New Siple Station Ready for Winter Netosphere, and Interactions Between the Magnetosphere and the Iono- Sphere

antarctic [I OFTHE IIUNITED J ES10 U STATES

March 1979 National Science Foundation Volume XIV—Number 1 I

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NSF photo

waves, the plasmapause, the mag- New Siple Station ready for winter netosphere, and interactions between the magnetosphere and the iono- sphere. Eight men will spend the coming austral winter in a new facility at Siple Station in Ellsworth Land. The new station is expected to function as a VLF probing of the magnetosphere year-round U.S. research platform until the late 1980s when, like old Siple can take place at other locations, but Station, it will have been buried beneath a crushing mass of snow and ice. it is done best along the geomagnetic The completion of the new station ahead of schedule and within budget, field lines that traverse the earths less than 3 years after the decision plasmapause. It is done most effi- ciently if the transmitter is located was made to replace the old station, geomagnetic lines of force through will enable upper atmosphere re- well above the ground surface so the plasmapause and return to earth there is minimal signal loss due to search at Siple to continue without in northeastern Canada where they interruption. ground absorption. Siple Station, are picked up at Siples conjugate located on top of an ice sheet over a The U.S. has maintained a station station in Roberval, Quebec. Scien- kilometer thick and at the optimum at Siple (75055S, 83 155W) since 1969 tists at both locations record what geomagnetic latitude, is therefore because it is the single best location in happens to the signals on their ideal for VLF research. the southern hemisphere for con- passage through the plasmapause trolled very-low-frequency (VLF) and attempt to find patterns in the For this reason the United States wave investigations of the upper behavior of different kinds of VLF maintains a station at Siple in spite of atmosphere. VLF signals generated signals. Such research produces its 2400-kilometer distance from by the Siple transmitter travel along general characterizations of VLF McMurdo and local weather conditions that make transportation to and formed and backs up toward the an exhaust/fresh air return vent and from Siple unpredictable. Airplanes source of the obstruction. Because a snow chute leading to the snow which leave McMurdo for Siple in the transiting storm systems cause melter. Each of the penetrations is good weather are often frustrated by great variation in the wind direction, fitted with a specially designed collar the rapid onset of low ceilings or such snow drifts can cover an object 2 that restores much of the strength blowing snow, either of which can to 3 meters high in one season. Once lost by cutting through the arch. It limit visibility and force planes to snow drifting begins, it does not stop should be about 10 years—double the return without landing. until the surface is again level around life of the first Siple Station—before Blowing snow is also responsible and over the obstruction. This the new arch deteriorates under for the prime difficulty in maintain- drifting process explains why old pressure from snow and ice above. Siple Station, completed in 1972, is ing a station at Siple. Although The new arch is 14 meters longer annual snowfall is only about 1.5 now about 12 meters beneath the surface. than the arch over old Siple. The meters, Siples nearly constant winds buildings in the old station will not be move massive volumes of snow The snow that covered old Siple and that will eventually cover the moved into the replacement facility. across the surface. Anything which Instead, the new station is composed protrudes above the surface obstructs new station is not in itself a matter of concern. The arch is strong enough of 24 building modules which were the wind and creates a downwind shipped disassembled from the U.S. eddy. A snowdrift on the surface is to withstand a great deal more weight than the snow can provide. Twenty-one of the modules are 2.4 However, penetrations of the arch, meters by 7.3 meters; three of necessary for exhaust and ventilation them are 2.4 meters by 8.5 meters. shafts, weaken the structure and They provide living quarters for eight station personnel, space for CTIC allow heat to escape into the snow above. As the snow melts, its density scientific equipment, a power plant and weight increase substantially and which houses three new electric the resulting pressure attacks the generators, a communications room, arch at its weakest points, that is, a dispensary, a common dining area, a where penetrations have been made. recreation room, and showers and toilets. The power plant is separate The replacement station, designed from the science and living quarters in 1976 by Holmes & Narver, Inc., to minimize noise and electrical Editor Richard P. Muldoon takes into account the lessons learned interference with the science equip- at old Siple. The arch is made of 12 ment. New Siple is by no means Antarctic Journal of the United gage corrugated steel. It is 13.5 spacious, but it is less cramped and States, established in 1966, reports meters wide and 80 meters long. much more comfortable than the old on U.S. activities in Antarctica and Only two shafts penetrate the arch: station. related activities elsewhere, and on trends in the U.S. Antarctic Program. It is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December) At left, a Stanford University researcher, Evans Paschal, inserts a plug-in circuit board with a fifth annual review issue in In the Jupiter transmitter at Sipie. At right, the winter paramedic, Don BihIer, stores October, by the Division of Polar supplies in the new dispensary. Programs, National Science Founda- tion, Washington, D.C. 20550. Telephone: 202/632-4076.

