victoria Valleys. In finer being identified by X-ray diffraction. Soil gas weather with more sun than usual, results samplers were tested for efficiency and will be revealed that the flows were mostly lower sent to the University of Lund for analysis. than average, particularly in the Wright Valley Tissue and skin samples collected from where the glacier is the source for most of the mummified seals are also being analysed for water in the Onyx. Persistent strong, cold, traces of dioxin and PCB. easterly winds are thought to have kept Undertaking their second season of study temperatures low and reduced normal melt, of the hydrology, glaciology and sediment and water did not reach the weir at Vanda transport processes of the Miers Valley were until December 4. Dr Jack McConchie and David Winchester of Lake levels are determined from survey the Geography Department, Victoria Univer ing of permanent bench marks established at sity. Graduate assistants, also from the Vida, Vanda, Don Juan Pond, Fryxell, Hoare, Department, were Heather Campbell and Henderson, Bonney, Joyce and House. Last Richard Hawke. Information required to season Vida showed a drop of 78 mm while study and quantify the energy and mass bal Bonney showed the highest rise at 334 mm. ances of the glacier-river-lake system has now Each site is surveyed usually in late January been collected and is being analysed. when melt is at its maximum and levels are The Miers was selected for the project checked against permanently established because it is a relatively small and simple benchmarks. valley. It has only the two "alpine" glaciers, the Miers and Adams flowing into it and Algal studies draining from two different aspects. This has The most southerly populations of macro enabled stream flow and other inputs and scopic benthic algae occur in McMurdo Sound, outputs to be readily monitored. Ross Sea, Antarctica but while the broad Field work included monitoring of the patterns of geographical and vertical distribu stream flow and various climatic parameters tion are documented, quantitative eco-physio- controlling its timing and volume; and moni logical studies have not been carried out on toring and attempting to quantify the fluvial any species from the region. sediment transport processes. The team also Dr Murray Brown, Jonathon Keogh, Marlis sought to quantify the albedo of the various Holmes from the Botany Department of Otago surface materials found in the valley such as University, and Kathy Miller, University of glacier ice, lake ice, water and different rock California, spent seven weeks studying two types and related the results to the patterned red seaweeds. Under the supervision of Ren ground which characterises the valley. Naylor they made about 20 dives for samples Changes in the glaciers were measured and beneath the sea ice at Cape Evans for on-site terrestrial photogrammetric techniques tested and subsequent laboratory analysis. to determine their value in monitoring changes Investigating physiological adaptation to in the terminal faces of glaciers. Analysis of the prevailing environmental conditions they the data has significant implications to cur focused on photosynthetic and respiratory rent discussion of global warming and its likely adaptations in a range of irradiances and impact on world sea levels. water temperatures varying between -1 deg C Recording river flows and lake levels in and 25. According to the project report the Dry Valleys last season as part of a long- preliminary results indicate that the endemic term record designed to indicate the impact of species Phyllophora antarctica, which grows climatic change was the task of Gary de Rose at greater depths than Iridaea cordata can of DSIR Marine and Freshwater in Welling ton. utilise low light levels more efficiently but is Three types of water level recorders were photoinhibited at higher irradiances. Optimal temperatures for photosynthetic activity were installed for the summer to monitor the river determined suggesting some degree of envi flows at five sites located in the Miers, Gar ronmental adaptation. Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

Samples returned to New Zealand are been discharged into the ecosystem. Dead being chemically analysed for chlorophyll, skuas and Adelie penguins were collected for total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous, analysis of the effects of pollutants on the inorganic ions and cell wall polysaccharides. birds. As a result of an ecological survey using a non Antarctica and its environs have so far destructive harvesting technique, information been relatively free of pollution but with the was obtained on the relative quantities of the increase in sea-borne scientific and tourist two species present at Cape Evans. activities the potential for damage as a result of an oil spill remains high. Relatively little Zoology work, however, has been done on the effects Testing the hypothesis that the popula of oil on marine life. Such a project was tions of the South Polar skua colonies are undertaken by the Zoology Department of limited by territorial behaviour was the task of Canterbury University last season. Under the two scientists from the Department of Zool leadership of Dr Bill Davison, the party ogy, University of Otago. Observations have comprised Craig Franklin, Mike Dougan and revealed that some adult, non-breeding John McKenzie. skuas stay in groups or "clubs" near the Earlier work, undertaken by some of the team, on aspects of the physiology of Antarc colony at breeding time. The Northern tic fish, particularly the most common species Rookery at Cape Bird, Ross Island, featured such a "club" which was found to contain no Pagothenia borchgrevinki, had included ex more than 40 birds at any one time but was amination of the biology of healthy fish and dynamic and visited by up to 300 individual the changes associated with development of birds during the breeding season. Most of the gill or X-cell disease, results of which were visiting birds were non-breeders and, judging used for this part of the programme. They by their tags, some had flown in from colonies sought to examine the effects of diesel oil on up to several hundred kilometers away. the survival and physiology of Pagothenia Gordon Court and Richard Wilson sought borchgrevinki, transport some live fish to the to establish whether the "club" birds were University and initiate a preliminary survey of excluded from the colony by the strong terri the respiratory physiology of Lineus corriga- torial behaviour exhibited by skuas or failed to tus, a large marine worm living in the shallow breed for other reasons. The temporary waters around Ross Island. removal of some breeding birds suggested Working in the Scott Base laboratories that non-breeding birds were not under much they created various controlled combinations of oil (from the base supplies) and sea water. pressure to obtain vacated territories, but when they did obtain a place in the colony the This was achieved by placing oil on top of the scientists sought to establish the prerequisites water and stirring them magnetically causing for such recruitment. "Preliminary results the water-soluble components of the oil to suggest that paired birds in the club do not dissolve. This represents a likely situation in move to vacant territories in the population case of a spill in water covered with ice. Fish and sexual behaviour and dominance within were placed in the various concentrations of the club did not appear to have a bearing on contaminated sea water for either 48 hours or, in the case of some, for up to two weeks. recruitment." Scientists made visual observations and The south polar skua is also highly migra measured respiration rates before killing the tory. It winters along the coastlines of south- fish, collecting blood samples for haemato- em hemisphere nations, many of which per crits and plasma which were frozen and re sist in the use of organochlorine pesticides turned to New Zealand for further analysis. banned in the north. The scavenging and Samples from gills, liver and heart were also predatory characteristics of the skua make it obtained for subsequent electron microscope an ideal environmental health barometer for work. evaluating the dispersal and impact of pesti Placing the fish in the water produced a cides and industrial pollutants which have rapid stress reaction as the fish often became Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

darker and their ventilation rates increased as Pagothenia borchgrevinki studied for did oxygen consumption, but overall the scien the effects of oil spills, feeding behaviour tists were surprised by the high tolerance of the and lateral line responses. Photo Dr John fish to the contaminated water. There were no Montgomery. mortalities. Haematocrit levels rose quickly but not immediately and remained high during exposure. Work on plasma samples is cur only because the cold temperatures in the rently being undertaken and preliminary re water produce low metabolic rates combined sults from electron microscope work on the with a high level of dissolved oxygen. Their gills revealed that exposure in the short term intolerance to reduced levels of oxygen may caused little change to the surface structure make them ideal for further pollution studies. though it has an effect in the longer term. Zoologists from Auckland University, led One hundred and twenty live fish were by Dr John Montgomery, investigated diverse flown to Christchurch in specially prepared aspects of the anatomy, physiology and bio containers and all survived. They were sent on chemistry of Antarctic notothenioid fishes. two C141 Starlifter aircraft and on one Austra Dr Montgomery, working jointly with Dr John lian CI30 Hercules and were transferred to a Janssen and Sheryl Coombs of the United cold aquarium at the University of Canterbury States Antarctic Program, monitored feeding for further work. behaviour and recorded lateral line nerve Worms were caught in specially designed responses from several fish species featuring traps in the shallow water close to Scott Base, different morphological specialisations of the as part of a pilot study to examine respiratory anterior lateral line. Species studied included physiology. Oxygen consumption was ob Trematomus bernacchii with its small ante served to be very low and when levels were rior pores, the plunder fish Histiodraco ve- further reduced the worms became flattened. lifer, with its pores elevated on tubular exten This suggested that their large size is possible sions and the white blooded ice fish Pagetop- Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 sis macropterus which has large membranous were located, examined, described and meas pores. To their surprise all the species re ured by the party which also collected paleocur- sponded similarly to water-borne vibrations in rent data from a number of localities provid the frequency range of 30-60 Hz, indicating ing them with information on slope direction that irrespective of their morphological differ and basin subsidence. Preliminary results ences their lateral lines have not been retimed indicated that for most of the Permian and to respond to different prey, as initially hy Triassic the basin sloped to the north and was pothesised. well away from the margin of the continent. Other members of the team included Dr It is believed that the paleo-Pacific margin lay John Macdonald, who investigated the semi close to the same position as the present day circular canals of the fish inner ear, Andrew Marie Byrd Land Coast. Collins, who studied the effects of changing A detailed study was made of the Lashley buoyancy on fish swimming and Stuart Ryan sediments as a prelude to future work. These who measured anaesthetic levels in fish tis are of interest because they contain features sues. Dr John Ryder, DSIR, Mt. Albert Re which indicate deposition by meandering along search Centre, investigated post-mortem braided rivers suggesting that the classical changes in fish muscle. models for fluvial sedimentation do not hold Macdonald and Collins also visited the for these sediments. Work in 1990-91 will Italian Antarctic station Baia Terra Nova to focus on this problem and the scientists hope work on haemoglobin-free icefishes with Dr to produce a more realistic model. Guido di Prisco of Naples. Of particular inter Geochemical work has shown that the est was the observation that red-blooded Pivot Coal Measures (Devonian) are non- Antarctic fishes are immune to poisoning by carbonaceous and that the black colouration carbon monoxide, which suggests that their is caused by unusually finely divided titano- haemoglobin is unnecessary for normal activ magnetite and ilmenite. This discovery is ity. important for two reasons; it shows that previous reports of Devonian Carbonaceous Geology shale were incorrect and secondly the occur Determining where the Beacon basin, in rences may provide valuable information about southern Victoria Land, lay in relation to the the geologic environment during the De continental margin during Beacon times 400 vonian. Work on the tectonic history of the to 200 million years ago and the processes Ross Sea Region is nearing completion and from which it developed comprised part of the current round of Beacon studies under the work undertaken by Ken Woolfe, Mal taken by scientists from Victoria University is colm Arnot and Dan Zwartz of the Geology expected to be concluded next season. Department, Victoria University. Antarctic Division Field Assistant Tony Teeling accom Basement rocks panied them. A party from the University of Otago's In the field from 12 November 1989 until Geology Department continued their detailed 10 January 1990 the party made their way investigation of basement rocks in Southern across the ice shelf from Scott Base to the Victoria Land. It was led by Dr Alan Cooper mouth of the Skelton Glacier selecting a route and comprised the University's Research up the glacier to Clinker Bluff through the Officer R. Smillie, and MSc students Brenton Lower and Upper Staircases before crossing Worley and Charlotte Hall. They spent six the Neve to Mt Metschel. From there they weeks working from their base camps in the traveled north to Robinson Peak via Mt's Pipecleaner Glacier and Miers Valley and Fleming and Bastion before returning to Scott were assisted by Simon Cox of Antarctic Base in three helicopter flights via Vanda Division. Station, having covered a total of 950 km In Southern Victoria Land the Koettlitz with toboggans and four sledges. Group basement rocks are intruded by plu- Exposures of the Beacon Supergroup tons, dominantly of granite, referred to as the Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

