[I OFTHE IIUNITED D1rLr1ii U STATES

December 1981 National Science Foundation Volume XVI—Number4

Palmer Station. This island, 70 kilometers long, is the largest and southernmost of the , an island group ex- tending 250 kilometers along the peninsula. never saw this archipel- tgo. The first probable landing on was by Captain John Biscoeof Eng- land in February 1832. Biscoe, thinking Anvers Island was part of the mainland, took possession in the name of King Wil- liam IV, and called it Graham Land. Not until 1898 did Lt. of Belgium in his ship Belgica discover that Anvers Island was indeed an island. Other early explorers who saw Anvers Island were Nordenskjold of Sweden during a 1901-1903 expedition and Charcot of France in 1904 and again in 1908-1910. The British research ships and did physical and biolog- ical oceanography nearby in the late 1920s. From 1934 to 1937 the British Graham Land Expedition had a base on , 30 kilometers east of where was to be set up 30 years later; scientific research included geology, gla- NSF photo by Wiliam Curtsinger. ciology, biology, and tidal observations. Palmer Station, as it looked in its early years, lies at the tip of Gamage Point. A/V Hero is docked, while a Coast Guard is in Arthur Harbor. The first occupation of Anvers Island began during the 1954-1955 summer, when Britain established Base N and operated it through the 1957-1958 International Geo- physical Year (IGY). Base N occupied a Palmer: an at the northwestern corner of Arthur Harbor, near where Palmer Station research station later would be placed. During the ICY Argentina, Britain, and Chile operated approximately 17 stations On 16 and 17 November 1820 a 21- ther voyages of discovery in the Antarctic up and down the coasts of the Antarctic year-old Connecticut sealing captain named Peninsula area. One hundred and forty- Peninsula and on adjacent islands, giving Nathaniel B. Palmer sailed his 14-meter- five years after Nathaniel Palmer made his the area more centers of population than long sloop, the Hero, southward from the sighting, the United States established a any other part of . . His objective was year-round station next to the Antarctic new sealing grounds, but he found new Peninsula and named it Palmer. U.S. land—the Antarctic Peninsula. Palmer may explorations before the IGY have been the first person to see Antarcti- Early non-U.S. explorations After voyages to the by ca, but English, Russian, Australian and Nathaniel Palmer and other sealers, an ex- other American ships were in the area at Halfway between the tip and the base of pedition using the schooner Penguin and about the same time. Reports of these early the peninsula, off its western coast, lies the brig Annawan combined U.S. sealing sealing voyages showed the way for fur- Anvers Island, the site of the modern-day and exploration and reached King George

and Deception Islands in February 1830. but several exploratory flights were made During the 1946-1947 antarctic summer James Eights of Albany, New York, trained from over the Antarctic the Navys , an ex- as a physician and later a geologist, ac- Peninsula in December 1928. On 19 De- tensive exploration of Antarctica that de- companied this expedition as scientist and cember 1929, an exploratory flight was ployed 13 ships and 4,700 men, included wrote remarkably perceptive reports. In made from the southern end of Neumeyer operations by three ships with airplanes in March 1539 two ships of the United States Channel, which separates Anvers and the Antarctic Peninsula area. Charcot and Exploring Expedition, led by Lt. Charles Wiencke Islands. Alexander Islands were photographed from Wilkes, made oceanographic and biologi- the air, and the ships passed Anvers Island cal investigations near the tip of the Ant- Between 21 November and 5 December and through Bransfield Strait on their way Peninsula. U.S. exploration in the 1935, completed a flight to the for further operations. peninsula area languished for the rest of along the east coast of the peninsula and the transantarctic flight envisioned by Wil- the century, although the American Fred- The final U.S. expedition in the peninsula kins. He began at Dundee Island (at the tip erick A. Cook accompanied the Belgian area before the establishment of Palmer of the Antarctic Peninsula) and ended at expedition in 1898. Station was the Ronne Antarctic Research Little America on the Ross Ice Shelf with Expedition, which reoccupied East Base During the 1928-1929 and 1929-1930 four landings made enroute. The flights on 12 March 1947 and stayed until 20 summers the American Geographical So- provided much new information about the February 1948. Expedition personnel num- ciety sponsored expeditions led by Hubert peninsula and the interior of Antarctica. bered 23 and included two women. Though Wilkins, an Australian, whose objective small by modern standards, this expedi- was to cross Antarctica by airplane. Bad The first U.S. station in the Antarctic tion accomplished much, extending greatly weather and lack of firm sea ice for take- Peninsula area was established in March the area explored by Americans in Palmer offs prevented the transantarctic flight, 1940 as part of the United States Antarctic Service, a