Subscription rates are $7.50 per five issues, domestic, and $9.50 per five issues, foreign; single copies are $1.10 ($1.40 foreign) except for the annual review issue, which is $3.50 ($4.50 foreign). Address changes and subscription matters should be sent to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

The director of the National Science Foundation has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business required by law of this agency. Use of funds for printing this periodical has been approved by the director of the Office of Manage- ment and Budget through 30 September 1979.

U.S. Navy photos by Charles A. Hitchcock

ANTARCTIC JOURNAL Two of the diesel generators will be • • alternated to supply power for the station; the third will power only scientific equipment. Waste heat From the engines, collected by fancoil units using a glycol-water mixture, will be used to heat the station and to melt snow for a fresh water supply. Heat exchangers mounted on the engine exhaust stacks will provide additional heat for the station and also limit heat escape through the ventilation shaft into the snow above. Fuel for the diesels will be stored in two 25,000 gallon bladders that will remain in old Siple Station and in an additional bladder of the same capacity in the new station. Extra diesel fuel will be stored in Irums near the existing summer construction camp, which will be restocked for emergency use should anything go wrong at the station this NSF photo winter. If necessary, ski-equipped Drifting snow eventually will make this door invaluable. Its threshhold is about 4 meters LC-130 airplanes could fly to Siple in above the current entrance to new Siple Station. winter, but continual darkness, un- prepared landing surfaces at Siple and McMurdo, characteristically poor particle interactions in the plasma- Siple dedication ceremony communications during winter, the pause and to study wave-produced tack of operating ground navigational precipitation. Lockheed Palo Alto On 14 January 1979, officials from equipment, and temperatures too Research Laboratories scientists will the U.S. Antarctic Research Program low for normal aircraft operations use a six-channel meridian scanning dedicated the new research facility at would make such a rescue flight itself photometer to study artificial aurora Siple Station in Ellsworth Land. The Jangerous. For these reasons the produced by VLF wave induced ceremony was held in a snowstorm station is designed to be self- particle precipitation. Also this with winds up to 15 meters per supporting during both normal and winter, an experiment designed by second and temperatures around emergency conditions. investigators at the University of -15°C. Science personnel this winter in- Minnesota and the University of After an invocation by Father John clude the station science leader and New Hampshire will examine the Curnow of Christchurch, New Zea- two other researchers. The Navy has effect of increased solar activity on land, John F. Katsufrakis, the Siple supplied a paramedic. Holmes & the shape and location of the science coordinator from Stanford N4arver, Inc., has provided a station plasmapause. The investigators will University, spoke of the science manager, a facilities engineer, a look for simultaneous occurrences of projects that would be conducted at communications technician, and a auroral light and ultra-low-frequency the new station and unfolded a new general maintenance mechanic. They (ULF) pulsations in an attempt to U.S. flag. Edward P. Todd, Director will be isolated at Siple from February compare ULF waves and interacting of the Division of Polar Programs at through November. In addition to particles. the National Science Foundation, conducting the science experiments dedicated the station for the United planned for the station, the crew will Equipment installed for a Bell States and raised the new flag above Telephone Laboratories experiment put finishing touches on the interior. the station. Also present were Captain will record changes in the earths Darrel E. Westbrook, Jr., USN, Com- Primary science will benefit from a magnetic field that are produced by mander of the U.S. Naval Support Force, new Jupiter VLF transmitter which is magnetic storms and by ULF waves Antarctica, and Earl P. Gilmore of more powerful and more flexible propagating in the magnetosphere. Holmes & Narver, Inc. than the Zeus transmitter used at old Finally, an experiment on behalf of Siple. The Jupiter, almost unlimited the University of Maryland and the The new station and its predeces- in bandwidth and modulation range, Bell Telephone Laboratories will sor were named in honor of Paul will allow the researchers to program involve riometer measurement of the Siple, who first visited Antarctica as a wider variety of VLF signals with ionospheric absorption of extrater- an Eagle Scout 50 years ago with restrial radio noise. Richard E. Byrd. Dr. Siple returned greater signal strength. often to Antarctica as both scientist This winter Stanford University Stanford University serves as the and explorer. He was the first winter researchers will use the Jupiter science coordinator for all research scientific leader at South Pole Station transmitter to investigate wave- conducted at Siple Station. in 1956.