Granite Harbour Intrusives. Although most Southern Victoria Land granites originated WAVE: 1989/90 by melting of igneous rocks deep in the Earth's crust, some of those of the Pipe Working in the Executive Committee Range of West Antarctica a combined party cleaner area were formed by melting of a from Victoria University, British Antarctic sedimentary parent, possibly the Koettlitz Survey and New Mexico Institute of Mining Group. In the Pipecleaner Glacier area the and Technology mapped in detail and sampled Granite Harbour Intrusives comprise a wide rocks from a rarely visited group of volcanoes. range of plutons ranging from granite through Led by Dr John Gamble from the University diorite to gabbro and nepheline syenite. As a the party comprised geologists Bill Mcintosh result of the field work the geologists have and Kurt Panter from United States, and Dr been able to determine the relative timing of John Smellie from the British Antarctic Sur intrusion of the various plutons and have vey. They were supported in the field by Chris collected samples which will help assess the Griffith also from BAS and Bill Atkinson from origin and interrelationships of the various Twizel, New Zealand. magmas. The West Antarctic Volcano Exploration The 1:50,000 geological mapping pro project (WAVE) was designed to help scien gramme being undertaken by DSIR Geology tists understand the volcanic and geochemical and Geophysics went one stage further. David evolution of the volcanoes in West Antarctica Pocknall, Trevor Chinn, Richard Sykes and and to enable a comparison to be made with Antarctic Division's field assistant John Skil- the volcanoes and lithospheric structure in ton covered approximately 2,500 square kilo the Ross Sea Embayment where Mt Erebus metres from the Mackay Glacier in the south remains active. The team had hoped to study to the Fry and Chattahoochee Glaciers in the all the volcanoes of the Executive Committee north. The area includes the Convoy Range, and massifs and nunataks as far east as Range but poor weather resulted in their having to halve their programme. Concen longitude 162 and comprises basement trating on the southern end which comprises granitic rocks, particularly in the east, Beacon Mt Waesche, Mt Sidley and Mt Cumming, Supergroup (both Taylor and Victoria groups) which lie relatively close together, they sought and Ferrar Dolerite. to establish whether any were active in addi According to the team report "Beacon tion to sampling for comparative purposes rocks include the Altar Mountain Formation and undertaking geochronological and geo lying on the Kukri Erosion Surface at two chemical studies. Detailed mapping was localities, Beacon Heights Orthoquartzite which occurs through the region as rafts completed on Mt Waesche and Mt Sidley. within dolerite and sometimes forms bluffs in excess of 270 metres, the Weller Coal Meas Mt Erebus ures which unconformably overlie the Bea Taking advantage of the unique attributes con Heights Orthoquartzite, and the Met- of Mt Erebus to study the mechanism of its schel Tillite which lies between them. Ferrar strombolian eruptions and the velocity struc Dolerite is by far the thickest and most exten ture of its lava lake again last season was Dr sive unit in the area." Ray Dibble of Geology Department, Victoria Three types of glaciations were recog University. He was accompanied by Brent nised. They were: Regional glaciation by O'Brien from the same department, and they continental ice, which probably moved east were joined by Hiroshi Shimizu from the wards some 13 million years ago when the ice Shimabara Volcano Observatory at Kyushu sheet overtopped the Convoy Range; valley in Japan. Field assistance was provided by inundation by coastal ice moving westwards and glaciation from locally accumulated ice. Gary Kennedy and laboratory work under Four maps in the series have so far been taken at Scott Base by Bruce McGregor. completed. Last season's work will be pub Having acclimatised on the Fang Glacier lished in late 1991. the team made their way to the summit to Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 change the infrasonic microphone batteries, perature measurements from the surface of readjust the long-period horizontal seismome the lakes and a cinematographic record of the ter, and restore seismic telemetry from Bomb plume during tracer experiments. Station through the new repeater station Full analysis of the samples is expected to "Mac". Bill Mcintosh had moved it from be complete sometime in 1990 but interim Terror to a new site on the eastern rim of the results are intended to be published in a book Erebus summit plateau during 1989. They on studies of Mt. Erebus edited by Dr Phil Kyle also did a pilot seismic refraction survey at the of New Mexico Institue of Technology. summit hut, and took infrared temperature measurements at the crater rim. A preliminary analysis was made of the Ice tongue seismic tape recordings prior to sending copies Movement of the Erebus Glacier Tongue, back to New Zealand and Japan for detailed which broke away in 1911 and in the early work. During the field season 1782 volcanic 1940's, has been monitored with strain meters earthquakes were recorded, 247 of which placed 4km from the snout in 1983. Last were archived in digital form and 270 video season Dr's Tim Haskell of the Division of recordings of the crater of Erebus were made Information Technology and Bill Robinson of from the television transmitter at the rim. Sixteen explosive eruptions were recorded the Physics and Engineering Laboratory of on the seismic net and on video. Overall the DSIR in Wellington carried out a series of data, currently being further analysed, should experiments to determine the nature of wave help scientists predict disastrous earthquakes packets traveling along the length of the in populated areas of the world by improving tongue. They placed strain meters at 1 km their understanding of eruption mechanisms, intervals and recorded the phase and ampli and the interpretation of volcanic earthquakes. tude of the waves as they passed by each Because Mt Erebus constantly discharges meter. gases, particulates and energy into the at Waves of about 170m/sec velocity have mosphere it is an important source of chemi cal pollutants in the Antarctic environment. been observed traveling from the snout to the In past seasons scientists from Chemistry Di base of the tongue. Further analysis will enable vision, DSIR, have been collecting data which the characteristics of these waves to be fully will enable them to characterise and quantify determined. Although about 3km of the tongue sources and nature of such contaminants. In broke away in March 1990 it appears that the his third visit to Antarctica Dr Doug Shepherd waves are too small to have caused the failure. from the Division, working in conjunction The team combined with Professor Ver with French scientists, collected samples non Squire and Colin Fox of the University of from the plume and fumeroles, which also Otago and started a series of cantilever beam- discharge gas, for immediate analysis and fatigue studies on the sea ice of McMurdo subsequent laboratory work. Sound. From the combined work they are The party included Dr F. le Guern from the Centre de Fiables Radioactivite (a joint devising a model which describes the me CEA/CNRS laboratory) at Gif sur Yvette in chanical nature of sea ice, taking into account aspects such as temperature gradients and it France, Dr M Legrande of the Institute of will be tested next season. Such research will Glaciology in Grenoble Mm M-F le Cloarec also of CFR at Gif-sur-Yvette and Dr R Paive- enable a better understanding of the effects of Pieret of CEA in Grenoble are helping to problems associated with operations in polar analyse the samples. regions such as the static and dynamic loading Using a range of techniques and equip of ice, the gradual movement of an ice sheet ment samples of treated gases, particulate, against a structure, wharf or hull. This part of snow and ice, fumerole and soil gasses and the project was undertaken in Erebus Bay rocks were obtained as well as infrared tem near Tent Island. 10 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

Pollutants and visible light and investigated depth and time-dependent interactions of light and sea Dr Chad Dick and Jane Orange from ice. The diffusion of light in sea ice determines Chemistry Division, DSIR, in Wellington made the energy that reaches life forms in the ocean a preliminary study of ultratrace pollutants in underneath. By illuminating the surface of the Antarctic snow and air. Samples collected ice with a UV light source and measuring the from a site on the Ross Ice shelf approximately area affected beneath they found the intensity 100 km east of Scott Base were analysed for to be unexpectedly high for so early in the a range of toxic pollutant heavy metals includ season. Although considerably more work ing lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc needs to be carried out, the preliminary result and for persistent toxic organic pollutants is important because it shows that the high such as dioxins and pesticides. Natural crustal degree of transparency corresponds to the aluminium, marine sodium and magnesium most pronounced period of ozone depletion. reference elements were also determined. This occurs at the time when algae and other Preliminary results confirm the extremely life forms are beginning to grow and exces pure nature of Antarctic air and snow. Aerosol sive ultraviolet light is known to be detrimen filters examined under a scanning electron tal to life. microscope have revealed that very few par ticles are present over the Ross Ice Shelf particularly during southerly winds which blow Bottom currents from the interior of the continent. Marine Further investigation of the mud-carrying particles are almost completely removed while bottom currents in Granite Harbour was only the smallest crustal particles with diame undertaken by Alex Pyne of Antarctic Re ters of about 2 mu survive in the area. Chemi search Centre, Victoria University, Welling cal analysis for other components is now under ton. The party also included NZARP quest way using the Division's Ultraclean Labora scientists Per Moller of Lund University in tory. Sweden and Ian Goodwin formerly of AN ARE Glaciology Section, University of Mel bourne. They were assisted in the field by Ron Light and sea ice Rodgers, Antarctic Division, DSIR and Dave Work on the interaction of light and sea ice Hotop, plant operator from the New Zealand was completed by scientists from Wellington Army. who extended their programme to UV and The bottom currents interest the scien visible light measurements and achieved some tists because mud on the sea floor of Granite unexpected results. Harbour accumulates more rapidly than should The party comprised Dr Bob Buckley and occur from observed glacial and wind-blown Joe Southon from Physics and Engineering activity and yet the origin remains obscure. Laboratory, DSIR, Lower Hutt and Dr Joe Sediment trapping experiments, under Trodahl and Shaun Riches of Victoria Univer taken last summer and in previous seasons, sity. During previous seasons' work Drs Buck have revealed that there is greater flux lower ley and Trodahl and other scientists in their in the water column and that it is comprised party developed techniques for estimating the of terrigenous and biogenic particles suggest net amount of transmitted and scattered light, ing transport of sediment into the harbour by the scattering and absorbing parameters of ice the bottom currents. and the angular distribution of light within and A current meter installed over the last two under the sea ice. Their results showed that the seasons indicates sufficient current speed to ice is relatively transparent during October transport the material but insufficient to erode which was confirmed last summer. They also sediment from the harbour floor. The scien measured the absorption of light by algae. tists are also planning to continue collecting For most of October and November the tidal records. This supplementary data is being party were camped near Tent Island during collected in conjunction with the New Zea which they made new measurements of UV land Meteorological Service while the De- 11 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 partment of Survey and Land Information is taken including monitoring dispersal of mate assisting with surveys of sea level elevations rial from Shackleton's hut, water quality, soil to provide data on tidal movement. samples and human/animal interactions. With Five members of the Environmental Sci the assistance of the Department of Survey ence Group, University of Auckland, spent and Land Information a detailed map of the part or all of January undertaking environ area of the Cape where human activity and mental impact studies on Ross Island. The penguin breeding are concentrated was pre team comprised Professor John Hay, Dr pared. Other environmental impact surveys Chris Cocklin, Simon Bridger, Simon Towle were conducted at Capes' Bird, Crozier, Evans and Lisa Martin. and at Arrival Heights. The emphasis at these Cape Royds was the major focus, building locations was litter disposal and soil contami on work initiated the previous summer. An nation. extensive sampling programme was under

ANARE Fire destroys Mawson Station's kitchen and mess Mawson's winter team have made interim some of the materials and equipment sal cooking and eating arrangements following a vaged after the fire. fire which damaged the range-hood, ducting and a wall in the kitchen and mess in the 30- year old building at the station. The fire broke about 6.50 p.m. local time on July 7, while Fuel spill at Casey chips were being cooked for the evening meal In mid-June about 90,000 litres of light for the 24 staff. fuel leaked from a storage tank at Australia's The fire-fighters were hampered by mid Casey Station but the spill has been effectively winter darkness, winds of lOOkm/h, driving contained by a natural rock depression near snow and a temporary loss of power to the the tank. The leak occurred during a strong station during the blaze, but the blaze was blizzard when winds averaging 180 km/h contained before it spread to the adjacent delayed the routine inspection of the site. A recreation building. No one was injured. bulldozer was used to clear the ice from the Damage could not be fully ascertained base of the tank. until 9 a.m. the following morning when The fuel was SAB "Special Antarctic there was sufficient light to examine the Blend" similar in consistency to domestic remains. heating oil. Casey's main supply tanks, close The first tasks after extinguishing the to the station, contain nearly 1.7 million litres blaze were to restore power, transfer food of fuel when full and rest on concrete founda from the freezers and to establish a tempo tions. The spilt fuel was contained in an rary kitchen using facilities from other parts of isolated tank away from the station's main the station including microwave ovens and storage. The tank rests on railway sleepers field stoves. Major stores of food and clothing and was filled late last as a supplementary were unaffected and winter operations con supply. tinued without interruption as the base has Initial investigations suggested that the sufficient supplies for two seasons. leak came through a split possibly caused by The mess was scheduled to be replaced by a failed weld. Subsequently it was found to a new building in 1994; but for the moment have come from where a 50mm steel outlet it has been temporarily reconstructed with pipe was fitted to a drainage point on the 12 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

underside of the tank. It appears that the tank and ocean warming; the diet and population may have moved slightly during a blizzard of fur seals and king penguins at Heard Island stripping the thread from the pipe which, like and the cloud droplet formation as part of the the valve, was encased in the solid ice below. studies of the "greenhouse effect". Live fish The fuel had escaped through the opening were also brought back for display in the and leached into the snow in a nearby depres Sydney aquarium. They included specimens sion where it had pooled. Unlike lubricating of icefish, horsefish, magellanic rock and or crude oil it is light and volatile and a marbled rock cod, as well as black and blue substantial amount quickly evaporated. The rock cod. loss poses no problem to winter operations. There is no vegetation in the immediate area of the spill and no birds or animals are in From the stations the vicinity during the winter although the penguins will return in October. Staff at the Davis station could find no evidence of the fuel New sleeping and medical quarters com having spread beyond the immediate pool pleted last summer have been occupied by and no effect could be detected in the local some the wintering team of 22 from April. A environment. new snow melter was also built but the short A full report of the spill is being prepared age of snow around the station has left staff and should be available for release within the with a facility but little to melt as water ration next few weeks. ing came into force in April for May and June. An inland plateau route between the Vestfold and Larsemann Hills has been marked out by the winter team. The Chinese have a Aurora Australis wintering party at Zong Shan station in the Larsemann Hills where the Russians and the completes maiden Australians also have summer stations. Mawson voyage An autumn traverse to re-provision and Aurora Australis, Australia's newest re undertake routine manintenance at Dovers search and supply vessel, completed its maiden has been completed. Unlike Davis, Mawson voyage, a two month winter cruise around has experienced very high amounts of snow Heard Island, on 4 July. Its next southern drift deposit around the station but the sea ice voyage is to be early in October when it will was very late forming and could not be used carry personnel to Casey, Davis and Mawson for transport until mid-May. Twenty-five Station on the Antarctic continent. Australians are spending the winter at the The vessel, under the command of Cap station. tain Roger Rusting and with Dick Williams of Antarctic Division as voyage leader, left Casey Hobart on Monday May 7 to undertake a Winter projects relating to botany, upper atmosphere physics and geophysics are being survey of the distribution and abundance of undertaken and supported by the 26 men and fish stocks around Heard Island. The pro women at the station. In a series of short field gramme was the first stage of a study into the operations staff collected data on elephant potential of the Heard Island region to sup seals in the Browning Peninsula-Petersen port a commercial fishery. Scientists trawled in 85 sites in the area using the commercial- Island area prior to their departure. In April scale fishing gear of Aurora Australis. staff undertook a traverse to the Law Dome In addition to the fisheries investigation, Deep Drilling Site to collect the major items of the programme, which involved 32 scientists, glaciological equipment that had been used included research into the distribution and during the summer, for overhaul prior to abundance of plankton, ocean circulation returning them to the site for next season. 13 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

BAS - science overview: Part two Long term plans for Antarctic science programmes announced In this two part article, based on the Natural Environment Research Council publication "Antarctica 2000", Antarctic continues the preview of British Antarctic Survey's science plans for the next ten years. Part one appeared in Vol 11. No. 12 pages 467 to 473.

