antarctic OFTHE jJiiJu IFIBLiSTATESuNITED
March/June 1987 National Science Foundation Volume XXII—Number 1/2
Antarctic "Rosetta stone" provides On 4 December 1971, this airplane, known as 321, " crashed during takeoff at a remote site clues to early Southern Hemisphere history in East Antarctica. Now, after 15 years, the airplane stands on the snow surface again. During December 1986 a team of six men re- moved nearly 10 meters of snow and towed Did a land bridge exist between Ant- A rugged, barren area near the top of the airplane from its icy tomb. A description of arctica and South America 100 million their efforts appears on page 3 of this issue of the Antarctic Peninsula between the the Antarctic Journal, Above the excavation years ago? Did modern marine organ- Weddell and Scotia Seas, Seymour Is- team removes dense, concrete-like snow isms, now living in temperate regions, land was named by Zinsmeister "the around the airplane s fuselage. originate in high-latitude, Southern Rosetta stone of the Antarctic" because Hemisphere waters? of the wealth of fossil data that exists U.S. Navy photo. In search of evidence that supports there. The island, along with others in these and other theories, 14 scientists the James Ross Island basin, has sedi- and technicians went to Seymour Island mentary deposits containing an abun- as participants in the fourth U.S. expe- dant and diverse record of Late dition to this region during December Cretaceous/early Tertiary life. Past dis- 1986 and January 1987. The project, sup- coveries at this site have included fossils ported by the National Science Foun- of the first land mammal ever found in dation, was led by Purdue University Antarctica. geologist William Zinsmeister.
1986-1987 fossil discoveries Geologists and paleontologists, work- ing this past austral summer on Sey- mour Island, and nearby James Ross, In this issue Vega. and Cockburn islands, found the Antarctic "Rosetta stone" remains of a 1.8-meter tall, flightless bird, provides clues to early the jaw of a large crocodile, fossil lobs- Southern Hemisphere history I ters, and a nearly complete fossil whale U.S. airplane recovered from skeleton. Paleontologist Michael 0. East Antarctica ...... 3 Woodburne from University of Califor- "Mini-station" tested at D-59 nia at Riverside and his party found the camp ...... 4 fossil remains of a flightless bird, which Three countries accede to the belongs to a group that has smaller liv- Antarctic Treaty ...... 2 ing relatives in South America. Accord- Sirius Formation of the ing to Woodburne, this land-dwelling Beardmore Glacier region 8 bird would have had small wings and a Reagan sends greetings to large head with a sharp, hooked beak. winterers ...... 13 The researchers found a 13-centimeter Personnel winter at three U.S. section of a beak and a 7.5-centimeter- stations ...... 13 thick lower ankle joint of the bird, which Glacier returns from last southern appears to have been a fierce, meat-eat- voyage ...... 15 ing predator. Automatic weather station Finding of the fossil flightless bird and project ...... 16 part of the jaw of the crocodile, which New staff members join polar they believe was not a sea-going animal, programs ...... 20 adds evidence indicating that a land Foundation awards of funds for bridge connected Antarctica with South antarctic projects, 1 October America between 40 and 140 million years 1986 to 31 March 1987 ...... 20 ago. "These findings and previously dis- Weather at U.S. stations ...... 23 covered marsupial and plant fossils in- dicate that the Antarctic Peninsula supported an ecologically diverse group at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary The fossil whale, which had 1.2-me- of land-dwelling animals and plants about 65 million years ago." The refer- ter-long skull bones and 10-centimeter- during the Eocene," Woodburne said. ence was to a cataclysmic event that some long triangular teeth, was discovered in "These data, taken together, increase the scientists think triggered the demise of Eocene sediments on Seymour Island. It probability that the Eocene Antarctic much life on Earth at that time. is believed to be the most complete such Peninsula was part of a long overland On 3 January Ewan Fordyce, a New ancient animal known from the South- dispersal route between the antarctic Zealand paleontologist working with ern Hemisphere. The only other whales continent and South America and that Woodburne s group, discovered a 9.5- this old from the Southern Hemisphere it was not a series of islands that sepa- meter whale more than 40 million years are fragmentary specimens collected rated the two land masses." old, the largest fossil ever collected from previously from Seymour Island and New Another significant finding was the Antarctica. The skull bones, teeth and Zealand. recovery of more than 50 fossil lobster other skeletal parts indicate a carnivo- It took 16 days to collect the 1.5-ton specimens by researchers headed by rous animal. It was probably a member specimen, which has been sent to New Rodney M. Feldmann of Kent State Uni- of a species of gigantic extinct whales Zealand for preparation and study. It versity. These fossils ranged in age from closely related to the ancestors of mod- subsequently will be sent to the Smith- Late Cretaceous to Eocene-55 to 70 mil- ern whales and dolphins. sonian Institution in Washington, D.C. lion years ago. They appear to corro- borate conclusions that high-latitude areas may have been points of origin of modern marine organisms that now in- habit the continental shelves and slopes Seymour Island lies on the northeast coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Called the "Rosetta stone" in more temperate areas. Additionally, of Antarctica by U.S. paleontologist William Zinsmeister, the island has been the site of many Feldmann reported that these fossil important fossil discoveries. Among the discoveries during the 1986-1987 austral summer was lobster specimens "do not show a pro- the complete fossil skeleton of the a 30-million year old whale—possibly the most complete fossil nounced response to the extinction event skeleton ever found in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Editor: Winifred Reuning
Antarctic Journal of the United States, established in 1966, reports on U.S. Soi activities in Antarctica and related activities elsewhere, and on trends in the U.S. Antarctic Research Program. It is published quarterly (March, June, Am 7n September, and December) with a fifth annual review issue by the Division of Polar Programs, National Science 00 27O0 Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550. Telephone: 202/357-7817. 7,,, The Antarctic Journal is sold by the copy or on subscription through the U.S. Gov- ernment Printing Office. Requests for prices of individual issues and subscrip- tions, address changes, and information about other subscription matters should be sent to the Superintendent of Docu- ments, U.S. Government Printing of- fice, Washington, D.C. 20402. The Director of the National Science Foundation has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessa- ary in the transaction of the public busi- ness required by law of this agency. Use S of funds for printing this periodical has been approved by the director of the Office of Management and Budget I through 31 March 1991. 1800
Antarctic Journal U.S. airplane recovered from East Antarctica
On 25 December 1986, Juliet Delta "321," a ski-equipped Lockheed Her- cules airplane, sat on the snow surface at an isolated site in East Antarctica ^71^ (68°20 S 137°31 E), 190 kilometers from the coast. About 100 meters away was a 9-meter trench, the airplane s resting spot for more than 15 years. Six men, pop working during the previous month, had mom brought the airplane out of this icy tomb; others would evaluate whether it could be made airworthy again. — . The airplane (called "321" for its call sign) crash-landed on 4 December 1971 during takeoff from this site about 1,400 kilometers from McMurdo Station. Used to support U.S. science projects in Ant- arctica, it had just completed the second of five supply flights to a French traverse party, part of a U.S./French glaciology project, on its way to the Soviet station
Vostok from the French station Dumont Photo by personnel from Expeditions Polaires Francaises. d Urville. Navy personnel inspected the airplane at the time of the crash and de- Expeditions Polaires Francaises personnel pass 321" in January 1976 during their annual trav- termined that salvaging it would be too erse. Only 5 years after the crash, drifing snow has already substantially buried the airplane. dangerous and costly; consequently, the airplane was left in East Antarctica. Background and gear; flying metal fragments dam- In 1986 the National Science Foun- In this region of Antarctica, high-speed, aged the number 1 engine. Although the dation (NSF), the federal agency re- gravity-driven winds (katabatic winds) pilot brought the airplane, which was sponsible for managing the U.S. Antarctic create ridges (called sastrugi) in the snow only 15 meters above the ground, with Program, announced plans to recover surfaces. Because of this rough, broken its 10-man crew safely to the ground, the and, if possible, to restore the buried snow surface, the 1971 aircrew decided emergency stop on the rough surface airplane. During the 1986-1987 austral that a jet-assisted takeoff (JATO), which collapsed the nose landing gear. summer, the four-engine airplane was uses small solid-fuel rockets to boost the The LC-130 that arrived 4 days after reclaimed through the efforts of em- airplane s turboprop engines, was nec- the accident to rescue the crew brought ployees of the NSF antarctic support essary. Seconds after the airplane took a Navy accident-investigation team. The contractor (ITT/Antarctic Services, Inc.) off, two of the 165-pound JATO bottles team s evaluation was that the extensive and members of U.S. Naval Support broke loose from their attachment points damage and remoteness of the site made Force Antarctica (NSFA) and Antarctic on the left rear fuselage, struck the num- recovery impossible. The airplane was Development Squadron Six (VXE-6). ber 2 engine, and destroyed its propeller abandoned after being stripped of in-
December 1971—Juliet Delta 321 sits on the snow surface at D-59, 1,400 kilometers from McMurdo Station. Evidence of damage caused by the crash can be seen in photo above—note the missing propeller on the number 2 engine and the collapsed nose gear.
Photo by personnel from Expeditions Polaires Francaises.
March/June 1987 struments and other equipment that Throughout the 1986 summer, Mathews Biery and Russ Magsig, heavy equip- could be easily salvaged. and the ITT/ANS team worked closely ment mechanic for the project, went to The crash site, called D-59, is along a with the commanding officer of VXE-6, Antarctica in late August 1986 to prepare traverse route frequently travelled by Commander Joseph Mazza, and with the heavy equipment and other sup- Expeditions Polaires Francaises person- VXE-6 aircrews and maintenance per- plies. While Biery and Magsig worked nel, and during the next decade French sonnel. They inspected and photo- in Antarctica, George Cameron, the pro- traverse parties visited "321" almost ev- graphed an LC-130 at the squadron s base ject engineer, and James Mathews vis- ery year. They noted annual snow ac- in Point Mugu, California. They studied ited the Lockheed Georgia plant in cumulation around the airplane and more and discussed the workings of the LC- Marietta, Georgia, to discuss plans with than once provided the U.S. program 130 ski/wheel landing gear with VXE-6 two Lockheed engineers, who had par- with surveys of the site. maintenance personnel. ticipated in the recovery work at Dome During the 1975-1976 and 1976-1977 During a meeting in Port Hueneme, C in the 1970s. austral summers, two U.S. LC-130s that Roger Biery, the ITT/ANS heavy-equip- By mid-September 1986, Mathews had crashed at Dome C (an isolated east-ant- ment operator, identified special attach- developed a plan to deliver supplies and arctic site near D-59) were recovered ments that would be needed for the heavy equipment in a sequential and timely successfully. These successes renewed equipment selected for the project. After manner. NSF, NSFA, and VXE-6 re- interest in recovering "321." In 1978, four researching potentially useful parts, two viewed the plan at a meeting held dur- engineers examined the damaged air- special lightweight, high-capacity buck- ing the U.S. Antarctic Program s annual plane at D-59 (now covered by approx- ets were ordered for the selected tractors orientation conference in Washington, imately 1 meter of snow), determined and tracked vehicles. These attachments D.C. The plan was approved, and final that the damage was less than originally would improve snow-moving capabili- preparation for the project began. thought, and recommended recovery. ties by 30 percent or more. A cold-weather Recovery was planned for the 1979- cab for the one of the tractors, which 1980 austral summer, but budget restric- would be required at the job site, also Preparation in Antarctica tions and other problems forced pro- was purchased. McMurdo Station. J . Mathews, G. gram managers to cancel the project. No Following the schedule developed Cameron, and M. Brashears (cook/medic/ future plans were made until June 1986 during the planning meetings, Roger radio operator and weather observer) when the National Science Foundation announced its intent to recover the air- plane, if still possible.
"Mini-station" tested at tire camp, as well as provide many Recovery plans amenities not usually found at tem- Before the 1986 announcement, staff D-59 camp porary camps. Types of generator sets members of NSF s Division of Polar Pro- and other appliances required for the grams (DPP) began collecting data on Most USAP temporary camps are module were investigated. Besides the status of the airplane and the con- centered around Jamesway build- items that might not be available at ditions of the site. In December 1985 a ings, because these buildings are eas- McMurdo, they selected a 20-kilo- French traverse party, which included ily assembled and can be transported watt, marine-rated generator set as an American, Rob Flint, visited D-59 and by LC-130. A Jamesway, a 16-foot- the most likely one to meet their gathered information about the air- by-16-foot (5-meter-by-5-meter), needs. After all preliminary work was plane. Observations by the French trav- frame-type tent that is insulated, is completed, project engineer George erse party, along with Mr. Flint s report, constructed from components (4-foot- Cameron began designing the mod- were supplemented by the reports that by-8-foot-1.2-meter-by-2.4-meter— ule. VXE-6 crew members made after two at- floor sections, roof arches, insulating The D-59 camp was comprised of tempted landings of LC-130s at D-59 blanket skins, end sections, vesti- the 30-foot (9.5-meter), prototype during late 1985. bules, and other parts). These sec- module and a 36-foot (11-meter) This information confirmed that be- tions are joined to form longer Jamesway, which was used as sleep- fore an LC-130 could land safely at the buildings. ing quarters for the crew. Although site, an adequate skiway would have to The camp at D-59 provided the ex- a roughly designed prototype, the be prepared. In addition, DPP learned cavation crew with the opportunity module contributed to the success of from these reports that "321" was al- to design and test an air-transporta- the project by providing consistent, most completely buried. Only the top ble "mini-station" for shelter and reliable service throughout the sea- 1.5 to 2.0 meters of the airplane s tail, support at remote, temporary camps. son. The "mini-station" design in- which juts 11 meters into the air, was The design perimeters were straight- cluded such features as flush still above the snow. No more detailed forward. The module, fully equipped plumbing, hot showers, a washer, a information could be obtained until ex- and assembled, would have to fit on dryer, and cooking appliances. The cavation efforts began. board an LC-130 and be strong enough availability of these amenities im- Despite these reports, interest in sal- to withstand a possible 240 kilometer proved the health and productivity vaging the airplane continued at NSF. overland traverse. After reaching the of the crew, which was working 7 In April 1986, ITT/Antarctic Services, Inc. site, the unit would have to provide days per week and 10 to 12 hours (ITT/ANS) submitted a recovery plan to power, heat, and water immediately. each day. Additionally, the module NSF. The plan was reviewed, revised, Although the module would be a design included an electrical plug-in and later discussed at a U.S. Antarctic prototype, it would have to be reli- system for the tractors. Conse- Program logistics and support meeting able—it would have to start the first quently, the crew could shut down in Port Hueneme, California. time and continue to provide service the equipment at night and easily start Once all of the program participants throughout the season. them in the morning. This feature (NSF, NSFA, VXE-6, and ANS) had During planning, they realized that improved significantly the continued studied the plan and NSF had approved with a single generator, housed in performance of vehicles and reduced it, the ITT/ANS project manager James the module, they could consolidate the chance that the vehicles would Mathews began recruiting the five peo- the effort to supply power for the en- break down. ple needed to complete the project. Antarctic Journal The Expeditions Polaires Francaises Traverse Party, headed by Pierre Laf. -font, arrived at McMurdo Station during the last week of October. At the request c: t of Mathews, they inspected the module ISO and verified that it could be towed suc- cessfully to D-59 from D-21. With this confirmation, Mathews immediately added the module and some Jamesway components to list of equipment to be transported to D-21. By doing this, he hoped to make the team as self-sufficient as possible when they arrived at D-59 and to minimize the impact of delayed flights to the site because of bad weather or airplane maintenance problems. On 2 November 1986, all essential cargo for U.S. Navy photo. U.S. Navy photo. the project had been prepared for ship- ment and stationed at the sea-ice run- This photo shows the beginning of the pit sur- Still attached to "321" are several small soild- way. rounding 321. " The excavation crew has fuel rockets used in jet-assisted takeoffs to boost D-21. On 3 November 1986, R. Biery, marked areas close to engines and tail section the airplane s turboprop engines. The 1971 R. Magsig, and J. Mathews, along with to prevent further damage to them during dig- crash was caused when two of these 75-kil- the French traverse team, departed for ging. The pit surrounding the airplane will ogram bottles broke free, struck one engine, eventually be nearly 10 meters deep. and destroyed the propeller and gear. D-21, the landing area 22 kilometers in- land from the French station Dumont d Urville. A second airplane, carrying skiway construction equipment, fol- joined Magsig and Biery at McMurdo To shelter the team while they worked lowed. Station in early October. D. Check, the at D-59, Mathews designed a special liv- Wintering personnel from Dumont second heavy-equipment operator and ing module (see sidebar). After the ma- d Urville had prepared a rudimentary final member of the crew, arrived in early terials needed for the module were skiway for the first two flights. As soon November. Because Magsig and Biery inspected, JTT/ANS personnel began to as the ANS crew received their equip- had prepared all of the heavy equipment build it, while R. Biery constructed a ski ment, they began to improve skiway for the project, the only equipment-re- cradle for it. When the basic structure landing surface so that an LC-130 car- lated tasks remaining were to verify that was complete, the module was moved rying 135,000 pounds of cargo and fuel the blades, bucket, and cab fit the equip- to the sea-ice runway near the station to could land. With this task completed the ment and to dismantle two tractors for be furnished and tested before ship- team was ready for the next flight on the shipment to D-21 or D-59. ment. morning of 5 November 1986. Bad weather near McMurdo Station With shovels and heavy equipment, the ITT/ANS excavation crew works to release 321" from and at D-21 delayed many flights during its icy tomb. During this stage of the excavation the crew discovered that the airplane was covered the next 2 weeks. Because these storms by 6 to 8 meters of snow rather than the presumed 3 to 4.5 meters. were severe, the team was forced to re- construct the D-21 skiway completely af- U.S. Navy photo. ter the last storm had dissipated on 18 November. Nevertheless, after the eighth and final flight brought the last passen- gers and cargo early on 19 November, the group was ready to begin the trav- erse to D-59.