March 1979 3 Drillers put three holes through Ross Ice Shelf

In the final season of the Ross Ice Shelf Project, technicians using the Browning hot water drill melted three holes through the ice shelf at site J-9 (82122.5S, 168037.5W), 480 kilometers south of the shelfs edge. The first hole went through the shelf on 29 November 1978 through 412 meters of ice. The water column beneath the shelf was 234.5 meters deep. This hole and the second, completed on 4 December, were used 7 to lower instruments to the base of the shelf so they could be locked into the ice as the hole refroze. The third hole, drilled on 7 December, was the main access hole that allowed extensive sampling of the water column, bottom sediments, and life beneath the shelf. The first hole was generally round and uniform with a few gentle bends. It measured 76 centimeters in diameter to 325 meters, 71 centimeters at 350 meters, and 51 centimeters at 400 meters. A television camera lowered into the hole showed a change in ice texture at about 400 meters. At 410 meters there were cracks and channels in the ice. After the hole was reamed, another TV lowering showed a distinct change in the ice as the camera went down the hole. Above 300 meters, for example, the ice was light in color with long wave length ripple marks; U.S. Navy photo by Dave Thompson below 300 meters, the ice was darker The Browning hot water drill enabled researchers to melt three holes this season with shorter wave length marks. On completely through the Ross ice Shelf. the very bottom of the ice shelf there were many small, smooth ripples. Equipment designed to measure the monitor the freezing and melting rockier than at last seasons sampling mass balance and heat flow of rates at the bottom of the ice shelf. A site. One black, fine-grained rock 5 seawater beneath the shelf was quartz thermometer was installed 3 centimeters long and smaller, similar lowered into the water. It was locked meters above the water-ice boundary rock particles were collected. About into position beneath the shelf as the to provide additional data on freezing 40 gravity cores were taken, too, the water in the hole refroze. A tape and melting processes. longest of which was 125 centi- recording system installed on the meters. surface of the shelf will record data On 7 December, the main access throughout the coming winter. hole through the shelf was com- The sea bottom was covered by pleted. This hole was 76 centimeters about 15 centimeters of sandy mud, The second hole was drilled on 4 or larger down to the water-ice some of which contained dead gas- December. This hole was everywhere boundary. There it was 64 centi- tropods and dead foraminifera. Ap- greater than 76 centimeters in meters wide. The hole was kept open proximately 4,000 living amphipods diameter except at the water-ice for scientific sampling of the water of five species and several copepods boundary where it was 51 centi- and sediment beneath the shelf until were collected at the site. A decapod meters wide. Ultrasonic instruments 1 January 1979. appeared during one television scan, were lowered 2 meters below the Sphincter cores, about 35 in all and but was not captured. water-ice boundary where, frozen in up to 25 centimeters long, indicated Sphincter cores, gravity cores, and place by the closing hole, they will that the bottom was somewhat living organisms brought up through

