AMBIMK

Bulletin Vol 14. No. 2, JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Contents Page #

Editor's Note.

International Rob Hall: Eminent Adventurer. Russian Expedition Cover: Rob Hall atop Vinson Cape Roberts Update Massif looking towards the West Antarctic ice sheet. National Programs Photo courtesy of Hall and Ball Collection. Hedgehog House. New Zealand Australia United States of America

Sub Antarctic Tourism Report

General Volume 14, No. 2, The Ozone Depletion: A Reply Jim Collins Award Issue No. 157 An Antarctic.Bibliography Footnote to Byrd Salvage Attempt...

ANTARCTIC is published quar terly by the New Zealand Tributes Antarctic Society Inc., ISSN Newly Named Features 0003-5327, Editor: Greg Williamson Commemorate Society Members

Please address all editorial inquiries and contributions to the Editor, I' O Box 404, Book Reviews Christchurch or Books by Phillip Law, telephone 03 365 0344, facsimile 03 365 4255, David Harrowfield, Gerald Doorly e-mail and Shelagh Robinson [email protected]. Antarctic

Editor's Note Antarctic would like to express our grati return a copy of the March issue to the tude for the many messages of support National Secretary. He has some replace and appreciation received subsequent to ments that may be of slightly better qual recent content and presentation changes. ity. We will endeavour to continue improv A further apology is due for the late ing the appearance and content of the ness of this issue which was held back to publication and welcome any feedback. include breaking news on "Antarctica We would also like to apologise for the New Zealand", the Crown entity that poor print quality of the March 1996 will manage New Zealand's Antarctic issue, particularly its cover. Antarctic involvement (see page 50). now has a new printer and we are sure you will have noticed the improvement. Greg Williamson Members are advised that they can Editor INTERNATIONAL

Rob Hall: Eminent Adventurer (14 January 1961 —12 May 1996) Antarcticans are no strangers to disaster eight person expedition from New and death, danger being an inherent part Zealand, the United States, Japan, Nepal of working on the continent. That does and Australia. nothing to lessen the shock and pain for Rob Hall's Antarctic involvement goes his friends and family of losing a man like back to the summer of 1983/84 where he Rob Hall. It is simply tragic that the man worked for the New Zealand Antarctic who was to write an account of his latest Programme as field assistant/instructor expedition to the Antarctic for this journal with the Survival School, now known as is instead being eulogised. Antarctic Field Training. Lindsay Main Although the words and pictures was the leader of the unit and Ken West offered here can only give the barest the other assistant. sketch of man whose achievements During the season Rob also assisted the reached the heights of the peaks he con IMESS study on Mt Erebus but was medi- quered, Rob Hall's contribution to the vaced to McMurdo after becoming dehy Antarctic demands recognition. drated. He recovered rapidly and finished On 12 May 1996 Rob Hall died on Mt the season at Scott Base. Everest having tried to save the life of a The following season he was employed struggling member of his expedition as the Leader of Survival Training assisted party, US postal clerk and climbing fanatic by Paul O'Doud, Paul Bayne and Peter Doug Hansen. The pair were part of an Sampson. Rob received a citation from the 42 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Eddie and Millie Hall. He was educated at Xavier College (now Cathedral College). He excelled as a designer and manufac turer of quality outdoor equipment work ing for Alp Sports and Macpac before starting his own company "Outside Equipment". During these years in the late 1970s early 1980s Rob climbed actively in the Southern Alps thriving on a traverse from Arthur's Pass to Mt Cook and making the first winter ascent of Mt Cook's Caroline Face and Black Tower. Rob took part in two Himalayan expe ditions before the age of 20, reaching the summits of Ama Dablam and Numbur. Then followed his Antarctic experience. Climbing in the mountains of Asia dominated the next decade of Rob's life, involving him in some 20 expeditions. At Scott Base, Courtesy of Colin Monteath, Rob would wish to be remembered as the Hedgehog House. first New Zealander to climb K2 (after 4 expeditions), Makalu and Lhotse. He also US Navy for his efforts in the rescue of a climbed Cho Oyu twice and made Seabee bulldozer operator caught in a attempts on Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and whiteout near Williams Field in October Gasterbrum I and II. In 1989 Rob and Gary of 1984. Ball received a Nepalese award from the Rob Hall's other Antarctic involvement Himalayan Rescue Association for their includes work in the Ellsworth Mountains part in a difficult rescue on the north side with New Zealand geologist Paul of Everest. After climbing Everest for the Fitzgerald, involvement in a US expedi first time in 1990, Rob and Gary went on tion to Vinson Massif and subsequent pri to complete the "Seven Summits" (highest vate expeditions to the Antarctic's highest peak on each of seven continents) in a peaks. remarkable seven month odyssey. For this "Rob Hall was a gentle and graceful they each received the New Zealand 1990 man who reached out to profoundly Commemoration Medal. Rob organised touch the lives of many people around the eight expeditions to Mt Everest, reaching globe. Now at rest on south summit of Mt the summit five times. In 1994, Rob was Everest Rob's presence among us will be awarded an MBE for services to moun sorely missed," says longtime friend, col taineering as a professional adventurer league and fellow Antarctican Colin and mountaineer. Monteath. "Rob, along with Gary Ball, helped to Rob, the youngest of nine children, bring mountaineering to the New Zealand grew up in Christchurch with his parents people, says Colin Monteath. For a coun- JUNE 1996 Antarctic t r y t h a t p r o d u c e d Sherpa, client, fellow Edmund Hillary we guide and the many knew precious little Kiwis who trekked about mountaineering with him in Nepal. until Hall and Ball fired As a leader and the collective imagina diplomat Rob helped tion with their incredi influence Nepali and ble "Seven Summits". I Pakistani govern Vinson Massif in ment departments to Antarctica was the 7th modify climbing reg peak, completed just 10 ulations and help hours before the dead minimise environ line. The others were mental impact. New Mt Everest (Asia), . Zealand has a lost a M t M c K i n l e y ( N t h ' great ambassador," America), Mt Elbrus says Colin Monteath. At thethe South South Pole, Pol Courtesytesu of the of Hall the and Hall Ball and Ball J „,.„ ., „ , ( E u r o p e ) , M t While all of us _..,. . ,. , , ... CollectCollection, ioi Hedgehogehog House. House. Kilimanjaro (Africa) Mt who knew Rob will Kosciuko (Australia) and Mt Aconcagua miss him greatly, we will continue to be (Sth America). inspired by the way he lived his life and After Gary Ball's death in 1993 on shared his dreams." Nepal's Mt Dhaulagiri, Rob continued Peter Hillary, another friend and climb their company Adventure Consultants, ing companion, had this to say about Rob guiding many people safely to the sum Hall in a media article: "Rob Hall was a mits of Everest, Aconcagua, Vinson generous man and fine citizen. Even as an Massif, Carstensz Pyramid and Cho Oyu. eminent adventurer and mountaineer, he "Rob was a meticulous organiser of remained approachable and mature. Few complex international expeditions — a walk with the mantle of fame and remain superb motivator and inspiration to true to themselves." Russian Expedition a Success

"It was long Feodor's dream to go to the 135 kg sledge. South Pole," says expedition co-ordina- Fighting against the rigours of deep t o r B o r i s Tc h m y k o v o f F e o d o r frost and strong winds he arrived at the Konuhov's combined South Pole and South Pole on 5 January this year. Nine climb of Vinson Massif, "after his solo days later he arrived at the peak of the expedition to the North Pole in 1990 he 5128 metre Vinson Massif. decided to go to the Antarctic. And he Konuhov lost 12 kgs in the process. did it." For good measure the expedition then Konuhov's expedition started on 8 returned to Chile and climbed the South November 1995, leaving Gerhules Ice Hemisphere's highest peak, Aconcagua. Bay headed for the South Pole pulling a Konuhov's next venture will be in the Antarctic staff of the English expedition to Exploration Background the North Magnetic Pole, under royal direction. 1986: A journey to Baffin Land, Canada. 44 year old Konuhov, married 1988: Participated in an international with two children, hails from the transarctic ski expedition from Russia Russian Far East — the Primorsky to the North Terminal to Canada. area, Nahodka, Vrangler Bay. 1989: (Spring) First solo ski expedition to the The multi-skilled Konuhov is a North Terminal Master of Sport, captain of a yacht 1989: (Summer) Leader of the first joint and a recognised artist. Soviet-American transcontinental A member of the Russian artist's bicycle run from Nahodka to union, he is exhibited internation Leningrad ally and has sold works to many 1990: (Spring) First in the world to reach the private collectors and museums. North Terminal on ski alone from He has participated in more Siberia. than 30 adventure and scientific 1990-91: First Russian to sail solo around the expeditions — his feats have been world without stopping. recognised by the Order of 1991: (Summer-Autumn) Leader of the auto International Friendship and the mobile run Nahodka to Brest. United Nations. 1992: (Spring) Climbed Everest In 1991 Konuhov founded the 1992-94: Sailed around the world from West to newspaper and almanac The East Russian Traveller, and set up a 1996: (Winter) Reached the South Pole solo School of Journeys' for children in on skis, climbed Vinson and then his native Nahodka. Aconcagua. Cape Roberts Update

Australia Joins Project Sayers, Antarctic Division, Kingston, An application to the Australian Research Tasmania, the Australian representative on the Operations/Logistics Management Council by Dr Ken Woolfe (James Cook Group. University of North Queensland, Townsville) and Dr Chris Fielding The Drilling System (University of Brisbane) for funding to join the project at the 5% level has been The drilling system being used for Cape successful. This completes funding com Robertsis a Longyear 44 heavy duty rig mitments for the project and for the two with Q series drill rod and casing and seasons of drilling planned. with core retrieval by wire line. Rigs of The prime interest of the Australian this sort are commonly used for geological group is in stratigraphic analysis of the exploration and civil engineering investi strata off Cape Roberts. Dr Woolfe will be gations. the national Science Coordinator, and Jack The rig platform and mast weigh 17.5