DYNAMICS OF ANTARCTIC regulates the development of ecological sys TERRESTRIAL AND FRESHWATER tems and whether survival in polar land habi ECOSYSTEMS tats is limited by water availability rather than The terrestrial and most freshwater eco temperature. The Freshwater Group's study systems of the Antarctic are restricted to the of physico-chemical and biological processes two percent of the land surface that is not in a series of freshwater lakes is defining the permanently covered by ice. Generally the evolution and development of these systems communities are species poor and relatively and identifying the physiological characteris unproductive with many still undergoing tics of the plant and microbial communities. colonisation. Vulnerable to man-induced Building on certain features in the present impacts associated with scientific stations, programme the new science theme will con and exploitation including tourism, they are centrate especially on process studies and also subject to considerable annual fluctua involve an integrated approach to ecological, tions in environmental conditions. Tempera biological and physical problems on land and ture and moisture are of major importance on in fresh water. The overall aim of the major land while ice cover and light are influences programmes of survival strategies, ecosys on freshwater bodies. tems and conservation are to test the validity Investigation of both terrestrial and aquatic of current theories regarding the post-glacial Antarctic ecosystems allows the formulation evolution of polar terrestrial and freshwater of hypotheses concerning the role of environ ecosystems, and to elucidate the physiologi mental factors in biological processes under cal basis for the success of particular organ cold and freezing conditions. Terrestrial and isms in these evolving habitats. freshwater programmes are being undertaken Where appropriate, comparative field at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, with research may also be undertaken in the arctic opportunistic comparative studies undertaken and alpine areas where similar habitats and elsewhere on maritime Antarctica and the microclimates make useful comparisons continent. Internationally collaborative pro possible. grammes are also providing comparative data Because the polar regions are expected to from more complex ecosystems from loca suffer disproportionally from global climatic tions such as sub-Antarctic South Georgia. warming they will be ideal areas for monitor On land, the BAS Fellfield Ecology Re ing the progress of change. The Antarctic search Programme (FERP) is at present inves programmes will contribute to a more wide tigating two hypotheses; whether the physi ranging synthesis through the international cal and chemical nature of the substrate Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. In addi- 14 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic tion the data will be required to provide scien selected processes and genetic drift. tific advice on the conservation and manage While a range of physiological and mor ment of these fragile ecosystems for the next phological strategies are used by different century. groups of organisms, some evidence for The objectives of the work on survival possible unifying mechanisms is emerging. At strategies are to examine them in representa the whole organism level the production of tive species from species-poor and isolated antifreeze agents to allow survival of sub-zero communities of an extreme environment and temperatures, the selection of especially to identify adaptations common to different favourable microhabitats and extension of the groups of Antarctic organisms. The Antarctic life cycle have all been identified as significant land environment where temperatures fall to strategies for survival for both individuals and below 50 deg C in the winter and rise to populations. +40deg C in the relatively short summer is Physiological studies so far suggest that much more severe than that within the South psychrotrophy, rather than psychrophily, is ern Ocean. likely to be the more common enzyme re Light levels in the lakes are low after snow sponse. At the cellular level, membrane struc and ice cover them, and osmotic stress of high ture and stability is thought to be of major salt concentrations are experienced in some importance in withstanding the mechanical, terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The high sul osmotic and physiological stresses of fre phide concentrations which also develop in quent freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles. many lakes is a further constraint on the survival of flora and fauna. Scientists have identified three areas of Ecosystems and particular interest as being colonisation, repro conservation. duction and population studies, and physio Investigation of the environmental char logical and biochemical strategies. acteristics of Antarctic ecosystems which are Little information is available worldwide on of major ecological importance, and organi primary colonisation at the cryptogamic and sation of data and specimens in an integrated microbial level and in Antarctica the limited resource centre, will provide essential eco pool of successful colonists provides only a restricted genetic base for each population. logical information on soils, nutrients and The short summers and extremes of tempera organisms for both terrestrial and freshwater ture and moisture make successful reproduc ecosystems. This will be of value in develop ing conservation policy and providing man tion difficult for both animals and plants and agement advice for protected areas. data are available only on the ability of a few Phenomena to be investigated in the organisms to colonise and survive such poten medium term are: Micro-environments, tially stressful environments. nutrient flux, ecosystems and conservation, Little is known of the dynamics of either and environmental monitoring. immigrant or endemic Antarctic populations. Limited observations have shown that the The sexual or asexual method of reproduction, micro-environments experienced by at least its frequency and success are unknown for some Antarctic organisms may ba much nearly all groups of organisms but the effects warmer and more sheltered than previously of environmental instability on population size believed. However all organisms are sub and integrity have not been investigated. The jected to repeated freeze/thaw and wet/dry simplicity of the natural systems makes them cycles, often with great rapidity and with especially valuable for the development of more important biological consequences as ecological theory. The geographically frag yet inadequately understood. mented nature of available land and freshwater Nutrient concentrations vary widely from habitats and the consequent isolation of their toxic concentrations in penguin rookeries to populations suggest that the Antarctic may almost undetectable levels of nitrogen and provide material for detailed investigations of phosphorous in inland fellfields. Biological 15 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 utilisation of these resources for growth and history of uncontrolled exploitation, first of survival is largely unknown. Localised biotic fur-seals and then of whales; several nations disturbance by seals and seabirds provides are now exploiting the intermediate levels of further dynamic change to these systems, and the food web (krill, squid and fish). although much work has been undertaken in Until there is quantitative understanding freshwater bodies, nutrient pathways are of the major energy pathways and the princi largely undefined in terrestrial ecosystems. pal interactions between components it will The simplicity of these systems allows an be impossible to utilise the living resources integrated investigation of whole catchments wisely and conserve the ecosystem. The re to characterise nutrient transfer from initial search of the Marine Life Sciences Division rock weathering through to lake sediments. (MLSD) on primary production, microbial processes, the population biology and ener Effective utilisation of environmental getics of krill and other zooplankton, fish and biological data population dynamics, seabird and seal ecol To utilise environmental and biological ogy and energetics is already of considerable data most effectively an integration into an strategic importance. This is because it forms ecosystem approach is both essential and a major input to the Commission for the critical for management advice but it has Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living been absent from almost all other national Resources (CCAMLR) which is formulating Antarctic programmes. Particular aspects of the legal framework and management guide change at the ecosystem level will be investi lines for the developing fisheries. gated by scientists by the synthesis of biologi MLSD research is also basic, in that the cal data for both terrestrial and freshwater various ecological, physiological and biochemi habitats. In support of this, information avail cal studies will continue to tackle processes of able from both within BAS and from else fundamental scientific importance. These where, will be organised into an accessible processes include some that can only be database. This, together with the large BAS studied in Antarctica. For example certain collection of plants, invertebrates and mi aspects of the evolutionary adaptation to low crobes, will form a new Antarctic resource temperatures. Others are applicable to the centre for all scientists working in terrestrial euphotic zone in most other areas of the and freshwater ecology. world's oceans. Many of these data are con The continuing and developing interest in tributing significantly to international collabo Antarctica and its resources poses a major rative scientific projects, co-ordinated by threat to unique terrestrial and lake ecosys SCAR, such as BIOMASS and its successors. tems. Already research stations and increased Current research also forms a vital input to tourism have damaged several areas and developing international scientific investiga enhanced the risk of accidental introduction tions of the ocean such as WOCE, BOFS and of alien species. It will be essential to provide JGOFS. Environmental Impact Assessment and man Understanding the function of the South- agement advice for considerable areas. em Ocean in its entirety is clearly an unattain Monitoring of the effects of climatic change able objective. Specific programmes have and the level of pollution will provide baseline therefore been selected carefully with due data for global programmes such as IGBP. regard to the time and space involved, as well as to the funding, staffing and ship time STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OFTHE available. There are three major programmes: SOUTHERN OCEAN ECOSYSTEM Pelagic ecosystem studies, higher predators Understanding the structure and dynam and ecological and physiological adaptations. ics of the Southern Ocean ecosystem is a The additional areas of related research particular requirement given the developing provide the environmental context for .the commercial exploitation of Southern Ocean ecosystem model, or monitor key aspects of living resources. The Southern Ocean has a the Southern Ocean environment including 16 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

physical oceanography and the concentra MASS). tions of hydrocarbons in water and biota. The biology of key squid and fish species, These major programmes are intimately linked as well as being the major nektonic predators and each contains a number of integrated of krill several of which are fished in the projects. A vitally important aspect of the Southern Ocean. They are also important as development of the main programmes is a prey for many bird and seal predators continuous assessment of both data and re (CCAMLR, BIOMASS). search strategy. This is achieved through a All data resulting from these studies to concurrent interactive modeling project which gether with ancillary environmental informa also assists in the maximum utilisation of data tion are incorporated in a large relational through the use of a carefully managed data database. As well as facilitating individual base. research efforts, this allows the use of a numerical model describing all principal inter PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM STUDIES (for actions within and between subsystems of the merly the Offshore Biological Pro pelagic ecosystem. Within the model, par gramme) ticular attention is paid to the time and These involve the study and modeling of spatial scales of variation of the individual the Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystem, components (BOFS, JGOFS, CCAMLR, BIO encompassing all main components of the MASS). plankton and nekton and their abiotic envi Additional areas of related research are ronment, as the means to evaluate possible Dynamics and Variability of the Antarctic impact from both natural and anthropogenic Circumpolar Current and Polar Frontal Zone changes. which aim to achieve an understanding of an Investigations are concerned mainly with important aspect of the Southern Ocean the biology of groups important as living environment (FRAM, WOCE) and measure resources, including the Antarctic krill, squid ment of hydrocarbons in water and biota. and fish. Here the programme makes a direct This is designed to define baseline levels input to CCAMLR. Aspects of biogeochemi against which any possible future hydrocar cal cycling will continue to be studied which bon pollution of the Southern Ocean can be are of critical importance in assessing the role assessed, (UNEP). of the Southern Ocean in global processes, such as carbon cycling. HIGHER PREDATORS The principal areas of research within the Investigation of the role of birds and seals programme concentrate on zooplankton, their as top predators in the marine food web, and food supply and nektonic predators. (The the nature and causes of change in their related current non-BAS projects are in population size and structure are closely linked. brackets.) The first is concerned with quantifying en The production and loss of microbial ergy flux especially in relation to krill abun particulate material in the euphotic zone, dance and availability to key seabird and seal spatial variability and relation to environ species, and involves pioneering research mental factors. Loss processes comprise on energy and activity budgets of free-ranging microbial recycling, grazing by zooplankton pelagic birds and mammals. It makes an and sedimentation from the euphotic zone, important contribution to the Southern Ocean (BOFS JGOFS). component of the UK BOFS programme Population dynamics, abundance and (energy flux out of the marine ecosystem) and distribution of krill and other zooplankton and to the research requirements of CCAMLR, the linking of these to macro- and meso- scale particularly where they are directed at the variation in the environment and food supply. ecosystem monitoring programme. Three For krill, special attention is paid to the special areas of research to be undertaken by characteristics and ecological significant of BAS scientists are diet, feeding, ecology and swarms (BOFS, JGOFS, CCAMLR, BIO behaviour and the bioenergetics of seabirds; 17 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

fur-seal diet, diving behaviour and bioenerget a cooled aquarium at Cambridge. The par ics; and elephant seal breeding physiology ticular combination of stable low temperature and bioenergetics and diet. and an intensively seasonal pattern of pro The second objective is to quantify and duction is peculiar to the high latitudes, and understand population changes in the main particularly the inshore marine environment seabird and seal species by measuring fecun of the southern ocean which forms a unique dity and mortality rates in relation to the nature laboratory. This allows the investiga effects of age, experience, mate quality and tor to distinguish, in a fundamental way, the the availability of resources, notably food and differing effects of temperature and food space. supply on the evolution of organisms. Re This research is making a direct contribu search at Signy can continue year round tion to the CCAMLR ecosystem monitoring allowing a full seasonal picture to be obtained programme. It is complemented by detailed for many processes. This forms a vital link to behavioural and physiological studies investi the pelagic studies where research is limited gating mechanisms of recruitment, the con to the duration of biennial, mainly summer straints facing adults rearing offspring and by cruises. the assessment of which parameters of sea- There are four specific components of the bird and seal breeding populations are the programme. most sensitive indices of change in the abun • Monitoring of the year-to-year variation in dance and, or availability of prey. If monitored ice cover, seawater macronutrient concentra these parameters would provide a standard tion, phytoplankton standing stock and verti data set against which the effects of commer cal particle flux. This routine project provides cial exploitation living resources in the South- valuable data enabling local variations to be em Ocean might be detected. related to the wider scale revealed by remote The six specific projects are: population sensing techniques. The long period study of size, structure and breeding biology of sea- the seasonal pattern of particle flux will provide birds; reproductive performance and survival a crucial link with the BOFS and JGOFS in black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses; programmes. mate selection and reproductive perform • Ecological physiology of selected nearshore ance in wandering albatrosses; population benthic marine invertebrates. Attention will dynamics of Weddell crabeater and elephant seals; fur seal population structure, social be directed at understanding how the biology relations and reproductive success; environ of key species of infauna and epifauna are mental monitoring using seabirds and seals. influenced by the seasonal nature of the environment. These studies will help under ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL stand the major ecological factors which shape ADAPTATIONS the various communities and predict how In this aspect of the overall programme these might react to future perturbations. BAS scientists will be seeking to understand • Physiology and biochemistry of krill and and model the ecological and physiological other key Southern Ocean zooplankton. It is responses by marine organisms to the low intended to develop detailed energy budgets temperature and extreme high seasonal char for selected species to elucidate the key meta acteristics of the Southern Ocean. bolic processes governing the ecology of the Ecological and physiological studies of major zooplankton groups (krill, copepods Southern Ocean marine biota are largely and gelatinous species). carried out at the research station on Signy • A study of adaptation to low temperature in Island and comprise the laboratory work the physiology of marine organisms particu complementing the pelagic system study. A small amount of research is also carried out in larly the partitioning of energy between main the UK using living organisms transported tenance, growth and reproduction will also be from the Southern Ocean and maintained in undertaken. 18 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