ANTARCTIC JOURNAL the access hole will enable researchers to study the history of life near the sea bottom and the organisms that live there today. The microbial population in the water column was sampled in 18 water bottle casts. Researchers at the drill site examined each water sample for oxygen, salinity, epifluorescence, pigment, particulate organic carbon, and nutrient contents. They also assayed the number of microorgan- isms in each sample and conducted three umbrella tows to retrieve plankton. Deep sea water was pumped to the surface from 20 different depths in the water column and similarly examined. These studies will produce a description of biotic activity in the water column and define the composition of the water itself betWeen the sea floor and the bottom of the ice shelf. U.S. Navy photo by Bruce R. Trombecky Current meters were lowered into Two researchers, Peter Bruchhausen and Tom Converse, inspect a water sampling the water beneath the shelf before bottle before it is lowered through the Ross Ice Shelf access hole. the third hole refroze. These meters measured movements of water beneath the shelf. This data, combined Core obtained through A distinct boundary between fresh with data gained in open areas of the and briny ice appears at 410 meters Ross Sea, will enable researchers to Ross Ice Shelf below the ice surface. The 6 meters of describe the interactions of glacial ice briny ice core are mottled with grey and sea water beneath the shelf and Soviet drillers working with the inclusions which may be brine pock- where the shelf meets open water. U.S. Ross Ice Shelf Project used two ets. Widely scattered inclusions of thermal drills to obtain 381 meters of opaque material, probably of marine All science projects scheduled for ice core completely through the Ross origin, also appear. There are distinct the drill site this season were finished Ice Shelf at site J-9. The thermal drills bands or layers of ice up to 1 by 1 January 1979. This was the last operated by melting a ring around the centimeter thick throughout the drilling season for the Ross Ice Shelf ice core, which was then captured and briny ice. Their orientation suggests Project. All the drilling equipment raised to the surface in 10 meter that they are alined with the main and most of the camp were to be re- segments. The core includes 6 meters current direction beneath the shelf. turned to McMurdo by the end of the of briny ice from the bottom of the 1978-79 field season. shelf. The very bottom of the core is sharply defined. The bottom few centimeters show a columnar struc- About 4,000 of these amphipods were collected through the main Ross Ice Shelf access ture or ice fabric made up of hole In December. protruding ice crystals each about 5 V centimeters in diameter. These protruding crystals give a waffle-iron appearance to the end of the core. It took the Soviet team only 12 days to penetrate the 416-meter thick Ross Ice Shelf. The total weight of the ice core is 4,000 kilograms. The cores are packed in 370 tubes. Core cutting will be performed at the core storage facility at the Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo. Igor Zotikov, the Soviet glaciologist who headed the coring team, is spending several months working with colleagues in the United States before returning to U.S. Navy photo by Bruce R. Trombecky the Soviet Union.