v # - ...... Traverse to D-59 . Expeditions Polaires Francaises trav- I erses are well established and highly or- ganized. The 220-kilometer overland traverse to D-59 involved navigating be- tween metal poles, spaced 10 kilometers apart from a location known as "Car- refour" (D-40) to their terminus at D- 120, approximately 800 kilometers in- land. Each season, detailed records of 1N the traverse are compiled and passed on to the next year s party. Navigation in- struments vary but traditionally include a sun compass and azimuth indicator; consequently, traverse parties travel only when the sun is visible. TRI The terrain between D-21 and D-59 is a series of rolling hills and valleys that V 71 gradually ascend toward the polar pla- n teau. Snow accumulation is low with March/June 1987 reached D-59. At the crash site, they - . .. :., . found that only the top 1 meter or so of .. the vertical stabilizer was visible—an in- congruous feature rising from an oth- erwise featureless horizon.
D-59: Camp site and excavation work After selecting a camp site the next day, the group prepared for a scheduled air drop of 7,500 liters of diesel fuel (DFA) and 2,200 liters of gas (MOGAS). The air drop went well; only eight drums of DFA were lost when two parachutes did not open. With this fuel shipment the pro- lect team could be self-sufficient for at least 2 weeks, and work could continue 1 if the scheduled supply flights from McMurdo were delayed. The skiway was completed on 27 No- 3L!4 vember in time for the second supply flight. Arriving the next day with ad- ditional diesel fuel, this airplane was the first to land at D-59 since January 1978. Over the next 2 days, three more LC- 130s brought supplies and equipment. By 1 December, all the equipment needed T for the project had been delivered, and
U.S. Navy photo. only fuel flights scheduled for late De- cember remained. The French team be- "321" near the end of the excavation. gan its return trip to D-10, although radio operator Didier Simon stayed with the some areas receiving no snow at all, and day. About 1 kilometer ahead, the French U.S. team for the season to observe and katabatic winds create remarkable sas- navigation vehicle led the tractor train, to assist with snow shovelling. trugi patterns. Near D-59 winds and which was led by one of the U.S. ye- precipitation annually change the ter- hides, a low-ground pressure D-6 bull- Weather at D-59. In December the rain. In 1986 as the group approached dozer pulling two 10-ton sleds. The weather at D-59 is generally windy. Al- the site, they encountered sastrugi that bulldozer improved conditions for the though during the first week a 3-day ranged from 1.2 to 1.5 meters high. rest because it had sufficient power to storm did interrupt work, throughout To compensate for the time lost at D- raze a road. On 23 November, less than the project the winds did not prohibit a 21, they travelled at least 12 hours each 4 days after leaving D-21, the party full day of tractor or other outside work. The skies were frequently clear or had An LC-1 30 (left) currently used by the U.S. Antarctic Program stands next to the recently recovered only scattered clouds; the average wind "321." speed was moderate (8-20 knots). Even
U.S. Navy photo. days when the wind exceeded 20 knots were acceptable for working, as long as no snow had fallen recently. Fortu- nately, from 5 to 25 December, when most of the excavation and the towing work took place, the good weather was almost uninterrupted. Although extended good weather at D-59 may not be common, the team gen- erally believed that the weather during December is probably similar to other areas of the continent s interior at this time of year. From 10 to 20 January 1987, a series of marine weather systems (like mA A those prevalent at Siple Station) oc- curred and combined, in its last stages, 097m^ with sustained katabatic winds. If this storm had occurred when the airplane was still in the excavation pit, the team would have needed at least an addi- tional week s work.
Excavation. Experimental excavation around "321" started on 26 November, but not until 30 November, after a tracked caterpillar loader with blade and bucket was received and assembled, did the team seriously begin removing the snow around the airplane. The team first tested 6 Antarctic Journal digging methods to find a way to pre- vent further damage to the airplane. They selected an area near the number 1 en- gine, which had been damaged in the crash. During this early stage of digging, they discovered that "321" was covered by 6.0 to 7.5 meters of snow rather the presumed 3.1 to 4.6 meters. Also, once digging reached the 3-meter level, they found dense, compact snow with melt ice near many of the airplane s surfaces. For a week, they worked to uncover all of the top surfaces and to open the way into the airplane. While digging they observed that the airplane would rise noticeably when large amounts of snow were removed. This observation sug- gested that snow-loading over the entire structure was significant but uniformly distributed and probably had not dam- aged the airplane s structure. To prevent damage to the structure, they decided to remove the snow from the center wing sections and forward fuselage last. On 10 December they entered the airplane for the first time. They found the fuse- lage intact with some damage to two es- cape hatches and some cracked windows U.S. Navy photo. on the flight deck. During the week that followed, ex- Juliet Delta 321 on the snow surface at D-59 in December 1986. cavation work moved rapidly. With all of the top surfaces free of snow, they began to build the ramp on which they propellers alone paid for the cost of the to those who sponsored and coordi- would tow the airplane out of the ex- entire project many times over. nated the recovery. When "321" flies cavation ditch. To construct this ramp, The aircraft has been examined by again, it will be because of the combined they had to trench backwards from the structural and electrical engineers from efforts of personnel from ITT/Antarctic 10 meter snow wall in front of the air- Lockheed and the Naval Air Rework Fa- Services, the Naval Support Force Ant- plane. When it was completed 1 week cility in Cherry Point, North Carolina. arctica, Antarctic Development Squad- later, the ramp was 100 meters long with Based on their preliminary findings, their ron Six, and the National Science an angle of 33°. assessment is optimistic that "321" can Foundation s Division of Polar Pro- be rehabilitated and flown from the site. grams. On 16 December, working 7.5 to 10.0 The D-59 camp was closed on 21 Jan- meters below the surface, they began to uary 1987 with "321" parked 100 meters (Editor s note: This article is based on uncover the fuselage and to remove the down wind of the camp. During the 1987- the final project report written by James snow from between the engines. Snow 1988 austral summer only 2 to 3 days of C. Mathews, project manager for the that was dense at 3 meters or so was excavation should be required to remove "321" recovery.) extremely hard at this level. To make accumulated snow from around it. All removal easier, the crew used one of the equipment and supplies were consoli- tractors to move the snow and a chain dated and inventoried for easy access saw to remove snow inaccessible to the when the camp is reopened. Everything tractor. As pressure was released, the required for immediate start-up and ski- airplane rose more; consequently, the way construction was left behind, in- amount of hand shovelling needed to cluding enough DFA for at least 1 month free the airplane s structure was re- of operation. duced. The entire airplane rose an av- erage of 5 to 7 centimeters but the most dramatic rise occurred when the left outer Conclusion wing tip rose approximately 80 centi- For almost 15 years this project was Three countries accede to meters over 5 to 6 days. considered to be too costly, logistically the Antarctic Treaty On Christmas Day 1986 after an un- complex, and dangerous to be practical. successful first try, the ANS crew towed As the years passed and "321" disap- From November 1986 to January 1987, Juilet Delta "321" out of the snow pit peared from view, recovery attempt was the Republic of Korea (28 November and onto the surface at D-59. They thought to be hopelessly uncertain. Ul- 1986), Greece (8 January 1987), and the cleaned the interior and prepared the timately, many people considered it to Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea plane to be reviewed by experts from the be impossible. (21 January 1987) acceded to the Ant- U.S. Navy and Lockheed Corporation. Its recovery is credit to the human re- arctic Treaty. These three countries bring Its engines were removed in early Jan- sources of the U.S. Antarctic Program. the total number of nations recognizing uary 1987 by a five-person maintenance That this effort was accomplished ahead the treaty to 34. The other acceding na- team from VXE-6. The four engines and of schedule, with minimal disruption to tions, which agree to abide by the treaty three propellers were returned to the U.S. antarctic science program, and but do not participate in its operation, McMurdo and later to the United States at a reasonable cost is a credit not only are Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, for repair. Salvage of the engines and to the people who did the work, but also Finland, the German Democratic Re- March/June 1987 /South Pose public, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, People s Republic of China, Poland, the 90 90 Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic Republic of South Africa, the Union of of Cuba, Romania, Spain, Sweden. Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Consultative parties are those con- WEST EAST tracting nations that were original treaty and Uruguay. At consultative meetings, ANTARCTICA / ANTARCTICA signatories or that conduct substantial held every other year, representatives of scientific research programs in Antarc- these nations formulate recommenda- tica. These countries are Argentina, tions aimed at furthering the objectives 35, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, the of the treaty. The fourteenth consulta- 35 Federal Republic of Germany, France, tive meeting will be held in September 90 India, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the 1987 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 5( fl ROSS /CE SHELF ;
rc_.... S ,•&,•, r •1"L ROSS SEA Sirius Formation of the ISO Figure 1. Terrestrial history of the Transant- Beardmore Glacier region arctic Mountains.