JUNE 1996 45 Antarctic tonnes have been designed specifically that position will now be taken by Pat for Antarctic operations by Murray Cooper of Westport, NZ. Pat has had Mitchell of Works Consultancy Services extensive drilling experience with deep and built by Southern Cross Engineering hole diamond coring overseas. He has in Christchurch. The rig floor is 4 m by 6 also had three previous seasons in m and is hydraulically jacked up 3 m off Antarctica, including shift supervisor for its 9 m long sled to give clearance for set the CIROS 1 hole in 1986. ting casing, clamps and for the daily tidal variation of around 1 metre. Core Processing During drilling the rig is connected via an enclosed stairway to two sled The Cape Roberts core will be processed mounted insulated containers that con and described at three different sites — tain the mud system. Designed and built the Drill Site Laboratory, the Cape by Drilling Fluid Equipment NZ Ltd of Roberts Camp Laboratory and at the New Plymouth, it is a small scale version Crary Laboratory at McMurdo Station. of oil drilling mud systems and consists This is because the core must be mea of a centrifuge to clean the mud for recir sured, split, described and packaged culating, four 2000 litre mud tanks, a sea soon after drilling, and because a com water heating tank and a pumping sys prehensive description calls for more tem. study than can be accommodated at a The drilling system has been devel drilling camp. oped by Alex Pyne, and Johnny Initial work at the drill site involves Hampton the project's drilling consul recovery, labelling, splitting and boxing tant, who has had a long career in the into sampling and archive halves as well drilling industry including Drilling as measurements of physical properties Superintendant for the Ministry of and fracture patterns. In addition, down- Works and Works Consultancy drilling hole logging tools for rock density, operations in NZ and overseas. The velocity, temperature and other proper drilling system includes a sea-riser for ties will be run in each hole part way stabilising the drill string in water up to through and at the end of the drilling. 500 m deep, designed and built by The core is then moved to Cape Ostpoil in New Plymouth, for IGNS, and Roberts for detailed core description and a submarine video system from Victoria preliminary microscopic study by a team University for monitoring the riser and of five sedimentologists. the sea floor. Dale Preston, an Institute of The core will be moved bi-weekly to Geological & Nuclear Sciences (IGNS) the Crary Lab, McMurdo Station, where driller who advised the project in its it will be subject to comprehensive pale- early stages, returned in 1995 and was ontological, petrological and palaemag- primarily in charge of setting up and netic observations. More details on the commissioning the drill platform prior core processing and data gathering can to its shipment. Dale's overseas commit be found in the Cape Roberts Project's ments have prevented him from going to Technical Note #3. Antarctica as Drilling Supervisor, and From Cape Roberts News. 46 JUNE 1996 Antarctic national programmes India

Indian Committed to Solid Programme

The policy of the Department of Ocean The current research work being under Development, the nodal agency responsi taken in Antarctica by Indian scientists is ble for planning and execution of Indian in the following broad fields of polar sci Antarctic expeditions, is to conduct a care ence: fully balanced and optimum programme a) Earth Sciences & Glaciology; of front ranking science through which it b) Human Physiology' is possible to maintain an active, authori e) Environmental Sciences and tative and influential presence of India in f) Communication & Engineering. Antarctica. The Department constantly evolves scientific programmes mainly in The ongoing scientific objectives are as consultation with national laboratories follows: and institutes which responds to the changes and priorities of the nation in par a) Earth Sciences and Glaciology: ticular and the world at large so as to — Geological mapping of virgin areas of make the effective use of Antarctica as a the Orvin Mountains covering a total area unique laboratory of science. More than a of 9600 sq. Km. thousand personnel drawn from about 45 — Geochemical sampling of the crys national institutions have contributed to talline rocks of Schirmacher Oasis to eluci enhancing our knowledge about the icy date the evolutionary history of the area in continent. terms of Gondwana reconstruction. While the preparation for the launching — Insitu and airborne measurements of of the XVI expedition by the end of 1996 is petrophysical properties of rocks, includ underway, the Department has created an ing radioactivity. Expert Group with a mandate to concep — Monitoring the dynamics of glacial tualise, design and realise the long term front movement of the Dakshin Gangotri scientific and logistic forays of the nation glacier. in Antarctica beyond the turn of this cen — Preparation of a 1:5000 scale topo tury. A modern polar research laboratory graphical map of the Schirmacher Oasis. called the Antarctic Study Centre is presently under construction at Goa. This b) i Atmospheric Sciences: — Vertical profiling of ozone concentra laboratory when fully operational will serve as a national facility for low temper tion using laser heterodyne system and ature research, principally on the study of measurement of seasonal variation of ice cores retrieved not only from ozone by mm wave radio spectrometer. Antarctica but also from the Himalayas. — Studies on day time auroral phenome-

JUNE 1996 47 Antarctic non by an locally designed daytime glow studies through analysis of diverse sam photometer. ples of land, air and water taken from the — Studies on deep space magnetic cur station, with the aim generating baseline rents and the correlation of magnetic data required for devising an environ storms with human physiology using ment monitoring protocol. fluxgate magnetometers. — Planetary boundary layer studies to f) Communication and Engineering: understand the dynamics of Antarctic — Long distance communication tech lower atmosphere. niques through satellite and HF modes. — Upgrading of satellite communication b)ii - Meteorology: by uplinking Maitri through electronic — Continuous recording of surface mail. weather parameters and radiation budget — Upgrading of data and voice commu measurements. nication through computer interfacing — Periodic ozone sonde and radiosonde between Maitri and India using low ascends to quantify climatic parameters. power HF transmitters. — Establishing an experimental amateur c) Biological Sciences & Oceanography: — Studies on algal colonisation and radio station. — Low temperature structural engineer microfauna in fresh water lakes as a part of biodiversity studies and ecological ing studies on building materials and other station infrastructure. monitoring. — Microbic studies for identifying bacte The foundation of the Indian Antarctic ria that can be used for bio-degradation. Programme was laid in a modest way — Studies on trophic structure of various through the launching of its first expedi tion in December, 1981. The formative Antarctic environments to understand the bioactive potential of each system. years of polar science in India were — Survey, exploration and assessment of shaped through the first three expedi tions which were primarily aimed to krill and other living resources of the Antarctic waters. develop different facilities to conduct sci — Polar horticulture under controlled entific investigations in the fields of conditions. a) climatology and astrophysics, b) biological oceanography, d) Human Physiology: c) geology and geophysics and — Studies on the correlation of circadian d) engineering and communication. The seeds of Indian Polar Science were sown rhythmicity and metabolic status of per sonnel through monitoring of body para and nurtured from her first permanent meters on a year round basis. station, Dakshin Gangotri (DG) which — Studies on adaptation techniques of the was built on the ice shelf at Latitude 70 human body to adverse conditions in 05' S and Longitude 12 00' E during the Antarctica. course of the third expedition the station had an initial wintering team of 12 mem e) Environmental Sciences: bers. — Environmental impact assessment While the country was consolidating 48 JUNE 1996 Antarctic the achievements of the first two expedi wholly indigenous second Indian station, tions and planning to launch the third Maitri' during the seventh and eighth one, thereby confirming its long term expeditions on a rocky exposure in the interest and a capability to conduct high Central Dronning Maud Land about 80 quality Antarctic science, it was admitted kms inland at latitude 70 46' S and longi to the Antarctic Treaty System on 19th tude 11 44' E. Maitri' is a modern com August, 1983 and was granted fortable station with living accommoda Consultative Status on 12th September, tion for 25 persons and good scientific 1983. On 1st October, 1984 India was also amenities research. It also has facilities admitted to the Scientific Committee on for summer camps to accommodate Antarctic Research (SCAR) and inl986 about 35 scientists. became a member of the Convention on During the Seventh expedition geologi the Conservation of Antarctic Marine cal mapping was extended beyond the Living Resources (CCAMLR). Schirmacher Oasis to new areas west of The most important result of the first the Humboldt Region where high grade Antarctic expedition was the establish metasediments akin to the Khodalites of ment of an unmanned weather station. Kerala were found. During the Eighth Records of geomagnetic intensity and expedition, mapping was extended to an magnetic storms were measured using area further South that cover the Payer automatic radio noise field strengths. and Weyprecht mountains. Subsequently, During the second expedition emphasis, the three Peterman ranges and Gruber was placed on land survey. Research was mountains of the Wohlthat mountain initiated in the field of mineralogy and ranges have been mapped. An aeromag petrography. For the first time, observa netic survey was also made during the tions on ozone concentration were made Seventh expedition, and insitu petrophys- through ozone sonde ascents. A perma ical properties of the litho-units of the nent communication system was estab Schirmacher Oasis were also catalogued. lished during the third expedition, which In 1991following the adoption of envi also saw the start of 'new' programme on ronmental Protocol to the Antarctic biological oceanography. Treaty which banned commercial The Fifth expedition also saw a data exploitation of mineral resources for the collection platform (DCP) being commis next 50 years, the focus of Indian activi sioned through which real-time daily ties in Antarctica shifted towards carry weather data from Antarctica could be ing out scientific research aimed at an transmitted to India using India's own understanding of the various global phe satellite INSAT-IB. nomenon that has a direct influence on Dakshin Gangotri Station fulfilled its the well-being of mankind. This reserve desired lifespan and was decommis focus on the following: sioned in 1990 being converted into a a) Ice-ocean-atmosphere system in supply base. The expertise and knowl Antarctica and global environment. edge gained in low temperature struc b) Studies on Antarctic lithosphere for tural engineering from the station was understanding geological evolution of applied during the building of the earth and Gondwana reconstruction. JUNE 1996 49 Antarctic c) Antarctic ecosystems and environment Contribution made by Dr. A. Mitra, physiology. Senior Scientific Officer (Antarctic d) Solar terrestrial processes. Division), Dept. of Ocean Development, e) Creation of Antarctic data base. Govt, of India. New Zealand

"Antarctica New Zealand" Unveiled

The new Crown agency to manage New Zealand's involvement in Antarctica, Antarctica New Zealand, was unveiled in Christchurch on 1 July Antarctica New Zealand by Prime Minister Jim Bolger. A launch function, which revealed the in Antarctica and the Southern new name, logo and livery of the entity, Ocean; was held at the International Antarctic ensure that an ongoing science pro Centre. gramme of international quality is Board chairman Sir Robin Irvine said undertaken in relation to the Antarctic to achieve its objectives Antarctica New and the Southern Ocean that max Zealand needed to have a "brand". imises benefits to New Zealand; "Whether science, logistics, environ • provide leadership that ensures all ment, tourism or education related, peo New Zealand activities occur within a ple will be able to recognise Antarctica framework which safeguards the envi New Zealand as the place to come for the ronmental and other essential values right advice and information." of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean; Sir Robin said "Antarctica New Zealand • provide leadership and coordination is intended as a powerful advocate for within New Zealand of activities for Antarctic scientists and science." promoting public and scientific aware To that end the organisation will seek ness of the unique characteristics and to appoint a science manager to provide importance of the Antarctic and professional management of New Southern Ocean region; Zealand's scientific involvement, operat • provide a framework to facilitate ing at a different level than the largely appropriate commercial and tourism amateur Ross Dependency Research opportunities for New Zealander in a Committee," he said. way that is consistent with new The entity had identified a number of Zealand's values and obligations in strategic goals for the next three years: the Antarctic and Southern Ocean; • have in place and manage a dynamic • ensure that ongoing and integrated strategy for all New Zealand activity logistical services for New Zealand's Antarctic