March 1979 5 strain rate for the Byrd Glacier-Ross Airborne research Ice Shelf dynamic system. Accurate U.S. antarctic All air sampling, aerial photog- measurement depends on determin- raphy, airborne magnetometry, and ing within 10 meters the relative population, 1978 radio echo sounding flights scheduled movements of two features that for the 1978-79 U.S. Antarctic were initially 1 kilometer apart. In 1978 the U.S. population in Research Program were completed Antarctica varied from 112 to 1,064 by the end of December 1978. The Aeromagnetic surveys and radio (see graphs). As the year began, all research airplane, an LC-130 Hercu- echo soundings were flown over the four stations were full and field les modified to accept a number of Dufek Massif, the Ross Sea conti- parties occupied temporary camps instrument packages, allowed scien- nental shelf, the dome C area, and across the continent. As projects tists to obtain data from specific over much of Ellsworth Land and were completed, researchers flew altitudes over many locations in Marie Byrd Land. home and the population declined. Antarctica. The aeromagnetic survey of the Dufek Massif was part of an overall By mid-February only the winter Air sampling experiments designed effort to evaluate the geology of this parties were left at Siple (5 people) by eight investigators examined basic layered intrusion. The survey and at Amundsen-Scott South Pole storm fronts, transport paths, aero- indicated that the Dufek Massif is (22 people). Within a few days sols, ice crystals, and the concentra- much longer than was previously McMurdo reached its winter level of tion and distribution of trace gases in supposed. It is still only the second 76. At the end of March the last ship the atmosphere. The investigators largest layered intrusion in the left Palmer in the hands of its winter obtained: world, but the new survey may crew of 9. • vertical profiles of continental increase its significance as a research Early in September planes from and maritime air masses; site. • vertical and latitudinal atmos- California landed at McMurdo, end- Radio echo sounding of the dome C ing the stations 6½ month isolation pheric tritium samples; area provided data on ice thickness • data on particle concentrations and raising its population to 217. In and internal layering that will sup- October new summer workers in the upper troposphere and on port ground based research. Other arrived at McMurdo, relieved the the transport of particulate mat- radio echo soundings, part of the South Pole and Siple crews, and ter to the Polar Plateau; International Antarctic Glaciological established new field camps. Palmer • air samples near the surface of Project, contributed to the develop- was relieved by ship in November. the Ross Sea; ment of a 100-kilometer grid net- Not included in the graphs are U.S. • cloud physics observations over work that eventually will cover all of the Ross Sea and the Ross Ice Antarctica. ship complements. In January the Shelf; ships added approximately 500 • cloud and ice crystal photog- This antenna array attached to the people. The numbers and trends in raphy over the interior and on research airplane allowed scientists to 1978 were typical of recent years in descents to South Pole Station; determine the thickness of the ice sheet. the U.S. program. • tracking data on the Mt. Erebus volcanic plume for about 65 kilometers downwind on a clear, stable day. The only disappointment was the disappearance of a banded structure in a barometric pressure trough over the Ross Sea while the airplane was heading toward it. Aerial photography missions were designed to supplement studies of the Byrd Glacier and to map areas scheduled for future projects, partic- ularly the Darwin Glacier and the Heritage and Sentinel Ranges in the Ellsworth Mountains. Byrd Glacier was photographed after field parties had placed markers on its surface. A second photograph of the glacier taken exactly five weeks after the first will record the movement of the markers. The relative movements of the markers, measured by aerial photogrammetric surveys and ground surveys, will enable researchers to determine the U.S. Ndvy .,hoto by Jei.y ,re

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U.S. population in Antarctica, 1978

March 1979 7 RISP featured in Science The 2 February 1979 issue of Science magazine featured 10 articles by researchers involved in the Ross Ice Shelf Project (RISP) and one report on meteorites found in the Allan Hills. The RISP reports cover the drilling of the access hole in 1976, sediment studies, investigations of water temperature, circulation, and freezing, and studies of various organisms found beneath the shelf. Science is published weekly by the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science. Back issues are available by mail for $3.00 from Science, 1515 Massachusetts Avenue, U.S. Navy photo by Howard Weinger Washington, D.C. 20005. Scotts hut at Cape Evans, Ross Island, was built for the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13, when Scott and his party were unable to reach Hut Point because of ice conditions. The hut at Cape Evans stands today as an historic monument to the exploration of Antarctica. Antarctic conservation draft regulations New temperature high 1979 orientation published for South Pole dates set Pursuant to the Antarctic Conser- vation Act of 1978 (Public Law A 5-day snowstorm that began on The U.S. Antarctic Research Pro- 95-541) the Foundation has proposed Christmas Eve brought a record high gram 1979 orientation session will regulations to conserve and protect temperature to South Pole Station. take place 16-19 September 1979 at animals and plants native to Antarc- On 27 December 1978, the tempera- the Sheraton National Motor Hotel tica. ture reached -13.6°C. Barometric in Arlington, Virginia. All those pressure that day, also a record high participating in the 1979-80 antarctic The regulations would apply to all for South Pole, reached 705.7 milli- field season should plan to attend the U.S. citizens in Antarctica and to bars. The storm was caused by a very conference, which is not open to the everyone importing into or exporting strong flow at all levels of warm, public. from the United States designated moist, maritime air from the Weddell antarctic animals and certain antarc- Sea. The orientation session is designed tic plants or parts of them. to place the work of participating scientists and support staff in the The purpose of the regulations is to national and international contexts protect antarctic ecological systems of antarctic research as well as to in accordance with internationally instruct participants in cold weather established measures. Civil and crim- survival techniques and to acquaint inal penalties for noncompliance are them in advance with problems that provided in the Act. might occur in the field. The confer- The proposed regulations were ence also allows field invetigators to published in the March 6 Federal O-W make final logistic arrangements for Register, pages 12214-12220. their programs. A separate portion of the conference is devoted to psycho- logical orientation for winter personnel.