government expedition. Named Land (the southern half of the Antarctic East Base, it was located on Stonington Peninsula) and adjacent areas. Photographic Island (68 0 11S 67 000W), a 300 by 600 flights ranged as far as the Filchner Ice meter rock connected to the mainland by a Shelf and , and surface tra- snow slope. (This location is 410 kilome- verses explored both coasts of the peninsula. ters south of the site at which Palmer Sta- Unique among U.S. expeditions, the partys tion would later be located.) Twenty-six ship, a wood tug 56-meters long, was in- men wintered, performing observations at tentionally frozen in the ice near Stonington the station and at a smaller camp inland. Island for the duration of the stay at East Extensive explorations were made by foot, Base. There were three ski-equipped planes, airplane, and dog sledge, to the east and of which the largest was a twin-engine west and as far south as the base of the Beechcraft C-45 with trimetrogon cameras peninsula. Accomplishments included sur- for aerial photography. Dog sledges and veys and mapping of most of the area, two Weasels were used for the traverses. biological and geological observations and U.S. operations in Antarctica during the Editor: Winifred Reuning specimen collections, meteorological ob- International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) servations, and tidal and magnetic measure- did not include activities in the Antarctic Antarctic Journal of the United States, ments. The men departed in March 1941. Peninsula area. established in 1966, reports on U.S. activities in Antarctica and related activi- ties elsewhere, and on trëids in the U.S. Antarctic Research Program. It is published quarterly (March, June, Sep- Nomel Point PALMER STATION tember, and December) with a fifth an- 8r.. Island ANTARCTICA, AND VICINITY nual review issue by the Division •OW P.late, station of Polar Programs, National Science ,.,,j_ ,...... seas + Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550. .--- Ell LllcStlield ISSir.l was Telephone: 202/357-7817. ARTHUR Anvers Island Lsppu laoin.$.! HARBORgs Point Palmer Subscription rates are $11.00 per five Speci&ly PYONCNd Area Hero MAP Palmer Station No. I?. No ,Mgy or low Island issues, domestic, and $13.75 per five o,rnlgltt wsfStout permit. issues, foreign; single copies are $2.25 Bonaparte Point ($2.85 foreign) except for the annual 5D.L.ca Island review issue, which is $7.00 ($8.75 split Rock c3mutiat.mi Island 0 foreign). Address changes and sub- Janus scription matters should be sent to the EIcI,orsl Wand Slapping Storms Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Limitroptie Government Printing Office, Washing- cormorant Ctinatine ISIontI ton, D.C. 20402. c.!!(? J Spurn. Island pinnacles The Director of the National Science Hermit Island Foundation has determined that the + publication of this periodical is neces- ^_ Hollsnnsn Rocks

sary in the transaction of the public tin.• <^^Jscobs Island business required by law of this agency. nautical mile Laggard Island 0 Use of funds for printing this periodical OulcastIslands tillomleir has been approved by the director of 0 4 the Office of Management and Budget through 31 March 1984.

Palmer Station (64 046 1S 64 0 3W) is located on the 70-kilometer-long Anvers Island. This map shows the station and islands surrounding it.

ANTARCTIC JOURNAL

Planning and building Palmer Station Palmers climate compares with that of Nome, Alaska, a town of about 2,500 people on the Bering Sea. Mean annual temperatures of these locations are about the same, although Pal- The biological richness of the Antarctic mers summers are cooler, and winters warmer. Peninsula area as documented by pre-IGY and ICY stations and research, together with the possibility for productive work in Palmer Nome other disciplines, led the United States in latitude 64046S 64030N 1962 to begin serious consideration of an extreme low temperature —31°C —43°C Antarctic Peninsula station. U.S. biologists mean temperature, coldest month —10°C —16°C working at McMurdo, a U.S. station at mean annual temperature - 3°C 3.50ç mean temperature, warmest month 78 0 S nearly halfway around the 2°C 10°C 9°Cextreme high temperature 30°C from the peninsula, perceived great value precipitation, cm water equivalent 61 42 in comparative studies at lower antarctic snow, cm (included in precipitation, above) 360 140 latitudes. Also in 1962, the USNS Eltanin, an ice-strengthened research ship, began l0cm snow = lcmwater its decade of antarctic cruises, which in- cluded occasional work in light pack ice. A station on the peninsula, together with the cliff or by melting ice; there is a varied corded at Palmer every month of the first Eltanin and McMurdo Station, would pro- biological environment; and satellite camps winter. vide a spectrum of opportunities for marine may be placed at biologically interesting biology and other disciplines ranging from places within 50 miles. The next summer the icebreaker EaMwind the Antarctic Convergence to practically spent January and February 1966 perform- the highest southern latitude touched by His specific recommendation was to begin ing biological and oceanographic studies the sea. by establishing a small station