activities in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean are Winter Over Staff available at a minimum The Antarctica New Zealand Winter Over team is: cost in accordance with David Hornstein — Science Technician the unique constraints of Robyn Holland — Base Support Officer Antarctica. Alana Muir — Domestic Staff Former New Zealand Stewart Hopkins — Chef Antarctic Programme Jim Henderson — Field Support Officer Director Gillian Wratt has Ron Rogers — Winter Manager, Engineering been appointed Chief Services Manager Executive of Antarctica New Steve Palmer — Base Engineer Zealand. All staff of the Steve Harry — Base Engineer NZAP have been transferred Eric Trip — Telecom Technician to the new agency. Mike Pahl — Electrician Sir Robin Irvine said the Government was still considering a rec more office space for researchers and an ommendation that the interim board be area for a new National Institute of Water retained. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Trade will continue to have a role in ozone experiment. In the coming season providing policy advice through the the ex-Vanda lab will be fitted out as a chairing of the new Officials Antarctic general purpose lab. At Arrival Heights Committee. the old Vanda accommodation building For its first season Antarctica New will be used to provide sleeping space Zealand is anticipating one of the busiest outside the research building. ever. Cape Roberts preparation and Another major task, when accommo ozone monitoring will begin at Winfly. dation pressures ease at Scott Base in late There will be over 130 science personnel January/February, will be the replace from 27 research projects through Scott ment of the present single skinned fuel Base over the season, with the base close tanks with double skinned tanks and the to its maximum accommodation capacity instalment of a delivery pipeline linked of 73 people for most of November, to the Williams Field line. Antarctic December and January. Antarctica New would welcome comment on any aspect Zealand's field support resources — heli of Antarctica New Zealand, from its new copters, snow track vehicles, wannigans livery to its possible impact on science. etc, will also be fully committed with Please send any contributions to the Cape Roberts and other project support. Editor at the contact points listed on the Last season the programme completed contents page. a number of tasks at Scott Base that improve Antarctica New Zealand's science support facilities: installation of a new $338,000 for Antarctic wet lab, removal of B Hut and its replace Institute ment by the ex-Vanda lab, and alter ations in the Hatherton lab to provide Funding of $338,000 has been set aside

JUNE 1996 51 Antarctic in the budget for the Antarctica New Christchurch. Zealand to buy new helicopter services to Mr McKinnon said the funding would boost science research in the Ross allow the institute to become part of a Dependency. United Nations global resource informa The new services will partly be used tion database system which provided to replace services previously provided environmental information about by the United States Navy, which is Antarctica to the UN. withdrawing from Antarctic work, The initiatives would "enhance the Foreign Minister Don McKinnon said. facilities at the Christchurch Antarctic The Government is also spending gateway and raise awareness of New $270,000 on the International Centre for Zealand's new Antarctic structure", Mr Antarctic Information and Research in McKinnon said in a statement.

Australia

Geological History of the Prince Charles Mountains Under Scrutiny

Scientists from the University of glacial drainage system and the uplift of Melbourne and the Australian Geological the neighbouring Prince Charles Survey Organisation (AGSO) will under Mountains — the largest, most southerly take geological studies in the Northern exposure of basement rock in the East Prince Charles Mountains this summer. Antarctic Shield. This is directly relevant The field party, comprising Chris Wilson, to any palaeogeographic or palaeoclimatic Chris Carson, Steve Boger (all University reconstructions of Gondwana. of Melbourne), Doug Thost (AGSO) and The two closely related objectives of Matt Godbold (Field Training Officer), this project are will be operating in two groups — one to (1) to establish the location, temporal and the west side of Beaver Lake and the other kinematic relationship between the major in the Porthos Ranges. The groups will faults and shear zones that transect the later join up for more intensive work in northern Prince Charles Mountains and the area found to be most interesting. establish their relationship to the origin of The major research project, the Uplift the Lambert Graben; and History of the Prince Charles Mountains (2) to combine this information with the and the East Antarctic Shield, seeks to cast uplift history that has been identified in light on the geological history of the neighbouring metamorphic basement region and its role in the evolution of the complexes in Prydz Bay, the Palaeozoic rocks and landforms of East Antarctica. In sedimentary basins and to the results particular this party will be aiming to find obtained from thermal uplift studies. evidence for older geological events that The Beaver Lake field party will con control the present site of the Lambert centrate on several regions where there 52 JUNE 1996 Antarctic are known major faults and shear zones The Porthos Range field party will con — round Beaver Lake on the McLeod centrate on sampling and mapping at two Massif-Fox Ridge and in the Central sites — Mt McCarthy and Martin Massif. Nemesis Glacier region. Subsequent labo The project will aim to refine the complex ratory work — careful and detailed pet tectonic-metamorphic history of the rography and microprobe analysis of min region. Structural data and samples will erals — will be critical for establishing the be collected for lab-based petrological and history and relative uplift of different tec geochemical studies in Australia. tonic blocks in the Prince Charles From ANARE Nezos, Spring/Summer Mountains. 1995/96 New bacteria could help heart disease, asthma sufferers

An Antarctic bacteria discovered by In contrast, the Antarctic bacteria were Australian scientists could hold the key grown in a broth to which inexpensive to cheap production of Omega-3, a poly nutrients were added — a less precise unsaturated fatty acid researchers and much less expensive process, he believe can help sufferers of heart disease said. and asthma. The trial had shown that the rotifers Antarctic Cooperative Research ate the bacteria and there was a very Centre (ARCR) microbiologist David good take-up rate of the Omega-3, Mr Nichols said the bacteria could solve a Nichols said. long-running problem and save the fish "There's a potential cost-saving in pro farming industry millions of dollars. duction and consumables (for the fish The bacteria, isolated three years ago farming industry)," he said. by researchers at the ACRC in Hobart, "The potential is there for significant were discovered in sea ice off Antarctica. savings." Mr Nichols believes the fish Mr Nichols said a year-long trial had farming industry could save at least a shown the bacteria could produce suffi million dollars a year by switching from cient quantities of Omega-3 to replace the micro-algae to the new bacteria. The expensively-produced micro-algae fish ACRC is interested in finding a partner farmers breed to feed plankton eaten by to conduct a commercial-scale trial. their fish. The Omega-3 produced by the bacteria The plankton, called rotifers, resemble could also be used for human consump the fishes' natural diet but are low in tion, said Mr Nichols, a PhD student Omega-3 which fish need. researching the bacteria. The micro-algae now bred to provide Researchers internationally are Omega-3, had to be grown in special increasingly interested in Omega-3 as tanks with a regulated supply of light recent studies link it to benefits for peo and carbon dioxide, an expensive but ple with heart disease and childhood until now necessary operation, Mr asthma. Nichols said. Mr Nichols said it was possible to

JUNE 1996 53 Antarctic patent bacteria if they were new species. sified as a new species," he said. "There is a strong possibility that this Australia is the only country seeking bacteria is a new species or could be clas- to exploit Antarctic bacteria. United States

Antarctic Ice Drillers Reach Record Depth at Vostok Scientists drilling through the East hope to extend the current record back to Antarctic ice cap at Vostok Station, in a one million years or so with further project supported by the NSF and others, drilling. reached a record depth of 3350 metres Studies of Vostok's ice have already during this past Antarctic field season shown a close link between climate over and extracted an ice core representing the the past 200,000 years and changing con past 400,000 years of climate history. centrations of greenhouse gasses in the Russian, U.S. and French glaciologists atmosphere. Ultimately, the research will at the Russian base are drilling the core to help uncover how the earth's "climate preserve samples of the Earth's atmos machine" operated in the past, and phere. The core will present an archive of improve predictions of future climate. past climate reaching much farther back A subglacial lake called "Lake Vostok" in time than any other ice core. lies under the station, possibly sealed off Antarctica's ice cap is the deepest and from the atmosphere for hundreds of oldest in the world. thousands of years. Researchers are now Some 30 researchers from the three discussing the possibility of sampling nations will study Vostok's icy record, this lake. Results on the Vostok ice core which stretches over four entire cycles of were presented at the American glacial advance and retreat. Drilling of Geophysical Union's Spring Meeting this core began in 1990; the researchers May 20-24 in Baltimore. U.S. Ends Big Chill at South Pole After years of discouraging the visits of The Foundation is still worried that its explorers, the United States is now show warmer hospitality will encourage more ing a little hospitality. visitors, who sometimes get into trouble Traditionally, the U.S. National Science and who may interrupt scientific experi Foundation and its support crew have ments. Yet when three Norwegians skiers limited assistance to a hot cup of coffee arrived at the pole 28 December, they vol and quick tour of the site. Bad publicity unteered to work at Scott-Amundsen base over that grudging attitude prompted a and got full meals in exchange. The policy review this season. Norwegians worked in the kitchen and Antarctic

helped with station inventory. refuses to provide weather information or The United States cannot bar people radar reports to incoming tourist flights, from the South Pole; no one owns which arrive about six times each south Antarctica, and all can come and go as ern summer. They are not allowed to they please. But the bases and stations are refuel from U.S. supplies, so the only com the property of the countries that run pany running flights to the pole — them, and access to their facilities can be Adventure Network International — has restricted. its own fuel dump near the runway. The National Science Foundation espe Polar tourists pay about $25,000 for the cially discourages adventurers from enter round-trip flight from Punta Arenas, ing the "clean air zone" near the pole Chile, to the pole for a two-hour stopover where atmospheric research is done. and back. They get a cup of coffee and Aeroplane and snowmobile exhaust can some cookies, a quick look around the skew the results of air sampling. inside of the geodesic dome, and then Amundsen-Scott base still officially they're sent on their way. NSF Ship Delivers Emergency Provisions to Russian Antarctic Base National Science Foundation research ves Russian station, Molodezhnayav within a sel Nathaniel B. Palmer, made an emer week and to arrive at Mirny within sev gency delivery of approximately four eral weeks. Currently, the Akademik tonnes of food to Russia's Mirny station in Federov is operating at only about 70 per mid-June. Thirty-eight people are spend cent of its propulsion capacity. ing the dark Antarctic winter on the The U.S. National Science Foundation, Russian base. which runs the U.S. Antarctic Research "Without NSF's aid, the Russian sta Program, has agreed for humanitarian tion's supplies would run out within sev reasons to provide emergency provisions eral days," said the NSF's Erick Chiang. to Mirny. The Russian resupply ship, Akademik The Nathaniel B. Palmer routinely carries Federov normally supplies the station, but extra provisions because of the uncer is behind schedule due to mechanical tainty of conditions in the Antarctic win problems. It is expected to reach another ter. The ship, one of two ice-breaking Antarctic research vessels operated by NSF, was in Mirny is the logistics base for Vostok, a the vicinity of Mirny on a scientific cruise Russian inland station and home of a U.S. to study circulation of the world ocean as Russian-French ice core project which has part of the World Ocean Circulation produced the world's longest ice core for Experiment (WOCE). The cruise began in climate studies. Mirny is essential for South Africa and will end in Hobart, Vostok's maintenance. Vostok is currently Australia; the cruise track follows the closed for the winter due to budget con edge of Antarctica's sea ice. The humani straints. If Mirny is not resupplied, and if tarian diversion to Mirny, requires only a an emergency evacuation is necessary, minor (about 5 degrees of longitude) devi next summer's research at Vostok could ation from the planned course. be threatened. Air Guard to Assume Navy Squadron's Antarctic Mission