PHYSICS OF SOLAR TERRESTRIAL phere from below due to the different topog PHENOMENA FROM ANTARCTICA raphies and albedos of the two hemispheres. The response of the interactively coupled Two programmes are underway: Radio magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere wave generation and propagation, and en and upper atmosphere (termed GEOSPACE) ergy flow and dissipation within geospace. to the input of energy in the form of electro The objects are sub-sets of those of the ICSU magnetic radiation and plasma from the sun, Solar Terrestrial Energy Programme (STEP) is of increasing practical importance to man. and the International Solar Terrestrial Physics Disturbances can severely disrupt communica (ISTP) programme. The ISTP programme tions between ground stations using high fre includes the Global Geospace Science (GGS) quency radio links or geostationary satellites. programme of NASA of which BAS is a Images of earth recorded by satellite-borne principal investigator and the Solar Terres radar systems become distorted. Solar cells trial Physics plan of ESA and Japan. They are and micro-electronic equipment on satellites also related to the key objectives of the Polar are liable to deterioration or destruction, and Platform component of the proposed inter even man in high-flying aircraft is in potential national Space Station/Columbus pro danger. Electrical currents are induced in pipe gramme. In order to capitalise fully on satellite lines and powerlines, causing increased corro observations made on geomagnetic flux tubes sion and widespread power cuts. The action of from the plasmapause, through the auroral man may also have adverse effects on geospace; oval and into the antarctic polar cap, it will be very low frequency (VLF) radio waves, gener necessary to install a satellite telemetry receiv ated in long power lines or by navigation ing station at Halley. Further, an array of transmitters, can alter the distribution of charged Automated Geophysical Observatories is in particles within the magnetosphere. the detailed feasibility and planning phase. The research programmes of the Upper Experimental and theoretical investiga Atmosphere Sciences Division seek to use the tions of plasma waves and radio emissions in important opportunities afforded by Antarc the Earth's environment, their effects on tica to best advantage in order to understand charged particles, and their use as diagnostics the physics of the solar terrestrial phenomena of the magnetospheric plasma destruction and to develop theory and predictive models. are the objects of the programmes relating to The location of the British Antarctic Territory radio wave generation and propagation. (BAT) provides four unique reasons for con The current and proposed experimental ducting frontier research on solar terrestrial work is concentrated in seven areas and will physics. First, the geographic and geomag be undertaken through a study of the magne netic poles are much further apart in Antarc tospheric VLF wave and ULF phenomena in tica than they are in the Arctic. Thus features Antarctica. controlled by solar and geomagnetic proc Studies include wave-particle interactions esses can be distinguished. Geomagnetically and charged particle precipitation, including conjugate phenomena, observed simultane the Trumpi effect (i.e. ionospheric modifica ously at the two ends of a line of force of the tion by charged particle precipitation from Earth's magnetic field, in BAT and north the magnetosphere i which is triggered by eastern America, offer further special research whistler-mode waves); magnetospheric lasma opportunities. Second, the BAS region is a distribution, drifts and structures; ducted and preferred region for magnetospheric wave- non-ducted whistler mode propagation; mag particle interactions and for energetic electron netospheric modification via man- made elec precipitation into the upper atmosphere. Third, tromagnetic radiation; terrestrial myriametric it is a region relatively free from local radio and radiation from the plasmapause; auroral kilo- optical pollution and is therefore ideal for metric radiation and new signal-processing setting up sensitive instruments and fourth, techniques. there are significant north/south differences On-going VLF experiments at Halley and between the energy input to the upper atmos Faraday form state-of-the-art computer-con- 19 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 trolled investigations of the plasmapause and thermosphere (above 85km altitude) and inner plasmasphere. Future work will include mesopshere (50 to 85km), exploiting the geomagnetic conjugate studies of whistler- possibilities afforded by simultaneous geo- mode waves and their modulation by ULF matically conjugate observations in the Arctic waves, and observations from AGO's. The and Antarctic. The programme involves a research is supported by involvement in satel broad suite of experiments on the ionised and lite studies and is therefore concentrated in neutral atmosphere based at Halley with those areas in which BAS has internationally support at Faraday. The emphasis will be on recognised expertise - wave analysis tech studies of auroral and magnetospheric proc niques, theoretical research and scientific esses and their relationship to solar wind interpretation. As a Co-Investigator on the behaviour. proposed wave experiments for ESA's Specific studies include the formation, CLUSTER mission there will be: transport and decay of ionospheric irregulari Theoretical research into wave genera ties on open and closed geomagnetic field tion, tested using satellite data both from lines; plasma convection in the polar cap, earth and the other known magnetised plan auroral zone and main trough simulation in ets. The Group's Linear Mode Conversion both hemispheres (Polar Anglo-American Window (LMCW) theory, now internationally Conjugate Experiment PACE and their de accepted, has succeeded in explaining terres pendence on the interplanetary magnetic trial and satumian myriametric radiations and field vector and the transfer of energy to the jovian kilometric radiation. Considerable in neutral gas). Low altitude signatures of vestment has gone into development of a magnetospheric processes such as flux, trans programme (HOTRAY) for ray tracing in hot fer events and of the magnetopause current plasma and this will form a major tool for systems, response of the inner edge of the continued advances in the study of wave plasma sheet to disturbances associated with particle interactions, whistler-mode propaga auroral substorms and their temporal evolu tion, auroral kilometric radiation and terres tion. Propagation of energy deposited in the trial myriametric radiation. auroral oval to lower latitudes, via gravity By observing interplanetary scintillations waves, thermospheric winds and transport of (IPS) of distant radio sources, the passage of chemical energy; thermospheric and meso- three-dimensional plasma structures origi spheric sinks for the energy of charged par nating from a disturbance of the Sun can be ticles, such as those that populate the ring charted through the interplanetary medium, current in the magnetosphere and geomag the heliosphere. Maps of these structures, netic storm effects on the F-region plasma obtained daily, can be modelled theoretically concentration at sub-auroral and geomag and used to predict when a high speed solar netic mid latitudes. wind stream will strike the magnetosphere. In the medium term BAS will enhance Collaborative work with Cavendish Labora existing equipment and commence work in a tory, Cambridge, and US colleagues should new field of mesospheric dynamics in line lead to the production of "space weather with its broad objectives of studies of energy forecasts" which will be used for both ground- transfer and deposition. A new "partial reflec based and satellite studies of the magneto tions" mode of operation of the sphere. Advanced Ionspheric Sounder (AIS) is to be added at Halley. In the longer term BAS ENERGY FLOW AND DISSIPATION intends to acquire spatially distributed obser WITHIN GEOSPACE vations within the auroral oval and polar cap, Experimental and ground-based pro to give quantitative measurements of geospace grammes will study the flow of energy through energy transport and deposition. The spatial geospace from the solar wind, through plasma and temporal variations can only be observed in the magnetosphere and polar ionospheres, effectively by employing a co-ordinated inter to its deposition within the electrically neutral national array of Antarctic (AGO'S). BAS 20 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic intends to develop a basic instruments set for ment for night shift work make it possible to the AGO's consisting of a magnetometer, adjust the circadium rhythms in a number of riometer, VLF receiver and photometers and experimental ways. An understanding of to deploy these under the field of view of the melatonin may provide a treatment frame PACE radar. work for jet lag and sleep re-synchronisation in shift workers. The minor themes: BAS science strategy uses the isolation Data base and controlled living conditions of Antarctic A health care database is being developed stations to investigate bacterial epidemiology as a way of identifying medical areas needing and hormone interactions in humans. The detailed appraisal. Analyses from this data staff on the stations present unique opportu base are used to structure the content of nities to pursue certain lines of medical and training courses for doctors, to assess the value of preventive medicine and to identify physiological research. The population on each base is approximately a single age class, potential areas for future research topics. is physically fit, lives in isolation for much of the year, eats the same food and lives in a ANTARCTIC GEOGRAPHIC INFORMA single confined area. Similar groups are hard TION AND MAPPING to find and the subjects are generally willing to The future management of the Antarctic participate in experimental work and can be environment and resources sampled repeatedly for up to two years. By will demand sophisticated databases for running each project for several years a much the provision of information and scientific larger number of individuals can be sampled advice. On this the effects of new policies and than in most medical experiments thus allow regimes can be formulated. This requirement ing statistical analysis of data which has pre is now being recognised by the Antarctic viously been impossible from short-term Treaty System and SCAR, which is instigat experiments. ing measures to co-ordinate data. In response to global change strategies, Bacteria the demand for time-series measurements Population changes in human commen from Antarctica has developed. These will sal bacteria; Isolation and typification of bac increase particularly in regard to CRAMRA teria from skin, throat and gut at regular and CCAMLR. The BAS strategy involves intervals allows assessment of transmission co-ordination and improvement of BAS data between individuals, as does persistence of bases to exploit better cross-disciplinary links, strains in isolation over winter, effects of diet create new products for future research and and of re-inoculation in summer. The im support the developing programmes. mune status of individuals can also be moni Investigation and deployment of new tored and new methods for typing staphylo techniques for topographic and thematic coccus are being developed. mapping include digital cartography and geographic information systems. The power Melatonin ful combination of satellite imagery and Melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, is digital terrain models will be exploited. Links involved in the control of body rhythyms and will be established with other national and mood changes; secretion is diurnal and trig international databases where BAS activities gered by light/dark cycles. Large variations in can be influential in guiding supra-national natural day length together with the require Antarctic strategies. 21 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

USAP Affects of the Bahia Paraiso spill still being assessed Scientists, working under the auspices of Paraiso spill the distribution of hydrocarbons the United States Antarctic Program, will in the adjacent area will be studied. The continue monitoring the effects of the Bahia project leader is Dr Mahlon C Kennicutt II of Paraiso oil spill with two projects to be under the Geochemical and Environmental taken during the 1990-91 summer. The Reasearch Group, Texas A & M University Argentinean supply ship grounded on 28 with four associates. January 1989 after a visit to Palmer Station. Shortly after the accident a multidiscipli- Subsequently approximately 170,000 gal nary team was assembled under the auspices lons of diesel fuel, jet fuel and lubricating oil of the National Science Foundation and sent were spilt into the marine environment. Some into the area to evaluate the damage. As part of the fuel was carried out to sea but much of of this effort environmental chemists sought the rest was deposited onto the shores in the to determine the extent of hydrocarbon con immediate vicinty of the station or on the tamination and its ultimate fate. They sampled islands around Arthur Harbour. The area is of tissues from invertebrates and macroalgae, interest to scientists as it has been particularly sediments and water in affected and control notable for its abundant wildlife. areas, established for comparative purposes. Dr William Fraser of the Point Reyes Bird This season Benthic and intertidal samples Observatory in California notes that the spill will be taken in the Palmer Station area and coincided with the feeding, fledgling and within 12 miles of it from R/V Polar Duke. migration of the area's six most abundant From subsequent laboratory analysis they aim seabird species exposing between 36,000 to assess the chemical impact of the accident and 43,000 chicks and adults to the oil. on the environment and evaluate more broadly Studies done between 1987 and 1989 the significance and impact of petroleum have provided scientists with data on the releases relating to man's activities in the abundance, breeding, success, diets and polar regions. growth rates of many members of the seabird community, including chicks marked before Progress with Research the spill in 1988and those marked afterwards Vessel in 1989. From early December 1990 until The construction of the 300 ft research mid-March 1991 Dr Fraser and two associ ship with ice breaking capability, for the ates will continue penguin and seabird cen- United States Antarctic Programm, is re susing and observations of the breeding and ported to be well underway. It is to be named reproductive cycles. Working in Arthur Har the Nathaniel B. Palmer to commemorate the bour and in the rookeries on several islands American credited with the first sighting of including Litchfield and Dream they will cap Antarctica and for whom a station has already ture, band, weigh, measure, and analyse the been named. It is a class 3 icebreaker and will stomach contents of various birds before be capable of breaking ice up to three feet at releasing them, some with transmitters at three knots, to cut through pressure ridges of tached. It is a unique opportunity to assess the up to six feet above the ice surface and be able impact of the spill on a bird community in a to operate in sea ice throughout the year. The comparatively pristine polar environment. In a second project related to the Bahia vessel should be delivered in January 1992. 22 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