and keep- up and down the peninsula between Mar- ing it from getting too large and sophisti- guerite Bay in the south and the South The immediate question was: where cated for the available land and logistics. Shetlands. During that time Eastwind and might a station be put ? Literature on the He cited McMurdo as the kind of a station USNS Wyandot resupplied the station. peninsula area was studied, and nations not to build. Palmers second winter passed much as with stations in the region were queried. the first, with a station population of eight. The principal requirements for a station He also recommended that the Founda- were established as follows: the site must tion consider building a 30- to 38-meter Meanwhile, plans were being drawn up be biologically rich, there must be access ship fitted for biological work that would for a larger station to provide for an ex- by ship and a potential for access by heavy operate mainly during the "open" or ice- panded scientific staff and for sophisticated aircraft, there must be building areas on free season but also could operate in winter if laboratory spaces. Also, the Foundation ice-free land, and access by boat was need- the ice conditions permitted. was going ahead with plans for the 38-meter ed from a main station to "places of bio- sail-equipped trawler recommended for re- logical interest at a reasonable distance." In January 1964 the icebreaker Eastwind landed a survey team at the Anvers Island After these investigations a team of two site to continue the hydrographic and to- scientists, an engineer, a pilot, and a naval pographic surveys begun by Staten Island Bellingshausen logistics expert used the Coast Guard ice- the previous year and to erect a temporary (USSR) breaker Staten Island to survey 33 pro- Jamesway (a prefabricated canvas and wood spective sites between 18 January and 5 building) on Bonaparte Point to house the lhileorctowski Poland) March 1963. The sites ranged from Ade- shore party. On 12 January 1965 the ice- speranza (Argentina) laide Island in the south to King George breaker Edisto arrived with men, equip- niente Caodolto Island in the South Shetlands and even ment, and supplies, and on 16 January the Vicecomodoro arsh Marambio around into the Weddell Sea on the east- USNS Wyandot, a cargo ship, followed. (Argentina) ern side of the peninsula. Staten Island Eight days later the work was finished on a rat spent more time at the Arthur Harbor site 25- by 11-meter prefabricated T-5 build- /pArChile)CGeneral Bernardo Higgins (Chile) on Anvers Island than anywhere else: over 4 ing that was to be Palmer Station. The Primaveral days. Biological and geological collections station, the only U.S. antarctic station north (Argentina) were made, and general reconnaissance in- of the Antarctic Circle, was opened with cluding hydrographic surveys was done. ceremonies on 25 February 1965. The old 65. British hut Base N, just meters away, was Almirante By the spring of 1963 Arthur Harbor, later to be made into a laboratory. Palmer (USA) (Argentina) Anvers Island, had been chosen as the site I/I/I Larsen for the new station. In a memorandum in The first winters staff consisted of three Faraday)U.K.) April 1963, T. 0. Jones, the head of the glaciologists (who also performed meteo- Ice Shelf Office of Antarctic Programs, wrote to the rological duties), two biologists, and four Director of the National Science Founda- Navy men: a medic, a radioman, a cook, 46 Gia I tion that "The Arthur Harbor area comes and a mechanic. The scientific work was San Martin closest to meeting all critical requirements mostly reconnaissance—snow accumulation, 1, (Argentina) for a main biological station site . . . al- weather recording, biological collections— though . . . no area meets all the require- and included journeys as far as 50 or 60 Rothera (U.K.) ments," And he summed up the site this kilometers from the station. A Jamesway way: the land is rocky and uneven, but was built 13 kilometers inland for glaciol- adequate; the shores are rough and rocky, ogy, but poor weather made visits diffi- but a landing can be prepared easily; the cult. Snow half covered the Jamesway by harbor is sufficient for large ships, with March and completely covered it by April The Antarctic Peninsula is the most populated protection given by the outside islands; 1965, just 2 months after it was built. Above region in Antarctica. Six nations maintain 13 fresh water is available in a pond by the ice freezing temperatures and rain were re- year-round stations in this region.