It has been decided that the Navy's The switch to the Air National Guard is Antarctic mission will transfer to the Air forecast to save money by consolidating National Guard. the programme within one unit and using The Air Force will gradually increase its more part-time personnel, who will make role over the next two years until it takes up half the unit. over entirely in the 1999-2000 winter sea Estimates of costs saving range from $5 son. to $15 million a year. The Deep Freeze operation has 450 staff In a related story, the newest transport and seven LC-130 Hercules aircraft, spe aircraft in the US Air Force's inventory cially fitted with huge skis for ice and recently visited Operation Deep Freeze on snow landings. Until February this year its way to an air show in Australia. It the squadron also operated several Huey touched down in Christchurch as part of helicopters. the regular Air Mobility Command chan The Air National Guard's 109th nel mission that delivers logistical support Aircraft Wing, which will assume respon to Operation Deep Freeze and the sibility for the Antarctic flights, is based at Australian Defence Forces. Stratton Air National Guard Base in The C-17 Globemaster, operated by the Scotia, New York. It has been flying in the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, is the Arctic since 1975 and in the Antarctic newest innovation in air transport, the since 1988. second-largest plane in the Air Force. The Navy unit, VXE-6 is based at Point The C-17 is twice the external size of the Mugu, California and forward deploys its C-141 Starlifter (a more regular visitor to staff to New Zealand every October to Christchurch) but carries twice the pay- February. load. The C-17's cargo section is similar to Virtually all of the missions flown by the vast C-5 Galaxy (the Air Force's largest the unit are for the National Science transport), but can land at smaller air Foundation, which pays the salary and fields. maintenance costs of the unit. The C-17's four Pratt & Whitney

56 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

The Navy's involvement will be gradually phased out until the 1999/2000 season. Courtesy of Colin Monteath, Hedgehog House. PW2040V2040 engines have have a athrust thrust of 40,700 of 40,700 rapid delivery of large vehicle. This air- lbss (181 (181 kN). kN). The The aircraft aircraft has has a maximum a maximum craft can deliver combinations of fuel and payloadlyload ofof 78,11078,110 kilograms, kilograms, fuel fuel capacity capacity cargo weighing more than 210,000 lbs into of 79, 923 kilograms, and cruises at Mach a 3,000 foot runways. 0.77. The aircraft is 52.2 metres wide from The crew of four can take advantage of winglet tips and has a 50.3 metre some of the latest in avionics technology vvingspan. It is 53 metres long from nose to fly this plane, including heads-up dis to tail and stand 16.8 metres high. plays, two major computers, 55 micro The Globemaster's 5.5 metre wide, 20.8 processors and three data bases that can metre long cargo compartment allows control the aircraft and execute a variety double-row loading of trucks or cargo pal of functions, including airdrops and land lets. The full-width aft opening permits ings. SUB-ANTARCTIC

Conservation vs Tourism: A Delicate Balance

A recently released report by the often retired or from professional back Department of Conservation conveys the grounds, included a high proportion of results of a survey of tourists to New women compared with participants in Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands. other outdoor recreation activities, and Antarctic summarises the main findings: had a high degree of conservation group The survey of shipborne tourist visi involvement. tors to New Zealand's subantarctic island Visitor satisfaction was high favourite nature reserves was carried out during features of their visits were experiences the 1992/93 and 1993/94 cruise seasons. of natural environments and wildlife, It reveals that visitors were from more and the enhanced opportunities for con affluent and older sectors of society, were servation learning. Some distinctions Antarctic were found between passengers from islands aboard 45 ship voyages. The large and small vessels, suggesting dif growing trend is further revealed by the ferent visitor experience associated the fact that in the 1994/5 summer there with contrasting scale of the tour opera were 15 voyages to the islands carrying a tions. total of 542 passengers. While visitors acknowledged their Accompanying the steady growth in presence could cause impacts, particu numbers of tourists and of visits to the larly from trampling of soils and vegeta islands in recent times has been a greater tion, no problems were apparent at levels diversification of tourist activities. of major concern to island managers. Traditionally, tourists visited aboard Tourism is continuing to grow and medium-sized cruise ships, carrying 100- diversify throughout the Antarctic and 150 passengers, but recent times have subantarctic regions, and now brings witnessed the advent of smaller tour more people into these areas than does boats, with fewer than 50 passengers, science or any other activity. Interest in and private yachts. In 1994/5, for exam the subantarctic islands in particular has ple, there were three visits by cruise grown largely as a consequence of the ships, seven by smaller boats and five by growth in Antarctic tourism. Visits to private vessels. subantarctic islands are a useful way of Whereas the larger cruises are gener breaking long sea voyages between ally limited to sight-seeing activities from mainland ports and the Antarctic conti the water, with brief landings ashore in nent. The islands not only add diversity small inflatable craft, passengers on the to Antarctic tours, they also provide spe smaller tour boats are more likely to be cial opportunities for people to visit wild, pursuing nature tourism (so-called eco- remote places and experienced encoun tourism) activities. They therefore tend to ters with wildlife of great importance to make more frequent landings, spend science and conservation. Thus, several more time ashore and visit the more subantarctic island groups in the remote areas in search of rare species of Southern Ocean are now attracting animals and plants, seabird and marine tourist visits, most notably South mammal breeding colonies, and other Georgia, the Falkland/Maivinas Islands, special wildlife sites. Such differences Macquarie Island and the New Zealand may present different potentials for subantarctic islands. impact. Managing tourist visits has now There is also a growing demand for become one of the key issues for conser ship-based helicopter sight-seeing, scuba vation of New Zealand's subantarctic diving and other specialist activities such islands. Tourists have been visiting these as filming and research. A further trend islands sporadically and in small num is a demand to allow visits by large bers since 1968, but in recent years the ocean-going cruise liners carrying up to numbers of tourists and frequency of vis 400 passengers (such visits are prohibited its have increased dramatically. by current policies applying at New In the seven-year period 1987/8 to Zealand subantarctic islands). 1993/4 a total of 1,831 people visited the Most tourist voyages to the islands 58 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

have been a component of Antarctic onshore facilities, and to an increased tours conducted by foreign tour opera threat of environmental damage and dis tors and based from overseas ports. turbance to wildlife. Recently, however, tours have been Such concerns are not limited to the organised and operated from mainland subantarctic islands, but are also com New Zealand, and have been specifi mon throughout the Antarctic realm. In cally targeted at the subantarctic islands. response to these concerns, the Antarctic Treaty parties in 1994 agreed on a comprehensive series of guidelines for visitors to the Antarctic and for those organising and conducting tourist activities, within the context the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. The international scientific and con servation communities have also given extensive consideration to mea sures for minimising tourism impacts in the Antarctic and on subantarctic islands. In the case of the subantarctic islands, tourism is acknowledged as a legitimate activity, but conditional upon the observance of legal regula tions, and with management over sight necessary to maintain the con servation values of the islands. Included among recommended man agement measures is the need for socio-cultural and environmental research, to gain a better understand Historical sites like this one on Enderby Island are ing of tourists, their activities and their impacts. Some preliminary work an attraction for visitors to the sub-Antarctic. has begun in monitoring physical Courtesy: Colin Monteath, Hedgehog House. impacts of shipborne tourists in the T o u r i s m i m p a c t s o n tAntarctic Peninsula region and the inves s u b a n t a r c t i c i s l a n d s ftigation reported here involves social and While tourist visits to date have been iimpact perception research in the context essentially benign in their environmental

island groups are nature reserves, under the monitoring of tourists and their activi the Reserves Act 1977, with the objective ties. Previous research on New Zealand of management is strict protection of pro subantarctic tourism tecting their natural state. Tourism, while The study was conducted as part of a regarded as a legitimate use of some broader visitor monitoring programme islands, is permissible only under con for the New Zealand subantarctic islands. sisted with objective of nature conserva It follows a pilot project conducted in the tion. 1990-91 summer season at the islands. The island reserves are each managed That study involved a survey of passen according to the provisions of legally gers aboard larger cruise vessels which binding management plans (soon to be visited the islands en route between the replaced by a single Conservation New Zealand mainland and Antarctica. Management Strategy), which provide: Its aim was to describe the tourists, their • restrictions on access, landings and motivations for undertaking the visits, entry points; their aspirations and levels of satisfaction, • a maximum limit of 600 visitors their perception of human impacts and allowed at any one site in one season; their attitudes toward management regu • access by permit only, including impo lations. sition of permit application fees and From an analysis of the results of pre- other costs; visit and post-visit questionnaires, it was • supervision of entry permits by offi revealed that tourists visiting the sub cially appointed on-board departmen antarctic islands as part of Antarctic tours tal representatives; are: • observance of visitor codes of conduct, • likely to be in the older and more including limits on the size of parties affluent groups of society; ashore, provision of guides, and pro • most commonly American citizens; hibition of wildlife disturbance, sou- almost 50% females, which is a higher veniring, littering and smoking etc.; proportion than in most outdoor pur • a ban on overnight stays ashore; suits; • quarantine provisions to prevent acci • generally very positive about the dental introductions of alien animal experiences and satisfactions derived and plant pests; from the island visits. • limits on the provision of on-shore Above all, tourists emphasised the tourist facilities. value they attached to the wilderness These management measures are deter experience gained, based particularly mined in the light of current patterns and upon the remoteness and naturalness of levels of tourist use at the islands. The the island environments and wildlife policies and regulations are, however, encountered. Conversely, tourists were under continual review to ensure that less satisfied with the brief time made they remain relevant and effective. available for landing ashore, and to a Review of current management practices, lesser extent with the insufficient guiding including identification of deficiencies and information provided. and of future needs, requires attention to The tourists clearly recognised that 60 JUNE 1996 Antarctic they were intruding into natural, vulnera protected island nature reserves, which ble and special wildlife habitats of great can satisfy the requirements of the visi importance for conservation. tors, tour operators, and island managers. Consequently, they were generally in Recommendations favour of the management policies being These recommendations are directed pri pursued and accepted the need for regula marily at island reserve managers, but tions which restricted their activities. This some are directly relevant to tour opera is an encouraging result for managers of tors. the island reserves, as it suggests there is • Continue to approve permits for visits substantial support from tourists (and from both large and small vessels in order tour operators) for maintaining the nat to maintain a diverse range of visitor ural state of the islands and their wildlife opportunities. The current practice of populations, and protecting them from approving permits for visits from both human damage or disturbance. large and small vessels appears to be justi Conclusions fied. This is appropriate because there are The study has achieved its objectives of two distinct groups of visitors being improving knowledge about tourists to catered for. While visitors from both large New Zealand's subantarctic islands and and small vessels have much in common their attitudes towards management. We in their expectations and satisfactions, now have comprehensive tourist profiles, there are some differences between them and information on tourists' demands and in the specific attractions and experiences satisfactions, perceptions of impact, and they seek, and enjoy. In addition, differ attitudes towards management and con ences in the scale and capability of the ves trols. sels allows diversity in the visitor experi Current policies and practices for man ences provided and the sites potentially aging tourist visits appear to be supported visited. by visitors. They accept that their visits • Review the universal ceiling of 600 vis have impacts and should be subject to itors per site, and consider adjustments some controls. which could be made subject to manage Current patterns of tour operations and ment controls on a site-by-site basis. While visitor satisfactions show that high quality the current 600 limit is a useful pragmatic natural experiences for tourists are being maximum figure, the results reported achieved without known significant detri here suggest that on the basis of social per mental impacts to the natural values of the ceptions at least, it may be a conservative island reserves. Therefore there should be figure at some sites. Given the continued little basis for significant conflict of inter imposition of management controls and est between the objectives of tour opera continued compliance and co-operation tions and those of island managers under by the visitors, it may be possible to current management conditions. increase this limit at certain sites. Results to date indicate that given ade Reduction of visitor numbers at some sites quate management controls and satisfac may also be appropriate. If increased tory visitor compliance, it is possible to numbers are permitted, careful monitor conduct ecotourism visits to some strictly ing would be required to ensure there are JUNE 1996 61 Antarctic no undesirable physical and biological and secure toilet arrangements could be impacts. provided ashore during landings. While • Consider what options there may be for there is no strong demand for providing providing more landing opportunities built onshore facilities, some concern was and increasing the time spent ashore. expressed about the availability of some There is a demand, particularly from toilet arrangements. At selected sites, small vessel passengers, for more oppor portable and secure toilet units could be tunities to land onshore, and for spending brought ashore on each visit, and then more time onshore. This has implications removed when the visitors leave. This for tour operators in planning their visit may provide the necessary facility to meet schedules, and for island managers in visitor demand, and management deciding on available landing sites. There requirements to prevent site contamina is potential for greater proliferation of tion and the development of onshore impacts at a wider range of sites, which structures. requires careful consideration of the • Consider making provision for more supervision and conduct of site visits. interpretation on site visits, and the means Well managed visits may not necessarily by which this can be most effectively represent a major concern. achieved. Clearly, island visits provide • Consider options for the route, design important opportunities for conservation and marking of tracks to minimise tram learning and advocacy, and visitors indi pling impacts. The only notable physical cated a considerable demand for impact perceived by visitors was that improved provision of these opportuni trampling was damaging to soils and veg ties. This suggests attention needs to be etation. Trampling impacts are unavoid paid to providing more interpretative able, although these can be minimised information and improving means for and confined by directing visitors along conveying it (e.g. written material, talks, marked tracks or routes. Where these small group sizes, informative guides, routes traverse untracked terrain, regular and contact with management and realignment of marker poles would effec research staff). The responses of small ves tively disperse the impact, and prevent sel passengers suggest that the formation of informal tracks (and associ approaches taken with them are being ated long term impacts). more successful, and there is merit in con • Continue to enforce the 5 metre mini sidering greater application of these mum approach distance from wildlife. approaches to visitors from large vessels. While responses from visitors generally • Enhance the interpretation of historical support this restriction, suggesting most and cultural dimensions of the island visitors have some understanding of the reserves. Given that historical and cultural need to avoid wildlife disturbance and aspects of the islands do not appear to be accept that their visitors should be con ranked as highly by visitors as the natural trolled in this way, a substantial minority and wildlife features, there may be an did indicate preference for greater close- opportunity for tour operators and man up viewing of wildlife. agers to enhance the interpretation of • Consider the ways in which portable these unique dimensions. This may be a

