DOCSLIB.ORG

A NEWS BULLETIN Published Quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

A NEWS BULLETIN published quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC) An English-born Post Office technician, Robin Hodgson, wearing a borrowed kilt, plays his pipes to huskies on the sea ice below Scott Base. So far he has had a cool response to his music from his New Zealand colleagues, and a noisy reception f r o m a l l 2 0 h u s k i e s . , „ _ . Antarctic Division photo Registered at Post Ollice Headquarters. Wellington. New Zealand, as a magazine. II '1.7 ^ I -!^I*"JTr -.*><\\>! »7^7 mm SOUTH GEORGIA, SOUTH SANDWICH Is- . C I R C L E / SOUTH ORKNEY Is x \ /o Orcadas arg Sanae s a Noydiazarevskaya ussr FALKLAND Is /6Signyl.uK , .60"W / SOUTH AMERICA tf Borga / S A A - S O U T H « A WEDDELL SHETLAND^fU / I s / Halley Bav3 MINING MAU0 LAN0 ENOERBY J /SEA uk'/COATS Ld / LAND T> ANTARCTIC ••?l\W Dr^hnaya^^General Belgrano arg / V ^ M a w s o n \ MAC ROBERTSON LAND\ '■ aust \ /PENINSULA' *\4- (see map betowi jrV^ Sobldl ARG 90-w {■ — Siple USA j. Amundsen-Scott / queen MARY LAND {Mirny ELLSWORTH" LAND 1, 1 1 °Vostok ussr MARIE BYRD L LAND WILKES LAND ouiiiv_. , ROSS|NZJ Y/lnda^Z / SEA I#V/VICTORIA .TERRE , **•»./ LAND \ /"AOELIE-V Leningradskaya .V USSR,-'' \ --- — -"'BALLENYIj ANTARCTIC PENINSULA 1 Tenitnte Matianzo arg 2 Esptrarua arg 3 Almirarrta Brown arc 4PttrtlAHG 5 Otcipcion arg 6 Vtcecomodoro Marambio arg * ANTARCTICA 7 Arturo Prat chile 8 Bernardo O'Higgins chile 1000 Miles 9 Prasid«fTtB Frei chile s 1000 Kilometres 10 Stonington I. uk 1 1 1 A d e t i i d a l . u k } 12 Argentine Is uk {ABBREVIATIONS 13 Palmar us* ARG /-RGENTINA AUST AUSTRALIA M Bellingshausen ussr ■ NZ NEW ZEALANO SA SOUTH AFRICA UK UNITEO KINGDOM USA UNITEO STATES OF AMERICA 0 1 0 0 m USSR UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS flN.TflRCiTilE 101st Issue Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch, 5. Address all contributions, inquiries etc. to the Editor, CONTENTS ARTICLES ROSS SEA PARTY RELICS 176-178 POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 146-155, 161 UNITED STATES 162-166 SOUTH AFRICA 167 UNITED KINGDOM 168-171 WEST GERMANY 171-172 SOVIET UNION 173-174 JAPAN 174 SUB-ANTARCTIC MARION ISLAND 179-180 GENERAL TRANSGLOBE EXPEDITION 156-161 MINKE WHALE SURVEY 175-176 TOURISM 178-179 ISSN 0003-5327 © New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc) 1978. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the pnoi permission of the publishers. •!»JP VlWf!-W "M. W ^ 'TW HOT"* ANTARCTIC March 1981 N.Z. PROGRAMME SCIENCE CRUISE IN ROSS SEA New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for the 1980-81 season, which ended last month, called on the services of more than 160 men and women during last summer. It included a major marine geophysical programme and oceanographic survey in which seven New Zealand scientists worked in the Ross Sea from the Transglobe Expedition's support ship Benjamin Bowring. A New Zealand team also took part in an aerial reconnaissance of selected areas of Nor thern Victoria Land to prepare for a joint project there with United States and Australian scientists in the 1981-82 season. Seven New Zealanders took part in an Deputy leader at Scott Base this international project of vulcanological winter is Mr T. H. Earl, senior technical studies with United States and Japanese officer, of Wellington. His companions scientists on Mt Erebus, and New are Mr R. L. Hodgson (senior Post Of Zealand support was provided for other fice technicial, Wellington), I. D. international projects in South Victoria Johnstone (postmaster, Kaeo), D. J. D. Land and Adelie Land. As in past McKnight (scientific officer, Well seasons New Zealand scientists took part ington), J. H. J. Mackey (fitter- in other national programmes and electrician, Blenheim), A. J. Remnant shared field work with scientists from (chef, Auckland), B. G. Scott (fitter- ihe United States, Japan, West Ger mechanic, Duntroon), A. J. Taylor many, and Australia. (field assistant/dog handler, Auckland), Of special importance in the Scott and S. J. N. Whitehead (technician, Base rebuilding programme was the Christchurch). completion of the third stage — the erec VICTORIA LAND tion of new sleeping quarters and ablu Between 50 and 60 scientists from the tions facilities for 42 people. The United States, New Zealand, and building was completed before the Australia are expected to take part in a season ended in the third week of programme of geology, geophysics, and February, and the interior work will be glaciology in Northern Victoria Land done next season. during the 1981-82 season. New Zealand Ten men began seven months of participation in the programme has been winter isolation officially on February approved in principle, and if the United 16 when the last members of the summer States agrees 12 to 20 New Zealanders