Transportation costs to the orientation conference are included in grant or contract budgets. Lodging and meals are supplied by the National Science Foundation.

8 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL Proposals due 1 June

The National Science Founda- tion envisions the availability of about $8 million in fiscal 1980 for research in Antarctica and its environs, including data reduction or related research at institutions in the United States.

Proposals for scientific research projects that are received by 1 June 1979 will be considered for performance periods as follows:

• for research in Antarctica during the 1980-1981 austral summer season (September 1980 through March 1981) and extending through the antarctic winter of 1981 if appropriate.

Royal Australian Air Force photo • for research or data analysis On 1 December 1978, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 completed the first Austra- in the United States commencing lian Hercules landing in Antarctica. The airplane took off from Christchurch, New approximately January 1980. Zealand and landed on the sea ice runway at McMurdo Station, covering almost 4000 kilometers in 6 hours and 15 minutes. The Hercules carried 10 passengers and 11,000 kilograms of cargo in support of research teams working in Antarctica. It was In some cases, an additional year the first of four Australian flights scheduled this season. of lead time is required if projects require substantial preparation of facilities, extensive vehicle use, 1980 funds requested for research, transportation of large amounts of cargo or equipment, etc. Re- searchers may have to allow time support for the procurement of supplies and their transport in the annual In its budget request for the 1980 habits, and distribution of krill; and cargo ship one year in advance of fiscal year (1 October 1979 to 30 other components of the ecosystem. the season in which the fieldwork September 1980) the National Operational support will include will be accomplished. Science Foundation has specified $55 maintenance of four year-round million for support of the U.S. stations and other field facilities; Antarctic Program. Of this amount, operation of ships, icebreakers, and Scientists wishing to perform $8 million is for research (see box) aircraft; and a major overhaul in the antarctic research should investi- and $47 million is for operational United States of the ice-strengthened gate eligibility requirements and support. research ship Hero. submit proposals in collaboration with their institutions as specified The request for research funds The Foundations requested 1980 substantially exceeds the 1979 level in the Foundations booklet Grants budget for $1006 billion is 8.4 for Scientific Research (NSF 78-41 or of $6.5 million. Much of the planned percent above the 1979 fiscal level. increase is for study of the marine NSF 78-41A). A copy of this Richard C. Atkinson, Director of the booklet, a description of antarctic ecosystem in the oceans surrounding Foundation, said the top Foundation Antarctica. Recent interest in this research opportunities, and other priority is to increase support for necessary forms and instructions ecosystem has centered on krill basic research in the sciences and a crustacean that should be obtained from the (Euphausia superba), engineering to ensure the Nations Division of Polar Programs (tele- swarms in great numbers and could scientific strength. become an important source of food phone 202-632-4076) before sub- for people. Areas for increased Congressional decisions on the mitting proposals. emphasis include study of primary request are expected before the end productivity; the life cycle, swarming of the current fiscal year.