62 JUNE 1996 Antarctic useful way of enhancing overall visitor • Consider reorienting visitor survey experiences. research towards an ongoing visitor mon • Maintain the existing prohibition on itoring programme at key sites. While this overnight stays onshore. While a notable investigation has fulfilled its objective of proportion (up to 30%) of visitors consid refining the preliminary picture of tourists ered overnight stays onshore were desir and their visit experiences first described able, the current prohibition does not in 1990/91, to be of on going value to detract from their overall experiences of management of these islands, it will the islands. Therefore there is no justifica require further refinement and redesign tion for considering such an option, par into a visitor monitoring process concen ticularly given that visitors are already trated on key sites. well provided with shipboard accommo From a Department of Conservation report dation and services. byCR Cessford and P R Dingwall. general news 'Is Ozone Depletion Really a Scam'

In the last issue of "Antarctic" an article based on the views of Peter Toynbee on the ozone deple tion issue was printed. It attracted several critical replies. In this article Stephen Wood identifies some fallacies in Mr Toynbee's argument.

Fallacy: The "ozone home" is a natural Fallacy: If chlorine is causing the reduction in ozone levels, localised and Antarctic ozone hole then chlorine from transient. Mt Erebus is responsible. How can it be Fact: The loss of ozone in the Antarctic chlorofloruocarbons (CFCs) when they each year removes about 60% of the total are mostly emitted in the Northern hemi ozone over the Antarctic continent in sphere? September and October, compared with Fact: The chlorine from Mt Erebus is in measurements over the twenty years the form of hydrogen chloride and emit from 1957. Most of the ozone in the lower ted in to the troposphere, the lower part stratosphere, between 12 and 20 km in of the atmosphere. It has a short lifetime altitude, is lost. The ingredients for the there and little of it finds its way up to ozone hole depletion are polar stratos the stratosphere. In contrast, CFCs are so pheric clouds, sunlight and stratospheric stable that they last a long time in the tro chlorine at concentrations much higher posphere and some of them eventually than occur naturally. Polar stratospheric make their way to the stratosphere. The clouds require very cold temperatures high concentrations of human-produced and are common in the Antarctic winter CFCs are uniformly spread over the and springs. Chlorofloruocarbons (CFCs) globe. There is no special higher concen have provided the chlorine, now about tration required over Antarctica to cause six times natural concentration. the ozone hole when the atmospheric

JUNE 1996 63 Antarctic conditions there in spring are right. depletion at mid-latitudes. This deple Fallacy: There is no proof of the link tion on a global scale has been measured. between CFCs and ozone depletion. It is of concern because of the biological Fact: In 1995 the Nobel Prize in effects of ultraviolet light from the sun Chemistry was awarded to three which increase with a decrease in ozone. researchers (Rowland, Melia and Peter Toynbee's writing has reintro Crutzen) for their work in atmospheric duced these fallacies that have appeared chemistry, particularly the mechanisms in non-scientific publications frequently for decomposition of ozone. in the last seven years. His article does Measurements by satellites and aircraft not appear to acknowledge any of the have shown a strong correlation between intense scientific endeavour that has the concentration of chemically active gone into this topic since the 1980s and chlorine and depleted areas of ozone, the ongoing development of a robust sci confirming laboratory and computer entific consensus on the physics and modelling studies. Chlorine from CFCs is chemistry of the ozone hole. An article a major factor in the Antarctic ozone hole this short cannot hope to describe the as well as ozone depletion on a global whole issue. CFCs are just one group of scale. The evidence for this has been chemicals that contribute to enhanced strong enough to persuade Governments ozone depletion. Gases that release to introduce measures to limit the pro bromine into the stratosphere are also of duction of CFCs and other ozone damag concern. Many of the gases that are active ing chemicals (Montreal 1987) and then in ozone chemistry are also important to twice agree to strengthen those measures climate change because of their effect on (London 1990, Copenhagen 1992). infrared radiation, but that is a separate Fallacy: Loss of ozone over the issue again. Antarctic is of little importance. Further Reading Fact: The severe loss of ozone in the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Antarctic is only for a few months each Depletion 1994: World Meteorological year as levels generally recover in Organisation and United Nations November and December. However, lev Environmental Programme, Geneva els in the summer appear to be lowering 1995. as well, albeit at a slower rate. The effect The Changing Ozone Layer, World of an increase in ultraviolet light that this Meteorological Organisation, 1995. causes each year on food chains in the Graedel, T. E., and P. J. Crutzen, southern oceans is not yet well under Atmospheric Climate and Change, stood. It has signalled that we have Scientific American Library 1995. caused large changes in the atmosphere Gribben, J., The hole in the sky, Corgi with the introduction of new chemicals. Books 1988. The importance of chemistry on the sur Rowland, S., Science, 260, 1571-76, faces of PSC particles in the Antarctic has 1993, and following articles. led to a recognition that similar chemical Toon, O. B., and R. P. Turco, Polar reactions can occur on the surfaces of sul stratospheric clouds and ozone deple phate aerosol particles to enhance ozone tion. Scientific American, 264,68-74,1991. 64 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Jim Collins Memorial Awards Presented The New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association has announced the 1996 recipients of the prestigious Jim Collins Award for Exceptional Contribution to Aviation Safety, including well known Antarctic pilot Jim Wilson. Trevor Palin, Vice President of the NZALPA officially announced the presenta tion of the awards to three aviation professionals at the Association's annual con ference June. The Jim Collins Memorial Award for Exceptional Contribution to Aviation Safety is awarded, in commemoration of the crew of Air New Zealand Flight TE901 who lost their lives on Mt. Erebus in Antarctic on 28 November 1979, to the persons who in the opinion of the Awards' Trustees have uniquely advanced the cause of safety in the air or have performed an act of exceptional airmanship asso ciated with New Zealand Civil Aviation. Managed by three trustees: Maria Collins, the widow of Captain Jim Collins; Captain Shem Dowd, a life member and former NZALPA president, and the cur rent president of NZALPA, Mr Keith Pattie, the award was established in 1991 to improve both public and aviation industry awareness of the need for safety, through recognising the outstanding safety achievements and efforts of people involved in the industry. "Each of the 1996 recipients of the Jim Collins Memorial Awards for Exceptional Aviation Safety has displayed commitment to the cause of safety through their actions and dedication," said Trevor Palin the Vice President of the New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association. "We are pleased to be able to recognise and honour their efforts through this prestigious award."