During November and December 1985, Nimrod, Lennox-King, Beardmore, and ice sheet or were destroyed by subse- we examined outcrops of the Sirius For- Shackleton glaciers. quent glacial action. mation in the Miller, Queen Alexandra Major rock divisions include: Early Miocene volcanics (19-22 mil- (The Cloudmaker), and Dominion ranges • a Precambrian-lower Paleozoic lion years old), extruded onto a glaciated and on Mount Sirius (figure 1). Outcrops basement complex of sedimentary, me- topography at one isolated site in the in the Dominion Range were visited ear- tasedimentary and igneous intrusive southern Transantarctic Mountains lier and are discussed by Oliver (1964), rocks, (Stump et al. 1980), are the oldest known Mercer (1972), Mayewski (1975) and • Paleozoic and lower Mesozoic con- in situ Cenozoic terrestrial rocks in this Mayewski and Goldthwait (1985). Re- tinental sedimentary rocks of the Beacon area (figure 1). During the relatively ports of earlier visits to Mount Sirius are Supergroup; Jurassic tholeiitic Ferrar warmer phases of the Miocene, this high- presented in Mercer (1972), Mayewski Dolerite, intruding all earlier rocks, relief landscape probably provided sed- (1975), and McKelvey et al. (1984). De- • Jurassic Kirkpatrick Basalts, com- iment to the intracratonic Wilkes and posits in the Miller Range and at The agmatic with the tholeiites and overlap- Pensacola basins and to the extra-cra- Cloudmaker were not previously known. ping earlier rocks, and tonic Victoria Land Basin. Many geo- In this report we provide briefly a re- • Cenozoic terrestrial glacial depos- morphic elements of the present day view of preliminary data on Sirius For- its, including the late Pliocene and/or Transantarctic Mountains may have been mation stratigraphy, sedimentation, and early Pleistocene Sirius Formation, the inherited from the Neogene. glacial history in the central Transan- subject of this report. The late Pliocene and/or early Pleis- tarctic Mountains. Other aspects of our The entire succession was deformed tocene Sirius Formation and the under- research on the Sirius Formation pre- into broad synclinal and anticlinal struc- lying Dominion erosion surface (which sented in the 1986 review issue of the tures and further dislocated by normal possibly existed during the same time Antarctic Journal are: glacial history and faulting during post-Jurassic time. Fold period), provide the most widespread tectonic relations (Webb et al. 1986); Do- axes and fault lineaments are aligned and best preserved Cenozoic terrestrial minion Erosion Surface topography parallel or subparallel to the length of record. As Mercer (1972) proposed, the (Mabin 1986); siliceous microfossil bio- the Transantarctic Mountains. Some Sirius Formation is ". . . a compact gla- stratigraphy and Pliocene marine envi- faulting post-dates deposition of the late cial drift that unconformably covers pre- ronments (Harwood 1986); palyno- Pliocene and/or early Pleistocene Sirius Tertiary rocks." The formation is typi- morphs (Askin and Markgraf 1986); Formation (Webb et al. 1986). cally displayed at Mount Sirius (for which modern southern hemisphere botanical it is named) in the central Transantarctic analogs (Mercer 1986); and Pliocene ter- Mountains, 170 kilometers to the north restrial environments, flora, and bio- Cenozoic terrestrial record of of the Dominion Range (figure 2). The geography (Webb and Harwood 1986). the Transantarctic Mountains Sirius Formation and associated sub-Sir- Microfossil analyses (Harwood and The terrestrial and marine Cenozoic ius erosion surface have been docu- Webb) will be reported in the December record of Antarctica is the poorest known mented at more than 40 localities along 1987 issue (Volume 22, number 4) of the of all the continents. We attributed this the Transantarctic Mountains (figure 2). Antarctic Journal. to the envelopment of land areas by the Because post-Sirius glacial and fluvial present ice sheet and to the destructive dissection has removed much of the Sir- nature of multiple continent-wide gla- ius Formation, known outcrops proba- Regional geology ciations during the Neogene. The pres- bly represent remnants of a formerly The region between the Nimrod and ence of east antarctic cratonic rocks in extensive deposit. Deposits are concen- Shackleton glaciers consists of a series late Paleogene/Recent marine succes- trated at elevations between 1,500 and of up-faulted blocks that in places rise sions of the western Ross Sea (Hayes et 3,000 meters, although remnants and to more than 4,000 meters and separate al. 1975; Barrett 1986) suggests that a probable sub-Sirius erosion surfaces are the inland ice sheet from the Ross Ice proto-Transantarctic Mountain chain ex- found as low as 500 meters and as high Shelf. Prominent topographic features isted during the Cenozoic. Although very as 4,500 meters. include the Queen Elizabeth, Miller, few in situ Cenozoic terrestrial data points Based on field work completed be- Queen Alexandra, and Dominion ranges are known from the Transantarctic tween 1970 and 1972, Mayewski (1975) and the Queen Maud Mountains. In this Mountains. Paleogene landforms and and Mayewski and Goldthwait (1985) region the east antarctic ice sheet drains deposits undoubtedly were present but provide the most comprehensive pub- into the Ross embayment through the either are hidden beneath the present lished account of the Sirius Formation. Antarctic Journal
n, Zacial events with arosign modified, sub-Sirius Dominion erosion amined along the northern and eastern d mipos: ntion of ground and. surface has been traced between eleva- faces of Oliver Platform (figure 3) be- QUATERNARY tions of 1,500 meters to 4,500 meters. tween elevations of approximately 1,800 Some part of this relief/elevation is at- meters and 2,650 meters. In addition, we Beardmore Erosion Surface— tributed to major post-Sirius faulting measured two dissimilar sections (ap-
•"" • silts and clays landscape erosion, (Webb et al. 1986). The Dominion ero- proximately 86 meters and 27 meters, PLIOCENE SIRIUS FORMATION (<3.5 Ma) sion surface cuts into the Triassic Beacon respectively) immediately east of May- /Solis, wood, foliage, palynomorphS and recycled Cretaceous, Paleocene, Miocene and Supergroup and Jurassic Ferrar Dolerite. ewski Ice Lobe. A strikingly different Pliocene marine and terrestrial rnic^olo.., Dominion Erosion Surface The deepest dissection and thickest Sir- conglomerate and breccia facies of the ?PLIOCENE ius Formation successions occur near the Sirius Formation, which is about 50 me- center of the syncline. In the Dominion ters thick, is exposed 5 kilometers west —.0rd probably tectonic uplift of Transantarcfic Hvt:f:Wtg,,pQ::dpplyno Range, the Dominion erosion surface and (up glacier) of Mercer Ice Lobe near the MIOCENE still n :, Pensacola and
0 Ross basin. I- Sirius Formation successions crop out Beardmore Glacier. The Sirius Forma- 0 between 2,600 meters and 1,800 meters tion in the Dominion Range is unfolded, > EARLY over a horizontal distance of 11.5 kilo- but strata have a slight regional dip (less MIOCENE meters (figure 3). This paleoslope fea- than 5°) to the northeast in the direction 15.5-2011,11a Subglacial volcanism —--- Erosion Surface ture represents one side of a major glacier of the present Beardmore Glacier flow. PALEOGENE ^ valley wall (figure 3, cross section). The In all outcrops of the Sirius Formation No terrestrial sedimentary or paleontological CRETACEOUS record. Rifting, faulting and -rp,n:,oP1 orientation of this fossil valley parallels tillite, conglomerate and breccia clasts of Tran.antarctic Mountain.g and supply are overwhelmingly composed of vari- ?JURASSIC of sediments to fl.nkin marine basins. that of the present day Beardmore Gla- cier valley. In the Dominion Range and eties of Ferrar Dolerite. Kirkpatrick Bas- other localities, the Dominion erosion alt clasts are present but are much scarcer. Figure 2. Sirius Formation localities of the surface also exhibits a small-scale topo- Although Beacon Supergroup clasts are Transantarctic Mountains. graphic relief of whalebacks, grooves, relatively rare, the tillite matrices are de- and striations (Mabin 1986). rived predominantly from this source. Oliver (1964), Mercer (1968), Brady and From the above evidence; we con- In many instances such matrices are re- McKelvey (1979, 1983), Webb et al. (1983, clude that immediately before the first markably dark and reflect their deriva- 1984) and Harwood (1986) also provide Sirius Formation sediments were de- tion from Beacon Supergroup coal new data and discuss the significance of posited, and perhaps concomitant with measures and dark shales. A few base- the Sirius Formation in interpreting late their deposition, a glaciated landscape ment-derived clasts, generally lime- Cenozoic glacial history. with drainage fabrics similar to those of stones, were observed in the Sirius the present day was incised into the Formation. Transantarctic Mountains. All Sirius Formation clasts imbrication Stratigraphic and structural and pavement striations observed in the setting of the Sirius Formation Dominion Range clearly demonstrate that the ice flow related to the Sirius For- Webb et al. (1986) note that in the Stratigraphy of the Sirius Formation Beardmore Glacier region Sirius For- mation was from the polar plateau A seemingly structureless diamicton through the Transantarctic Mountains. mation outcrops are concentrated within distributed over 1,300 kilometers of the a major syncline or structurally con- Transantarctic Mountains has not in- trolled depression, and most deposits vited stratigraphic subdivision by most occur between elevations of 2,000 me- authors. In 1968, Mercer recognized a ters and 2,500 meters. This glacially degree of lithologic diversity and pro- Oliver Platform posed several informal units. Later, Sirius Formation outcrops at the Figure 3. Locality map of Dominion Range and Mayewski (1975) noted a widespread till northern end of Lower Oliver Platform cross-section along scarp where stratigraphic member and a stratified member at Ben- reveal four successive units totaling up sections were measured, described, and sam- nett Platform and Dominion Range. to 85 meters thick. Informal Units 1 (low- pled. Results from our 1985-1986 austral ermost) to 4 (uppermost) are proposed summer investigation indicate that the here. Units 1 and 3 are lodgement tillites Sirius Formation of the Beardmore Gla- that enclose an essentially fluvioglacial 167 E Plunket (including glaciolacustrine) Unit 2 (fig- Point cier region is lithostratigraphical di- verse, and that facies development is ures 4 and 5). Unit 4 is a more complex related to the position within deposi- sequence, probably reflecting ice con- tional basins. Near the basin center, at ditions but with minor marginal oscil- L obe A Oliver Bluffs in the Dominion Range, we lations. At several localities woody plant identified four major units. It is now ap- fossils have been found at the boundary parent that the Sirius Formation is not between Units 1 and 2 and Units 3 and the result of a single glacial event—spe- 4 and from a horizon approximately 4.5 cially the, Queen Maud Glaciation (May- meters above the base of Unit 4. Evi- ewski 1975; Mayewski and Goldthwait dence that the vegetation occurs in situ 1985)—and is not exclusively a subgla- or nearly in situ includes: _85706R cial deposit. We prefer an interpretation • the constant facies relationship, that allows for major variations in ice o the limited vertical distribution within cover (multiple glaciation), with an in- a 10-centimeter envelope, and terplay of subglacial and ice-marginal • the preservation of fine, millimeter- deposition interglacial events. thick, twigs. All outcrops show some evidence of slight to moderate post-depositional soft- sediment deformation. Dominion Range Unit 1. This unit is at least 13 meters I .2874 Twelve Sirius Formation (semi-lithi- thick and includes three lodgement til- fied) tillite sections ranging between 32 lites (diamictites) ranging in thickness and 185 meters in thickness were ex- from 2 to 6.75 meters. These contain clasts March/June 1987 up to 2.5 meters in diameter, but gen- gentle channelling. Strata underlying the erally the largest range between only 25 pebbly sandstones often exhibit spec- and 50 centimeters. Where tabular clasts tacular deformation, including breccia- are abundant, they tend to be oriented tion and convolute lamination. The parallel to bedding. The individual til- siltstones frequently contain scattered lites are indistinctly stratified internally lonestones, often of coaly material. Ex- and sometimes show crude normal cept for one outcrop of ripple-drift lam- r3I grading. They also contain scattered lat- ination, we observed no cross-bedding A1011 erally discontinuous intervals (generally or current ripples. The sandstones and up to 40 centimeters) of gently deformed thin diamictites (pebbly sandstones) were waterlaid laminated siltstones, medium essentially resedimented mass-move- ment deposits. In addition, we did not to fine sandstones, and fine conglom- I4 F erates. In section 8, a 2.2-meter-thick see trace fossils of any sort on bedding - pebble breccia and conglomerate, which planes. is between two tillites, thins to a few Three hundred meters to the south- centimeters over 20 meters. west (Section 8), a wholly fluvial Unit 2 Unit 2. This stratified thin unit (up to is only 2 meters thick and consists of IIk I !i--iT - - 7.5 meters), composed of varied sand- laminated sandstones with occasional Figure 5. Unit 2, section 7, Oliver Bluffs. Thin lonestones and thin resedimented peb- stone, (often pebbly) siltstone, and sub- poorly sorted conglomerate (behind top of staff) ordinate conglomerate or breccia, exhibits bly sandstones interbedded with lesser interbedded with laminated siltstones and rapid facies change (figure 4). In marked amounts of thin pebble conglomerates sandstones (with occasional scattered peb- contrast to Units 1 and 3, Unit 2 contains and lensoidal cross-bedded coarse sand- bles); and two graded fine conglomerates or no lodgement tillites and reflects near- stones. Individual bed thicknesses range very coarse sandstones (center and bottom of glacial or nonglacial conditions. In sev- from 5 to 50 centimeters. Diverse soft staff). The latter two beds contain abundant eral sections Unit 2 is only a few centi- sediment deformation varies from sim- intraformational detritus highlighting their re- meters thick, which because of soft ple loaditig features to recumbant inter- sedimentation origin. Staff intervals 25 centi- meters. sediment deformation and/or erosion lo- stratal folds. cally "pinches-out" between enclosing tillite sheets. Unit 3. At the northern end of Oliver Unit 4 overlies Unit 3 with apparent In section 7 (approximately 7.5 meters Platform this unit ranges in thickness conformity, although the basal litholo- thick) a lacustrine sequence of laminated from 9 to 24 meters and overlies Unit 2 gies frequently consist of up to 6 meters sandstones and siltstones interbedded with apparent disconformity. Erosional of poorly sorted breccia or matrix poor with several thin (less than 75 centi- relief on the contact is less than 2 meters. diamictite. At the northern end of Lower meters thick) pebbly sandstones (diam- The base of Unit 3 is a poorly sorted Oliver Platform in section 5, a prominent ictites) passes both laterally and vertically cobble conglomerate 2 meters to 10 me- grayish-orange polar soil occurs 52 me- to prograding fan-delta pebble and cob- ters thick (figure 4). This passes up gra- ters above the base of the unit. In marked ble conglomerates and very coarse sand- dationally to indistinctly stratified contrast sections 13 and ii (8.2 kilo- stones. These latter fluvial rocks are lodgement tillite generally similar to Unit meters and 9.8 kilometers to the south, reddish because of oxidation and have 1. However, large clasts up to 3 meters respectively) exhibit numerous similar initial dips of up to 50 across are common in Unit 3. This dis- soil horizons. In section lithe soil ho- Both the lacustrine sandstones and tinguishes it in the field from Units 1 and rizons occur in the youngest (preserved) pebbly sandstones show grading and 4. Similar to Unit 1, Unit 3 tillite contains 5 meters of the 140-meter unit. In section deformed discontinuous lenses of Wa- 13 two approximately 20-meter-thick se- terlaid siltstone, sandstone, and pebble quences at the base and top of the unit conglomerate. contain numerous soil horizons. Figure 4. Coarse poorly sorted cobble (maxi- Five kilometers to the south (Section mum clast 50 centimeters) and pebble breccia 6) where considerably thicker (approxi- at the base of Unit 3 overlying (prograding with mately 45 meters) Unit 3 abuts a base- Meyer Desert apparent conformity) interbedded thin con- ment high of dolerite, the tillite glomerates and lensoidal cross-bedded sand- Sections 9 (85 meters) and 10 (27 me- stones of Unit 2. Thin laminated siltstones (light interdigitates with fans of spectacular and ters), approximately 2 and 4 kilometers colored) are also present in Unit 2, which in poorly sorted boulder breccia, contain- northeast of Lower Oliver Platform near this exposure is approximately 2 meters thick. ing clasts of up to 3.5 meters. Plunket Point, consist entirely of tillite Diamictite (tillite) of Unit 1 underlies. Location: Unit 4. This unit is overall slope form- resting on dolerite basement. Neither Near section 8, Oliver Bluffs. Staff intervals section resembles the other. At section (lower left) are 25 centimeters. ing and more than 60 meters thick (Sec- tion 5). It is overlain disconformably 9 the indistinctly stratified tillite contains (Beardmore erosion surface) by any of an abundant (approximately 50 percent) the Beardmore I, II, or III moraines of dark fine matrix and overall is relatively Mercer (1972). Unit 4 contrasts with Units fine-grained with the larger clasts