December 1981 The second major building at Palmer, a two-story steel frame building, has 743 square meters (8,000 square feet) of floor space. It contains a vehicle maintenance facility, storage space, frozen and dry food 4- storage, recreation room, station store, ham II radio room, laboratory spaces for meteo- rology and upper atmosphere physics, sleep- ing quarters for 10, and utilities including the main power plant (two 150-kilowatt generators). Each building is capable of operating independently and could support .- all station personnel in an emergency. Other installations include two 470,000- liter (125,000-gallon) steel tanks for stor- age of diesel fuel marine (DFM), which is used both by the station generators and furnaces and by Hero. Fresh water is piped in summer from a glacial melt pond and is available in quan- tities exceeding the needs of the station and Hero. In winter, sea water is desali- nated using shipboard-type equipment, k/V Hero, launched on 28 March in South Bristol, Maine, arrives in Arthur Harbor for the first time which delivers as much as 1,900 liters (500 on 25 December 1968. gallons) a day; rationing is required infre- quently. Wastewater is discharged into Arthur Harbor, ungrindable kitchen waste is sealed search use in conjunction with Palmer. The December 1968. (An article on pages 65-69 in drums and dumped in the deep sea, and keel for this ship, to be called the Hero, of the May/June 1975 Antarctic Journal trash is burned, compacted, and placed in was laid in October 1966. describes Hero and its work.) The follow- a dump. Accumulated items having scrap ing season 28 Seabees completed construc- value are removed to South America from Although the ship would be used mainly tion of the new station in January, Febru- time to time. in the austral summer, winter operations ary, and March 1970. appeared feasible. Information and photos Rolling stock comprises a Galion mobile crane (8,600 kilograms or 9.5 ton capaci- obtained during winter overflights in Sep- Station facilities tember 1964 and August 1966 indicated ty), Caterpillar 910 and 944 wheeled load- that there were open water areas along the Palmer Station is centrally located for ers, and a rough-terrain forklift. peninsula where a vessel such as Hero could operations up and down the west side of Zodiacs (inflatable rubber boats) trans- operate, and those aboard the 1966 flight the Antarctic Peninsula and in the South port scientists to local islands (within 3 concluded that ship operations could have Shetland Islands. It serves as a primary kilometers or 2 miles) for research. The been conducted in the Bransuield and shore facility and as an operational base Mark 11 (14-foot) and Mark III (16-foot) Cerlache Straits and in the vicinity of Arthur for R/V Hero. Ship and station together models are used; they are powered by 9 Harbor. Further, the people at the station comprise a research system that can sup- and 25 horsepower outboard motors and in August 1965 had concluded that "a small port ship-based and shore-based research can be driven slowly through the brash ice vessel could have eased through the lightly projects throughout the peninsula area. that occurs commonly in and around Arthur frozen surface of Arthur Harbor, although Harbor. the heavy floes at sea probably would have The biolab building is a two- and three- story steel frame building with 888 square Year-round operation of Palmer requires been hazardous." meters (9,559 square feet) of floor space. six people: a station manager, a medic, a Construction of the new station, at Biological laboratories, a storage area for facility engineer, a mechanic, a communi- 64 0 46S 64 003W on Carnage Point, took laboratory equipment, electronics work- cations coordinator, and a cook. In summer, four seasons. In January, February, and shop, radio room, photo lab, and two offices the increased level of scientific activity, March 1967, 26 Navy Seabees helped by are in one wing of the building. In 1981, boating, resupply, and Hero calls require the crew of the icebreaker Westwind put the stations wet biological laboratory was these additional support personnel: boat- up a construction camp, built the wharf, named in honor of Mary Alice McWhinnie ing coordinator, materials person, mess finished the subfloor of the first building, for her significant contributions to antarc- person, laborer, and craftsperson. All these and completed the fuel tanks and most of tic marine biology. The center (three-story) personnel are employed by the Founda- the salt water intake line. In 3 months section has living quarters for 22 people, a tions contractor for support in Antarctica— during the 1967-1968 season, 32 Seabees dining room, kitchen, lounge, dispensary, currently ITT Antarctic Services, Inc. The and the Southwind crew finished the first machine/carpenter shop, and utilities for Palmer station manager reports to the con- building, called the biolab building. In the the building including a standby genera- tractors deputy program director for Hero/ 1968-1969 season, 31 Seabees got the second tor. The other wing has small boat sup- Palmer, who most of the year is at head- building, containing a garage, a warehouse, plies, dry and refrigerated stores, diving quarters in Paramus, New Jersey. During and recreation areas, about two-thirds com- locker, and boatshop. Adjacent to this build- part of the summer season a staff member plete. They also got a Christmas present. ing is a van serving as science library and of the Division of Polar Programs serves at R/V Hero, launched 28 March in South two small prefabricated buildings contain- Palmer as NSF Representative, Antarctic Bristol, Maine, arrived at its new home ing sea-water aquaria for experimentation Peninsula, to oversee operations and co- port of Palmer Station, Antarctica, on 25 with marine organisms, particularly krill. ordinate use of facilities by science parties.