March 1979 Meteorology. DPP 77-04506. Foundation awards of funds for months. $50,401. antarctic projects Ocean sciences 1 October to 31 December 1978 Anderson, John B. Rice Universjtr, Houston, Texas. Marine geo1oc study of the eastern Weddell S9 and Bransfield Strait. DP Following is a list of National Science Foundation antarctic awards made 77-26407. 12 months. $24,430. from 1 October to 31 December 1978. Each item contains the name of the principal investigator or the project manager, his or her institution, a Gordon, Arnold L. Lamont-Dohert, shortened title of the project, the award number, its duration, and the amount Geological Observatory, Coluni. awarded. If an investigator received a joint award from more than one bia University, Palisades, Nev Foundation program, the antarctic program funds are listed first, and the total York. Physical oceanography ü amount of the award is listed in parentheses. Amounts followed by an asterisk the Ross Sea. DPP 77-22209 are funding increments. International Southern Ocean Studies awards were 12 months. $83,000. made by the Division of Ocean Sciences. All other awards were made by the Division of Polar Programs. Gordon, Arnold L. Lamont-Dohert3 Geological Observatory, Columbi University, Palisades, New York Support and services Very-low-frequency probing of Processing and analysis of Isla Johnson, James R. Holmes & Narver, the magnetosphere from Palmer Orcadas hydrographic circumpolar Inc., Orange, California. Opera- Station. DPP 76-82042. 12 months. data. DPP 78-24832. 12 months. tion of Palmer Station and re- $61,800. $81,710. search ship Hero. DPP 74-03237. Pomerantz, Martin A. Bartol Re- Johnson, David A. Woods Hole 7 months. $1,500,000. search Foundation of the Franklin Oceanographic Institution, Woods Johnson, James R. Holmes & Narver, Institute, Swarthmore, Pennsyl- Hole, Massachusetts. Quaternary Inc., Orange, California. Station vania. Cosmic ray intensity varia- thermohaline circulation in the operation and other support. DPP tions. DPP 76-23429. 12 months. southern ocean. DPP 78-21105. 73-07187. 8 months. $4,000,000. $114,140. 12 months. $43,900. Spilhaus, A. F. American Geophysical Polar biology and medicine Kellogg, Thomas B. University of Union, Washington, D.C. Publica Maine, Orono, Maine. Quantita- - Landrum, Betty J. Smithsonian In- tive paleoclimatic analysis of Ross tion of Antarctic Research Series. DPP stitute, Washington, D.C. Cooper- 77-21859. 12 months. $36,000. Sea continental shelf sediments. ative systematics and analysis of DPP 77-21083. 12 months. Westbrook, Darrel E. Department. of polar biological materials. DPP $43,884. Defense, U.S. Navy, Washington, 76-23979. 12 months. $99,927. Robinson, Edwin S. Virginia Poly- D.C. Logistics and support. DPP McWhinnie, Mary A. DePaul Uni- 76-10886. 9 months. $25,000,000. technic Institute and State Uni- versity, Chicago, Illinois. Biologi- versity, Blacksburg, Virginia. Tides cal investigations of krill Glaciology (Euphausia and waves in the ocean beneath the superba). DPP 76-23437. 12 months. Ross Ice Shelf. DPP 76-23600. 12 Clough, John W. University of $84,000. months. $14,952. Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Parmelee, David F. University of Management of the Ross Ice Shelf International southern ocean Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minne- studies Project. DPP 72-20410.12 months. sota. Ecological and behavioral $341,306. adaptations to environments at Fryxell, Greta A. Texas A&M Uni- King, Elbert A. University of Hous- Palmer Station. DPP 77-22096. 12 versity, College Station, Texas. ton, Houston, Texas. Preliminary months. $66,667. Purchase of research equipment. investigation of cometary dust. OCE 78-18088. 6 months. $7,260 DPP 78-20410. 12 months. Siniff, Donald B. University of Min- ($29,050). $28,937. nesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Role of the leopard seal in marine Atmospheric science ecosystems. DPP 77-21946. 12 months. $70,414. Cahill, Laurence J . University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minne- Meteorology sota. Micropulsation research at Ostlund, H. Gote. University of Siple Station and Roberval, Miami, Miami, Florida. Tritium. Quebec. DPP 77-21924.12 months. DPP 76-23433. 12 months. $29,706 ($69,706). $19,200. Helliwell, Robert A. Stanford Uni- Schwerdtfeger, Werner. University versity, Stanford, California. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. xii