av- 1 and 3 because much of it consists of eraging only 10 centimeters although a relatively thin (2 meters) diamicton sheets few of over 1 meter were noted. Washed interbedded with either massive or lam- pebble horizons are common. In general inated sandstones (with occasional lone- the sequence is similar to parts of The stones) or thin sequences of interstratified Cloudmaker sequence (see below) and sandstones, siltstones, and lensoidal to Unit 4 at Lower and Upper Oliver conglomerates. Clasts in Unit 4 are ex- Platform (see above). clusively doleritic (or Kirkpatrick Basalt) The sequence at section 10 is different and generally less than 50 centimeters from any examined at Oliver Platform. in diameter. A very few dolerite blocks Characterized by rusty red dolerite clasts up to 2.5 meters occur. The diamitite up to 2.5 meters and quite dissimilar to matrices are often especially dark as a the underlying dolerite basement, the result of their Beacon Supergroup coal section consists of poorly sorted, len- measures or dark shale content. soidal basal boulder conglomerates 10 Antarctic Journal passing up irregularly to fine and coarse diamictite (tillite) containing thin breccia tions 5, and 8, as well as other non-sec- diamictites (tillite) containing lenses of or conglomerate beds. One dark pebble- tion localities in the Dominion Range. pebbles and cobbles. Within outcrops the breccia is up to 6 meters thick. The basal This material is being examined by Sher- texture varies considerably. Initial dips tillite unit lenses out northwards. The win Carlquist, Rancho Santa Ana Bo- of up to 400 reflect the local rugged base- uppermost unit preserved at Mount Sir- tanic Garden, California. Askin and ment topographic relief. ius consists of coarse tillite similar to the Margraf (1986) discuss palynomorphs The cobble and boulder breccia and basal strata. However, the youngest pre- from these sections in a paper in the 1986 conglomerate facies of the Sirius For- served horizons include laterally discon- review issue of the Antarctic Journal. Al- mation 6 kilometers west of Oliver Plat- tinuous, highly deformed (soft sediment though of considerable paleoenviron- form is well exposed for over 1.5 deformation) pebble-cobble breccias and mental importance, this macrofloral and kilometers in 50 meter-high bluffs where conglomerates. The results of detailed microfloral material appears to be of lit- it is overlain disconformably via a 2-me- topographic mapping of the sub-Sirius tle use in dating the Sirius Formation. ter soil horizon (color: 7.5 YR 7/6) by Dominion Erosion Surface are discussed The biogeographic implication of in situ Beardmore III moraines. Also present are by Mabin (1986). vegetation at 85°S are discussed by Webb numerous interstratified beds of very and Harwood (1986). coarse sandstone up to 1.5 meters thick. Marine fossils. A variety of reworked The poorly sorted breccias and conglom- Cenozoic microfossils including marine Miller Range erates (specifically clast-supported and non-marine diatoms, foraminifera, Because of an intensive search for Sir- diamictites) are almost entirely of doler- silicoflagellates, radiolarians, sponge ius Formation outcrops, we found a sin- itic (and basaltic) provenance. Discern- spicules, calcareous nannoplankton, os- gle sedimentary succession at Orr Peak ible in the bluff faces are coarse (fan) tracodes, and palynomorphs were re- and a questionable Sirius remnant at foresets showing down-dip grading, covered from the Sirius Formation at Aurora Heights. A very thin sedimen- channels, and weathering surfaces de- numerous localities in the Transantarctic tary succession of uncertain affinity oc- veloped on some bedding planes. The Mountains (Harwood 1986). These find- curs south of Snowshoe Pass above stratigraphic relationship of this facies to ings were first reported by Harwood et Argosy Glacier. As noted by Grindley the Oliver Platform sequences is not al. (1983), Harwood (1983) and Webb et (1967) the crystalline basement rocks of known. Almost certainly, however, these al. (1983, 1984). The microfossils, which the Miller Range are glacially planed to breccias and conglomerates represent originate from Cretaceous, Paleogene, form a mammilated landscape. The age younger post-glacial or interglacial abla- and Neogene sediments in the Wilkes relationships between the Dominion and tion moraines. and Pensacola basins of East Antarctica, Beardmore erosion surfaces proposed were eroded and transported by ice to here and Grindley s First, Second, and the Transantarctic Mountains and de- Third Glacial surfaces are unclear. posited in the Sirius Formation. The Cloudmaker At Orr Peak the Sirius Formation un- Approximately 10.5 kilometers south- conformably overlies crystalline base- west of The Cloudmaker, an excellent ment gneiss. A highly oxidized and 250 meter-section of Sirius Formation fragmented gneiss interval up to 40 me- contains at least six major stratigraphic ters thick is developed at the surface of Age and correlation of units. Most are indistinctly stratified the crystalline basement. The contact be- the Sirius Formation (lodgement) tillites, each usually more tween weathered gneiss and overlying Previous estimates of age place the than 30 meters thick. However, two Sirius Formation is gradational through Sirius Formation as "pre-Pleistocene and, stratigraphic units, 16 meters and 27 me- a 100-centimeter interval in which till and therefore, presumably Pliocene" (Mer- ters thick, respectively, consist of thin oxidized gneiss fragments are mixed. The cer 1968), older than 4.2 million years (1 centimeter) carbonate horizons. Within Sirius Formation is at least 30 meters thick (Pliocene or pre-Pliocene) (Mayewski one of these units the horizons occur depending on how much of the deposit 1975), and more than 20 million years about 145.2 meters above the section base. is plastered on the surface of existing old (Early Miocene or older) (Mercer The older tillites, constituting the basal topography. The deposit consists largely 1981). 70 meters of section, are remarkably ma- of massive diamictite. Clasts are angular Recovery of recycled Pliocene marine trix-rich with clasts ranging from only 1 to subangular, range up to diameters of diatoms in the Sirius Formation enables to 20 percent. The younger tillites con- 50 centimeters, consist mostly of meta- more accurate dating by providing a tain considerably more clasts, and some morphic material and minor dolerite, and maximum age of deposition. Because the beds are actually clast-supported diam- are distributed throughout the section. Sirius Formation must be younger than ictites. At approximately 182 meters Isolated packets of stratified sand and the reworked fossils, a late Pliocene/early above the section base, a 2-meter soil silt occupy depressions in these hori- Pleistocene age is suggested. Specifi- horizon separates two tillites. Another zons. cally, it must be younger than the low- soil (0.5 meters) horizon was noted at The oxidized interval may represent a est/oldest range of the youngest 152 meters, within a tillite unit. We ob- "soil." This is only the second locality microfossil it contains. Diatoms Cos- served no Sirius Formation coarse con- where the transition from nonglacial iniodiscus insignis Jouse and Coscinodiscus glomerate and breccia facies similar to processes to glacial deposition is pre- vulnificus Gombos occur together in that exposed in the Dominion Range west served beneath the Sirius Formation and southern-ocean and Ross Sea assem- of Oliver Platform, in The Cloudmaker not eroded. The other locality is at Tillite blages between approximately 3.1 and region. Spur in the Reedy Glacier region (Mercer approximately 2.5 million years. Thus, 1968). Survival of the weathered interval the Sirius Formation may be as old as suggests deposition by wet-based ice approximately 3.1 million years but must without a period of scour and erosion. be younger than approximately 2.5 mil- Mount Sirius lion years (Harwood 1986). Reexamination of the 84-meter section Mayewski (1975) and Mayewski and on Mount Sirius previously reported by Goldthwait (1985) attempted to correlate McKelvey et al. (1984) shows it to be Paleontology the Sirius Formation (Queen Maud Gla- divisible into three units. The basal 22 Terrestrial fossils. In situ and recycled ciation) with the glacial history of Wright meters of texturally variable tillite (see stems and rootlets occur at the boundary Valley as expressed by Nichols (1971) McKelvey et al. 1984, figure 1, page 42) between Units 1 and 2 and Units 3 and and Webb (1972). Mayewski and is overlain by 30 meters of much finer 4 and within Unit 4 at Oliver Bluff sec- Goldthwait s (1985) correlation of Queen March/June 1987 11 Maud Glaciation (Sirius Formation) with Dan Greene, Tim Axelson, Steve Mun- ceous microfossils from the Sirius For- Nichol s Vanda Glacial Episode and cor- sell, and Chuck McGrosky provided as- mation. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., relation of the Gallup Interglacial with sistance in the field. George Denton drew 21(5), 101-103. the Pecten Marine Invasion (Pecten our attention to the exposures at The gravels) is of doubtful validity. Har- Cloudmaker. We acknowledge the gen- Harwood, D.M., P.-N. Webb, B.C. wood s (1986) estimate for the age of the erous assistance provided by John McKelvey, J.H. Mercer, and L.D. Stott. Sirius Formation places it at younger than Splettstoesser and the helicopter pilots 1983. Late Neogene and Plaeogene dia- 3.1 to 2.5 million years and, therefore, at the Beardmore South Camp in exe- toms in high-elevation deposits of the about the same age as the late Pliocene cuting the Sirius Formation program de- Transantarctic Mountains. GSA Ab- Wright Valley Pecten gravels-McMurdo tailed here and in other papers presented stracts with Programs, 15, 592. Sound Scallop Hill Formation for which the Antarctic Journal. a radiometrically determined age of less -Peter-Noel Webb, B.C. MeKelvey, Harwood, D.M., and P.-N. Webb. (1986). than 2.6 million years is proposed by David M. Harwood, M.C.G. Mabin, and Recycled marine microfossils from Webb and Andreasen (1986). Correla- John H. Mercer, Department of Geology basal debris-ice in ice-free valleys of tion between the normally high-eleva- and Mineralogy, Ohio State University, southern Victoria Land. Antarctic Jour- tion Sirius Formation and low elevation Columbus, Ohio 43210-1398. nal of the U.S., 21(5), 87-88. deposits, like those in Wright Valley, is still not adequately resolved. The Peleus Hayes, D.E., et al. 1975. Initial Reports of till (Prentice 1982, 1985; Denton et al. the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Volume 1984; Burckle, Prentice, and Denton 1986) References 28. that overlies the late Pliocene Pecten gravels (same age as Prospect Mesa Askin, R.A., and V. Markgraf. (1986). McKelvey, B.C., J.H. Mercer, D.M. Har- gravels) and is, therefore, late Pliocene Palynomorphs from the Sirius For- wood, and L, D. Stott. 1984. The Sirius or younger in age, may eventually prove mation, Dominion Range, Antarctica. Formation: Further considerations. to be a partial or total correlative of the Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 21(5), 34- Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 19(5), 42- Sirius Formation. However, because mi- 35. 43. crofossils potentially can survive several cycles of reworking (Harwood and Webb Barrett, P.J. 1986. MSSTS drillhole. Mem- Mabin, M.C.G. (1986). Sirius Formation 1986), it may be valid to infer that the oir New Zealand Department of Sci- basal contacts in the Beardmore Gla- Sirius Formation and Peleus Till existed entific and Industrial Research, 237. cier region. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., at the same time because they contain 21(5) 32-33. the same fossils. Brady, H.T., and B.C. McKelvey. 1979. The interpretation of a Tertiary tillite Mayewski, P.A. 1975. Glacial geology and at Mt. Feather, southern Victoria Land, the late Cenozoic history of the Transan- Discussion Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, 22(86), tarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Ohio State The Sirius Formation of the Beard- 189-193. University, Institute of Polar Studies, more Glacier region was deposited un- Report 56. der a variety of glacial and interglacial/ Brady, H.T., and B.C. McKelvey. 1983. periglacial conditions. Data gathered Some aspects of the Cenozoic glacia- Mayewski, P.A., and R.P. Goldthwait. during the 1985-1986 austral summer tion of southern Victoria Land. Journal 1985. Glacial events in the Transan- point to depositional environments that of Glaciology, 29(102), 343-349. tarctic Mountains: A record of the east include alternating periods of free water, antarctic ice sheet. In M.D. Turner and subaerial exposure, and ice cover. We Burckle, L.H., M.L. Prentice, and G.H. S.F. Splettstoesser (Eds.), Geology of find Mercer s (1978) arguments more ac- Denton. 1986. Neogene antarctic gla- the central Transantarctic Mountains. ceptable than Mayewski s (1975) ice- cial history: New evidence from ma- Antarctic Research Series, 36(12). sheet-overriding model in explaining our rine diatoms in continental deposits. Washington, D.C.: American Geo- data. Mercer (1968) believed that the Sir- EQS, 67(16), 295. physical Union. ius was pre-ice sheet and was deposited by local ice from plateau ice caps. Later, Denton, G.H., M.L. Prentice, D.E. Kel- Mercer, J.H. 1968. Glacial geology of the Mercer (1978) suggested some of the Sir- logg, and T. Kellogg. 1984. Late Ter- Reedy Glacier area, Antarctica. Geo- ius Formation was deposited and influ- tiary history of the Antarctic ice sheet: logical Society of America Bulletin. 79, enced by ice that had a drainage pattern Evidence from the Dry Valleys. Geol- similar to the present Beardmore Gla- ogy, 12, 263-267. 471-486. cier. Widespread paleosol development Mercer, J.H. 1972. Some observations on and the development of a low shrub Grindley, G.W. 1967. The geology of the the glacial geology of the Beardmore vegetation reinforces our view that rel- Miller Range, central Transantarctic Glacier area. In R.J. Adie, (Ed.), Ant- atively warm conditions prevailed in the Mountains, with notes on the glacial arctic geology and geophysics. Oslo: Beardmore Glacier region of the Tran- history and neotectonics of East Ant- Universitetsforlaget. santarctic Mountains when portions of arctica. New Zealand Journal of Geology the Sirius Formation were deposited. and Geophysics, 10, 557-598. Repetitive facies patterns point to sig- Mercer, J.H. 1978. Glacial development nificant climatic fluctuation in the late Harwood, D.M. 1983. Diatoms from the and temperature trends in the Ant- Pliocene and/or Pleistocene. Because Sirius Formation, Transantarctic arctic and South America. In E. van neotectonic uplift of the area is appar- Mountains. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., Zinderen Bakker (Ed.), Antarctic gla- ent, the localities studied were probably 18(5), 98-100. cial history and world paleoenvironments. sited closer to sea level near the head of Rotterdam: Balkema. a large Beardmore fjord. Harwood, D.M. 1986. Diatom biostratig- raphy and paleoecology with a Cenozoic Mercer, J. H. 1981. Tertiary terrestrial de- history of antarctic ice sheets. Ph.D. dis- posits of the Ross Ice Shelf area, Ant- Acknowledgements sertation, Ohio State University. arctica. In M.J. Hambrey and W.B. This work was supported by National Harland (Eds.), Earth s pre-Pleisto- Science Foundation grant DPP 84-20622. Harwood, D.M. (1986). Recycled sili- cene glacial record. Cambridge, En-
12 Antarctic Journal gland: Cambridge University Press Prentice, M.L. 1985. Peleus glaciation of McKelvey, and L.D. Stott. 1984. Cen- Wright Valley, Antarctica. South Af- ozoic marine sedimentation and ice Mercer, J.H. 1986. Southern Chile: A rican Journal of Science, 81, 241-243. volume variation on the East Antarctic modern analog of the southern shores craton. Geology, 12, 287-291. of the Ross embayment during Pli- Stump, E., M.F. Sheridan, S.G. Borg, ocene warm intervals. Antarctic Jour- and J.F. Sutter. 1980. Early Miocene Webb, P.-N., and Andreasen. (1986). nal of the U.S., 21(5), 103-105. subglacial basalts, the east antarctic ice Potassium/argon dating of volcanic sheet, and uplift of the Transantarctic material associated with the Pliocene Nichols, R.L. 1971. Glacial geology of Mountains. Science, 207, 757-759. Pecten Conglomerate (Cockburn Is- Wright Valley. In L.O. Quam (Ed.), land) and Scallop Hill Formation Research in the Antarctic. Washington, Webb, P.-N. 1972. Wright Fjord, Mio- (McMurdo Sound). Antarctic Journal of D.C.: American Association for the cene marine invasion of an antarctic the U.S., 21(5), 59. Advancement of Science, Publication dry valley. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 93, 293-340. 7, 225-232. Webb, P.-N., D.M. Harwood, B.C. Oliver, R.L. 1964. Geological observa- Webb, P.-N., D.M. Harwood, B.C. McKelvey, M.C.G. Mabin, and J.H. tions at Plunket Point, Beardmore McKelvey, and L.D. Stott. 1983. Late Mercer. (1986). Late Cenozoic tectonic Glacier. In R.J. Adie, (Ed.), Antarctic Neogene and older Cenozoic micro- and glacial history of the Transantarc- geology. Amsterdam: North Holland fossils in high elevation deposits of tic Mountains. Antarctic Journal of the Publishing House. the Transantarctic Mountains: Evi- U.S., 21(5), 99-100. dence for marine sedimentation and Prentice, M. 1982. Surficial geology and ice volume variation on the East Ant- Webb, P.-N. and D.M. Harwood. (1986). stratigraphy in central Wright Valley, arctic craton. Antarctic Journal of the The terrestrial flora of the Sirius For- Antarctica: implications for antarctic Ter- U.S., 18(5), 96-97. mation: its significance in interpreting tiary glacial history. M.S. thesis, Uni- late Cenozoic glacial history. Antarctic versity of Maine, Orono. Webb, P.-N., D.M. Harwood, B.C. Journal of the U.S., 22, (4).