Sub-Antarctic 7,000 penguins die on Macquarie Island

The bodies of 7,000 King penguin chicks On August 16 the Tasmanian Minister for and some adults were found on June 11, Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, Mrs Judy piled on top of one another at Lusitiania Bay, Jackson, released a report after an exhaustive on the southern end of Macquarie Island by departmental investigation into the stampede. Darryl Binns, the Wildlife Ranger. Panic, She said that a lot of possible causes had been stampede and suffocation contributed to the eliminated. The report, however concluded deaths but, despite enquiries, the cause has "that a major sustained disturbance is the not yet been confirmed. The colony with most probable explanation for a stampede of some 250,000 birds is one of the world's such magnitude. The approach of a large largest. aircraft at low altitude is consistent with such Darryl Binns is one of the 16 men and a disturbance." women wintering on the Island. They were "For this reason the circumstances of the resupplied by a RAAF C130 Hercules "Stal RAAF air drop on 30 May, 1990 were closely lion 208" from 36 Squadron, Richmond in examined. While the investigation was un New South Wales at 1240 hours on 30 May. able, on the basis of the evidence available, to The aircraft dropped 15 loads of supplies and attribute the stampede to any particular cause, other items in sunny conditions with a light it has revealed some inadequacies in the westerly wind. current permit conditions and guidelines Following allegations that the resupply governing use of aircraft at Macquarie Island. flight might have caused or contributed to the The measures outlined in the report include stampede the RAAF conducted an independ new strict guidelines governing where and ent enquiry. According to a press report when aircraft can fly in relation to breeding issued from the office of the Minister for seabird colonies." Defence Senator Robert Ray "the investiga Interdepartmental co-operation is now tion found nothing unusual or unprecedented being sought regarding the implementation about the RAAF flight which approached the of the guidelines. island in late May, about the time the pen guins were thought to have died. Senator Ray said crew testimonies indicated the aircraft remained well clear of known sensitive areas and at least one nautical mile from Lusitania Bay. Second ascent of Low level flights around the island after airdrops were normal practice and some Mt. Huggins since 1958 times required by both the Australian Antarc tic Division and Tasmanian Department of Two Otago University geologists, Simon Parks, Wildlife and Heritage. Senator Ray Cox and Brenton Worley, made the first said reports from aircrews involved in previ ascent of Mt. Huggins (3,733 metres) by the ous surveys and census studies of penguin east ridge on 19 December, 1989. The two colonies showed the birds were not normally men, who were working with the NZARP alarmed by aircraft flying overhead. The air programme in the Royal Society Range crew had sighted seals and penguins in the climbed from a tent camp at 2,000 metres, drop area at the northern end of the island and reached the summit at 11.10 a.m. and these had shown no signs of distress because of the aircraft. Continued on page 31 23 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

N.Z. Polar Medals awarded Two New Zealanders have been awarded the polar medal in the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours, announced in June. They are Garth Varcoe, technical services officer with the newly renamed DSIR, Antarctic and Alex Pyne, Expedition Manager, Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University, Wellington. New Zealand's Polar Medal is the same as From 13 January 1978 to 13 December that awarded by the United Kingdom. Author 1986 he held the position of Building and ity to grant the medal was sought after the Services Officer, Antarctic Division and on 4 return of Captain Scott's first expedition and October 1987 he was formally made Tech announced in The Times on 14 Septemeber nical Services Officer to the division. 1904. The precedence was already estab lished by the eariler of the Arctic Medal. On 16 October 1933 King George V issued a decree declaring that all Polar Medals be silver but some bronze had been struck for those, who it spite of good conduct, did not complete Scott Expedition and for subsequent lesser degrees of service but still within the terms of the award. The medal's awarded to the New Zealand ers however are silver. The obverse was design by Mrs Mary Gillick and is currently the coin age head of Queen Elizabeth II while the reserve of all the medals was designed by E.G. Gillick and features Discovey in "Winter quar ters" with a sledging party of six in the fore Alex Pyne ground on skis in front off a heavily laden sledge with sail. In the course of 25 visits he has worked in Antarctica for the equivalent of two and a quarter years providing unparelled service to NZARP and the New Zealand Antarctic com munity by supervising the rebuilding of Scott Base and Vanda station, managing MSSTS drilling project (August to December 1979), supporting field science programmes through the management of traverse tractor trains, establishing the NZARP field communica tions system, managing and maintaining the programme's record in fire safety and over seeing vehicle operations. Varcoe's services have been conspicuous in ensuring the success of science programmes Garth Varcoe and in the maintenance of safe and efficient operations of New Zealanders in Antarctica. "Alex Pyne" has, in the terms of his cita According to the citation Varcoe has made tion, "made a major contribution to the New a major contribution to the New Zealand Zealand Antarctic Research programme since Antarctic Research programme over ten years. 1978. He has spent a total of 26 months on Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic the Antarctic continent between 1977 and by Fuchs and his party. 1988. For most of this time he worked on Of the ten awards in 1969 one was post studies of floor sediment along the Victoria humous. It was to Murray Robb, who win Land coast. For this project he developed tered at Scott Base in 1958 and died in a car equipment for sea floor sampling that has crash in March 1961. Among other names in resulted in two PhD theses, several substantial the list are those of K.J. Salmon, scientific scientific articles, and the definitive bathymetric leader at Hallett Station in 1958, G.A. M. map of the McMurdo Sound. King, who wintered in the same year W. R. Last season he set up the first continu Lucy, first winter leader at Vanda Station, and ously recording tide guage in the continent in Wally Herbert. the Ross Sea region. However, his outstand The full list of recipients is: ing contribution to the New Zealand Antarctic 1958: Ayres H.H.;Balham(Dr)R.W.; Research Programme and to Antarctic sci Bates, J.G.; Bucknell E.S.; Carlyon R.A.*; ence was the management of the onsite sci Claydon Squadron Leader J.R.; Cranfield, ence for the CIROS drilling programme. This Flying officer W.J.; Douglas, M.H.; Ellis M.R.; involved considerable planning and develop Gawn, J.E.*; Gerard, V. B.; Gunn, B.M.; ment of core processing equipment as well as Haslop, Flight Lieutenant G.*; Hatherton, Dr the time and effort spent on the ice (three T.; Hillary, Sir Edmund; Humphries, J.G.; months in 1984 and four months in 1986) to Ingham, C.E.; Langevad, M.W.; Lowe, W.G. set up the science facility and supervise the MacDonald W.I.; Miller, Sir Holmes'; core processing. According to the citation Mulgrew, P.D.*; Orr, R.H.*; Sandford, H.N.; "The success of CIROS, is in large part due to Tarr, Sergeant L.W.; Warren, G. Pyne's planning and close liaison with the 1969: Burrows, A.L.; Clark, CM.; Ford, drilling team. He has personnally made a M.R.; Graveson, J.F.; Harrington, Dr H.J.; notable contribution to the exploration and Hayter, A.G.; Heine, A.J.; Herbert W.W.; knowledge of Antarctica through his develop Hewson, D.W.; Hunt, P.J.; Judd, B.M.; King, ment and operation of oceanogrtaphic equip G.A.; Lewis, A.G.; Logie, W.R.; Lowe, D.R. ment to stduy the sedimentary processes Lucy, W.R.; Massam D.G.; Matterson, G.J.; along the Victoria Land coast, and most Otway, P.M.; Pain, K.P.; Prebble, M.M.; recently through the CIROS drilling pro Robb, R.M."; Roberts, A.R.*; Salmon, K.J.; gramme. Sandford, B.P.; Sheehan, M.J. Thomson, Since 1957 the Polar Medal has been R.B.; Wise, K.C.; Yates, P.A. awarded to 79 New Zealanders and one 1972: Johnson, I.P.; Lowe, H.P.; Webb, Englishman who have served in the Ross W.J. Dependency with the Antarctic research 1978: Barker, Major J.R.; Barrett, Dr programme, the Commonwealth Trans-Ant P.J.; Bromley, A.M.; Hoffman, J.E. Laird Dr arctic Expedition or the New Zealand Interna M.G.; Wilson, Dr AT. tional Geophysical winter teams at Scott Base 1984: Dawrant, A.J.; Rankin, J.S.; Skin and Hallett Station. The Englishman was ner, Dr D.N.; Thomson, J.R.; Weatherall, K. W.W. (Wally) Herbert who served with the Mel.; Wing, M.R. Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (now 1986: Lewis, G.H.; McKelvey, Dr B.C.; British Antarctic Survey), and then with the New Zealand programme in the 1960-61 Nelson, P.R.; Roper, C.A.; Saxby, E.J.; Slat tery, L.B. and 1961-62 seasons. 1990: Varcoe and Pyne In 1958 the Polar Medal was awarded to * Deceased 26 New Zealand members of the TAE and Footnote: Several New Zealanders have ICY teams. Eight recipients served at Scott been awarded the Polar Medal for service Base and Hallett Station in the IGY teams with FIDS, BAS and Australian National headed by the chief scientist, Dr Trevor Hath Antarctic Research Expeditions. Among them erton; two, George Lowe and Flight Lieuten are Captain David Tumbull (BAS), B.H. St- ant Gordon Haslop, then serving in the Royal inear, I.S. Adams and B.F. Clifford, (AN Air Force, shared in the crossing of Antarctica ARE). 25 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

Greenpeace completes fifth year of Antarctic operation

Plans for the 1990-91 Greenpeace Ant second part of the expedition primarily to arctic Expedition have not yet been announced resupply its World Park Base on Ross Island. but the second part of last season's expedi Three stations, New Zealand's Scott Base, tion concluded officially in Dunedin on 16 U.S. McMurdo Station, the Italians BaiaTerra March 1990. It was the organisations fifth Nova were visited for the fourth time. A third year of Antarctic operations and in the first of visit was made to the French Station Dumont two major voyages comprising the expedi d'Urville. The ship also called at Macquarie tion, they visited 15 occupied stations includ Island in the Australian Antarctic territory on ing five for the first time, eight abandoned its return to New Zealand. stations and two refuges in the Peninsula It was the second season of operation for area, and the unoccupied Peruvian Station MV Gondwana, a 61.2 meter polar supply built in 1989. Additionally they visited the ship purchased by Greenpeace in 1988. The abandoned whaling stations on South Geor vessel was built in 1975, is 1,435 tons gross, gia. (Vol 11. No 12). and carries an ice classification of DNV-1 Al MV Gondwana departed Christchurch, Ice IB. It carries up to 33 crew and passengers New Zealand on 12 January 1990 for the and was skippered last season by Arne Soren-

MV Gondwana working through the pack south of the Peninsula ■ Photo Greenpeace. Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

son. The expedition co-ordinator was Dr Maj of human activities and to be able to express de Poorter. Four independent journalists its views directly "either through discussion accompanied the expedition and a four per or direct action." son film crew from Fox Broadcasting (UK) The organisation provided a copy of the was also on board for part of the voyage to the ship's itinerary for all delegations attending Peninsula region. the XV Antarctic Treaty Consultative meet Antarctic Treaty Recommendation XIV-2 ing in Paris in October 1989. They also 1959 established a process for environmental confirmed their pending visit with the officers assessment of scientific research programmes in charge of most stations two or more days as well as the associated logistic support. At before their arrival. recent successive consultative meetings the Last season's "inspection" strategy process has gradually become more refined comprised a visit by between two and four and national operators are now called on to campaigners, and a film team when possible, evaluate proposed activities in an "Initial along with independent journalists. On each Environmental Evaluation" (IEE) to determine visit the team asked first about the "no go whether the impact will be significant. Should areas" Specially Protected Areas (SPA's) and this be so, a Comprehensive Environmental Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's). Evaluation (CEE), must be prepared and the The campaigners then interviewed the base activity assessed by the nation before it can leader and other relevant personnel; the proceed. The mechanism exists within the purpose of the sessions being to introduce treaty but it is the responsibility of individual Greenpeace to the station teams and accord nations to implement the regulations and ing to the expedition's report "to discuss guidelines. However under Treaty Article 7.1 various issues, including waste management, each nation also has the right to inspect station operation and logistics, environmental another's base and a number of inspections impact assessment, protected areas, tourism have taken place in accordance with the and mining." A visual inspection of the station recommendation. and environment was then made and docu Greenpeace remains the only non-gov mented photographically. In some cases ernmental organisation to maintain a perma samples of soil, water and effluent were taken nently occupied base in Antarctica. As such for subsequent ship board analysis. they are not part of the Antarctic Treaty. In With the combination of the ongoing their latest expedition report Greenpeace awareness of the treaty nations themselves state the functions of their campaign as being and Greenpeace campaigning environmental to alert the public to threats facing the region, components are featuring increasingly in the provide opportunity for on-site investigation various national artarctic programmes.