Antarctic Pilot Receives Award

Helicopter New Zealand's Jim Wilson's Australian, Italian and United States career, spanning nearly thirty years, has Governments. included a lifetime dedication to improv Jim first went to the Antarctic in 1979 in ing safety standards. As its Group Chief support of the German Antarctic Pilot he is responsible for all aspects of Programme. No standards or experience operations, including the production of all were available to work at this time as safety manuals and operating standards. commercial operations were in their Helicopters NZ Ltd operations stretch infancy. Jim successfully set and docu from Laos in Asia, through Perth in mented the standards which were to set Western Australia, aerial work and off Helicopters NZ up as an Antarctic opera shore operations in New Zealand, to tor and which to this day stand the com Antarctic operations in support of the pany in the highest possible regard. JUNE 1996 65 Antarctic

Jim has written the Antarctic safety Zealand, operating in vastly different and operations manuals that are used by environmental conditions to those of the the teams on the ice and he continues to McMurdo area that the company is used lead teams on the various contracts. The to. The Casey, Davis and Mawson areas most recently contract was the 1995/96 of the Australian operations in a flat fea Australian Antarctic contract to fly tureless terrain. Sikorsky S-76A helicopters by single Through Jim's dedication to flight pilots on long range tasks over 500 nauti safety the exceptional safety record of cal mile sectors. Again this was a trail Helicopter New Zealand operations in blazing role for Helicopters New the Antarctic continues. Antarctic Bibliography Under Way Prominent New Zealand poet and — particularly autobiographical writing Victoria University academic Bill and journals." Manhire is well into a bibliographical "I have even completed an Antarctic project to summarise Antarctic literature. poem of my own during the year; it has Although a year on research and study just appeared in my new collection, My leave has slowed the project down, it is Sunshine. The poem is called 'Hoosh', and still "alive and well" says Manhire. as the title implies is meant to be a tasty "I've now tracked down about 450 and one hopes sustaining mixture of all Antarctic items which could loosely come sorts of things. Part of the textual hoosh, in under the heading of 'imaginative writ fact, is the Antarctic Visitor Centre at ing' — poetry, short stories, novels, plays Christchurch airport," said Mr Manhire. and feature films," said Prof Manhire. Mr Manhire will be giving some Authors range from H.P. Lovecraft to account of my research in a lecture enti Vladimir Nabokov, from Samuel Taylor tled "The Wide White Page: Writers Coleridge to Graham Billing, and the vari Imagining Antarctica" in Victoria ety includes lots of science fiction and University's Alumni Lecture Series in popular romance (there's even a Mills & August this year. Boon) alongside conventional reworkings Bill Manhire has kindly given permis of the era of heroic exploration. sion for Antarctic to print "Hoosh", which "One of the satisfactions is just how appears in his new collection "My much of the work is by New Zealand writ Sunshine" (Victoria University Press). The ers," he said. collection has been recently shortlisted in Mr Manhire hopes to publish the bibli the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. ography within the next couple of years, depending on time constraints given his Hoosh busy teaching and research schedule "I'm also planning an anthology which will put I - Highest, driest, coldest, windiest some of the more interesting imaginative continent, doubling its size in winter: writing, short stories for the most part, Emily's gone to Antarctica. next to some of the best non-fiction work All that red hair on the ice! 66 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Blue eyes, summer deep field you hear the tin dogs yelping at Granite Harbour, an orange tent between Asgard and Olympus while Mawson ties the soles of his feet back on while I stand in the library, lost between Acquisitions and Closed Reserve and we hop on the Snowmaster, and try to look after her riding through darkness into the endless November light where and the wind and song the mist touches Discovery, touches to Butter Point, Cape Chocolate,

Terror, and the glaciers calve and thunder, back to the world of questions melt-water of whatever was freezing here and the welcome home — the voice, a million years before Christ the hand-grip... it chokes me, or I take the ten-minute trip it cannot be uttered. from the middle of town to visit Antarctica's secrets Ill - It is only sleep in the cold,' the son tells his mother. at my own pace. Great God! this It is only the open air. is an awful place. Ah look how they're doing it by the book But we are strolling indoors in a world where it's even better than being there. reading the labels of tins, Boiled Beef, Le lait condense In a room made entirely of ice to pass the time of day: Oscar Wisting sits at his sewing machine, stitching tent after tent, darts, cards, dominoes, and chess; Amundsen plays the Apache Waltz dreaming of whortleberry jam while Scott stares at the Christmas tree and at the end of the day and Emily's drill goes down every explorer returns to his diary, inscribing entry after entry and over the water, fluttering through snow, comes the sound of The Mikado. about the drudgery of courage, sawing through ice, the absolute hush II - Whiteout. A cairn in a sea of sastrugi. / am, I am, I am The blizzard repeats itself every twelve minutes Symington's Soup diluting the pemmican, though it is mostly silence seal consomme on Christmas Day making your ears ring, making you move along whenever and always the strange desire to play: JUNE 1996 67 Antarctic

the crystal snort of the banjo, Griffith Taylor on a bicycle,

Byrd flying over the Pole alone, alone, Shackleton writing a poem,

Professor Drygalksi (1902) taking photographs from a tethered bal loon, in touch with his ship by telephone.

IV - Fine weather and steady sea, and all looks hopeful and happy...'

except for the sun setting twice, icebergs that fly, the Virgin Mary standing beside a dead man on an ice floe, The "hoosh" of the Snowmaster, Courtesy eyes with that- Monteath, Hedgehog House. comfortable blue look of hope, whatever is real beyond discussing the Irish question, our heads hurting again. shovels and picks and rope, men pulling their weight, For only action is tolerable, type in the tray, everything sinking even turning away to harness up the dogs away, dogs and men and even endurance... we do not leave our vehicle, Fram, Terra Nova, Pourquoi-Pas; we do not move in darkness or in mist. Make lists, ah surely the ship will come to rescue us; if only we can learn the names of ships, make lists, question but do not question the treacherous somehow survive lid of each crevasse the seventy-five varieties of ice, lenticular whenever you ride in tourist weather, in whiteout and blizzard, whenever skies and katabatic winds, the clouds ride high all the words lost in the archive. above the fossil record, whenever you cruise into the polar V - Then we dreamed we were in Spain, cavern

JUNE 1996 Antarctic descending below the icy ocean below the surface

25 million tons of krill still perfectly himself, still gone for some time, into bad light lost in whatever Emily might find and doubtful light and absent light, just sitting tight until at last of sediment and algae, the movement and retreat the sun rises and we see of seasons, time passing men get their shadows back, crawling to the crow's-nest in samples and traces to find nothing in sight, — beech and conifer — no savages nor bears, stuff from the core no one to mention Heaven to, to take home and question only rough notes which tell a tale and even then perhaps which we read as we eat our hairy stew not quite be sure... hoosh May the years of her life look after her. pony mixed with penguin Emily's gone to Antarctica. mixed with whale, seal rissoles and the stewed paws Footnote to Byrd Salvage of huskies, a wonderful Attempt banquet on deck, ice-blink and water-sky, Antarctic received the following note from Professor Hal Vogel, Rowan and we woke from our dream of food College of New Jersey, USA in reply to to find the food our article (page 39, March 1996) about sliding towards the water, the salvage attempt on Admiral Byrd's plane. a pod of nodding orca, the pack "I applaud Messrs Rudge and North's breaking and breaking aircraft retrieval and preservation pro and taking us with it... ject. However as important as was Byrd's first Antarctic expedition (1928- VI - Geology! the helicopter rises, 30), and especially so for its flight the scientists crowd around, achievements and use of aerial explo and Emily's drill goes down ration, I believe we are a bit imprecise in also bestowing upon him and his air through a thousand years of ice: plane Virginia the mantle of "first aero ghost of a dog, ghost of a pony, plane to land in Antarctica." This might Oates going deeper and deeper be considered a especially egregious JUNE 1996 69 Antarctic mistake, since that honour actually The Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic belongs to an Australasian, Sir Hubert Expedition made several more flights Wilkins. before leaving aboard Hektoria. Even "Sir Hubert took not one, but two though there were additional flights the Lockheed Vega's to Deception Island, following season, both expeditions actually taking off and landing in one on probably were viewed as disappoint 16 November 1928. This was well before ments by Wilkins and his party that pre Byrd's expedition had left Dunedin sumably were hoping for longer dis for Antarctica. tance flight." TRIBUTES

Newly Named Features Commemorate Society Members: Varcoe Headland and Mount Roper

Two well known and much respected Society members, who died within the last three years, have been commemorated in Antarctica by the naming of geographic features in their honour. In October 1992, Garth Varcoe of NZAP was tragically killed, with New Zealander Terry Newport and American P.O. Benjamin Micou, in a helicopter crash on Ross Island. In December 1994, Cas Roper, previously of DSIR Geophysics Division, died unexpectedly in Christchurch. Both men were memorable Antarctic characters, and each had made significant con tributions to the New Zealand Antarctic Programme in their own fields. The New Zealand Geographic Names Board recently approved the naming of Varcoe Headland north of Cape Royds, Ross Island, for Garth Varcoe and Mount Roper in the Royal Society Range for Cas Roper.

CHARLES ASHLEY (CAS) ROPER 2 April 1929 —11 December 1994

It wasn't until his funeral that Cas's on, became 'CAS'. Antarctic friends discovered that he was Born and educated in Christchurch, always "Ashley" to family and friends, Cas served nearly 43 years with DSIR, and only those with an Antarctic con specialising in atmospheric physics. nection ever knew him as 'Cas'. Story From 1960-1965 he had sole charge of has it that when Ashley began his the Geophysical Observatory at Antarctic work, his superior liked to Rarotonga, after which he became refer to his people in Antarctica by their responsible for scientific staff selection initials. Because 'CAR' was already and training at the Geophysical "occupied", Ashley was given the next Observatory. He was also Technical letter on in the alphabet, and from then Adviser to the Ministry of Transport for 70 JUNE 1996 Antarctic the selection and training of individuals many with his leadership and care. for New Zealand's science programme Cas was a remarkably compassionate on Subantarctic Campbell Island. man, but one who wasn't afraid to speak Cas's Antarctic work began in 1974, his mind when he felt a change was after which he made 29 needed. All will visits to Scott Base on remember that richly behalf of DSIR, becoming modulated voice at responsible for all earth Tekapo explaining the science and atmospheric effect of the Solar Wind physics laboratory pro on the Earth's magnetic grammes at the base. field, and those direct, Some of his work took very humorous com him to Vanda Station in m e n t s t h a t a l w a y s the Dry Valleys, to the US emerged when situa Amundsen-Scott South tions got tense. And no Pole Station, and to article on Cas could end Russia's Vostok Station. without reference to his In 1980 he was Senior favourite sport, fishing. The late Cas Roper. Courtesy of David Scientific Officer at Scott Antarcticans such as I Harrowfield base, and was appointed Keith Clegg and David Winter Officer-in-Charge the same year. Harrowfield will attest to some wonder In 1986 Cas was awarded the Queen's ful moments with Cas, thigh deep in Polar Medal for his scientific services in mountain rivers or lakes, fulfilling one Antarctica. Retiring from DSIR in 1989, of his great loves, dry fly fishing for Cas set up his own radio frequency fore trout and salmon. The threesome were casting service at Christchurch Airport sometimes referred to as "the Last of the to advise principally on sun-spot activ- Summer Wine" after the TV show, ity. though who was who is not clear. After Cas served the Society in many ways. his death, his fishing colleagues planted For a time he was the President's repre a blue cedar at one of his favourite fish sentative on the Antarctic Heritage ing spots near Lake Lyndon, Porters Trust, and in 1990 became Canterbury Pass. Cas was forced to rein in a little Branch Chairman. Always keen to help towards the end when he found he had the Society, he was busy planning a heart condition, and would gaze some branch activities to the end. what wistfully at the taboo liquid and At his funeral many Antarctic friends solid refreshments laid out at social learned for the first time that Cas had events. been a member of the Church of Latter Today Mount Roper faces across Day Saints, which he actively served as McMurdo Sound towards the Base in a Patriarch. A summary of his life in the which Cas spent so many months of his Church referred to his unconventional working life leaving numerous transient style of teaching and that he wasn't NZAPs with warm and comfortable afraid to "tell it like it was". He helped memories of him. JUNE 1996 71 Antarctic