Reagan sends greetings Personnel winter at to winterers three U.S. stations The following lists researchers and Midwinter s Day marks the halfway I m happy to send greetings and good employees of ITT/Antarctic Services, Inc., point for personnel working in Antarc- wishes to you, the scientists and support (the National Science Foundation s con- tica during the austral winter. Tradition- personnel in Antarctica. tractor), and U.S. Navy personnel win- ally, the President of the United States tering in 1987 at the three U.S. stations— has sent Midwinter s Day greetings to Technology has put us more closely in McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott South Pole, the international wintering community touch with the southernmost continent, but and Palmer. not only to demonstrate the continuing you know so well that Antarctica remains The list is arranged by station with interest that the United States has in a frontier in the study of our planet s en- names in alphabetic order. For research- Antarctica but also to boost moral at the vironment. Following a long tradition of ers, their scientific disciplines and insti- stations. The first Midwinter s Day mes- international scientific cooperation, you ve tution to which the NSF grant was sage was sent by Dwight D. Eisenhower willingly accepted the great challenge of awarded are indicated; for contractor s in 1959. investigating this frontier. You can be truly (ITT/ANS) employees and Navy person- This austral summer 203 U.S. citizens proud of your contributions to antarctic nel, positions at the station are included. wintering at McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott science. Siple Station closed on January 1987 and will reopen in November 1987. South Pole, and Palmer stations re- Typical of these contributions are the ceived a Midwinter s Day greeting from efforts, dating from the International Geo- President Reagan. The message also was physical Year (1GY), toward a deeper un- McMurdo Station received by personnel wintering at 31 derstanding of how critical Antarctica is Albershardt, Mark H., plumber, ITT/ other antarctic stations operated by 12 to the delicate balance of the global envi- ANS countries. ronment. Today you are committed to Aldworth, Jeffrey R., carpenter, ITT! In his message he points out that al- learning how that environment is chang- ANS though "technology has put us more ing. This new endeavor extends work be- Allison, David L., plumber, ITT/ANS closely in touch with the southernmost gun during the IGY, using today s advanced Armstrong, Larry B., ABF1, NSFA continent, . . . [each winterer knows] so tools and technology to understand our Armstrong, Stephen E., RM2, NSFA well that Antarctica remains a frontier planet as a complex system of interacting Augustus, Kevin L., E01, NSFA in the study of our planet s environ- processes. Axelson, Timothy J., assistant man- ment." He compares the efforts of the ager, ITT/ANS science and support personnel during On behalf of the people of the United Bailey, Scott G., Jr., CM2, NSFA the International Geophysical Year to the States, I commend each of you this Mid- Bailey, William J., III, CM3, NSFA work of today s scientists and support winter s Day, 1987, for your dedication Baltz, Ronnie P., general assistant, ITT! personnel in Antarctica and commends and hard work. You have my best wishes ANS both for their commitment to learning. for your remaining months and for a safe Banaay, Vidal R., sheetmetal worker, The text of the 1987 Presidential Mid- trip home. God bless you. Signed Ronald ITT/ANS winter s Day Message follows. Reagan. Barrette, Richard L., MS2, NSFA March/June 1987 13 Bartlett, Shawn M., CE2, NSFA chanic, ITT!ANS Megie, Dallas J., CMI, NSFA Basler, Paul F., UT3, NSFA Green, William P., Jr., ET2, NSFA Melle, Ralph E., general assistant, ITT! Beanes, Raul F., senior materials per- Grunik, Thomas M., SW2, NSFA ANS son, ITT/ANS Guillemette, Donald J . , CM1, NSFA Menning, Richard A., UT3, NSFA Belford, Susan D., senior general as- Gunn, Kathryn E., RM2, NSFA Morris, Michael T., HMI, NSFA sistant, ITT/ANS Gunn, William T., Jr., ET1, NSFA Muoio, Dominic L., electrician, ITT! Bender, Barry J., UTCN, NSFA Guzman, Francisco A., MR1, NSFA ANS Hahn, John P., power plant techni- Blackmer, Charles J . , ironworker, ITT! Nash, Christopher W., CM2, NSFA cian, ITT/ANS Nellis, Michael P., ICI, NSFA ANS Hahn, Rodney C., carpenter s helper, Boedigheimer, Barbara J., senior clerk, Nesfeder, Thomas L., UTCN, NSFA ITT/ANS ITT!ANS Oates, Noel J . , satellite tracking, Uni- Hall, Stanley W., construction coor- versity of Texas Bounds, Willys J . , taper, ITT/ANS Breese, Brenda C., general assistant, dinator, ITT/ANS Opera, Paul G., SK2, NSFA Halley, David J . , BU1, NSFA Osborn, Clifford W., carpenter, ITT! ITT!ANS Hames, Edward W., AC1 ANS Brogdon, Sam J., HT2, NSFA Hamilton, William A., drywaller, ITT! Brown, Kimberly A., drafter, Iff/ANS Parent, Mark J., general assistant, ITT! Brueggemann, Lori A., UT3, NSFA ANS ANS Butler, M., electrician, ITT/ANS Hanko, Dale W., carpenter, ITT/ANS Paulson, David A., MS2, NSFA Caruthers, John M., LCDR, NSFA Harrison, Richard D., Perez, Juan F., Jr., CEC, NSFA Cassity, Susan E., AG2, NSFA Harvey, Elton D., plumber, ITT/ANS Peters, Susan R., RM1, NSFA Cater, Stephen T., general assistant, Hems, Charles B., outside plant tech- Petty, Kurt W., carpenter, ITT!ANS nician, ITT/ANS ITT/ANS Pilotte, Alvin S., Jr., BT1, NSFA Hirt, JonPaul E., BT2, NSFA Piper, James N., satellite tracking, Cave, Kenneth L., drywaller, I1TF/ANS Hitt, Nicholas J., SW1, NSFA Christian, Daniel W., BU2, NSFA University of Texas Holak, William F., heavy equipment Prentice, Robert D., carpenter, ITT! Clark, Sidney L., power plant lead mechanic, ITT!ANS technician, ITT/ANS Hoover, D., senior clerk, ITT/ANS ANS Close, Megan E., PN1, NSFA Hoover, Kimball K., carpenter, ITT/ Rand, John L., III, LCDR, NSFA Condon, Mark W., electrician, ITT! Richter, Walter D., E02, NSFA ANS Ringlieb, Conrad J., construction co- ANS Hoover, Richard J., construction co- Conway, Thomas C., ouside plant ordinator, ITT/ANS ordinator, ITT/ANS Roelle, James H., CM3, NSFA technician, ITT/ANS Home, Steven M., MS2, NSFA Copenhaver, Christopher C., UT2, Sanders, Stephen E., HTS, NSFA House, Harold R., field engineer, ITT/ Sankey, Kenneth E., UTC, NSFA NSFA ANS Schuldt, Dwaine A., field engineer, Cornelson, Joe J . , painter, ITT/ANS Hudson, Dellire R., ET1, NSFA ITT/ANS Cournia, Leroy J . , CM2, NSFA Iverson, Richard T., telephone ex- Cox, David C., power plant techni- Schultz, Steven K., SK2, NSFA change technician, ITT!ANS Jackson, Schunke, James L., HT2, NSFA cian, ITT/ANS Raymond L., sheetmetal worker, ITT! Cummings, John A., electrician, ITT! Shea, Paul I., heavy equipment op- ANS erator, ITT/ANS ANS Jones, Joyce M., SKI, NSFA Shelton, Nathan W., power plant Czarniecki, Louise A., materials per- Jones, William K., CM3, NSFA technician, ITT ANS son, ITT!ANS Josiger, Kevin J . , MSi, NSFA Sirles, Darryl W., UT3, NSFA Dale, Donald E., BU2, NSFA Kafton, Jonathan A., UT1, NSFA Slichter, Jonathan L., UT1, NSFA Degeare, Sheila A., HT1, NSFA Kazlauskas, Anthony A., III, EA2, Smith, Jeffrey P., BU3, NSFA Davenport, Erick W., heavy equip- NSFA Smith, Patrick D., light vehicle me- ment operator, ITT/ANS Kelley, Rebeka K., general assistant, chanic, ITT!ANS De Laurie, Don M., utility mechanic, Springer, Jeffrey T., CE2, NSFA ITT/ANS Spurgeon, James R., SKI, NSFA ITT/ANS Kennedy, James R., CM1, NSFA Dickens, Jordan L., power plant me- Staab, Howard A., carpenter, ITT/ANS Kitzman, Darrell J., carpenter, ITI/ANS chanic, ITT/ANS Kleiber, James F., carpenter, ITT/ANS Stancavage, Robert N., plumber, ITT! Doeleman, Sheperd S., atmospheric Koch, James J , plumber, ITT/ANS ANS physics, University of Delaware . Lang, Bobby L., Jr., E02, NSFA Stanek, John E., senior materials per- Doherty, Kathleen, EBC, assistant Lange, Christian 0., HT2, NSFA son, ITT/ANS manager, ITT/ANS Leonzal, Steve R., carpenter, ITI/ANS Starks, Gene D., general assistant, fF17 Draggan, Sidney, NSF Representative Lewis, James H., electrician, ITT/ANS Duncan, Harold D., electrician s ANS Lewis, Willie L., HMC, NSFA Stikeleather, Donald B., sheetmetal helper, ITT/ANS Lisko, David E., carpenter, ITT/ANS Engman, Kenneth B., BT1, NSFA worker, ITT!ANS Long, Robert A., RM1, NSFA Stoner, Paul R., materials person, ITT! Engstler, George S., AG1, NSFA McCormick, Timothy L., field engi- Erb, Duncan E., EA2, NSFA ANS neer, ITT/ANS Ewing, Mark E., EOl, NSFA Stover, Randall L., CE3, NSFA McCune, Mark S., SW2, NSFA Felix, Robert A., ET2, NSFA Strong, Derrick V., CE2, NSFA McMaster, Dennis D., ET2, NSFA Sylvester, Hugh D., water plant me- Foster, Linda L., senior materials per- Maas, James C., carpenter, ITT/ANS son, ITT/ANS chanic, ITT!ANS Maloy, Michael J., general assistant, Freeze, Steven E., HT2, NSFA Tate, Jeffery L., CE3, NSFA Froehie, Mark A., AG3, NSFA ITT/ANS Thomas, John K., MM2, NSFA Gessner, John D., MM2, NSFA Manning, Donald D., painter, ITI/ANS Tice, Jeffrey B., senior materials per- Gibb, Charles D., MS1, NSFA Markiewicz, Jacques M., CE2, NSFA son, ITT!ANS Gibbs, Jonathan N., SH2, NSFA Martin, Albert G., resident manager, Tillman, Allan C., ET2, NSFA Gilchrist, James K., plumber, ITT!ANS ITT!ANS Torkelson, David L., senior plumber s Gray, Alan R., heavy equipment me- Medley, Jan M., YN2, NSFA helper, ITT!ANS 14 Antarctic Journal Torres, Joseph R., SH3, NSFA Glacier returns from missioned the Polar class icebreakers, Trease, Larry C., power plant super- Polar Star in 1976 and Polar Sea in 1978. visor,ITT/ANS last southern voyage In 1986 an inspection of the ship s hull Tucker, Wayne R., SKi, NSFA revealed that deterioration was suffi- Ubinger, David R., BU2, NSFA cient to make further icebreaking duties Ulirich, Anna R., senior clerk, lU/ANS On 18 December 1955, the icebreaker imprudent. Glacier was reclassified as ice- Verdugo, Henry L., carpenter s helper, Glacier entered McMurdo Sound for the strengthened ship but was able to return ITT/ANS first time. The newly completed, 94-me- to Antarctica during the 1986-1987 aus- Vidal, Richard R., RMC, NSFA ter icebreaker was one of the ships of tral summer to support science projects, Walker, Jeanne, senior materials per- Deep Freeze I under Admiral George particularly marine geology coring op- son, ITT/ANS Dufek s command. The mission in Ant- erations. Walton, Richard R., CM2, NSFA arctica during 1955-1956 was to set up Weaver, Brian J . , drywaller, ITT/ANS two stations to support U.S. scientists On 7 June 1987 in Portland, Oregon, Weege, Gregory J . , BU1, NSFA during the International Geophysical Year Glacier was decommissioned. During the Welch, Donald C., MM2, NSFA (IGY). In February 1987, Glacier com- ceremony Admiral P.A. Yost, Comman- White, Michael H., EO1, NSFA pleted its last year of support to antarctic 600 dant of the U.S. Coast Guard, spoke of Woistein, D. Reed, senior plumber s research as it crossed S and sailed the ship s many accomplishments. He helper, ITT/ANS north. emphasized that Glacier would be "best Zimmerman, Eric, materials foreman, remembered as a friend to the scien- ITT/ANS The Glacier was built by the Navy in tists." He added, "With your numerous 1954 and commissioned in 1955 to meet labs, special equipment, and the ability needs created by the country s increased to transport researchers to otherwise in- Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station interest in Antarctica. The ship served accessible reaches, you have made it Bonine, Steven J., station manager, ITT! primarily in the Antarctic because it had possible with your can do spirit for these ANS ice-breaking capability, science facilities, men and women to make startling dis- Foss, Martin L., electrician, ITT/ANS and cargo capacity superior to the ex- coveries in frozen seas and around ice- Goldberg, Barry, S-019, ITT/ANS isting Wind class icebreakers. From 1955 bound continents." Hyatt, Richard W., meteorologist to 1966 it operated as U.S. Navy ship. technician, ITT/ANS In accordance with a 1965 agreement, "Big Red," as the icebreaker was nick- Keller, James E., communication op- Glacier, along with other Navy icebreak- named, will be missed by the scientists erator, ITT/ANS ers, was transferred to the U.S. Coast who worked on it and the Navy and Kuester, Scott E., National Oceanic and Guard fleet in October 1966. The ice- Coast Guard crews who operated it. Be- Atmospheric Administration breaker continued to be the most sci- cause of this ship, they were able to push Lawbaugh, Lyle L., communications ence-capable and powerful of the U.S. forward into unknown arctic and ant- technician, ITT!ANS icebreakers until the Coast Guard com- arctic regions. Linn, Kevin A., heavy equipment op- erator, ITT/ANS Littin, Gregory R., geophysics, U.S. Geological Survey Merriam, Eric B., carpenter, ITT!ANS Murphy, Kenneth W., Jr., geophys- ics, U.S. Geological Survey Nielsen, Glenn A., meteorologist, 1111/ ANS Glacier leads the way into McMurdo Sound during its first year of service in Antarctica. Reitelbach, Patrick J . , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Navy photo. Schaffner, Nancee L., physician, ITT! ANS Vossenberg, Peter F., cook, ITT/ANS Walters, Aaron R., power plant me- chanic, ITT/ANS Wisneski, Stanley P., senior materials person, ITT/ANS