TOURISM Twelve voyages to Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic this summer

Using two vessels the World Discoverer tralian Antarctic territories. and the Society ExplorerSociety Expeditions Built in 1974 and completely refurbished of Seattle are planning a total of 12 visits to in 1984 the World Discoverer carries 140 the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic this summer. passengers in its 78 cabins while the Society This will represent a substantial increase in Explorer, built in 1969 and refurbished in the number of tourists visiting the region and 1985 carries 98 passengers. Both vessels more voyages to the New Zealand and Aus were designed specifically for adventure ex- 27 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 ploration and have unrestricted A ice-class World Discoverer will take passengers to the ratings. fiords of New Zealand while the Society The World Discoverer will operate out of Explorer will conclude vwith visits to the Chil Sydney and Hobart and New Zealand's Bluff, ean Fiords. Christchurch and Milford Sound. Australia and The fares for Antarctic or sub-Antarctic New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands will be bound passengers include expedition sup visited three times by the World Discoverer, port materials, shipboard charges and shore twice before making two visits to Antarctica. excursions as well as meals. In addition pro The islands, to be visited, include Auckland, fessional guides conduct lectures and semi Campbell, Snares, Balleny, Macquarie and du nars to help inform passengers. Monte d'Urville. The two voyages to Antarc From July 1991 a further vessel the Soci tica entitled "In search of the Emperor Penguin ety Adventurer will join the tourist fleet. and In the Footsteps of Scott and Shackleton" The first voyage is scheduled to leave will take passengers to sub-Antarctic Islands en Auckland on January 10 for Campbell Island route as well as to McMurdo Sound, Cape's before going onto Balleny Island, McMurdo Royds and Evans, Terra Nova Bay, Cape's Sound, Capes Royds and Evans, Terra Nova Hallett and Adare, Commonwealth Bay. Costs Bay, Coulman Island, Capes Hallet and Adare. for the cruises vary between UK £2,618 and It will then go via the Mertz Glacier, Du Monte £8469. d'Urville, Commonwealth Bay, the Auckland Operating initially out of Rio de Janiero but Islands, the Snares Islands and Bluff after subsequently from Santiago the Society which the passengers will fly to Auckland on Explorer's itinieries focus on the Falkland Is February 6 by which time the passengers for lands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Pen the second expedition are due to embark in insula. Charges for these voyages range from Bluff. £4,127 to £6,574. The final voyage of the

Obituaries Kershaw - legend in a lifetime Giles Kershaw died in Antarctica on 6 Division of the British Antarctic Survey, has March, 1990. He was killed flying a gyrocop- described him as the most accomplished pilot ter which crashed on the Jones Ice Shelf east in the history of Antarctic aviation. of Adelaide Island off the West coast of the James Edward Giles Kershaw of High Antarctic Peninsula. At the time he was work Wycombe and Hong Kong was bom in the ing with an American Adventure Film Com Indian state of Kerala, 27 August 1948. He pany Mike Hoove Productions from a yacht spent his early years in Kerala where his love called Sole. The gyrocopter, which was being of flying began as a result of his father's job, spraying tea and rubber plantations from the tested as a camera platform, was caught in a air. He was educated in Britain and wanted to cross wind and overturned. make a career in the Royal Air Force. Aston One of the most experienced of power ishingly, he failed to pass the pilot's medical pilots Kershaw spent 15 years of his 20 year because of his eyesight, but with his parents' career flying in Antarctica and in the Arctic. support he gained his private pilot's licence He was regarded by his contemporaries as an and after his fathers death, he supported Antarctic pilot without peer. Dr Charles Swith himself with odd jobs until he obtained his inbank, former head of the Earth Sciences commercial licence. 28 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

In 1974 Kershaw answered an advertise Antarctic March 1981, pages 156-161; Also ment for a pilot with the British Antarctic "To the Ends of the Earth," Fiennes, for the Survey. For five years he flew ski-wheel Twin rescue of four and not three South African Otter aircraft, transporting BAS staff and scientists, pages 123-126.) In 1981 he was equipment to field camps far from permanent awarded the Sword of Honour by the British stations. This required extraordinary flying Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators after his skills in hazardous and highly unpredictable rescue of these scientists who had been lost in weather conditions. Antarctica for eight days. According to Charles Swithinbank, while When Fiennes and his companions com with BAS, he once flew 214 hours in a six pleted their crossing Kershaw flew the week period, much of it at a height of only 30 expedition's Twin Otter from Williams Field feet over the surface. (The record may never in McMurdo Sound to Dunedin and then to be bettered as it is now illegal in a single-pilot Christchurch and back to Britain. He made aircraft.) Swithinbank also says in spite of the his last flight for Transglobe in the first week cowboy image "every flight was the product of October 1981 when he brought supplies to of meticulous planning and constant aware Alert on Ellesmere Island for the journey to ness of changing options. I have never seen the North Pole. By that time he and his flight Giles rattled. Once, when the cockpit filled engineer, Sergeant Gerry Nicholson, had with acrid smoke and I thought the end of our flown 1,000 hours for Transglobe and cov world had come, he calmly flew on to a safe ered the equivalent of five times around the site, landed and extracted the fire extinguisher. world in 18 months. Later, questioning his utter tranquility in the Next Kershaw conducted ski operations circumstances, he confided that it was the in the Arctic with the Triturbo, a modified DC- fourth fire in mid-air in four years." 3 fitted with three turboprop engines. Early in Kershaw left BAS in 1979 and was awarded 1984 he flew the Triturbo to Antarctica, the Polar Medal for his services with BAS. He carrying members of the Seven Summits then worked as a commercial airline pilot expedition to the Ellsworth Mountains so that first, as a captain with Britannia Airways, and two Americans, Dick Bass and Frank Wells later as a first officer on Boeing 747's with could climb the highest mountain on each Cathay Pacific. But he returned regularly to continent by making the ascent of the Vinson work in the Arctic and Antarctic during their Massif, Antarctica's highest peak. respective summer seasons. Kershaw then began the world's first A tireless and resourceful pilot with great commercial Antarctic Airline, flying a Twin powers of concentration and endurance Otter between Punta Arenas and the Ellsworths Kershaw devoted much of his ability to mak by way of King George Island. He was a ing the Antarctic more accessible to private founding director of Adventure Network In enterprise. His belief that the continent should ternational, the Vancouver based Company not be the preserve of military and govern established to fly climbers and tourists to ment agencies, and his independence of spirit Antarctica, and provide logistic support for sometimes put him at odds with officialdom. private expedition. But in the last ten years he has provided air ANI pioneered the route to the Ellsworths support for private expeditions which crossed in the summer of 1985 with a chartered ski- Antarctica or reached the South Pole on foot, equipped Twin Otter. The first round trip was transported climbers to the Ellsworth Moun made by Kershaw. The next year he was tains, and enabled tourists to travel to the Pole again busy flying climbers to the Ellsworths, by air and on skis. and also providing support for a South Ko Kershaw played a vital role in the first rean Research Expedition. stage of the British Transglobe expedition led In 1984-86 he was responsible for advis by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. As its pilot in 1979- ing the Footsteps of Scott Expedition. When 81 he provided constant support for the Robert Swan, Roger Mear and Gareth Wood crossing party, flying fuel and supplies over reached the South Pole in January 1986, great distances without any backup. (See Kershaw was at Cape Evans with a single- 29 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 engined Cessna 186 which had been brought Blue ice runways aboard the expedition ship, Southern Quest. Both ANI and their chief pilot wanted a Before the ship was caught in heavy pack ice better way to reach inland destinations, even and sank, plans had been made for the three the South Pole. Kershaw provided the answer walkers to be flown back to Cape Evans in the by suggesting they explore the possibility of Cessna. landing a wheeled transport aircraft on snow Kershaw had calculated that the aircraft free blue ice areas. Both BAS and the Na could make the trip, loaded with extra fuel and tional Science Foundation had been aware of 80 days' emergency rations. The United States bare icefields since 1974. authorities, who had rescued everyone aboard Dr Charles Swithinbank, joined Kershaw the Southern Quest, disagreed. Swan, Mear in December 1986 to survey possible sites for and Wood were flown to Ross Island by a U.S. large aircraft in the Heritage Range of the Hercules. Ellsworths. They found what they needed at Three men, Wood, Steve Broni and Tim Patriot Hills (80deg 19minS/81deg 20 min Lovejoy remained at Cape Evans for the W). winter of 1986. Swan planned to send a ship To prove the concept, arrangements were back in the 1986-87 summer to pick up his made in 1987 with a Canadian firm to lease men and remove the base building, stores and a Douglas DC-4. ANI leased two Twin Otters equipment. This was not possible, and the from the firm and took bookings from climb three men had to be brought back by air. ers heading for the Vinson Massif and tourists Arrangements were made with ANI early in who wanted to set foot at the South Pole. December 1986 for the operation. On November 21 the DC-4 made the first Once again Kershaw was called on and landing on the 3,400m blue ice runway. In made perhaps the most remarkable of all his spite of the opposition to the flight, which flights. He flew his specially equipped long- covered such a distance that fuel sufficient for range Twin Otter 2698nm from Punta Are 24 hours in the air as well as a useful load had nas to Cape Evans by way of King George and to be carried, the concept was proved. Eleven Adelaide Islands and the Ellsworth Moun more flights were made in December and tains. Swan and Kershaw arrived at Cape January and by the middle of that month, Evans on December 15. They spent less than Antarctic Airways was in business carrying 32 36 hours on Ross Island, refueled the aircraft, passengers to and from the South Pole. They and took off for Punta Arenas on the evening flew in the DC-4 to the Patriot Hills, and then of December 16. Kershaw was at the con onward to the Pole. Kershaw planned even trols for almost 32 hours of the flight, part of tually to use jet aircraft on these routes. which was made in stormy weather and with In the 1988-89 season Kershaw was ice building up on the wings and the fuselage. flying a Twin Otter in East Antarctica with Early on the evening of December 17 the Dick Smith, the Australian Electronics mil Twin Otter landed at Punta Arenas. Kershaw lionaire and pilot. Between early November caught up on his sleep, and completed his and late May they flew around the world by flight plan by flying the aircraft back to Cal way of the South and North Poles in four gary. separate flights. Kershaw landed at the Since the summer of 1985 ANI and South Pole twice. He completed his part in Kershaw have made it possible for mountain the circumnavigation at Hong Kong as he had eering parties to fly from Punta Arenas to the to return to duty with Cathay Pacific Airways. Ellsworth Mountains to climb the Vinson Dick Smith made his Twin Otter available Massif or other high peaks. But the Twin to the Australian Antarctic Division to sup Otter was unsuited to carry passengers or port its research programme. He and Ker cargo economically over the 3,000km dis shaw flew the wheeled aircraft from Hobart to tance from South America to the Mountains. It had to land twice to refuel and had room for Casey on November 5, the first flight ever attempted from Australia to its Antarctic only eight paying passengers. Territory. By November 29, the two pilots 30 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic had flown to every Australian base, four Soviet He was concerned with the replacement of Bases, and Japan's Syowa Station. the DC-4 by a DC-6 on the Punta Arenas- On November 22 the aircraft was flown Patriot Hills Route, Twin Otter flights and from Casey to the Greenpeace World Park ANI's logistic support for the international ex Base at Cape Evans. Smith and Kershaw pedition led by Will Steger and Jean-Louis reached the Pole on November 24 to arrange Etienne which completed on March 3, an un- a fuel depot. They flew from Casey to Vostok mechanised crossing of Antarctica from East on November 29 and were at the Pole the next to West in 217 days. day. This next landing was at Patriot Hills, and In addition to the Polar Medal and Sword then the Twin Otter followed the Antarctic of Honour Kershaw, 41 at the time of his Airways route to Punta Arenas, arriving on death, was a Fellow of the Royal Geological December 3. Society. He leaves a wife and one son James, Early in February Dick Smith flew the Twin from his first marriage. As to aviation Swith Otter from Punta Arenas to the United States. inbank writes "We are seeing the start of a After several Arctic flights Smith left the air process that could change the face of Antarc craft in Calgary- In May last year the East tic aviation. None of it would have happened Antarctic team - Smith, Kershaw and the without Giles Kershaw. His prodigious skill in Canadian engineer Robert Toma, were reu handling aircraft was matched by great per nited in Calgary. An Aeroflot navigator and sonal charm and unfeigned modesty. I have translator, Vladimir Gorinski, accompanied not known anyone else who could so invari them on the first flight over the North Pole, the ably disarm critics with courtesy and calm Soviet Arctic and Siberia. debate. Polar aviation has lost a pilot who On May 14 the Twin Otter took off from became a legend in his lifetime." Resolute, on Cornwallis Island. It was headed for Spredniy, a tiny island, part of the Sever- Continued from page 23 naya Zemlya Group, more than 2500km away. This was only the second ascent of the Robert Swan's international Icewalk expedi mountain since January 1958. The first as tion had reached the North Pole at 3 a.m. cent was made from the west by two mem Three hours later the Twin Otter flew over the bers of the Northern Party of the New Zea team, In a packet containing salami, choco land section of the Commonwealth Trans- late, and magazines dropped to Swan's men Antarctic Expedition. They were Dr Bemie was a note from Kershaw saying "Sorry, I Gunn, an Otago University geologist now can't land, but I told you I'd be here". living in Auckland, and, Lieutenant Com After the nine-hour flight and a landing in mander Richard Brook, R.N., a naval sur poor visibility at Spredniy conditions improved veyor, who was one of two Englishmen se and were good all the way across Siberia. In lected by Sir Vivian Fuchs for the New Zea less than a week the Twin Otter was at Ulaan- land party. bataak, Capital of Mongolia. Gun and Brooke were in the field with Vladimir Gorinski left the team there, and their dogs for 127 days and sledged more than 1,600km. They climbed 29 mountains Smith, Kershaw and Toma flew across the for survey purposes and two for pleasure. Chinese border to Beijing where they landed One of these was Mt. Huggins (78deg 17 min only two hours after martial law had been S/162 deg 29 min E). Their approach was declared. Their stay was cut short by one day made by way of the Trench Glacier. It was because of the possible closure of air space. impassable for dogs and so, leaving them On May 21 the Twin Otter arrived in Hog behind, Gunn and Brooke took a bivvy tent Kong. Kershaw returned to duty with Cathay and supplies for two days. On January 25 Pacific Airways and Captain Stuart Weston they established their high camp near the replaced him for the flight to Sydney by way head of the glacier at 2,436 metres. They of Brunei and Bali. began their ascent at 6 a.m. on January 26 During the 1989-90 summer Kershaw reaching the summit at 2 p.m. and were back was back in Antarctica with Antarctic Airways. in camp at 7 p.m. 31 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