GARTH EDWIN VARCOE 7 February 1943 — 13 October 1992

Garth epitomised the rugged Antarctic explorer; a man with a gruff exterior, and a tendency to mutter into his vigor ous beard, but one who had an unusual sense of humour and a heart of gold. For fifteen years Garth gave unparalleled service to the New Zealand Antarctic Programme, making 37 trips south to the ice. He will be especially remem bered for his management of the MSSTS Drilling Project, his supervision of the 12 year reconstruction of Scott Base, and his active support during the construc tion of the new earth satellite station on Arrival Heights. Born and educated in Dunedin, Garth joined the Ministry of Works and trained to be an electrician. He broad The late Garth Varcoe, ened his experience to include radio Courtesy: Antarctica New Zealand. communications, fire fighting, explosive training and lighthouse maintenance, voice in their ear instructing them how travelling widely in the south of the to survive, and more importantly, how South Island. to prevent or quickly stop a fire. His rig He began working for NZAP in late orous training of the winter base staff 1978 as Building and Services Officer, resulted in New Zealand's unsurpassed and at the time of his death was Antarctic safety record. His motto was Technical Services Officer responsible "Our Aim-no flame" for New Zealand's Antarctic buildings On the lighter side, members will and services, field radio communica remember Garth for his comradeship tions, fire fighting and training, explo and his unexpected greetings, such as sives, industrial safety, and cargo trains "Christmas is coming" or "I'll have a on the ice. Generally speaking, if it dollar's worth" or just "hallo Ugly". He moved on the ice, Garth had something was a leading member of the old Husky to do with it. He became legendary as Hugging Club (to qualify one had to run Scott Base's Fire Safety Officer, and was naked from the base to the dog lines and the key figure in NZAP's fire sessions there hug a dog without getting bitten during the Tekapo training week. Many either by the dog or Jack Frost), and the first timers will have unpleasant memo Royal Vanda Swimming Club (a more ries of being forced to crawl through a watery case of nude exposure). dark, smoke filled house, with Garth's His poker face made him a great Antarctic

Antarctic practical joker. There is a story of a US Navy Seabee during an that he managed to persuade a visiting Antarctic storm in 1984, and in 1990 was journalist to believe that Scott Base had awarded the Queen's Polar Medal for a vegetable garden. While the journalist his services to Antarctica. At the time of rushed to fetch a camera, Garth, with the his death, Garth had spent in excess of help of other base staff, raided the fresh three years south of 60 degrees. In 1988- veg storeroom, and used crowbars to 89 Garth visited Mawson and Davis plant carrots and cauliflowers into the Stations with ANARE on Icebird and frozen ground. Presumably the journal added to his long list of friends. ist was immeasurably impressed and Garth was a keen tramper and a vol wrote a great article. Rumour also has unteer base radio operator for him starting a Pinus radiata plantation Canterbury Mountain Safety Service. He near Base. was also a member of the High Country Apart from his earlier nicknames of fire fighting team, an Honorary Ranger "Ugly" and "Garth Cake", many will at Mount Aspiring National Park, an remember Garth as "The Duck". I'm not Honorary Christchurch City Council entirely sure how this name arose, but it River Warden, as well as being deeply may have had something to do with involved with his family in the Lyttelton gazing out of windows during official Tug Preservation Society. weekly meetings when NZAP was by I end with a Garth quote referring to the river in town, and Garth had noth Antarctica, which I feel sure Cas would ing better to report than that there were have echoed: "Its still the last frontier. some ducks on the river. But the name Sure things have changed, but I still certainly stuck. think that everything we do down there Although Garth had very high safety is a challenge." standards, he wasn't immune to the odd M. A. Bradshaw mishap. Garth spent a lot of time help ing with the cargo trains for various WALTER SULLIVAN drilling projects travelling across the sea ice. Science Editor/Explorer In 1987 he was in a D5 bulldozer Walter Sullivan, New York Times pulling a train of sledges when the Science editor and Antarctic explorer, machine fell into an ice crack, saved died at his home in Riverside, from plunging to the sea bottom only by Connecticut in late March this year. the dozer blade becoming jammed. Mr Sullivan visited the Antarctic Garth was reported to have "flown" out seven times including involvement with of the door just ahead of the tow bar that Admiral Richard Byrd's expeditions. was flicked up to crash into the back of A respected journalist and author, he the cab, ahead of a wave of very cold wrote a notable book called "Quest for a water. From that day on the D5 became Continent" about his exploration experi known as the Ducksub. ences in the icy continent. Garth received a Citation from the US The Sullivan Range in Antarctica is Navy for his involvement in the rescue named after him. JUNE 1996 73 Antarctic book reviews

You Have to be Lucky — Antarctic and Other Adventures by Phillip Law. Published by Kangaroo Press, 1995. ISBN 0 86417 743 7. Pages 200 plus 23 plates. Available from the Sales Officer, ANARE Club PO Box 2534W Melbourne 3001 $A19.95 plus $5.00 p/p.

Dr Phillip Law's name is known to most previously unseen coasts and islands, Australians and also to those in other first detailed maps, etc. parts of the world who have any con Law has now produced this book of nection with Antarctic exploration and 26 chapters, each one describing an science. Law joined ANARE (Australian interesting, often hazardous and some National Antarctic Research times historical episode in his eventful Expeditions) at their commencement in life. They range from youthful adven 1947, was Chief Scientist on the Wyatt tures in the Australian outback to, in the Earp expedition and then became majority of chapters, experiences in founding director of the Australian Antarctica. Antarctic Division. Each season between Law does not hesitate to admit that he 1948 and 1966 Law lead relief and explo has done some foolhardy things in his ration voyages to Antarctica. During time. His early skiing experiences took this period Mawson and Davis stations place at a time when there were no facil were established, Wilkes was taken over ities or infrastructure in the Australian from the United States Antarctic Alps, and even skis and clothing had to Programme, operated for nine years and be improvised. In those days a consider then replaced by Casey Station. The able number of people perished from Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) exposure after becoming lost; search was explored and mapped. and rescue facilities were non-existent. Law has often stated that his greatest In Antarctica Law's luck was famous piece of luck was being born precisely for the things he achieved and for the when he was. Thus he was in the right fact that he and his companions sur place at the right time to head up vived them. However as he points out in ANARE — that is he was a university this book, one can make one's own luck physicist specialising in cosmic radia by careful planning, correct equipment tion research. More to the point he was and the experience to know when to very experienced in ice and rock tech press on and when to pull back. True up niques, having spent many holidays ski to a point but there are still plenty of ing, bushwalking and mountaineering decidedly dicey adventures described. in the Victorian Alps. Law's lucky Law had four experiences of being a chronology then enabled him to achieve helpless passenger on polar ships when a number of notable firsts in the explo they were broached to or were driven by ration of the AAT — first landings on hurricanes in the Southern Ocean. 74 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Survival was in the hands of the Larsemann Hills, in Amundsen Bay and Almighty, there was little the ships' in Oates Land (by ship's boat), and in crews could do and nothing the passen MacRobertson Land — Horseshoe gers could do to help the ships ride out Harbour (by 'plane). Law also took part the storms. The ships concerned were in the first direct flight from Australia to the Wyatt Earp (Lincoln Ellsworth's old Antarctica in 1964. Law kept detailed ship), HMAS Labuan (a war time LST — diaries on his Antarctic voyages and landing ship tank) and two relatively these chapters are taken from them. small Danish ice ships chartered by the Thus they read with a freshness and an Australian Government (Kista Dan and immediacy that more textured memoirs Nella Dan). lack. Summing up, a most enjoyable Among the first-off events described read. Malcolm Kirton (Malcolm is the in the book are landings in the editor of ANARE news).

The Antarctic Voyage of HMAS Wyatt Earp by Phillip Law. Published by Allen and Umvin, 1995. ISBN 1 86373 803 7. Pages XI plus 152. Recommended retail price $29.95. Available from The Sales Officer, ANARE Club, PO Box 2534W, Melbourne Vic 3001 Price $A30 plus $5 p/p.

The author, in typical fashion, gets gram and a summary is given of its straight to the point with a concise but Antarctic voyages (1933-39) under the informative outline of Antarctic history command of American explorer Lincoln leading up to Australia's involvement in Ellsworth. The ship was bought soon Antarctic affairs in the post-war years. after by the Australian government, There follows a description of the fre renamed Wongala and used as a coastal netic activities, in 1947, organising the supply and special purpose vessel dur first ANARE expeditions to Macquarie ing World War II. Law describes many and Heard Islands and the preparation of the new features of the ship, renamed of the Wyatt Earp for an Antarctic voy Wyatt Earp, after she had a complete age in the summer of 1947/48. The main refit for Antarctic service, in 1947. A lit objective of the voyage was to reach the tle bit of spice is added here and there coast of George V Land and try to find a with anecdotes of personalities and suitable site for a permanent Australian some amusing events at the time. Antarctic station. The rationale for this The serious business of scientific was to strengthen Australia's claim to its endeavour is dealt with in what could Antarctic territory. Several scientific be called the saga of the Mount Hotham programs were planned for the voyage cosmic ray project (testing cosmic ray — meteorology, geomagnetics, cosmic recording equipment in winter condi ray research and oceanography. tions on Mount Hotham, Victoria). One An interesting profile is written about could be forgiven for thinking they were the ship itself. Its construction is shown reading extracts from "Home of the in detail with the aid of a cut-away dia- Blizzard" — rugged stuff indeed, which

JUNE 1996 75 Antarctic perhaps begs the question why go to pitable coast of the Balleny Islands is Antarctica to endure hardships when very well documented as is the account they are readily available at one's own of a second and final, but unsuccessful back door! attempt to reach the Antarctic coast Graphic descriptions of equipment somewhere near the Ninnis Glacier. One failures and extraordinary personal dis is led to wonder why a more concerted comfort experienced on the voyages effort was not made to use the aircraft from Adelaide to Melbourne and then to earlier on the voyage. Hobart leave little to the imagination The return of the expedition to suffice to say that people prone to acute Melbourne, by way of Macquarie Island, sea-sickness will change colour just heralded the end of Wyatt Earp's reading the details. Antarctic career. She was subsequently With an aircraft on board, Wyatt Earp used as a coastal trading vessel for some headed south from Hobart on Boxing years before being wrecked in a storm Day, 1947 and ran straight into trouble. just south of Fraser Island in 1959. Seven days later, the ship was ordered This is not the end of the story. Law back to Melbourne for major repairs, goes on to present a detailed account of much to the disappointment of passen his battle with Stuart Campbell concern gers and crew. The propeller shaft ing Law's appointment as Assistant threatened to self-destruct! Four weeks Officer-in-Charge (Scientific) in the later, the expedition got under way newly created Antarctic Division. While again with a new passenger, Stuart it is difficult to see what relevance this Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of has to the Antarctic voyage of the Wyatt ANARE, on board. Earp, it does provide an opportunity to Inter-personal relations seemed to be observe departmental politics in action at breaking point at times. It's a wonder at executive level. they were not much worse, given the The text of this book is supported very wet and cramped conditions every with maps, photographs and copies of one had to endure. An acute shortage of press clippings as well as a useful glos fresh water did not help matters and the sary of ice terms in the back. A list of constant struggle to find a way through expeditioners and crew and a Beaufort the pack ice in a ship that was totally Scale of wind strengths are also unsuitable for the job must have only included. added further to the frustrations of the Unfortunately, there are a few errors, voyage. some serious. The first map, at the front Despite much dedicated effort, the of the book, shows the Antarctic Circle scientific program was severely compro at Latitude 80"S and the Crozet Islands mised by equipment failures, catastro- where Amsterdam Island should be. On phies of one kind or another and appar page 114, "LST 3510" should read "LST ently, a general lack of co-operation 3501" and on page 117, the picture cap between the scientific staff and the rest tion names LST 3501 the Labuan. It was of the ship's company. not named Labuan until late in 1948. An attempted landing on the inhos- Better editing would have picked up 76 JUNE 1996 Antarctic these errors and a number of typograph is well worth reading, not only as an his ical mistakes too numerous to mention torical document; the author writes in a here. literary style that makes reading a pleas In spite of its shortcomings, this book ant experience. D.A. Brown.