Palmer Station 3 Brock, Patrick R., communication co- I ordinator, ITT/ANS - Dunning, Richard F., station man- ..d. ager, ITT/ANS jr Ness, Gerald T. power plant me- 4 - - chanic, ITT/ANS ..-.-. Sekel, Robert L., senior materials per- son, ITT/ANS Swagel, Nathan A., cook, ITT/ANS Larson, K. John, medic, NSFA
Indicates people who are wintering for a second or third time. March/June 1987 15 Automatic weather station project A ERO VA NE
NTENNA Scientific aims east side of the Transantarctic Moun- The launching of polar-orbiting sat- tains on the Ross Ice Shelf, AIR TEMP. ellites with on-board data collection sys- • the climate record at Byrd Station, tems (ARGOS) made possible the Dome C, in East Antarctica and Siple TEMP. DIF EL successful implementation of automatic Station, weather stations in Antarctica. Because • mesoscale circulation on the Ross the satellites collect and transmit data, Ice Shelf south of McMurdo Station, Ross J the automatic weather stations (AWS) Island, include the jet-effect wind, units can be placed in areas remote from • foehn winds down the Byrd and manned stations. The combination of Beardmore glaciers onto the Ross Ice ENCLOSURE AWS units and satellite data retrieval Shelf, and provide scientists with a reliable means • sensible and latent heat fluxes and of acquiring necessary base-line data. dynamics on the Ross Ice Shelf. The goals of the automatic surface Individual AWS units provide data for weather stations program of the U.S. several of the above items. Additionally, TEMP Antarctic Program (USAP) are diverse all units are useful to the McMurdo Sta- DIFF. and involve the efforts of several U.S. tion Weather Office of the Naval Sup- science teams. The Department of Me- port Force Antarctica (NSFA) in support teorology, University of Wisconsin, has of air operations on the continent. The maintained and deployed USAP AWS AWS data received by the ARGOS sys- units in Antarctica since July 1980. Be- tem are received and decoded by a "Lo- fore this time, the units were deployed cal User Terminal" (LUT) at McMurdo Layout of the AWS station. The humidity sen- sor is mounted beneath the boom to the right by members of the Radio Science Lab- Weather Office. of the aerovane mount. The air temperature oratory of Stanford University under the difference sensor is initially located 50 centi- direction of Alan Peterson. Initially the meters above the snow. The battery boxes are Stanford group developed and de- Station design and equipment buried near the tower base. The voltage reg- ployed the AWS units for a katabatic wind For the most part the original design ulator with connections to the battery boxes, study in East Antarctica conducted by of the AWS unit that was developed by solar panel, and the AWS power is mounted C. Wendler, University of Alaska, Fair- Dr. Peterson and his associates has been on back of the enclosure. Excess wire is tied banks, and a mesoscale air circulation retained, because the system has proved to the tower at the enclosure level and is avail- study on the Ross Ice Shelf south of reliable and efficient. Slight changes have able if the tower must be raised due to snow McMurdo Station for R. Renard, Naval been made in the unit s layout, and new accumulation. Post Graduate School, Monterey, Cali- data input sensors have been added. Ta- fornia. ble 1 provides an outline of the mea- The program, presently maintained by surements that units can make and the supports the antenna, and sensors for the Department of Meteorology, Uni- sensors used in these operations. wind air temperature and humidity. The versity of Wisconsin, includes obtaining The figure shows the present layout electronics enclosure is mounted at the data about: of the AWS units. The installed AWS mid-point of the tower and contains the • barrier wind along the east side of unit has a 3-meter tower with a hori- pressure transducer, transmitter, and the Antarctic Peninsula and along the zontal boom at the tower top; the boom electronics. The two to three boxes, each containing three 12-volt (vdc), 40-am- pere-hour batteries, are buried in the snow at the tower base. The battery sup- ply must be sufficient so that the voltage Table 1. does not drop below 11.5 vdc and so that AWS systems—measurements and type of sensor. the batteries will not freeze at the low temperatures of the austral winter. A so- lar panel is mounted vertically near the Air pressure Parascientific model 215A-AW-002 tower top and faces north. With the so- Air temperature Weed platinum resistance thermometer lar panel, the batteries are fully charged I month after sunrise. Wind speed and direction Belfort model 123 Aerovane The tower is anchored at four points Relative humidity Vaisila model HMP-31 UT by a chain and nylon rope tied to a ply- wood board buried in the snow. On rocky Vertical temperature Thermocouples, University of Wisconsin terrain, such as Inexpressible Island difference (74°54 S 163°39 E), the rope goes to the Transmitter transmitter Polar Research Laboratory Argos tower and the chain to plywood boxes loaded with rocks that serve as an an- Ground plane antenna University of Wisconsin chor. The battery-box weight is approx- Batteries hour Powersonic Gel Cell, 12 volts, 40 ampere hour imately 45 kilograms and sometimes is used for anchoring as was done on Solar panel Solarex Corp., 10 Watt, 12 volt Franklin Island (76°05 S 168°19 E).
Enclosure Hoffman AWS units located on the Ross Ice Shelf away from well-defined geographical Electronics University of Wisconsin features are equipped with beacon Tower sections Tri Ex transmitters powered by a 6-watt, 12- vdc solar panel. The aircraft s radar (ADF) 16 Antarctic Journal
system can be used to fly directly to the Table 2. AWS unit. The beacon is installed about AWS locations and deployment dates from 1980 to 1986. 50 meters from the AWS unit to mini- mize possible radio frequency interfer- ence. Site Name Lat. (deg) Long. (deg) Elev. (m) Site Start Date Site Stop Date Initially, the boom was 1.8 meters long with the aerovane mounted on one end and the antenna on the other. However Purpose: Katabatic wind flow; G. Wendler, Univ. of Alaska with this arrangement the boom oscil- D-10 66.70S 139.80 E 240 15 Jan 84 lated in high winds. We shortened the D-17 66.70S 139.70 E 438 11 Jan 80 19 Jun 80 boom to 0.9 meter and mounted the D-47 67.38S 138.72 F 1560 13 Nov 85 aerovane at the tower center. Several of D-57 68.18S 137.52 E 2105 17 Nov 85 the initial antennas failed due to vibra- D-80 70.02S 134.72 E 2500 11 Dec 85 tion in high winds. We replaced this an- Dome C 74.50S 123.00 E 3280 13 Jan 83 tenna with a ground plane, one-quarter wave, dipole antenna which the satellite Purpose: Climatic record; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin receives well, and which will not inter- fere with the aerovane. Byrd Stat. 80.00 5 120.00 W 1530 05 Feb 80 Siple Stat. 75.90S 84.00 W 1054 01 Jan 82 In the original design, electronics en- closures were not sealed tightly enough and, consequently, snow got inside, Purpose: NSFA Support network melted, and corroded the printed circuit Marble Point 77.43S 163.75 E 120 05 Feb 80 board. We have altered the enclosure so Ferrell 78.02S 170.80 E 45 10 Dec 80 that it is water-tight. The pressure trans- Whitlock 76.24S 168.70 E 275 23 Jan 82 ducer is located inside this sealed enclo- sure; a port protected by a 37-micron Purpose: Ross Ice Shelf network; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin sintered filter from Vaisala, on the en- Manning 78.77S 166.85 E 66 01 Dec 80 15 Jan 86 closure bottom and allows air to enter Meeley 78.52S 170.18 E 49 04 Dec 80 31 Dec 85 properly to indicate the air pressure. All Asgard 77.60S 160.10 E 1750 05 Feb 80 31 Dec 82 electrical connections are made at the Laurie 77.55S 170.09 E 23 15 Dec 81 12 Jan 86 enclosure bottom so that water is less Jimmy 77.80S 166.70 E 202 05 Dec 81 31 Dec 82 likely to enter the connectors. These re- Nancy 77.91 S 168.17 E 25 17 Jan 83 25 Nov 83 designed units have operated effectively Tiffany 78.00 5 168.20 E 25 24 Jan 84 23 Jan 86 at temperatures of -80°C and with sus- Katie 77.70S 167.70 E 40 09 Feb 83 05 Jan 86 tained wind speeds of 18 meters per sec- Fogle 77.90S 166.72 F 202 25 Jan 84 10 Jan 85 Marilyn ond and gusts of up to 45 meters per 79.98S 165.03 E 75 16 Jan 84 Schwerdt. 79.57S 169.45 E 60 24 Jan 85 second. Gill 80.00 5 179.00 W 55 24 Jan 85 When the wind speed on the Ross Ice Bowers 85.20S 163.40 E 2090 11 Jan 86 Shelf is above 10 meters per second, the Elaine 83.15S 174.46 E 60 28 Jan 86 snow is moving, and an electrostatic Lettau 82.59S 174.27 W 55 29 Jan 86 charge can build up on the AWS units. To prevent differential charges on the Purpose: Oceanographic support; S. Jacobs, Lamont sensors relative to the tower ground all sensors and leads must be shielded by Manuela 74.92S 163.60 E 80 06 Feb 84 Martha metal that is grounded to the tower. A 78.31 5 172.50W 40 01 Feb 84 sensor has one input to the ground and the other input to a multiplexer for Purpose: Barrier Wind, Antarctic Peninsula; C. Stearns, U. of Wisconsin switching. If the sensor is not shielded, Larsen Ice 66.97S 60.55 W 17 01 Jan 86 a charge may seem to build up on the Dolleman Is. 70.58S 60.92 W 396 18 Feb 86 sensor, destroy the multiplexer, and stop Butler Is. 72.20S 60.34 W 91 01 Mar 86 the operation of the AWS unit. Laurie Uranus G1. 71.43S 68.93W 780 06 Mar 86 Site in table 2 had higher wind speed than other units on the Ross Ice Shelf Purpose: South Pole station influence, A. Hogan, SUNY and consequently, had several multi- Clean Air 90.00 5 2835 29 Jan 86 plexer failures. Grounding the ther- Patrick 89.88S 45.00 E 2835 28 Jan 86 mometer shield appears to have stopped Allison 89.88S 60.00 W 2835 28 Jan 86 these multiplexer failures. Several platinum resistance thermom - Table 2 lists the AWS site name, lati- eters have broken, possibly because of cipal investigator who uses the units. tude, longitude, elevation above sea level, The purpose given in table 2 is the pri- thermal stresses. Resistance thermom- and start and stop dates for all USAP eters should be tested to - 75°C to en- mary use for the site. An example is the AWS sites from 1980 to 1986. Often the Martha Site, which primarily supports a sure that low temperature will not cause site name cannot be related to a geo- resistance wires to break. string of current meters just off the Ross graphic feature; for example, because the Ice Shelf for oceanography. This site also Ross Ice Shelf is nearly featureless, names supports the meso-scale network and the other than geographic features must be McMurdo Weather Office. AWS locations selected for units located there. If no stop The AWS locations at the close of aus- Each AWS has a site name related to date is given in table 2, the unit contin- tral summer 1986-1987 are given in table its geographic location and an Argos sys- ues to be used. Two AWS units de- 3. If the start date in table 3 is earlier tem identification number (ID) that ployed on the east side of the Antarctic than January 1987, the AWS unit has uniquely identifies an AWS unit. When- Peninsula are not included in table 2. operated continuously since that date. ever possible, the ID will continue to be The AWS units are grouped according Table 4 lists the expected future lo- used with the site. to their primary purpose and the prin- cations of 31 AWS units. The AWS units March/June 1987 17 Table 3. Mountains. Paper presented at IA- AWS locations and deployment dates for 1987. MAP/JAPSO Joint Assembly, Hono- lulu, Hawaii, August, 1985.
Site Name Lat. (deg) Long. (deg) Elev. (m) Site Start Date Site Stop Date Fleming, D., and C. Stearns. 1985. Op -erational use of antarctic automatic weather stations for meteorological Purpose: Katabatic wind flow; G. Wendler, Univ. of Alaska support of the United States Antarctic D-10 66.70S 139.80E 240 15 Jan 84 Research Program. Paper presented at D-47 67.38S 138.72 E 1560 13 Nov 85 IAMAP/IAPSO Joint Assembly, Hon- D-57 68.18S 137.52 E 2105 17 Nov 85 olulu, Hawaii, August, 1985. D-80 70.02S 134.72 E 2500 11 Dec 85 Dome C 74.50S 123.00 E 3280 13 Jan 83 Savage, M. 1984. Observations of barrier winds in the vicinity of Ross Island, Purpose: Climatic record; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin Antarctica, Presented at the Third Byrd Stat. 80.00 S 120.00 W 1530 05 Feb 80 Conference on Mountain Meteorol- Siple Stat. 75.90S 84.00 W 1054 01 Jan 82 ogy, Portland, Oregon, October, 1984.