ANTARCTIC JOURNAL The main resupply of Palmer Station for dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and ing the water, changes salinity, denudes takes place once a year (usually in Janu- temperature. They observed three distinct the nearshore zone, and limits vertical mi- ary). Currently one of the new U.S. Coast periods in the dissolved oxygen content gration of plants and animals. Guard (Polar Star or Polar Sea) and pH—gradual reductions from May to delivers fuel and cargo. Hero delivers ad- August, a sharp increase starting in mid- Oregon State University scientists spent ditional cargo during its trips between September, and a steep decrease starting in several years investigating the macrobenthic Palmer and ports at the southern tip of January. Primary production in summer assemblages of Arthur Harbor and other South America, and it is usually Hero that was intense. Antarctic Peninsula locations. They found "deep-sixes" Palmers drummed kitchen the density of macrofauna (worms, mol- wastes during crossings of the Drake Florida State University researchers col- lusks, sea spiders, sponges, etc.) in soft- Passage. lected terrestrial and marine samples during bottom areas of Arthur Harbor to be four the 1966-1967 season to study the role of times greater than that of the inner conti- Palmer Station is operated almost com- microorganisms in weathering of rocks, nental shelf off New England. The slow pletely independent of the rest of the land- biochemistry of guano formation, micro- growth of benthic animals possibly due to based part of the United States Antarctic bial content of raw soils, and nutrient con- low temperatures is offset by physical sta- Research Program. McMurdo Station, the tribution of the land to the near-shore sea bility of the environment (except for ice- logistics hub of the majority of the pro- environment. berg groundings). The community makes gram, is 2,000 miles away. The other two rapid and efficient utilization of organic U.S. stations—Siple (in Ellsworth Land) Investigators from the University of Cali- matter. and —are fully dependent logis- fornia at Davis made more than 1,300 scuba Antarctic krill did not get much atten- tically on McMurdo. U.S. antarctic aircraft dives from 1971 to 1975 to study the dis- when the Uni- operations—a squadron of UH-1N helicop- tribution and ecology of shallow-water ben- tion at Palmer until 1974, versity of California at Davis group col- ters and ski-equipped C-130 airplanes—are thos, with emphasis on foraminifera—tiny, lected 130 individuals kilometers west centered at McMurdo. U.S. aircraft have shelled sea animals. Foraminifera have an 19 of Palmer and used electrophoresis to study never landed at Palmer. The Marr Ice important role in the marine community, genetic variability, which they found to be Piedmont, adjacent to the station, is suit- serving as the main food for some worms low. This finding fit the hypothesis that a able for a skiway but can become soft and and mollusks and a secondary food for varying food supply forces individuals to sticky during Palmers relatively warm other animals. The work described and be highly flexible; selection thus favors summer. Winter flights to the station have quantified Arthur Harbors ecosystem and genes that code for generalized functions. never been attempted because of the lack showed it to be typical of much of the season seawater aquaria of operational need and the large expense Antarctic Peninsula area; the scientists iden- In the 1977-1978 were installed at Palmer, and DePaul Uni- involved in sending out a plane from Cali- tified six depth-related zones with repre- versity biologists began a study of krill fornia, the squadrons austral winter head- sentative distributions of species and tro- quarters. Small ski-equipped airplanes— phic relationships. The California group reproduction, food consumption, and rate particularly Twin Otters of Britain and also performed quantitative and taxonomic of growth. Krill populations were kept alive Argentina—and Chilean helicopters visit studies of diatoms, microscopic algae that in the tanks for 2 years, enabling study of several times a year, contributing to the dominate Arthur Harbors microalgae com- maturation, lifespan, and response to light neighborly atmosphere of the many-sta- munity. Sea ice formation proved of im- and other environmental factors. In one tioned Antarctic Peninsula area. Other visi- mense importance for diatom blooms and experiment adult krill were found to de- tors nearly every summer include ships other life forms: it reduces the light enter- crease in length when poorly fed. operated by the other nations with stations in the area, tourist ships, and privately- The three-story portion of the main building at Palmer Station houses living quarters for 22 operated sailboats. people, a dining room, kitchen, lounge, dispensary, machine and carpenter shop, and utilities for the building. The biology laboratories, laboratory equipment storage, an electronics work- Scientific research shop, radio room, photo darkroom, and two offices are in the left wing; small boat supplies, dry and refrigerated stores, a diving locker, and a boatshop are in the right wing. When Hero and the laboratory at the station became available to scientists in late 1968, the research emphasis at Palmer turned to biology. Of particular interest was the marine ecosystem, and in the years that followed nearly every level from mi- crobes to seals was studied to reveal popu- lation characteristics, physiology, and in- terrelationships. Many of these projects— lasting as long as 5 years—relied on Hero for the collection of specimens and for on-board lab work, then performed fur- ther research in the laboratory at Palmer. Others made their collections near the station—in Arthur Harbor and at the num- erous small islands within a few kilome- ters of the station. Following are a few highlights of research performed primarily at Palmer Station since its establishment in 1965. Oregon State investigators collected daily water samples at Arthur Harbor from May 1970 to February 1971 and analyzed them NSF photo by Erick Chiang.