team left Scott Base for New Zealand. will take part. The winter leader, Mr J. B. Sims, of An alternative New Zealand pro North Auckland, who is also the base gramme of conventional research nearer engineer, and his nine companions will Scott Base will be proposed if the Nor have radio-telephone and telegraph links thern Victoria Land project does not go with the outside world during the winter; ahead. Another New Zealand project to they will see new faces again at the end land a geological party near Terra Nova of August when the spring flights by Bay will depend on whether United United States Navy Hercules aircraft States aircraft can land in the area. begin. They will share their isolation To check on possible landing sites for with 19 huskies. the United States Navy Hercules aircraft March 1981 ANTARCTIC One of the two motor toboggans and sledges of the Antarctic Division's geological mapping team is lowered from the summit of Descent Pass 366m above the Descent Glacier on the way up to the Ferrar Glacier. _. _ . ... .. Photo by R. II. Findla> which will support the establishment of Seven scientists from the Geophysics a base camp housing up to 100 scientists, Division, New Zealand Oceanographic support staff, and helicopter crews, a Institute, and Victoria University of reconnaissance flight was made from Wellington, took part in the research McMurdo Station early in December last cruise in the Ross Sea aboard the Ben year. On board the aircraft were Dr E. jamin Bowring, which . was chartered Stump, science co-ordinator for the pro from the Transglobe Expedition by the ject, Dr R. Cooper, Geological Survey, Department of Scientific and Industrial who has made several expeditions to Research. During the 18 days of the Northern Victoria Land, Dr I. Thomas, cruise the ship worked off the coast off Physics and Engineering Laboratory, the coast of Marie Byrd Land past the Mr R. Child, Lands and Survey Depart Bay of Whales, and as far north as Cape ment, and Mr Roger Clark, officer-in- Adare. The main purpose of the charge at Scott Base last summer. research programme was to obtain A remote ice sensing project was car marine seismic, magnetic, gravity, and ried out during the reconnaissance bathymetric data to elucidate the tec flight. Dr Thomas was on board to tonic structure of the western Ross Sea. obtain a field reference for ice typing from satellite imagery, and Mr Child, a SEA TEMPERATURES photogrammetric camera specialists, Whe'n the Benjamin Bowring sailed provided photogrammetric and mapping from Lyttelton for McMurdo Sound on material for future field operations. Dr January 7 there were seven scientists on Cooper checked the suitability of poss board. The New Zealanders were Drs D. ible Hercules landing sites for Iroquois Burns and K. Grange, and Messrs K. helicopter operations. Rose and T. Dean, all Oceanographic ^SPBWWr? Wfmmmmmwm prr ^Wv- ANTARCTIC March 1981 Institute, and Jenny Bassett, an observer After the western section of the survey for the International Survey of Antarctic the Benjamin Bowring headed east to Seabirds (1SAS). Two scientists from the Cape Adare, and then south along the University of Cape Town, Irish-born Dr Victoria Land coast, working in the area Christopher McQuaide, and English- of the Drygalski Ice Tongue early in born Lesley Rickett, were making their February. She returned to McMurdo second voyage to Antarctic to record sea Station on February 15 and sailed for temperatures and salinity, and the den Lyttelton the next morning. sity and distribution of plankton. They travelled with the Transglobe Expedition N.Z. PASSENGERS to the Fimbul Ice Shelf early last year. Her scientific passengers returned by On the voyage south the air to New Zealand, but she still had oceanographers collected plankton in nine New Zealanders aboard on the water samples between New Zealand voyage north. Four were summer staff and the Ross Sea. When the Benjamin from Scott Base, Roger Clark, officer- Bowring berthed in Winter Quarters Bay in-charge, Hugh Webb, his deputy, three more scientist's, Drs F. Davey and Roger Ridley, meteorological observer, D. Bennett of the Geophysical Division, and Stephen Johnson, Post Office clerk. and Dr D. A. Christoffel, who had been Graham Wilson, of the University of working with the Victoria University of Canterbury zoology department, who Wellington expedition, joined the ship. had been working at Cape Bird and Because of ice conditions in McMurdo Lake Fryxell in the Lower Taylor Valley, Sound the Benjamin Bowring was joined Jenny Bassett as an observer for unable to penetrate into New Harbour, ISAS. but the scientists were able to take a There were three New Zealanders in series of seabed sample cores along a line the Benjamin Bowring's crew when she from Cape Royds to Cape Bernacchi.
Recommended publications
  • Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition

    Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition

    FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN ʋ2 (51) April - June 2010 STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations St. Petersburg 2010 FEDERAL SERVICE OF RUSSIA FOR HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING State Institution “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute” Russian Antarctic Expedition QUARTERLY BULLETIN ʋ2 (51) April - June 2010 STATE OF ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT Operational data of Russian Antarctic stations Edited by V.V. Lukin St. Petersburg 2010 Editor-in-Chief - M.O. Krichak (Russian Antarctic Expedition –RAE) Authors and contributors Section 1 M. O. Krichak (RAE), Section 2 Ye. I. Aleksandrov (Department of Meteorology) Section 3 G. Ye. Ryabkov (Department of Long-Range Weather Forecasting) Section 4 A. I. Korotkov (Department of Ice Regime and Forecasting) Section 5 Ye. Ye. Sibir (Department of Meteorology) Section 6 I. V. Moskvin, Yu.G.Turbin (Department of Geophysics) Section 7 V. V. Lukin (RAE) Section 8 B. R. Mavlyudov (RAS IG) Section 9 V. L. Martyanov (RAE) Translated by I.I. Solovieva http://www.aari.aq/, Antarctic Research and Russian Antarctic Expedition, Reports and Glossaries, Quarterly Bulletin. Acknowledgements: Russian Antarctic Expedition is grateful to all AARI staff for participation and help in preparing this Bulletin. For more information about the contents of this publication, please, contact Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet Russian Antarctic Expedition Bering St., 38, St. Petersburg 199397 Russia Phone: (812) 352 15 41; 337 31 04 Fax: (812) 337 31 86 E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS PREFACE……………………….…………………………………….………………………….1 1. DATA OF AEROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC STATIONS…………………………………….…………………………3 2.
  • Concentrations, Particle-Size Distributions, and Dry Deposition fluxes of Aerosol Trace Elements Over the Antarctic Peninsula in Austral Summer

    Concentrations, Particle-Size Distributions, and Dry Deposition fluxes of Aerosol Trace Elements Over the Antarctic Peninsula in Austral Summer

    Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 2105–2124, 2021 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-2105-2021 © Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Concentrations, particle-size distributions, and dry deposition fluxes of aerosol trace elements over the Antarctic Peninsula in austral summer Songyun Fan1, Yuan Gao1, Robert M. Sherrell2, Shun Yu1, and Kaixuan Bu2 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA 2Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA Correspondence: Yuan Gao ([email protected]) Received: 1 July 2020 – Discussion started: 26 August 2020 Revised: 3 December 2020 – Accepted: 8 December 2020 – Published: 12 February 2021 Abstract. Size-segregated particulate air samples were col- sition processes may play a minor role in determining trace lected during the austral summer of 2016–2017 at Palmer element concentrations in surface seawater over the conti- Station on Anvers Island, western Antarctic Peninsula, to nental shelf of the western Antarctic Peninsula. characterize trace elements in aerosols. Trace elements in aerosol samples – including Al, P, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ce, and Pb – were determined by total digestion and a 1 Introduction sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (SF-ICP-MS). The crustal enrichment factors (EFcrust) and Aerosols affect the climate through direct and indirect ra- k-means clustering results of particle-size distributions show diative forcing (Kaufman et al., 2002). The extent of such that these elements are derived primarily from three sources: forcing depends on both physical and chemical properties (1) regional crustal emissions, including possible resuspen- of aerosols, including particle size and chemical composi- sion of soils containing biogenic P, (2) long-range transport, tion (Pilinis et al., 1995).
  • Office of Polar Programs

    Office of Polar Programs

    DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SURFACE TRAVERSE CAPABILITIES IN ANTARCTICA COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION DRAFT (15 January 2004) FINAL (30 August 2004) National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22230 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SURFACE TRAVERSE CAPABILITIES IN ANTARCTICA FINAL COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Purpose.......................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) Process .......................................................1-1 1.3 Document Organization .............................................................................................................1-2 2.0 BACKGROUND OF SURFACE TRAVERSES IN ANTARCTICA..................................2-1 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Re-supply Traverses...................................................................................................................2-1 2.3 Scientific Traverses and Surface-Based Surveys .......................................................................2-5 3.0 ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................................................3-1
  • 2. Disc Resources

    2. Disc Resources

    An early map of the world Resource D1 A map of the world drawn in 1570 shows ‘Terra Australis Nondum Cognita’ (the unknown south land). National Library of Australia Expeditions to Antarctica 1770 –1830 and 1910 –1913 Resource D2 Voyages to Antarctica 1770–1830 1772–75 1819–20 1820–21 Cook (Britain) Bransfield (Britain) Palmer (United States) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Resolution and Adventure Williams Hero 1819 1819–21 1820–21 Smith (Britain) ▼ Bellingshausen (Russia) Davis (United States) ▼ ▼ ▼ Williams Vostok and Mirnyi Cecilia 1822–24 Weddell (Britain) ▼ Jane and Beaufoy 1830–32 Biscoe (Britain) ★ ▼ Tula and Lively South Pole expeditions 1910–13 1910–12 1910–13 Amundsen (Norway) Scott (Britain) sledge ▼ ▼ ship ▼ Source: Both maps American Geographical Society Source: Major voyages to Antarctica during the 19th century Resource D3 Voyage leader Date Nationality Ships Most southerly Achievements latitude reached Bellingshausen 1819–21 Russian Vostok and Mirnyi 69˚53’S Circumnavigated Antarctica. Discovered Peter Iøy and Alexander Island. Charted the coast round South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands and the South Sandwich Islands. Made the earliest sighting of the Antarctic continent. Dumont d’Urville 1837–40 French Astrolabe and Zeelée 66°S Discovered Terre Adélie in 1840. The expedition made extensive natural history collections. Wilkes 1838–42 United States Vincennes and Followed the edge of the East Antarctic pack ice for 2400 km, 6 other vessels confirming the existence of the Antarctic continent. Ross 1839–43 British Erebus and Terror 78°17’S Discovered the Transantarctic Mountains, Ross Ice Shelf, Ross Island and the volcanoes Erebus and Terror. The expedition made comprehensive magnetic measurements and natural history collections.
  • A History of the Exploitation of the Ross Sea, Antarctica David G