The Tip of the Iceberg'

David Harrowfield, 1995. S25 from the Polar Bookshop. Reviewed by Drew Brazen

David Harrowfield is becoming one of Zealand flavour to a most unusual part New Zealand's best known recorders of of the world. Antarctic lore. His widely read In a way the book is part social com "Sledging Into History" brought him to mentary, part nostalgia and part docu the public eye and his more erudite pub ment. If you had ever wanted or needed lications and articles have been well to know who belonged to those nick received by those peers working in asso names, and what those extraordinary ciated fields of Antarctic research. acronyms stood, for then this is the man In this, his latest book, Harrowfield ual for you. If you needed to hear the (aka "The Duke") has created a unique full story of a partially told tale, then document that, as far as I am aware, has you can be expected to be updated. If never been put together before by an you want to revisit old friends or make author detailing the lives and activities the acquaintance of some legends, then of those working and living in this is an invitation. And if you want to Antarctica or any like environs. plagiarise for a Ph.D in psychology or a The book stands alone, not because it stand-up comedy session, then this will is a compilation of "bar-room anec be a rich source. dotes", as Professor Taylor would have Beneath all of these reasons lies the it. Instead, Harrowfield has faithfully real charm of this book; it is great fun. documented the natural functioning The book may well be a unique histori consequences of one of the most impor cal record but it does not pretend to be tant qualities that any "Antarctican" can anything but what it is. "The Tip of the possess. That being a sense of humour. Iceberg" is a well meant gift from one "The Duke", no mean humorist himself, traveller to another, and a fond gesture has recorded these highlights in a some of thanks to all of those who have what staccato style and at times I found enhanced the lucky days of our lives. myself wandering through the book Drew Brown (Bsc in Geology) has under bemused by a kaleidoscope of time taken 5 trips to the Antarctic (3 with NZAP warps. However, reading through the and 2 with Ganorex). He acted as an Alpine book as a whole was rather like being Guide during late 1970s and early 1980s, back "on the Ice" and listening to the Acting Field Operations Officer 1984. Now echoes of those whose unusual energy teaching Outdoor Education and Science at and life have given that special New Geraldine High School.

JUNE 1996 77 Antarctic The Voyages of the Morning

By Gerald S. Doorly. First published 1916 by Smith & Elder. Facsimile reprint by Bluntisham Books, 1995. 224p/p This account of the two voyages to the Worcester and now second mate of the Antarctic by the relief ship Morning, by Morning, was so close that they became its third mate Gerald Doorly, highlights known as the "Evanly Twins". the shortcomings that often plague offi The everyday events which escaped cial histories. the stern pen of official recorders make In Scott's "Voyage of the Discovery" great reading; how Evans met his future we learn very little of the ships dis wife when the Morning's crew played patched to get the expedition out of hockey with a woman's team in trouble. Christchurch; how Scotty Paton's The Morning was used for both relief daughter was christened Beaufort, and voyages 1902-03, and being too small at how Evans dealt with a drunken mem 290 tonnes, and totally underpowered ber of the crew of the Terra Nova, anec for the task set before her, was often in dotal accounts abound through the trouble and close to destruction. entire book. Her discovery of the island now There is so much to recommend this known as Scott Island, but which its dis book to readers, be they maritime or coverers wanted named Markham, Antarctic enthusiasts, and no general nearly sent the ship to the locker of reader could fail not to be carried along Davy Jones when she was stranded on with the breezy style. its shores. Truth, often peering out from behind The skill of the Morning's master, official accounts, makes the exercise William Colbeck shines through the pen educational and entertaining. of his greatest follower in this account. The Antarctic was discovered by sea I have long contended that maritime men, explored by seamen and sadly, in and Antarctic history can not be sepa some cases, exploited by seamen. It is, as rated, with the latter being another ver a consequence, part of our maritime his sion of the former in an anorak. tory. Therefore, this account of events not In reading "The Voyage of the recorded elsewhere are as a seaman Morning" we will benefit in our under would view them, often with humour, standing of this indisputable fact. often with disdain, yet always having I have no hesitation in recommending the ring of truth extant. this valuable account of an early With his literary yards squared and a Antarctic episode to all who still value favourable wind in the right quarter, adventure and daring swashbuckling Doorly shows real talent in recording true tales. the many facets of the voyages, the ship and the men who man her. Baden Norris, Antarctic Curator, His association with Teddy Evans, a Canterbury Museum. former shipmate from the training ship Merchant Seaman, 1942-49 78 JUNE 1996 Antarctic

Huskies in Harness

Edited by Shelagh Robinson. Kangaroo Press, 1995. 144p/p As a last-frontier land of adventure for Through Shelagh Robinson's book, human beings, Antarctica is decidedly however, the husky era at Mawson lives the poorer without huskies. If you have on. A former editor of the ANARE Club had anything to do with the dogs and journal Aurora, she must have had the sledging, you will know that huskies resolve, perseverance and tact of a lead were more than dogs. They were fellow husky to bring it all together — contri expeditioners, characters hard bitten butions from more than 40 people who and soft-centred and all the traits worked with or knew the dogs. between. They were your mates. And what yarns they are, most of We mourned the decision in the mid- them — shot through with the excite 1980s to phase out the Scott Base ment, grit and drama of sledging with huskies, calling it a cost-cutting exercise dogs. The book was worth the effort of that had blow-all to do with the seal cull compilation if only to let Tom Maggs' to feed them (what was wrong with writing have the light of day. Maggs, a sending mutton from New Zealand on radio operator (Mawson 1977,1980) and the annual resupply by sea, as they did officer-in-charge (Casey, 1988), presents at the start?). And in Australia there a sensitive expeditioner's experience of were similar recriminations as the polit huskies in three powerful pages titled ical axe came down on husky operations "A Love Affair in Antarctica". The style at Mawson Station. is stirring, moving. He describes a cho-

Ncw Zealand Scott Base Husky Team under the Barne Glacier. Courtesy: Colin Monteath, Hedgehog House. JUNE 1996 Antarctic

because it takes dogs to accomplish them, and the dogs are no more. Syd Kirkby, officer-in- charge at Mawson in 1980, who also did survey work there in 1956 and 1960, contributed three pieces to the book, and in one he pays the dogs his ultimate tribute: "They were most amiable and devoted, they were companionable, uncritical and amusing when often, ' God knows, these quali Husky Waking After Storm, ties were such a tonic and Courtesy: Colin Monteath, Hedgehog House. restorative. They were rus of husky howls — "a massed exalted tough and resolutely courageous and howling, a spine chilling song of the never hesitated to lean into the traces soul, when every dog raises its head, and give their best when called on. They lays back its ears and sings its heart to were up there with the very best types the aurora, or the moon, and its dog of expeditioners." spirit." The book closes with a roll of honour, In a format close to A4 and with naming all 267 huskies to serve in black-and-white photographs leavening Australian Antarctic Territory. The the text, the book explores every aspect last four arrived in Hobart from of husky management and husky Mawson on 20 December 1993. behaviour as well as journeys galore, Reviewed by Neville Peat, a Dunedin-based including some journeys whose racon writer/photograher, whose 20 books include teurs say can never be made again Snow Dogs (Whitcoulls, 1977).

JUNE 1996 The New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., was Secretary, formed in 1933. It comprises New Zealanders Auckland Branch, and overseas friends, many of whom have New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., been to the Antarctic and all of whom are P O Box 8062 vitally interested in some phase of Antarctic AUCKLAND 1035 exploration, history, development or research. Secretary, The annual subscription entitles members to: Wellington Branch, Antarctic is published each March, June, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., P O Box 2110, September and December. It is unique in Antarctic literature as it is the only periodical WELLINGTON 6000 which provides regular and up to date news of the activities of all nations at work in the Secretary, Canterbury Branch Antarctic and the subantarctic. It has a world New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., wide circulation. P O Box 404 Members also receive a regular newsletter CHRISTCHURCH 8000 called Polar Whispers and an annual Polar Log, which records the decisions made by the Secretary Society's Council at its AGM. Regular meet Otago Branch ings are held by the Auckland, Wellington, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., Canterbury and Otago branches. P O Box 7983 DUNEDIN 9030 Subscriptions are: NZ $40 in New Zealand Overseas Branch Secretary Airmail Postage New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., NZ $46 Australia and South Pacific P O Box 404 NZ $49 North America and East Asia Christchurch 8000 NZ $51 Europe, including Great Britain NEW ZEALAND NZ $55 Everywhere else Economy Postage (stover delivery) Advertising rates NZ $43 Australia and South Pacific Full colour (outside back cover only) $400 NZ $45 North America and East Asia Whole page (b&w only) $200 NZ $46 Europe including Great Britain Half page (b&w only) $100 NZ $46 Everywhere else Q u a r t e r p a g e ( b & w o n l y ) $ 3 5 Rates for regular placement are negotiable. You are invited to join — please write to: Enquiries to the: National Secretary, National Treasurer P O Box 404, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., Christchurch 8000, P O Box 404 NEW ZEALAND. Christchurch 8000 New Zealand All New Zealand administrative inquiries should go to the National Secretary. All over Fliers and other advertising material can be seas branch inquiries should go to the inserted at a cost of $150 per issue plus Overseas Branch Secretary. Inquiries regard any additional postage incurred through such ing back issues can be made to the Back Issues insertions. Inquiries should be made Officer, P O Box 404, Christchruch 8000, New to the Treasurer. Phone and fax numbers for Zealand. the bulletin appear in the front of each

Members should direct other inquiries to their Deadlines for advertising and copy are the local branch. 20th of each month proceeding