10 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL

Monthly climate summary

November 1978 December 1978 January 1979

Feature McMurdo Palmer Siple South Pole McMurdo Palmer Siple South Pole McMurdo Palmer Siple South Pole (date) (date) (date) (date) (date) (date) (date) (date) (date) Average temperature -10.5 -1.9 -15.9 -38.8 -4.7 1 -13.4 -28.2 -3.7 2.0 -11.9 -27.5 (°C)

Temperature maximum 0.0 3.0 5.0 -31.6 9.6 5 6.6 -13.6 4.5 8.0 -0.5 -19.4 (°C) (15) (13,16,27) (24) (27) (29) (25) (18) (27) (8) (20) (19) (1) Temperature minimum -18.9 -10.0 -36.0 -49.3 -14.4 -5 -25.0 -38.9 -11.1 -3.0 -23.9 -36.1 (°C) (6) (2) (2) (2) (5) (1) (1) (3) (27) (10) (31) (30,31) Average station 985.4 992.2 862.5 683.8 987.2 980.8 864.7 687.8 986.5 992.7 865.1 688.4 pressure (mb) S Pressure maximum 999.2 1005.1 878.3 691.8 995.6 999.9 878.4 705.7 996.9 1009.8 874.1 688.4 (mb) (1) (4) (5) (3) (10) (1) (29) (27) (20) (18) (12) (1) Pressure minimum 970.4 971.7 850.9 z 675.8 976.8 961.0 851.3 676.4 977.1 973.2 851.6 681.1 (mb) (7) (22) (13) (22) (20) (10) (11) (5) (23) (23) (23) (31)

Snowfall (mm) 7.6 487.7 Trace 35.6 175.3 Trace 66.0 203.2 Trace Prevailing wind 0700 2200 1600 0500 0900 2200 2250 0200 0700 0500 1600 0450 direction

Average wind speed 5.1 4.2 4.7 4.2 5.2 4.9 3.9 4.5 4.0 5.1 3.7 (m/sec)

21.0 13.0 12.9 27.7 21.0 19.2 14.9 18.5 18.0 17.9 9.8 Fastest wind speed 1350 3600 0900 3400 2200 0200 2250 0100 0900 0300 1350 340° (m/sec) (26) (16) (27) (13) (29) (16) (11) (28) (4) (20) (20) (24) Average sky cover 6.0/10 7.3/10 7.3)10 3.8/8 5.2/10 9.0/10 6.4/10 4.3/8 6.8110 8.0/10 7.4/10 5.2/10 Number clear days 7 2 5 12 9 0.6 6 7 4 1.7 5 11 Number partly cloudy 10 11 7 9 14 9.0 9 14 12 11.0 6 9 days

Number cloudy days 13 17 18 9 8 27.3 16 10 15 22.3 20 11 Number days with 0.2 0 5.8 0 visibility less 0 0 4.3 1 2 0 3.9 5 than 0.4 km

Prepared from information received by teletype from the stations. Locations: McMurdo 77 0 51S. 1660 40E. Palmer 64 0 46S. 640 03 1W. Siple 75055S. 830 55W. Amundsen-Scott South Pole 90 0 S. For prior data and daily logs contact National Climatic Center, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. National Science Foundation Washington, D. C. 20550 Postage and Fees Paid National Science Foundation Official Business

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