Purpose: NSFA Support network Savage, M. In preparation-a. Jet-effect surface winds over the northwestern Marble Point 77.43S 163.75 E 120 05 Feb 80 Ross Ice Shelf in response to cyclone Ferrell 78.02S 170.80 E 45 10 Dec 80 passages: a case study. Antarctic Re- Whitlock 76.24S 168.70 E 275 search Series. Buckle Is. 66.87S 163.24 E 335? 20 Feb 87 Savage, M. In preparation-b. Surface cli- Purpose: Ross Ice Shelf network; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin matology in the vicinity of Ross Is- Jimmy 77.80S 166.70 F 202 01 Feb 87 land, Antarctica. Antarctic Research Marilyn 79.98S 165.03 E 75 16 Jan 84 Series. Schwerdt. 79.57S 169.45 E 60 24 Jan 85 Gill 80.00 5 179.00W 55 24 Jan 85 Savage, M. 1986. Mesoscale vortex evo- Bowers 85.20S 163.40 E 2090 11 Jan 86 lution over Antarctica. Paper pre- Elaine 83.15S 174.46 E 60 28 Jan 86 Lettau 82.59S 174.27 W 55 29 Jan 86 sented at American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, Purpose: Oceanographic support; S. Jacobs, Lamont May, 1986. Manuela 74.92S 163.60 E 80 06 Feb 84 Savage, M., and C. Stearns. 1981. Au- Martha 78.31 5 172.50 W 40 01 Feb 84 tomatic weather stations in Antarc- tica, paper presented at Antarctica; Purpose: Barrier Wind, Antarctic Peninsula; C. Stearns, U. of Wisconsin Weather and Climate, University of Melbourne, Australia, 11-13 May, 1981. Larsen Ice 66.97S 60.55 W 17 01 Jan 86 Dolleman Is. 70.58S 60.92 W 396 18 Feb 86 Butler Is. 72.20S 60.34 W 91 01 Mar 86 Savage, M., and C. Stearns. 1985a. Cli- Uranus GI. 71.43S 68.93W 780 06 Mar 86 mate in the vicinity of Ross Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., Purpose: South Pole station inflUence, A. Hogan, SUNY 20(1), 1-9.
Clean Air 90.00 5 2835 29 Jan 86 Savage, M., and C. Stearns. 1985b. Cli- 45.00 E 2835 28 Jan 86 Patrick 89.88S matology in the vicinity of Ross Is- Allison 89.88S 60.00 W 2835 28 Jan 86 land, Antarctica. Paper presented at IAMAP/IAPSO Joint Assembly, Hon- with start date are expected to remain acquired from the Ross Ice Shelf net- olulu, Hawaii, August, 1985. at their present sites past 1989. New de- work. Annual AWS data books are com- ployments depend upon the results from piled and include three-hourly Savage, M., and C. Stearns. 1985c. A the units currently deployed and the in- observations, and monthly and annual case study of jet-effect southerly sur- terest of research groups in the future summaries for all AWS units. We have face winds in the vicinity of Ross Is- deployments. Other sites that are not distributed books for the years 1980, 1981, land, Antarctica. Paper presented at included in table 4 may be proposed. A 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Copies IAMAP/IAPSC) Joint Assembly, Hon- site that does not deliver useful data will can be obtained from the National Cli- olulu, Hawaii, August, 1985. be discontinued. Decisions about the de- matic Center, Ashville, North Carolina. ployment of the AWS units are made at (see "Weather at U.S. stations," page 23, Savage, M., and C. Stearns. 1986. an annual meeting of the AWS principal this issue of the Antarctic Journal for the Weather and climate in the vicinity of investigators held during March of each complete address). Ross Island, Antarctica. Proceedings year. At this time, the results of the pre- The following lists material published of the Second International Confer- vious year s operations are presented and by University of Wisconsin investigators ence of Southern Hemisphere Mete- discussed. about AWS units in Antarctica. orology, Wellington, New Zealand, December, 1986. Scientific achievements Breckenridge, C. 1985. Foehn events The major efforts at the University of along the Transantarctic Mountains, Savage, M., C. Stearns, G. Weidner, and Wisconsin have been to improve the re- M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin, D. Fleming. 1985a. Antarctic auto- liability of the AWS units, to prepare Madison, Wisconsin. matic weather station data for the cal- systems for each field season, to archive Breckenridge, C., and C. Stearns. 1985. endar year 1980. Madison: University and disseminate data, and to analyze data Foehn events along the Transantarctic of Wisconsin Press. 18 Antarctic Journal Savage, M., C. Stearns, C. Weidner, and Table 4. D. Fleming. 1985b. Antarctic auto- AWS locations proposed for after 1987. matic weather station data for the cal- endar year 1981. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. Site Name Lat. (deg) Long. (deg) Elev. (m) Site Start Date Site Stop Date
Savage, M., C. Stearns, and D. Fleming. 1985c. Antarctic automatic weather Purpose: Katabatic wind flow; G. Wendler, Univ. of Alaska station data for the calendar year 1982. D-10 Madison: University of Wisconsin 66.70S 139.80 E 240 15 Jan 84 D-57 68.18S 137.52 F 2105 17 Nov 85 Press. 2 Port Martin 3 Cape Denison Savage, M., C. Stearns, and D. Fleming. 4 Along the Adélie Coast east of Cape Denison 1985d. Antarctic automatic weather 5 Along the Adélie Coast east of 4 station data for the calendar year 1983. Madison: University of Wisconsin Purpose: Climatic record; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin Press. Byrd Stat. 80.00 S 120.00 W 1530 05 Feb 80 Siple Stat. 75.90S 84.00 W 1054 01 Jan 82 Savage, M., C. Stearns, and D. Fleming. Dome C 74.50S 123.00E 3280 13 Jan 83 1985e. Antarctic automatic weather D-80 70.02S 134.72E 2500 11 Dec 85 station data for the calendar year 1984. Madison: University of Wisconsin Purpose: NSFA Support network Press. Marble Point 77.43S 163.75 E 120 05 Feb 80 Ferrell 78.02S 170.80 E 45 10 Dec 80 Savage, M., C. Stearns, and C. Teague. Whitlock 76.24S 168.70 E 275 23 Jan 82 1981. Automatic weather stations in Buckle Is. 66.87S 163.24 E 335? 20 Feb 87 Antarctica. Paper presented at Argos Scott Is. 68.00 5 180.00 E Users Conference, San Francisco, Cal- ifornia 28-29 October 1981. Purpose: Ross Ice Shelf network; C. Stearns, Univ. of Wisconsin Marilyn 79.98S 165.03 E 75 16 Jan 84 Sievers, M., C. Weidner, and C. Stearns. Schwerdt. 79.57S 169.45 E 60 24 Jan 85 1986. Antarctic automatic weather sta- Gill 80.00 5 179.00W 55 24 Jan 85 tion data for the calendar year 1985. Elaine 83.15S 174.46 E 60 28 Jan 86 Lettau 82.59S 174.27 W Madison: University of Wisconsin 55 29 Jan 86 Martha 78.31 5 172.50W 40 01 Feb 84 Press. Purpose: Katabatic flow, Reeves Glacier; Parish and Bromwich Slotten, H. 1985. A study of the influ- ence of Ross Island on the dynamics Manuela 74.92S 163.60 E 80 06 Feb 84 and kinematics of the surface layer over 2 74.80S 162.60 E 3 74.60S 162.00 E the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. M.S. 4 74.30S 160.70 E Thesis, University of Wisconsin, Mad- 5 74.50S 160.70 E ison, Wisconsin. Purpose: Siple Coast air flow; T. Parish, Univ. of Wyoming Slotten, H., and C. Stearns. 1985. A study of the influence of Ross Island on the Upstream B 83.50S 138.00 W dynamics and kinematics of the sur- face layer over the Ross Ice Shelf, Ant- arctica. Paper presented at IAMAP/ Purpose: Barrier Wind, Antarctic Peninsula; C. Stearns, U. of Wisconsin JAPSO Joint Assembly, Honolulu, Larsen Ice 66.97S 60.55 W 17 01 Jan 86 Hawaii, August, 1985. Dolleman Is. 70.58S 60.92 W 396 18 Feb 86 Butler Is. 72.20S 60.34 W 91 01 Mar 86 Uranus GI. 71.43S 68.93W 780 06 Mar 86 Slotten, H., and C. Stearns. In prepa- ration. Observations of the dynamics and kinematics of the atmospheric surface layer on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Journal of Climate and Ap- plied Meteorology. 1984. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 18(5), Stearns, D., and M. Savage. 1981. Au- Stearns, C. 1982a. Antarctic automatic 189-191. tomatic weather stations, 1980-1981. weather stations. Antarctic Journal of Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 15(5), 190- the U.S., 16(5), 217-219. Stearns, C. 1985. Sensible and latent heat 191. flux estimates on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Paper presented at IA- Stearns, C., and C. Weidner. 1983. Ant- Stearns, C. 1982b. Antarctic automatic MAP/JAPSO Joint Assembly, Hono- arctic automatic weather stations, aus- weather stations. Paper presented at lulu, Hawaii, August, 1985. Argos Users Conference, Annapolis, tral summer 1982-1983. Antarctic Journal of the U. S., 17(5), 245-246. Maryland, 13-15 December 1982. Stearns, D. 1986. Antarctic automatic weather stations, austral summer 1985- Stearns, C. 1984. Antarctic automatic 1986. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 21(5), Stearns, C., and C. Weidner. 1985. Ant- weather stations, austral summer 1983- 189-191. arctic automatic weather stations, aus- March/June 1987 19 tral summer 1984-1985. Antarctic Journal Foundation awards of funds of the U.S., 19(5), 189-191. for antarctic projects, Stearns, C., and C. Wendler. In press. 1 October 1986 to 31 March 1987 Research results from Antarctic au- tomatic weather stations. Journal of Following is a list of National Science Foundation antarctic awards made from 1 Geophysical Review. October 1986 to 31 March 1987. Each item contains the name of the principal inves- tigator or project manager, his or her institution, a shortened title of the project, the award number, and the amount awarded. If an investigator received a joint award Weidner, G. 1987. Automatic Weather Sta- from more than one Foundation program, the antarctic program funds are listed tion Technical Manual. Department of first, and the total amount of the award is listed in parentheses. Award numbers Meteorology, University of Wiscon- for awards initiated by the Division of Polar Programs contain the prefix DPP, those sin, Madison. by the Division of Ocean Sciences contain the prefix OCE, those initiated by the Division of Atmospheric Sciences contain the prefix ATM, and those by the Division of Industrial Science and Technological Innovation contain the prefix 151. Acknowledgements Financial and field support for the above research was provided by the Na- Biology and medicine nia. Physiology of diving of emperor tional Science Foundation, Division of penguins and Weddell seals. DPP 86- Polar Programs through DPP 79-25040, Ainley, David C. Point Reyes Bird Ob- 13729. $62,354. DPP 83-06265, and DPP 86-06385. servatory, Stinson Beach, California. Antarctic marine ecosystem research McKnight, Diane. U.S. Geological Sur- —Charles R. Stearns, Department of at the ice edge zone (AMERIEZ): dis- vey, Denver, Colorado. Biogeochem- Meteorology, University of Wisconsin, tribution of sea birds. DPP 84-19894. istry of autochthonous dissolved Madison, Wisconsin 53706. $58,735. organic carbon material in antarctic lakes. DPP 86-13607. Support only. Chappell, Mark A. University of Cali- fornia, Riverside, California. Physio- Olson, Charles E. University of Michi- logical ecology and energetics of gan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Measure- thermal regulation in Adelie pen- ments of penguin populations on guins. DPP 85-15357. $66,079. rookeries using thematic mapper sat- New staff members join ellite data. DPP 85-07483. $22,400. polar programs Costa, Daniel P. University of Califor- nia, Santa Cruz, California. Repro- Ross, Robin M. University of California, In December 1986, Polly Penhale be- ductive energetics of the fur seal. DPP Santa Barbara, California. Energetics came program manager for polar biol- 86-18820. $17,769. of the adults and larvae of antarctic ogy and medicine. Dr. Penhale previously krill. DPP 8548872. $170,505. was with the biological oceanography Detrich, H. William. University of Mis- program in the National Science Foun- sissippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mis- Simmons, George M. Virginia Polytech dation s Division of Ocean Sciences. She sissippi. Assembly and stability of Institute and State University, Blacks- received her doctorate from North Car- microtubules from antarctic fish at low burg, Virginia. Oxygen levels in an olina State University; her research fo- temperatures. DPP 83-17724. $12,361. antarctic lake. DPP 84-16340. $21,800. cused on primary productivity and nutrient cycling in seagrass communi- Fell, Jack W. University of Miami, Coral Staley, James T. University of Washing- ties. Her research for her masters degree Gables, Florida. Estimation of rates of ton, Seattle, Washington. Microbial was on fishes in tundra ponds. molecular evolution through study of and vertebrate chitin degradation in Dr. Penhale succeeds Richard B. Wil- microbes in ice cores. DPP 86-13991. the polar marine environment. DPP liams who retired a biology and medi- $26,022. 84-15069. $88,787. cine program manager at the beginning of 1987. Dr. Williams had been a DPP Hamner, William M., University of Cal- Van Vleet, Edward S. University of Flor- program manager since 1980. ifornia, Los Angeles, California. Be- ida, Marine Science Institute, St. Pe- Also, joining the Division during the havioral ecology of Euphausia superba, tersburg, Florida. Lipid biochemistry first half of 1987 was Thomas F. Forhan. the antarctic krill. DPP 86-14821. of marine organisms collected in po- Mr. Forhan is the new ocean projects $94,136. lynyas during the austral winter and manager in the Polar Operations Sec- spring. DPP 86-14029. $52,442. tion. Previously, he worked for 4 years Holm-Hansen, Osmund. Scripps Insti- in the Oceanographic Facilities Section tution of Oceanography, San Diego, White, David C. University of Tennes- of NSF s Division of Ocean Science, after California. Pilot investigation for re- see, Knoxville, Tennessee. Ecology of which he worked with Congress s Joint search on antarctic coastal ecosystem shallow-water benthic microbial com- Economic Committee. Earlier, while at rates and processes: photobiology and munities. DPP 86-14071. $42,563. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, he primary production. DPP 85-19908. organized research support and logistics $25,537. Earth sciences for the research ship Alpha Helix. Mr. Forhan replaces Albert P. (Buzz) Komarkova, Vera. University of Colo- Berg, Jonathan I-I. Northern Illinois Uni- Betzel, who retired from the Federal rado, Boulder, Colorado. Plant com- versity, DeKaib, Illinois. Geology, pe- government in January. Mr. Betzel, who munities of the Antarctic Peninsula trology, and geochemistry of crustal had been DPP s ocean project manager near Palmer Station. DPP 86-11827. xenoliths from the Erebus volcanic since 1974, managed Polar Duke and Pal- $13,277. province. DPP 86-14071. $42,563. mer Station and scheduled the use of the Coast Guard icebreakers and other ships Kooyman, Gerald L. Scripps Institution Chatterjee, Sankar. Texas Tech Univer- for the U.S. Antarctic Program. of Oceanography, San Diego, Califor- sity, Lubbock,, Texas. Cretaceous ver- 20 Antarctic Journal tebrate fossils from Seymour Island Zinsmeister, William J . Purdue Univer- Waddington, Edwin D. University of DPP 86-13419. $35,000. sity, West Lafayette, Indiana. Paleon- Washington, Seattle, Washington. The tologic investigation of the cretaceous/ physical basis of ice sheet modeling, Dallmeyer, R. David. University of tertiary boundary on Seymour Island. A Symposium at the IUGG General Georgia. Athens, Georgia. Istopic ar- DPP 84-16783. $106,848. Assembly in Vancouver, B.C., Can- gon-40 and argon-39 whole-rock slate ada, August 1987: Support to edit pro- ages form the Robertson Bay Terrane, ceedings volume. DPP 86-13874. Northern Victoria Land, documenting Glaciology $6,938. diachronous orogeny as a result of ter- rane accretion. DPP 86-14649. $88,640. Bentley, Charles R. University of Wis- consin, Madison, Wisconsin. Further Meteorology DePaola, Donald J. University of Cali- studies of firn texture and diagenesis in West Antarctica. DPP 85-21038. fornia, Los Angeles, California. Geo- Hogan, Austin W. State University of chemistry of Paleozoic granites of the $49,920. New York, Albany, New York. Winter Transantarctic Mountains: Phase 2. meteorological phenomena of Mc- DPP 86-14649. S17,700. Bentley, Charles R. University of Wis- Murdo area. DPP 85-15750. $51,960. consin, Madison, Wisconsin. Contin- Elliot, David H. Ohio State University, uation of Glaciogeophysical Survey of Murcray, David G. University of Den- Columbus, Ohio. Group travel for U.S. the Interior Ross Embayment (GSIRE). ver, Denver, Colorado. Springtime participants in Fifth Antarctic earth DPP 84-12404. $312,980. measurements of ozone related com- sciences symposium, Cambridge, En- pounds in the antarctic stratosphere. gland, August 24-29, 1987. DPP 86- Denton, George H. University of Maine, DPP 86-10804. $12,000. ($24,000). 15469. $17,700. Orono, Maine. Isotopic dating of ant- arctic glaciations. DPP 86-13842. Warren, Stephen G. University of Wash- Grew, Edward S. University of Maine, $117,999. ington, Seattle, Washington. Solar and Orono, Maine. The high-grade me- infrared radiation modeling for the tasedimentary rocks of the Sor Ron- Polar regions. ATM 86-05134. $5,000. dane Mountains, East Antarctica. DPP Fireman, Edward L. Smithsonian Insti- ($80,000). 86-13241. $80,000. tution, Astrophysical Observatory, Albany, New York. Radiometric ages Wendler, Gerd. University of Alaska, and gas compositions of antarctic ice. Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, Hammer, William R. Augustana Col- DPP 85-16601. $3,768. lege, Rock Island, Illinois. Continued Alaska. Katabatic wind in eastern research on Triassic vertebrates from Antarctica. DPP 84-13367. $71,897. the Beardmore Glacier area. DPP 86- MacAyeal, Douglas R. University of 14140. $36,007. Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Modelling ice-shelf flow, mass balance, and re- sponse to climate change. DPP 85- Ocean sciences Lipschutz, Michael E. Purdue Univer- 09451. $61,780. sity, West Lafayette, Indiana. Trace Broenkow, William W. San Jose State elements in antarctic meteorites: ter- University, San Jose, California. Neo- restrial and extraterrestrial applica- Mayewski, Paul A. University of New gene antarctic paleocirculation and tions. DPP 84-15061. $80,000. Hampshire, Durham, New Hamp- paleoceanography. DPP 86-13823. shire. Characterization of climatic $51,000. Markgraf, Vera. University of Colorado, events for the last 2,000 years through Boulder, Colorado. Antarctic paleo- the retrieval of ice cores from the Tran- Domack, Eugene W. Hamilton College, climates derived from paleoenviron- santarctic Mountains. DPP 84-11018. Clinton, New York. Depositional en- mental records in Tierra del Fuego. $12,462. vironments jf the antarctic continen- DPP 86-13980. $40,000. ($65,000). tal shelf. DPP 86-13565. $45,630. Mayewski, Paul A. University of New Sears, Derek W. University of Arkansas, Hampshire, Durham, New Hamp- Fisk, Martin R. Oregon State University, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Natural ther- shire. Detailed glaciochemical inves- Corvallis, Oregon. Petrology and geo- moluminescence levels in antarctic tigation in southern Victoria Land-a chemistry of marginal basin volcanics meteorites and related studies. DPP proxy climate record. DPP 86-13786. from the Bransfield Strait. DPP 86- 86-13998. $32,500. $79,328. 14022. $22,829.