Books First English translation of Drygalski - outstanding The Southern Ice-Continent - The German South Polar Expedition aboard the Gauss 1901-1903, by Erich von Drygalski, translated by M.M. Raraty and published by Bluntisham Books, ErskinePress, 1989. UK £49.95. Originally published in German as Zum Kontinent des eisigen Sudens: Deutshe Sudpolarexpedition fahrten und forschung des 'Gauss' 1901-1903 by Georg Reimer, Berlin, 1904 Upstaged by Belgium, a smaller nation locate the south magnetic pole. "Men of Ger with fewer naval and possibly scientific preten man nationality, had until that time (of the sions but, whose Antarctic expedition was expedition! been no more than supporting concluded three years before, the German players in the process of fixing those few South Polar Expedition was the product of locations so far known on the continent and powerful nationalistic influences. However it worse, England, France, the United States, began as a private undertaking and its timing Russia, Belgium, Holland and Norway ranked virtually paralleled that of the National Antarc higher for their "southern efforts." tic Expedition. Scott, in fact, left England in As seemed to be customary the expedi Discovery five days before Drygalski left Kiel in tion suffered financial troubles at least in the the Gauss and was going to relatively familiar beginning. Initially the tasks of fundraising territory; the German's whose polar experi and publicity were undertaken by various ence was limited anyway, and mostly confined committees but as interest grew the idea to the north, had in many ways a more com attracted increasing support from the Treas plicated expedition which was internationally ury, the Imperial Navy and the Royal Prussian overshadowed by the British in spite of the Ministry of Culture. Through the Commis intention that it should in many respects be sion it eventually became a state affair with full complementary. support of King and Emperor from April Scott was able to establish and work from 1899. a stable base. Drygalski's party, beset in the ice Estimates of the cost finally concluded a from 4 a.m. on 22 February, 1902 until one, or two ships for safety, debate. The sometime between 8 and 20 February 1903, choice of Drygalski, with his extensive Green had to fix his winter station 90km from land, land experience, as leader seemed unques surrounded by icebergs with his scientific and tioned from the beginning although whether other outgoing parties often wondering if they the ship would be under military or civilian would find the ship on their return. command was a matter of dispute. The International Polar Year of 1882-83, With the ship to be built, crew and initiated at the Second International Meteoro scientists to be selected and their programme logical Congress at Rome in 1879, led to the defined there was much to be done in a establishment of two German observatories relatively short time and the project came one of which was on South Georgia. In 1898- together from three different centres. In 9 the German Deep Sea Expedition in the Potsdam the buildings for stations in Antarc Valdivia rediscovered and correctly charted tica and Kerguelen where a magnetics station Bouvet Island and came close to Enderby was to be established, were designed and Land. prepared for subsequent construction. Equip G.v Neumayer's, Director of the German ment was assembled in Berlin and in the Marine Observatory, a key protagonist and meantime, as described in Chapter one the who chaired the six meetings of the German task of building and fitting the ship was centred Commission established to investigate the on the Howaldt Shipyards in Kiel. This aspect feasibility of the expedition, was interested in was supervised by a nominee of the Reich terrestrial magnetism and its application to Marine Office within the Nautical Division of practical navigation. Ross having located the the Reich Admiralty, who we are told dealt north magnetic pole in 1831 was sent by the sympathetically with the changes requested Admiralty on his expedition in 1839-43 to during construction. Tenders were required 32 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic by November 1899 with completion sched and accommodation for the crew. Machinery uled for 1901. Timbers were carefully se and engines are also described and there is lected for a design and construction ensuring discussion of the preferred coals for use under maximum strength as well as interior space. differing conditions and speeds and opera Seasoned oak provided the bulk of the mate tions. rial but Pitch Pine, Greenheart, Fir and Teak Each of the scientific staff, officers and as well as Oregon pine were used. Iron and men is described in a series of potted biog other metal parts were kept to a minimum but raphies covering a little of their background, "armoured sheathing on the bow and stem their skills, describing their personalities and consisted of steel plate as did the transverse how they fitted into the general scheme of the bulkheads enclosing the engine and boiler expedition. Their conditions of service, remu rooms." Cork mixed with various additives neration, insurance and the expedition's provided the basic insulation and lino was general orders are all detailed. used on the floors. Ironwork was coated with The ship's trials, final preparations and red lead and painted and pipework was cop loading, the anxiety of the first few days of the per. voyage, problems with scientific equipment In May 1900 the keel was laid with the ribs have all also been included: Drygalski writes in place by the end of September. By Decem "It is after all in the first few days that one can ber the planking was finished and in January tell how far 32 men, drawn from all walks of 1901 internal fitting began. On April 1902 life to a common task, will be able to work the ship was launched. It was handed over by together. We managed marvelously the middle of May. Essentially it was a three well... .There were almost no irritations, which masted auxiliary barquentine, fully rigged on augured well for our eventual success. Fur the five foremast yards, while the middle or thermore we were, of course, all in excellent mainmast and rear or mizzenmast were each heart it is surely because of this that the rigged without yards, but fore-and-aft like a problems we experienced at the outset with schooner, with booms and gaffs and with our scientific equipment and other gear were staysails. Its sails were supplemented by an bom cheerfully rather than with annoyance. auxiliary engine. The size was dictated, by Our keenness was irrepressible, and we tried scientific, rigging and manning requirements everything at once. and maneuverability based on Arctic experi The ship however proved extremely heavy ence. and progress in the open sea was slower than The vessel would be named the Gauss expected, appetites diminished in the tropics, after Karl Friedrich Gauss 1777 — 1855, a and heat related problems such as melting mathematician who published his theory of pitch and leaks caused by drying wood ap terrestrial magnetism in 1828 and 1839 and peared with the ship and some of the equip successfully predicted the approximate loca ment. The pressure exposed quirks among tions of the magnetic poles. She was 46 some of the personnel. Some-body kept and metres in length with overall breadth of 11.27 published a diary in the expedition's newspa metres and gross tonnage at load draught in per for the dog, a setter named Treff in seawater of 1,238 tons. The Gauss was which he remarked "all sorts of items vital to initially given three coats of white oil paint the expedition have been left behind; all kinds inside, except in the saloon where the natural of unnecessary objects have been brought colour was retained. Outside she was white with us. What rational purpose can be served until they reached Capetown when she was by a water bucket? painted black, the colours being reversed on Observations, soundings and meteoro the return journey. logical work were made from an early stage in Extensive written and diagrammatic detail the expedition. Cores were obtained from the is provided on stowage and living spaces, the seabeds and trawls made, temperatures were fourteen cabins for the scientific members recorded, water samples and various biologi and officers, the laboratories and work areas cal programmes involving fish and birds were 33 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 undertaken. Geomagnetic observations in 1901 they moved to Observation Bay which cluded declinites and itensities were recorded had been visited by the British in 1874 and to supplement the magnetic programme. who had left various supplies, buildings and In Capetown it proved impossible to put structures such as pillars for astronomical the ship into dry dock and locate the leak observations all of which could also be util which was by now causing such discontent ised. Having assisted with construction of the among the crew that six were paid off. All the base and associated buildings, loaded the rest of the ship's company enjoyed the social supplies from Australia including the 50 fit life and public interest in the expedition and test dogs, swung the compass and made vari many attended associated functions. Further ous sorties for science and food and drawn up work in the magnetics programme was suc plans for a relief expedition should it be cessfully undertaken in conjunction with a necessary the Gauss set sail at 8 a.m. on local observatory but in spite of the best January 31. They had been on the island for efforts the water in the bilges was just as high a month. as ever when the ship departed at noon on Advice on dogs came from Dr Fridjof December 7. Nansen. Initially 50 had been obtained in As the conditions deteriorated and cold Russia and shipped via Hong Kong to Sydney increased south of Cape Town the officers for quarantine. Of the three breeds Drygalski and scientific staff were glad as the port boiler recalled the East Siberian Kamchatka as was brought into use. Drygalski notes "There modest in their requirements and willing were advantages to being berthed on the workers. By the time the dogs reached Ker same side as the Chief Engineer". guelen there were 67; some had been se Their collection of birds was further en lected for their sledging qualities and others hanced and measures of temperature salinity for breeding but the later appearance of some and plankton composition as well as bottom pups clearly crossed with a setter suggested sampling continued along with ever present that control over the programme was limited. magnetics programme. The first landing on Tref, incidently, left the ship in Kerguelen a Possession Island was achieved and is re confused and spoilt dog. corded in detail with collections made as well Within a few days at sea most of the as geological observations. Rules about sou- problems with the ship had become appar veniring were posted by the captain after ent, flooding of laboratories, the oceano difficulties emerged among the crew over graphic room, the generator and the dog who owned the items collected. kennels. Most of the deck cargo had either By 31 December they had reached Ker- been re-stowed or washed overboard. guelen Islands where it was planned to estab Progress was slow but on February 3 they lish a station in conjunction with the German sighted Heard Island and made for Corinthian South Polar Expedition. The primary objec Bay where they dropped anchor. Drygalski tive was to obtain comparable magnetic data and four scientists went ashore, collecting from another point for reference purposes specimens and visiting a derelict whaling hut although the opportunity was also taken to before breaking into different working groups implement a rather larger programme. A to observe the geology, biology, crevassing, further magnetics station had already been flora and fauna and undertaking geomagnetic established in Samoa. work. Personnel for Kerguelen had earlier sailed On February 7 they sighted the first to Sydney on the Lloyd Steamship Karlsruhe iceberg and a day or so later narrowly avoided to collect dogs for the Gauss, further stores a potentially disastrous collision with another and equipment which were taken to the Island in a storm. Hydrographic measurements and by the Tanglin. They were instructed to visit soundings continued; trawling was unsuc a known site at Three Island Harbour in Royal cessful and geomagnetic work became in Sound and from there investigate other pos creasingly difficult. sibilities were a base. On the 9th November By Chapter ten the ship had reached the 34 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic

ice and the party celebrated by catching and ice and using explosives but in spite of contin eating crabeater seals which we are told tasted ued efforts they were unsuccessful. For want excellent; krill was good but too hard to peel, of another activity they practiced "walking on the cormorant stew of the previous weeks had snowshoes - a great entertainment for the been much enjoyed. crew....we had to take care to avoid sustain February 18, 1903 marked the ultimate ing injuries from birds leaping out of the point of entry into the pack. Sounding and water," wrote Drygalski. sampling continued and the results are de March 1 was International Magnetic day scribed. Using a combination of sail and en requiring them to take hourly readings for 24 gine they sought land. "We kept warm as best hours and every 20 seconds for 60 minutes of we could. I was wearing Jaeger wool covered an agreed hour. It was not strictly possible by a sailor's jersey, then a thick woollen jacket, however limited readings were obtained. and coat on top of that." (page 139). At 2 a.m. By the second Sunday icebergs were on February 21 land was sighted; they killed moving slightly west of the trapped ship and and cooked a Wedell seal. It was oily and because they threatened to make light of the further avoided for food unless they were ice between, the dogs and equipment were desperate. brought back on board. By late that night they were ringed by bergs.... "I had the impression Winter quarters that our fate was sealed, the trap we had fallen Then a major storm struck. Drygalski re into had sprung, nature had drawn massive calls "No body knows exactly what happened bolts across the only outlet remaining to us, in the next few hours. Each of us can remem and we now lay caught fast", wrote Drygalski. ber one or two incidents but the overall impres (Page 145.) Winter quarters were virtually sion was that we had become a plaything of the forced upon them but "every day the Gauss elements... .so the hours went by... resignation would steam up and down on the Captain's took the place of excitement, for there was orders, in the pool we had dug round her, just in case the ice should give way, and so that we nothing we could do....to wonder if this was the ultimate assault then the engine could have a short run-up to help the attempt to breakout." It didn't happen and they even stopped... but the scraping did not cease.. .our agitated nerves gained a respite from the tually sought a stable flow on which to build wildness of the night in a short sleep....when I the two planned observatories while other came on deck...the situation had changed programmes continued. Geological interests utterly from what it had been the previous were again pursued, the ice studied in various day....a sailor stood at the helm, turning the expeditions from the ship, temperatures re wheel from time to time to keep it free of ice, corded and meteorological work resumed. but the ship did not answer...we lay motion Stocks of coal were reviewed and the less., and turned our attention to jobs on supplies trimmed; they were using 985 kg a board, in the laboratory, the engine room or day to keep the pumps operating and to allow on deck... strong jets of water coming in aft by the ship to be moved. Rations were counted the screw shaft tunnel, .the pump was working and divided into two monthly stocks so that continually water was there were many opin they would not run out of anything. The ions but no counsel. However it brought them weight of the ship was reduced to overcome to a standstill in the ice and after a while the the ever persistent leak by stacking materials crew questioned whether they would be stay for the observatories on the ice beside the ing there. vessel and on March 8 they began building the The meteorological hut had become use two magnetic observatories and the astro less, the masts were bending and the mainsail nomical observatory. An "English shed" hous had broken. The dogs were let off onto the ice ing meteorological instruments was also for the first time, biological work continued erected. The ring of icebergs closed in further but along with water sampling. At 2 a.m. on the 26th they attempted to breakout by cutting the it was fine and sunny and all were occupied in 35 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1