December 1981 The blood of chaenichthyid fishes, or Winter personnel, Palmer Station "icefishes," is cloudy white because it has no hemoglobin—the protein that makes Support Total other animals blood red and transports Science oxygen and carbon dioxide. Fish research 1965 5 4 9 at Palmer has centered on this family. 1966 4 4 8 1967 5 4 9 During the early 1970s investigators from 1968 3 6 9 the University of Missouri and Scripps 1969 4 8 12 Institution of Oceanography studied the 1970 1 7 8 physiology of these unusual fishes and 1971 2 9 11 determined how they survive without red 1972 4 9 13 blood cells. The metabolic rate, already 1973 5 10 15 low because of the cold water, is reduced 19742 3 6 9 further in specific adaptation that reduces 1975 4 6 10 demands for oxygen transport. Blood pres- 1976 1 5 6 sure is strikingly lower than that of other 1977 2 5 7 1978 3 6 3 9 fishes, yet volume and flow are higher. 1979.- 4 6 10 The icefish moves slowly: at rest, the energy 1980 1 6 7 cost for cardiac and respiratory function 1981 4 6 10 represents half or more of total oxygen 1982 2 6 8 consumption. 1 First winter in new building on Gamage Point. The numerous moss- and lichen-covered 2 First winter of contractor support, replacing U.S. Navy support. rocky peninsulas and islands around Palmer, Support staff in 1978 and following years includes a U.S. Navy corpsman (medic). coupled with a sea extraordinarily rich in marine life, provide a haven for birds. Twenty-two species have been seen near While biology has been emphasized at Scientific research at Palmer Station has Palmer; of these, several are year-round Palmer, the other disciplines have not gone increased with time as scientists have rec- residents and 11 breed in the neighbor- unstudied. University of California (Davis) ognized the natural advantages of the sta- hood. Research on birds has included ex- investigators made physical and chemical tions location and have focused on research tensive studies of population, behavior, oceanographic determinations and solar ra- problems identified in earlier work. During ecology, physiology, and presence of pol- diation measurements in Arthur Harbor to the 1981-1982 summer season, research lutants. Institutions involved include the assist the biological work. Ohio State gla- was conducted on metabolism and behav- University of Minnesota, University of Cali- ciologists measured snow accumulation, ior in crustacea including krill, early larval fornia (Bodega Marine Laboratory, Scripps ice movement, strain, and ice thickness on survival of krill, trophodynamics of marine Institution of Oceanography), and Case the Marr Ice Piedmont adjacent to the sta- fauna, reproductive patterns in seals, insect Western Reserve University. tion. Geophysical work has included an resistance to freezing, protein adaptations, Seal studies, centering on leopard and Ohio State gravity survey of Anvers Island, presence of hydrocarbons in birds, very- elephant seals common to the area, have magnetometer observations, and geodetic low-frequency waves in the ionosphere, included behavior and physiology, seal/ studies including operation of a satellite air chemistry, and meteorology. These sci- penguin interactions, and respiration studies observatory by the University of Texas. entific challenges are different from the using a chamber to simulate dives. Institu- Real-time voice and data transmission be- contrary winds, fogs, and icebergs that tions involved include University of Min- tween the United States and Palmer, using challenged Nathaniel Palmer in 1820, and nesota, State University of New York (Syra- the ATS-3 satellite, came in 1977 with a they bring different problems. In late 1981 cuse), and Scripps Institution of Oceano- University of Nevada project to study the 40-odd scientists and support personnel graphy. weather phenomena and air-sea interactions. at Palmer established an informal consor- The following year Stanford University tium to consider their major challenge: not The land ecosystem also has received physicists established a very-low-frequency ice, or cold, or lack of fresh food, but attention. Researchers principally from radio observing program to complement crowding in the stations research labora- Clark University and Ohio State Univer- similar work at Siple Station. The Nevada tories during the busy summer season. sity have studied the photosynthesis, res- group introduced laser profiling of atmo- piration, and physiology of lichens, mosses, spheric constituents in 1979. Ohio State algae, and fungi. Antarcticas only land meteorologists made extensive surface animals—springtails, midges, and mites— weather observations during the stations abound at Palmer and have been studied to first 2 years; standard observations have —Guy C. Guthridge, Division of Polar determine population density, energy flow, continued to the present. Programs, National Science Foundation. and cold survival strategies; the Bishop Museum (Honolulu) and the University of Houston are the major institutions in- volved. Virginia Tech limnologists inves- tigated the ecology of freshwater lakes in the Palmer area and chose for intensive study two lakes 0.6 kilometers apart with strikingly different trophic states. Study of natural eutrophication (oxygen deficien- cy) in these simple antarctic lakes has con- tributed to an understanding of acceler- ated eutrophication caused by pollution of lakes in other parts of the world. til

01W 11ANTARCTIC JOURNAL Antarctic mineral resources focus of the Eleventh the antarctic environment will be devel- oped and will apply to all mineral resource Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting activities. The area covered by the man- agement regime will include the continent At the Eleventh Antarctic Treaty Meet- ing mineral resource activities in Antarcti- and adjacent offshore areas, not including ing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, represen- ca. During the Eleventh Treaty Meeting the deep seabed, although the precise limi- tatives of the 14 Antarctic Treaty consul- representatives recommended that a Spe- tations of the area of application have not tative nations emphasized the need to begin cial Consultative Meeting convene to de- yet been determined. Other provisions in- negotiations for a regime governing min- termine the form that this system should clude arrangements between an antarctic eral resource activities in Antarctica. Other take, to establish a negotiation schedule, mineral regime and other relevant interna- topics discussed at the meeting, held from and to take any necessary steps to facili- tional organizations, consideration of com- 23 June to 7 July 1981, included the Con- tate the conclusion