Stump, Edmund. Arizona State Univer- Mercer, John H. Ohio State University, Flegal, A. Russell. University of Califor- sity, Tempe, Arizona. Uplift of the Columbus, Ohio. Pliocene glaciation nia, Santa Cruz, California. Lead in Transantarctic Mountains. DPP 86- in southern Argentina. DPP 86-14089. the Antarctic. DPP 86-14243. $51,238. 12938. $19,555. ($59,555). $17,140. ($34,280). Foster, Theodore D. University of Cali- fornia, Santa Cruz, California. Ant- Taylor, Thomas N. Ohio State Univer- Stuiver, Minze. University of Washing- arctic bottom water formation. DPP 85- sity, Columbus, Ohio. Paleobotany in ton, Seattle, Washington. Oxygen- 21083. $136,574. Antarctica: paleozoic and mesozoic. isotope analysis of ice cores. DPP 84- DPP 86-11884. $82,168. 00574. $125,598. Honjo, Susumu. Woods Hole Oceano- graphic Institution, Woods Hole, Woodburne, Michael 0. University of Waddington, Edwin D. University of Massachusetts. Year-round particu- California, Riverside, California. Washington, Seattle, Washington. Fi- late flux experiment in the central Mammalian paleontology, geology, nite element modeling of ice defor- Weddell Sea. DPP 85-21472. $100,000. and stratigraphy, Seymour Island, mation and temperature near ice Antarctic Peninsula. DPP 85-21368. divides to interpret ice cores. DPP 86- Jacobs, Stanley S. Columbia University, $70,844. 13935. $66,560. Lamont-Doherty Geological Obser- March/June 1987 21 vatory, Palisades, New York. Ross Sea Chen, Kwan-Yu. University of Florida, Fleming, Henry S. Naval Research Lab- heat flux experiment. DPP 85-12540. Gainesville, Florida. Photoelectric oratory, Arlington, Virginia. Aero- $82,480. photometry of selected stars at the geophysical study of the basins South Pole. DPP 84-14128. $34,691. surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula. Kennett, James P. University of Rhode DPP 86-00663. $469,000. Island, Graduate School of Oceanog- Hernandez, Gonzalo J . University of raphy, Kingston, Rhode Island. Pa- Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ant- Kubany, Susan. OMNET Inc., Boston, leoenvironmental evolution of arctic neutral thermospheric and me- Massachusetts. SCIENCE-net elec- southern high-latitude oceans based sospheric dynamics and tronic mail services. OCE 86-19368. on deep-sea sedimentary sequences. thermodynamics. DPP 86-15099. $2,000. ($12,000). DPP 84-16687. $83,672. $259,166. Kuivinen, Karl C. University of Ne- LaBrecque, John L. Columbia Univer- man, Umran S. Stanford University, braska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Logistical sity, Lamont-Doherty Geological Ob- Stanford, California. Lightning in- support for Polar Ice Core Drilling. DPP servatory. Palisades, New York. duced burst particle precipitation from 83-18538. $650,000. ($984,713). Aerogeophysical survey of the basins the magnetosphere. DPP 86-11623. surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula - $156,519. Landrum, Betty J. Smithsonian Institu- Renewal. DPP 85-17635. $260,436. tion, Washington, D.C. Recording of Matthews, David L. University of Mary- data and sorting of collections from Lawyer, Lawrence A. University of Texas, land, College Park, Maryland. Anal- polar regions. DPP 74-13988. $110,000. Austin, Texas. Marine heat flow ysis of X-ray and related data from the ($170,000). around West Antarctica. DPP 86-15307. South Pole. DPP 86-14457. $72,200. $108,317. Mende, Stephen B. Lockheed Missile and Langway, Chester C. State University of New York, Buffalo, New York. Rothrock, David A. University of Wash- Space, Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Op -eration of the central ice-core storage ington, Seattle, Washington. Arctic Ice Palo Alto, California. Antarctic au- facility and information exchange. DPP Balance: an interpretation of passive roral imaging. DPP 86-00018. $51,354. 75-08512. $5,000. ($65,000). microwave and drifting buoy data. DPP 86-17176. $35,508. ($135,508). Morley, Bruce M. SRI International, Menlo Park, California. Ground-based, Lee, Sung M. Michigan Technological Smethie, William M. Columbia Univer- NOZE-2 stratospheric lidar. DPP 86- University, Houghton, Michigan. De- sity, Lamont-Doherty Geological Ob- 17364. $45,417. velopment of methodology for design servatory. Palisades, New York. of snow roads and airstrips. DPP 86- Polarstern winter-86 Expedition: Kryp- Pomerantz, Martin A. Franklin Insti- 12951. $156,781. ton-85 as a deep water mass tracer. tute-Bartol Foundation, Newark, Del- DPP 85-01886. $76,782. aware. Observations of ultra high Miller, Stephen D. Thermalon Indus- energy gamma ray sources from the tries, Ltd. Harbor City, California. A Takahashi, Taro. Columbia University, South Pole. DPP 86-13231. $120,000. lightweight, non-absorbent, loose-fill Lamont-Doherty Geological Obser- thermal insulation for cold climate vatory, Palisades, New York. Inves- clothing. ISI 86-60925. ($39,917). tigation of carbon chemistry in the Services and support Weddell Sea area during the 1986 win- Spilhaus, A.F. American Geophysical Polarstern. DPP Union, Washington, D.C. Publication ter expedition of the Becker, Robert A. ITT Antarctic Ser- of Antarctic Research Series. DPP 85- 85-04252. $132,953. vices, Inc., Paramus, New Jersey. Specialized support of the United States 10816. $41,866. of America. DPP 80-03801. $9,200,000. Upper atmosphere ($18,456,877). Srite, David A. Department of Defense, Washington, D.C. Logistic support of Arnolody, Roger L. University of New Brown, Otis B. University of Miami, Mi- the U.S. program in Antarctica. DPP Hampshire, Durham, New Hamp- 76-10886. $30,000,000. shire. High latitude magnetic studies ami, Florida. Satellite communication for scientific purposes: UNOLS fleet in the Antarctic and the Arctic. DPP Starr, Lowell E. U.S. Geological Survey, 86-13272. $54,942. ($119,942). management and Polar Programs support. OCE 86-03719. $100,000. Reston, Virginia. Antarctic surveying and mapping. DPP 85-12516. $241,400. Bering, Edgar A. University of Houston, ($139,000). Houston, Texas. Analysis of data ob- Thuronyi, Geza T. Library of Congress, tained by a balloon-borne study of the Davis, John J. Department of Transpor- Washington, D.C. Abstracting and in- ionospheric electric field of the south tation, Maritime Administration, dexing service for Current Antarctic Lit- geographic pole. DPP 84-15203. Washington, D.C. An inspection pro- erature. DPP 70-01013. $168,012. $104,999. gram for NSF-supported ships. OCE 81-01590. $17,350. ($117,115). Berkey, Frank T. Utah State University. Whillans, Ian M. Ohio State University, Logan, Utah. A study of the mid-lat- DeVore, George W. Florida State Uni- Columbus, Ohio. Development of itude ionospheric trough using high- versity, Tallahassee, Florida. Curator- survey-quality global positioning sys- frequency radar data. DPP 84-18173. ship of antarctic collections. DPP 75- tem (GPS) capability. DPP 86-14010. $3,240. 19723. $175,000. $423,347.
22 Antarctic Journal
-t Weather at U.S. stations
November 1986 December 1986 January 1987 Feature McMurdo Palmer I Siple South Pole McMurdo Palmer Siple J South Pole McMurdo I Palmer I Siple J South Pole Average temperature (°C) -10.2 - 0.2 - 8.4 -39.5 - 3.8 1.8- 7.9 -29.3 - 0.1 - 2.8-11.8 -27.6 Temperature maximum (°C) - 2.7 6.5 (date) 5.3 -29.3 6.8 11.0 7,7 -21.4 7.1 8.8 - 6.3 -22.2 (11) (23) (13) (3) (9) (14) (9) (8) (17) (22) (30) Temperature minimum (°C) -22.1 - 8.3 -27.2 49.2 -12.8 - 6.0 -21.1 -36.8 - 7.4 (date) - 1.1 -20.1 -32.7 (7) (1) (4) (1) (2) (7) (31) (1) (28) (12) (24) - (25) Average station pressure (mb) 976.8 981.9 857.0 677.8 984.2 982-3861 .5 686.1 995.9 986.4 869.2 696.9
Pressure maximum (mb) 988.6 1003.0 871.2 692.0 996.7 1002.2871.6 699.3 1015.1 1001.2 884.9 708.7 (date) (5) (28) (25) (5) (8) (25) (12) (8) (9) (18) (18) (28) Pressure minimum (mb) 959.6 951.0 832.0 657.0 975.1 959.2849.0 678.1 (date) 978.7 995.8 853.0 679.7 (3) (5) (3) (2) (30) (5) (5) (6) (1) (15) (1) ( 8) Snowfall (mm) 49.5 269.2 --- TRACE 58.4 54.9 TRACE 65.5 95.0 TRACE Prevailing wind direction 105 0 0 360 0 130 0 240 0 2700 187 1680 045° 1400 360° 1580 360 Average wind 5.7 5.2 6.0 5.7 5.4 5.3 4.7 4.01 (rn/see) 4.7 3.8 6.8 3.4
Fastest wind 21.5 25.7 21.6 24.7 21.5 27.8 12.9 14.0 24.1 29.9 21.1 10.3 (m/sec) (12) (30) (1) (12) (1) (26) (2) (6) (12) (2) (16) (14) (date) 110 0 0350 220 0 110 0 150 0 035 0 1800 020 0 1800 040 0 1300 020° Average sky cover 7.0 8/10 7/10 6.9 6.2 8/10 8/10 6/10 6.1 9/10 9/10 0.7 Number clear days 5 4 4 5 6 0 3 14 4 0 2 9 Number partly cloudy days 8 10 3 8 11 14 3 3 12 15 2 4 Number cloudy days 17 18 18 17 14 17 20 15 5 16 12 18 Number days with visibility 0.1 0.0 6.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 5 0.0 0.0 less than 0.4 km. 0.0 15 0.0
Prepared from information received by teletype from the stations. Locations: McMurdo 77 051 S 166 040 E, Palmer 64 046 S 6403 W, Siple 75055 S 83 055 W, Amundsen-Scott South Pole 90°S Elevations: McMurdo sea level, Palmer sea level, Siple 1054 meters, Amundsen- Scott South Pole 2835 meters. For prior data and daily logs, contact National Climate Center, Asheville, North Carolina 28801.
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Glacier tows away the ice wharf at McMurdo Station so that a new wharf may be constructed during the upcoming austral winter. This duty aiong with support to science and breaking an ice channel was part of the support that the icebreaker provided to the U.S. Antarctic Program during 3 decades of service. U.S. Navy photo by Hitchock.
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