    A History of the Exploitation of the Ross Sea, Antarctica David G

    Polar Record 46 (238): 233–243 (2010). c Cambridge University Press 2009. doi:10.1017/S003224740999009X 233 ! A history of the exploitation of the Ross Sea, Antarctica David G. Ainley H.T. Harvey and Associates, 983 University Avenue, Building D, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA ([email protected]) Received March 2009 ABSTRACT. Recent analyses of anthropogenic impacts on marine systems have shown that the Ross Sea is the least affected stretch of ocean on Earth, although historical effects were not included in those studies. Herein the literature is reviewed in order to quantify the extent of extraction of biological resources from the Ross Sea continental shelf and slope from the start of the 20th century. There was none before that time. An intense extraction of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii by the expeditions of the ‘heroic’ period and then by New Zealand to feed sled dogs in the 1950–1980s caused the McMurdo Sound population to decrease permanently. Otherwise no other sealing occurred. Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus intermedia were extirpated from waters of the shelf break front during the 1920s, and have not reappeared. Minke whales B. bonaerensis probably expanded into the blue whale vacated habitat, but were then hunted during the 1970–1980s; their population has since recovered. Some minke whales are now taken in ‘scientific whaling’, twice more from the slope compared to the shelf. Other hunted cetaceans never occurred over the shelf and very few ever occurred in slope waters, and therefore their demise from whaling does not apply to the Ross Sea. No industrial fishing occurred in the Ross Sea until the 1996–1997 summer, when a fishery for Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni was initiated, especially along the slope.
  • Ice Core Records As Sea Ice Proxies: an Evaluation from the Weddell Sea Region of Antarctica Nerilie J

    Ice Core Records As Sea Ice Proxies: an Evaluation from the Weddell Sea Region of Antarctica Nerilie J

    JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, D15101, doi:10.1029/2006JD008139, 2007 Click Here for Full Article Ice core records as sea ice proxies: An evaluation from the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica Nerilie J. Abram,1 Robert Mulvaney,1 Eric W. Wolff,1 and Manfred Mudelsee2,3 Received 12 October 2006; revised 2 May 2007; accepted 5 June 2007; published 3 August 2007. [1] Ice core records of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) from three sites around the Weddell Sea are investigated for their potential as sea ice proxies. It is found that the amount of MSA reaching the ice core sites decreases following years of increased winter sea ice in the Weddell Sea; opposite to the expected relationship if MSA is to be used as a sea ice proxy. It is also shown that this negative MSA-sea ice relationship cannot be explained by the influence that the extensive summer ice pack in the Weddell Sea has on MSA production area and transport distance. A historical record of sea ice from the northern Weddell Sea shows that the negative relationship between MSA and winter sea ice exists over interannual (7-year period) and multidecadal (20-year period) timescales. National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data suggest that this negative relationship is most likely due to variations in the strength of cold offshore wind anomalies traveling across the Weddell Sea, which act to synergistically increase sea ice extent (SIE) while decreasing MSA delivery to the ice core sites. Hence our findings show that in some locations atmospheric transport strength, rather than sea ice conditions, is the dominant factor that determines the MSA signal preserved in near-coastal ice cores.
  • JOINT BIOLOGICAL EXPEDITION on RRS JOHN BISCOE, FEBRUARY 1982 (Gemeinsame Biologische Expedition Mit RRS ,,John Biscoe", Februar 1982)

    JOINT BIOLOGICAL EXPEDITION on RRS JOHN BISCOE, FEBRUARY 1982 (Gemeinsame Biologische Expedition Mit RRS ,,John Biscoe", Februar 1982)

    JOINT BIOLOGICAL EXPEDITION ON RRS JOHN BISCOE, FEBRUARY 1982 (Gemeinsame biologische Expedition mit RRS ,,John Biscoe", Februar 1982) by G. HempeI and R. B. Heywood Berichte zur Polarforschung Nr. 51September 1982 (Reports on Polar Research no 51September 1982) Hinweis Notice Die Berichte zur Polarforschung werden vom The Reports on Polar Research are issued by Alfred-Wegener-Institut füPolarforschung in the Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar Re- Bremerhaven* in unregelmäßigAbfolge her- search, in Bremerhaven*, Federal Republic of ausgegeben. Germany. They appear in non-regular inter- vals. Sie enthalten Beschreibungen und Ergebnisse der vom Institut oder mit seiner Unterstutzuna Thev contain descri~tionsand results of in- durchgeführte Forschungsarbeiten in den vesGgations in polar regions either conducted Polargebieten. by the Institute or with its support. Die Beiträg geben nicht notwendigerweise The Papers contained in the Reports do not die Auffassung des Instituts wieder. neccessarily reflect the opinion of the Institute. *Address *Anschrift Alfred-Wegener-Institute Alfred-Wegener-Institut for Polar Research füPolarforschung Columbus-Center Columbus-Center D-2850 Bremerhaven D-2850 Bremerhaven Federal Republic of Germany Telefon (0471) 4900617 Phone (0471) 49006/7 Telex 0238695 polar d Telex 0238695 polar d Telegramm: Polar Bremerhaven Telegram: Polar Bremerhaven Contents Table Introduction ........................................ Objectives of the Joint Biological Expedition ....... Scientific complement ..............................
  • Number 90 RECORDS of ,THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC

    Number 90 RECORDS of ,THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC

    ~ I Number 90 RECORDS OF ,THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC SERVICE Compiled by Charles E. Dewing and Laura E. Kelsay j ' ·r-_·_. J·.. ; 'i The National Archives Nat i on a 1 A r c hive s and R e c o rd s S e r vi c e General Services~Administration Washington: 1955 ---'---- ------------------------ ------~--- ,\ PRELIMINARY INVENTORY OF THE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC SERVICE {Record Group 1 Z6) Compiled by Charles E. Dewing and Laura E. Kelsay The National Archives National Archives and Records Service General Services Administration Washington: 1955 National Archives Publication No. 56-8 i\ FORENORD To analyze and describe the permanently valuable records of the Fed­ eral Government preserved in the National Archives Building is one of the main tasks of the National Archives. Various kinds of finding aids are needed to facilitate the use of these records, and the first step in the records-description program is the compilation of preliminary inventories of the material in the 270-odd record groups to which the holdings of the National Archives are allocated. These inventories are called "preliminary" because they are provisional in character. They are prepared.as soon as possible after the records are received without waiting to screen out all disposable material or to per­ fect the arrangement of the records. They are compiled primarily for in­ ternal use: both as finding aids to help the staff render efficient refer­ ence service and as a means of establishing administrative control over the records. Each preliminary inventory contains an introduction that briefly states the history and fUnctions of the agency that accumulated the records.
  • Nsf.Gov OPP: Report of the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon

    Nsf.Gov OPP: Report of the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MORE AND BETTER SCIENCE IN ANTARCTICA THROUGH INCREASED A LOGISTICAL EFFECTIVENESS Report of the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel Washington, D.C. July 23, 2012 This booklet summarizes the report of the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel, More and Better Science in Antarctica Through Increased Logistical Effectiveness. The report was completed at the request of the White House office of science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation. Copies of the full report may be obtained from David Friscic at [email protected] (phone: 703-292-8030). An electronic copy of the report may be downloaded from http://www.nsf.gov/ od/opp/usap_special_review/usap_brp/rpt/index.jsp. Cover art by Zina Deretsky. Front and back inside covers showing McMurdo’s Dry Valleys in Antarctica provided by Craig Dorman. CONTENTS Introduction ............................................ 1 The Panel ............................................... 2 Overall Assessment ................................. 3 U.S. Facilities in Antarctica ....................... 4 The Environmental Challenge .................... 7 Uncertainties in Logistics Planning ............. 8 Activities of Other Nations ....................... 9 Economic Considerations ....................... 10 Major Issues ......................................... 11 Single-Point Failure Modes ..................... 17 Recommendations ................................. 18 Concluding Observations ....................... 21 U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM BLUE RIBBON PANEL WASHINGTON,
  • Observation of Ocean Tides Below the Filchner