of the regime. The rec- mercial exploration and exploitation, and vention on the Conservation of Antarctic ommended principles guiding the forma- resource management decisions. Special at- Marine Living Resources, improved tele- tion of this management regime are that - tention will continue to be given to the communications for collecting and distribut- requirements identified in the Report of ing meteorological data, oil pollution in • the consultative parties will continue Ecological, Technological, and other Re- antarctic waters, sites of special scientific to take an active and responsible role in lated Experts on Mineral Exploration and interest and specially protected areas, tour- any question relating to antarctic mineral Exploitation in Antarctica and to develop- ism and nongovernmental expeditions, ex- resources; ing new programs to improve predictions change of information, public availability of environmental impacts of activities, of consultative meeting documents, and • the Antarctic Treaty will be maintained; events, and technologies associated with the status and appointment of observers to • the antarctic environment and its eco- mineral resource exploration and exploi- Treaty meetings. systems will be protected; tation. Three recommendations and a special • the consultative parties will not prej- The first Special Consultative meeting, statement commemorating the twentieth udice the rights of all mankind in Antarc- similar to those held to discuss the Con- anniversary of the entry into force of the tica when dealing with mineral resource vention on the Conservation of Antarctic Antarctic Treaty were developed and adopt- questions; Marine Living Resources, will be held in ed by the representatives. These new rec- Wellington, New Zealand, in late May or ommendations increase to 130 the number • the contracting parties of the agree- early June 1982. of Treaty recommendations made since the ment will not prejudice the recognition or first consultative meeting in 1962. nonrecognition of antarctic territorial claims. In a second recommendation, represen- tatives urged their governments to seek Recommendations to the Treaty extend The management system must provide the earliest possible entry into force of the its principles and objectives. The Antarc- for means to assess the possible environ- Convention of the Conservation of Ant- tic Treaty reserves the area south of 600 mental impact of mineral resource activi- arctic Marine Living Resources. The con- South for peaceful purposes, sets aside ties, determine the acceptability of mineral vention was concluded in May 1980. Eight territorial claims, ensures free access resource activities, and govern the ecolog- of the 15 participating nations must ratify throughout the area, permits member na- ical, technological, political, legal and eco- the convention before it enters into force; tions to inspect installations, prohibits mili- nomic aspects of accepted activities. As a as of December 1981, six countries had tary participation except in support of part of this system procedures that protect ratified it. peaceful activities, and encourages scien- tific investigation and international coop- eration. The nations which are signatories Krill are brought aboard a Japanese fishing boat. One of the recommendations at the XIth to the Antarctic Treaty are Argentina, Aus- Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting focuses on the Convention on the Conservation of tralia, Belgium, Chile, France, Federal Re- Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which would limit the number of these creatures that could public of Germany, Japan, New Zealand, be harvested. , Poland, the Republic of South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United King- dom, and the United States. In their commemoration of the twenti- eth anniversary of the Treatys entry into force, the representatives emphasized that recommendations to the Treaty have a cru- cial role in the continuing evolution of the consultative process. They recognized the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958 as the model for the Treatys foundation of continued, peaceful cooperation and free dom of scientific investigation. With these principals as its basis, the treaty system has made possible rapid growth of knowl edge about Antarctica and has enabled the consultative nations to develop successful methods to protect the environment and ecosystems of Antarctica. At the Tenth Treaty Meeting in 1979, representatives stressed the need to develop as quickly as possible a system for manag-

December 1981 Other recommendations made at the The next meeting of the consultative Recommend to their Governments that: Tenth Treaty meeting were reviewed. The parties will be held in Australia in the latter 1. They take note of the progress made group noted that new telecommunication part of 1983. toward the timely adoption of a regime for stations had been established in Antarctica antarctic mineral resources at the Eleventh and that some countries had improved their The texts of the three recommendations Consultative Meeting and related meetings telecommunications systems and the flow adopted at the meeting follow this article. and the importance of this progress. of their meteorological data to the Global Telecommunications System of the World 2. A regime on antarctic mineral resources Meteorological Organization. Plans have should be concluded as a matter of urgency. also been made by the Working Group on XI-1. Antarctic mineral Logistics of the Scientific Committee on resources 3. A Special Consultative Meeting should Antarctic Research (SCAR) to prepare a he convened in order: telecommunications manual for distribu- The Representatives, (a) to elaborate a regime; tion at the Twelfth Consultative Meeting. Recalling the provisions of the Antarc- (b) to determine the form of the regime In their discussion of oil pollutions effect tic Treaty, which established a regime for including the question as to whether an on the marine environment, the represen- international cooperation in Antarctica, with international instrument such as a conven- tatives agreed that SCAR should be en- the objective of ensuring that Antarctica tion is necessary; couraged to develop guidelines for hydro- should continue forever to be used exclu- carbon baseline measurements and to con- sively for peaceful purposes and should (c) to establish a schedule for negotia- sider operating techniques and other perti- not become the scene or object of interna- tions, using informal meetings and sessions nent information at its 1982 logistics sym- tional discord; of the Special Consultative Meeting as posium in Leningrad. They also