the pursuit of their various tasks. Sledging vertical intensity came to be recorded photo began, the parties forever uncertain of being graphically for the first time. Lateral ice move able to find the Gauss should the weather ments were monitored with rows of bamboo change the ice conditions. On March 18 two sticks but vertical movement was observed ' preparedsledges each and tosupplied be hauled for nine by nine days; dogs two weremen scientifically as well as they watched laborato ries gradually sink into the ice. were to travel with each and two others were Blood specimens were taken from seals detailed to assist the outward parties over the and penguins, meteorological work contin rougher ice near the ship. They returned after ued; the leak in the ship was located and eight days with various specimens including a gradually repaired. By April 14 the ship took mummified seal, and having taken three and 14 inches of water in 24 hours instead of 24 a half days to reach land finding a mountain inches in seven hours, (page 168). Rear which they named the Gaussberg climbed rangement of cargo enabled the stem to be twice. raised four inches and the rudder was re moved in case of damage. Balloon flights Labour was divided so that each member Meanwhile preparations were in hand for of the expedition gradually took over certain ascents of a captive balloon. The first with functions; moral was high, clothing proved Drygalski on board reached 500 metres while mostly adequate, the food was subject to a few the second was used to take photographs. complaints and excursions provided enter The completion of the sledge journey and the tainment along with other shipboard activi ascents laid the basis for future plans which ties. were discussed on March 31. The organisation of the station by the ship The Gaussberg was to be rationalised and an ice house was to On April 21 Drygalski and five others set be built close to the Gaussberg from where out with three teams of seven dogs for the ice geological expeditions could be undertaken hut which had been constructed near the along with meteorological work. Dredging Gaussberg. They encountered a fierce storm arrangements for fish close to the ship were on the way but retained their objective of completed with the employment of an Em using the hut as a centre for inland trips as well peror penguin dispatched through a whole as magnetic and astronomical work. A pro with a line tied to its foot. It emerged at a gramme of geological work as well as survey subsequent hole with the line but "was care ing the surfaces of the inland ice partly to less" on the second occasion. However it deduce movement was undertaken. The succeeded on the third try, was rewarded and dogs, now idle were on half rations of biscuit released. and free to hunt and eat petrels It was only Arrangements for the station at the Gauss six weeks before the winter solstice and day were now complete and zoological work con light hours were short. The ice hut was flooded tinued apace creating interest and satisfac and on the return journey the party fed out tion. As the skuas and Adelies left the Emper the last of the pemmican, meagre rations for ors remained joining in all activities and pro the 21 dogs which were howling in hunger. viding food initially for the scientists officers Another blizzard raged and the dogs attracted and eventually, as the preference for fresh by the remains of a dead seal surged towards meat grew, also for the crew. A chain of ther it completely disorienting the men who sought mometers was laid out on an iceberg for familiar marks among the icebergs. As time recording temperatures and excursions made went on, one evening they thought they could frequently to ice caves which appeared around see the Gauss away to the north. Another felt the bergs. The magnetics programme contin he could see a ship but was uncertain as to ued with the disturbances caused by auroral whether it was the Gauss! It was not however activity creating much interest. Other meas a ship at all. urements such as declination, horizontal and Snow accumulated up to the bridge trap- 36 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic ping the men inside while the exploring party work in the area around the Gaussberg was were disoriented by the dogs' deviation, the more valuable than a long inland excursion open water, icebergs and continuing blizzard. and made a further ascent, analysed moraines An amazing story of survival unfolds. On 15 in the area, recorded the banding of the ice May, 1902 the party were reunited with cliffs and noted the lava flows. Astronomical much to talk about. In the absence of the observations were made to assist magnetic explorers' geodetic and gravity measure work, fish traps were set and surveying pro ments were made, ice and sea temperatures grammes begun earlier in the year repeated recorded, meteorological, atmospheric, to check movements. On their return journey oceanographic and zoological programmes they nearly ran out of food, surviving on continued. The crew worked at raising the bread and chocolate. rudder, having freed it after a near mid-winter With increasing daylight came the wild dive, and shoveling snow after each blizzard. life, and their return is colourfully described. AH the ships machinery was overhauled. Snow Soundings, ice measurements and limited had covered all equipment on the ice near the drilling programmes continued to be under ship, much not to be seen again until the taken in trips from the ship but gradually spring. It also at times rendered the observa thoughts turned to escape from the ice where tories difficult to locate. The party had switched they had been trapped since February. It was to a wind generator for electricity and a now only five to six metres thick in the constant watch was kept on coal consump immediate area and they searched the litera tion - even so, much of the ship was unheated. ture relating to the entrapment of the Belgica Lamps were constructed from immediate and the Discovery. Because darker objects supplies. Reactions to the status of the sunk faster in the slowly melting ice the order expedition are described but physical health was given for all ash and other rubbish to be problems were largely restricted to digestive deposited along the route of their exit. It was upsets and tooth aches. noted that furnace ashes, penguin blood and Strict routines were observed but time off mouldy peas were the most effective. By mid- was permitted with for sledging, shooting December water holes appeared at the bow competitions, cards and reading being popu and stem and the ice began to break up along lar. Drygalski re-read all the accounts of pre their line of freedom. A lake emerged around vious expeditions, partly for comparative pur the ship and was dubbed Tittacca. poses. Singing clubs were established and the Excursions continued well into January as newspaper was in great demand. Lectures parties, away for varying lengths of time, were given for all once a week and celebra continued surveying, dredging, magnetic ob tions for whatever reason were frequent. servations and culled seals to provide dog food and for scientific purposes. The seals Spring were skinned and the skins treated to provide As winter turned to spring parties sledged a snow awning on the ship should they back to the Gaussberg, their only real point of remain beset for a further winter. reference. (Page 225). Daily excursions were The location of the winter station, had made to take soundings to create a picture of been forced on them more by circumstances contours of western shelf, usually with pup than anything else and unlike the Belgians and British they were 90 km from land sur pies in tow. The young dogs which chewed notebooks and upset equipment were dubbed rounded by icebergs with no totally stable "Assistants." landmarks. As the summer began to pass Radiation and temperatures were recorded them by their surroundings became increas and the changes in the ice studied. A sledging ingly unstable. The ship and the expedition party setting out on September 16 with had to be prepared for the breakout and 700lbs of stores and equipment and seven release from their lengthy entrapment. As this was done marine investigations contin dogs per team experienced the worst blizzard of all. The party had decided that intensive ued and zoological catches were faithfully 37 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 recorded the sea, with its rising temperatures appearing puny compared with nature. They and yield "showing evidence of progress to gradually brought the ship to lie end on into wards summer". [Page 254J the storms instead of abreast in case the field Bird life became richer and they pondered froze again. the location of the nesting sights for both Scientific programmes continued close to Emperors and Adelies. Meteorological work the ship as it began to move with the ice field became simpler and the clean snow collected and at 3 o'clock on February 8 a cry from the for chemical work showed more chlorine deck "There she goes" created a frenzy of than in the winter. Quantities of diatoms dis activity as those off the ship on kayaks had to coloured water a metre down in some areas be recalled, the dogs returned to the ship, last and in the crevices of icebergs; rocks were col instruments collected and other items re lected and large scale studies of icebergs were trieved from the ice. At 4.45 the engine undertaken as the contribution of water to began to turn and picking up slowly the Gauss their formation was assessed through analysis maneuvered her way out. By 7 p.m. she was of the crystals and determination of their free only to be halted again by a storm and the origins. movement of albeit lighter ice. Rudder raised Choice of route The rudder was raised along with the Once underway they planned to hug the screw which had been turned daily for the projecting edge of the western ice for as long entire period of entrapment. Clothing be as possible before heading north but condi came lighter and stock was taken of provi tions forced them to follow the current for a sions with regard to future consumption. The few weeks until they could comfortably turn ship and its 32 men were prepared for all west again. By March 15 they were suffi eventualities. ciently free to follow a route of their choice Studies of ice melt were conducted and and compared their progress with that of the the ice tested with explosives. The results Challenger in February 1874. were recorded but the release of the Gauss By four in the afternoon of March 16 they would clearly depend on natural phenomena. were completely free of ice encountering it in Tensions among the crew and officers various forms as they drove and drifted south used to changing ship after a period of service west under sail and steam. The screw had were ameliorated through discussion as all broken as they backed into a berg and now a waited anxiously for the ice to release them. cable had wound itself fourteen times around On January 20 a storm seemed to de it, requiring among other things the fitting of stroy all hope of escape and planning for a a new screw. This provided some drama as second winter became more intensive. The they explored leads in the lighter ice in their possibility of escape without the ship to an quest to head south again as they searched for agreed point where they would be picked up somewhere suitable for a second winter for by a relief vessel was considered as the decay which they now prepared the ship. of the ice field was closely observed in regular About April 7, they decided to quit and excursions. Scientific programmes were now Drygalski gave the order to set a course to the being altered in the light of the changing north. He recorded it as the hardest decision circumstances and so that equipment would he had had to make but there were no secure not be lost. winter quarters in sight and to search so late From January 26 they set out in earnest could jeopardise the whole expedition and to dig, saw and blow their way out, a process their achievements to date. helped by natural attrition of the ice field. The The dogs, which had bred freely through whole crew gathered on the quarterdeck to out their stay at winter quarters and had been watch water appearing to the east, west and culled prior to departure, now caused havoc north before stowing hastily collected gear until proper accommodation was found for while others continued to dig, their efforts them. Even then the pups could only be 38 Vol. 12 No. 1 Antarctic quietened by putting them in with an old After completion of magnetic and electri veteran who kept them "all in a state of abject cal work in the ship's harbour to provide a fear", (page 288) The 30 remaining dogs were basis of comparison for the last few weeks destined for various zoo's but the destruction work, the expedition was disbanded. The of the remainder had a marked effect on ship was sailed to Geestemunde and sold to moral. the Canadian Government for work in the By 11 a.m. on April 9 1903 the last of the Arctic. ice was behind them. As they headed towards civilisation with the crew, returning to normal No stylist but.... duties in rugged conditions, discontented. The The translator suggests that Drygalski was scientific future of the expedition too was in no stylist and this may indeed be so. There is doubt as the key players debated the achieve some repetition but also a great deal of ment of a further winter in the ice or in the sub- humour, reserve, understatement and even at Antarctic. Chemical analysis of the water times emotion. Descriptions of personalities continued, bacterial studies resumed, sound and events enhance the book which provides ings were made almost every day, and mag more lively coverage of the expedition than netic observations, zoological studies and bio provided by some of its polar contemporar logical observations. ies. The following day they altered course from Although the scientific results of the expe west to north and by the 19th they had passed dition were published shortly after its conclu Kerguelen. On April 26 they landed at the sion the book still contains a great deal that island of St. Paul to undertake a short scientific should be of interest to both the general programme and on 11 May 11 some distance reader and scientist alike. Among the discov north they sighted their first ship since 21 eries which can be traced to the work of December two years earilier.. Some went on expedition, for example was the collection of board; the Boer War was over; a volcanic meteorological and oceanographic data which eruption had occurred on Martinique but noth led to the Meinardus line, subsequently iden ing was known of the Discovery, Nordenskjold tified as the Antarctic convergence. Contra or the station at Kerguelen. The content of the dictory theories proposed by Wilkes and Von Norwegian newspapers was popular as only Neumayer were clarified and considerable one member of the expedition could read and contributions made in a range of other disci his embellishment led to a range of strange plines. stories. A broadly comparative analysis of some of the current Antarctic research programmes Plague suggests scientists may well be advised to at A proposed landing at Durban was aborted least peruse more of the earlier accounts because of plague and the ship turned towards before going south. Comfort is more preva Simonstown where they were welcomed lent, equipment and techniques more sophis warmly inspite of the few ships present. "Most ticated and the scope of the programmes of us stayed quietly on board, absorbed in the wider but the repetition is phenomenal; in letters we had received from home, and mull deed the account should remind us that while ing over the news they brought," records Antarctica still has much to yield we also have Drygalski. The ship replenished, the scientific a debt. programme completed, a few of the crew The book is in the larger A4 format and is replaced, visits made to various centres, social liberally illustrated with photographs and obligations fulfilled before the Gauss set off for excellent diagrams. Bluntisham Books and the return to Kiel, via St Helena, Ascension the Erskine Press deserve the warmest con Island and the Azores; news of the success of gratulations on bringing out this unique vol the expedition being somewhat undermined ume in English for the first time; the only sad by an earlier release of news of the return of ommission, probably also lacking in the origi Discovery. nal is an index. Ed. 39 Antarctic Vol.12 No. 1 Back Issues "Antarctic 99 The Society is offering volume sets of its informative bulletin Antarctic to members at a special permanent discount price.

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The New Zealand Antarctic Society was formed South Island residents should write to the: Branch Secretary, in 1933. It comprises New Zealanders and Canterbury Branch, overseas friends, many of whom have seen New Zealand Antarctic Society, Antarctic for themselves and all of whom are P.O. Box 404, CHRISTCHURCH, 8000 vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic or: exploration, development or research. Branch Secretary The annual subscription is NZ$35.00. This Otago Branch, New Zealand Antarctic Society, entitles members to: P.O. Box 7083, • Antarctic, published quarterly in the autumn, Mornington, winter, spring and summer. It is unique in DUNEDIN, 9030 Antarctic literature as it is the only periodical Overseas residents should write to the: New Zealand Secretary, which provides regular and up to date news of New Zealand Antarctic Society, the activities of all nations at work in the P.O. Box 1223, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. It has a worldwide CHRISTCHURCH, 8000 circulation. (Airmail postage is extra for over Bulletin only membership is available to libraries and seas members.) other institutions at NZ$30.00 for organisations in New Zealand; NZ$37.00 to those in Australia and the South • Newsletters for New Zealand members and Pacific; NZ$41.00 in North America and Asia and an annual newsletter for overseas members. NZ$44.00 in South America, Europe. Africa and the Middle East. (These prices include airmail postage.) Regular meetings are held by the Auckland, Student membership: NZ$26.00 plus postage for over Wellington, Canterbury and Otago branches. seas members. Subscriptions arc: • N.Z. $35.00 in New Zealand • N.Z. $43.00 in Australia and South Pacific* • N.Z. $48.00 in North America and Asia" • N.Z. $52.00 in South America. Africa. • Europe and the Middle East* Advertising rates • Includes airmail postage overseas. Full colour (outside back page only) Whole page (b & w only) Half page (b & w only) You are invited to join: North Island residents should write to the: Quarter page (b&w only) Branch Secretary Auckland Branch, The rates are negotiable for regular placement. New Zealand Antarctic Society, Deadlines: The first of December. March. June and P.O. Box 8585, September. AUCKLAND, 1035 Enquiries to the Treasurer, New Zealand Antarctic Soci ety. P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch. New Zealand. or: Branch Secretary, Fliers and other advertising material can be inserted at a Wellington Branch, cost of $ 150 per issue plus and additional postage incurred New Zealand Antarctic Society, through any such insertions. Enquiries should be made to P.O. Box 2110, the editor whose address, telephone and fax numbers WELLINGTON, 6000 appear in the front of this issue. PRINTED BY SPECTRO PRINT LIMITED