    Observation of Ocean Tides Below the Filchner

    JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 105, NO. C8, PAGES 19,615-19,630,AUGUST 15, 2000 Observation of ocean tides below the Filchher and Ronne Ice Shelves, Antarctica, using synthetic aperture radar interferometry' Comparison with tide model predictions E. Rignot,1 L. Padman,•' D. R. MacAyeal,3 and M. Schmeltz1 Abstract. Tides near and under floating glacial ice, such as ice shelvesand glacier termini in fjords, can influence heat transport into the subice cavity, mixing of the under-ice water column, and the calving and subsequentdrift of icebergs. Free- surface displacementpatterns associatedwith ocean variability below glacial ice can be observedby differencingtwo syntheticaperture radar (SAR) interferograms, each of which representsthe combination of the displacement patterns associated with the time-varying vertical motion and the time-independent lateral ice flow. We present the pattern of net free-surface displacement for the iceberg calving regions of the Ronne and Filchher Ice Shelves in the southern Weddell Sea. By comparing SAR-based displacementfields with ocean tidal models, the free-surface displacementvariability for these regions is found to be dominated by ocean tides. The inverse barometer effect, i.e., the ocean's isostatic responseto changing atmospheric pressure, also contributes to the observed vertical displacement. The principal value of using SAR interferometry in this manner lies in the very high lateral resolution(tens of meters) obtainedover the large regioncovered by each SAR image. Small features that are not well resolvedby the typical grid spacing of ocean tidal models may contribute to such processesas iceberg calving and cross-frontalventilation of the ocean cavity under the ice shelf.
  • Animal Airlift, 1968 Elsner and Gerald L

    Animal Airlift, 1968 Elsner and Gerald L

    olivine-rich intrusive is dominant in the westernmost part of the mountains. In the east, a small isolated outcrop consisted of sedimentary rocks in a sequence of about 50 m, containing a fossil Glosopteris flora of Permian age. All mountains were crossed by do- lerite sills and dykes. Astronomical observations of the sun and stars were made to get an exact location of the mountains; for elevation estimation, a series of pressure readings will be compared with contemporaneous ones from SANAE and Halley Bay. Measurements of the mag- netic field were also made. During work in the moun- tains, animal and plant life were observed, and some samples were taken. In January, the glaciologist travelled 70 km north to the ice shelf, where a snow pit was dug and core drillings were made in order to compare the condi- tions there to those at the main base. Facilitated by favorable conditions, the work was finished ahead of schedule. Owing to coarse sastrugi and soft snow, the LC-130 aircraft experienced difficulty in becoming airborne, but succeeded after climbing up a slope and taking off downhill. After a day at the South Pole Station, it arrived at McMurdo Station on January Kraul Mountains 20. Weddell seals being conducted by Drs. Robert W. Animal Airlift, 1968 Elsner and Gerald L. Kooyman at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and navigational studies on Adélie K. N. MOULTON penguins being conducted by Dr. Richard L. Penney of the New York Zoological Society. To utilize fully Office of Antarctic Programs the airlift capabilities of the C-141, the National National Science Foundation Science Foundation agreed to fulfill several requests from zoological parks and arrange for the return During the early morning hours of December 2, of Adélie and emperor penguins as well as south polar 1968, a (J-141 Starlifter, presently the largest trans- skuas for the Detroit, Cincinnati, St.
  • The Antarctic Sun, December 25, 2005

    The Antarctic Sun, December 25, 2005

    December 25, 2005 Scientists seek to label whale species By Steven Profaizer Sun staff Patches of pure white splashed on an inky black body. Two-meter-tall dorsal fin slicing through the water’s surface. An attraction at SeaWorld. A pack hunter with cunning intelligence and stunning power. The killer whale, or orca, is one of the most universally known animals in the world. They are also one of the most wide- spread mammals, second only to humans, and inhabit all of the world’s oceans. Yet scientists are still working to deter- mine how many species of killer whales exist. Only one species is currently rec- ognized, but many people, including researcher Robert Pitman, believe there may be two additional species among the estimated 20,000 to 80,000 killer whales that inhabit Antarctic waters. Pitman is far from the first to believe this: Soviet 5 Union whalers in the early 1980s first Deep Freeze turns 0 observed the killer whales’ differences in diet, preferred habitat and coloring. He By Emily Stone does, however, hope to be part of the team Sun staff that finally solves the mystery. Al Hisey spent one of his first nights at McMurdo Station by accident. Pitman, of the National Oceanic and It was 1955, and he was ferrying supplies by tractor from Navy ships across the Atmospheric Administration, led a team sea ice of McMurdo Sound to the spot on Ross Island where the station was being to Antarctica last year on a two-week mis- built. During one of the first trips, there was a major break in the ice between the sion that used sophisticated technology to fledgling station and the ships.