discussed appropriate; and whether existing international conventions Convinced that the framework estab- lished by the Antarctic Treaty has proved (d) to take any other steps that may be for the prevention of oil pollution at sea necessary to facilitate the conclusion of were applicable in the Antarctic and con- effective in promoting international har- mony in furtherance of the purposes and the regime, including a decision as to the cluded that these conventions presently procedure for its adoption. are adequate to minimize risks of marine principles of the United Nations Charter, pollution. However, the consulatative parties in prohibiting inter alia any measures of a 4. The Special Consultative Meeting will continue to review preventative and military nature, in ensuring the protection should base its work on this Recommen- remedial measures and procedures for oil of the Antarctic environment, in prevent- dation and the relevant Recommendations spill clean-up used in other areas of the ing any nuclear explosions and the disposal and Reports of the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth world. of any radioactive waste material in Ant- Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. arctica, and in promoting freedom of sci- The representatives discussed a variety entific research in Antarctica, to the bene- 5. The regime should be based on the of subjects related to tourism and the in- fit of all mankind; following principles: creased number of nongovernmental ex- peditions seeking help from the consulta- Convinced further of the necessity of (a) the Consultative Parties should con- tive parties. To express their sympathy to maintaining the Antarctic Treaty in its tinue to play an active and responsible role those people affected by the November entirety and believing that the early con- in dealing with the question of antarctic 1979 air disaster on Mount Erebus, the clusion of a regime for Antarctic mineral mineral resources; representatives recommended that the crash resources would further strengthen the Ant- (b) the Antarctic Treaty must be main- site on the mountains northern slopes be arctic Treaty framework; tained in its entirety; designated a tomb and left undisturbed. Desiring without prejudice to Article IV (c) protection of the unique antarctic Work was begun on principles that might of the Antarctic Treaty to negotiate with environment and of its dependent ecosys- be adopted if Areas of Special Tourist In- the full participation of all the Consulta- tems should be a basic consideration; terest were established. Discussions among tive Parties to the Antarctic Treaty an appro- the representatives pointed to a number of priate set of rules for the exploration and (d) the Consultative Parties, in dealing questions about creating these special areas, exploitation of Antarctic mineral resources; with the question of mineral resources in and they decided to study the subject fur- Antarctica, should not prejudice the inter- Noting the unity between the continent ther and discuss it again at the Twelfth ests of all mankind in Antarctica; of Antarctica and its adjacent offshore areas; Treaty Meeting. (e) the provisions of Article IV of the Mindful of the negotiations that are Although all present recognized the im- Antarctic Treaty should not be affected by taking place in the Third United Nations the regime. It should ensure that the prin- portance of a common response to inquir- Conference on the Law of the Sea; ies for assistance by nongovernmental ex- ciples embodied in Article IV are safeguarded peditions, representatives decided to take Reaffirming their commitment to the early in application to the area covered by the this discussion up again at the next consulta- conclusion of a regime for Antarctica min- Antarctic Treaty. tive meeting. eral resources which would take due account 6. Any agreement that may be reached of the respective interests of the Consulta- Various aspects of the Treaty system on a regime for mineral exploration and tive Parties as regards the form and con- exploitation in Antarctica elaborated by were discussed. These topics included the tent of the regime, including decision- need for timely and complete information the Consultative Parties should be accept- making procedures, as well as the special able and be without prejudice to those states exchanges between consultative parties, characteristics of the Antarctic area; publication, dissemination and availabil- which have previously asserted rights of ity of consultative meeting documents, and Recalling Recommendations VII-o, VIII- or claims to territorial sovereignty in Ant- observers at consultative meetings. All of 14, IX-1, and X-i; arctica as well as to those States which these topics will be studied in greater detail neither recognize such rights of or claims and discussed again at the Twelfth Con- Recalling further Recommendations VI-4, to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica nor, sultative Meeting. VII-1, VII-11, VII-13, IX-5, IX-6 and X-7; under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, assert such rights or claims. ANTARCTIC JOURNAL 7. The regime should inter cilia the effective operation of the regime taking servation of Antarctic Marine Living Re- into account, inter alia, the relevant parts sources; and I. Include means for: of the Report of Ecological, Technological and Other Related Experts on Mineral 2. They take all possible steps to facili- (a) assessing the possible impact of min- tate the early operation of the bodies to be eral resource activities on the antarctic envi- Exploration and Exploitation in Antarctica (Washington, June 1979), attached as an established by the Convention on the Con- ronment in order to provide for informed servation of Antarctic Marine Living Re- decision-making; annex to the Report of the Tenth Consul- tative Meeting. sources upon entry into force. (h) determining whether mineral resource activities will be acceptable; 9. With a view to improving predictions of the environmental impacts of activities, X1-3 Air disaster on Mount (c) governing the ecological, technolog- events and technologies associated with ical, political, legal and economic aspects mineral resource exploration and exploita- Erebus of those activities in cases where they would tion should such occur, they continue with be determined acceptable, including: the assistance of the Scientific Committee The Representatives, —the establishment, as an important part on Antarctic Research, to define programs with the objectives of: Recalling with respect that in the years of the regime, of rules relating to the pro- of exploration and research many have tection of the Antarctic environment; and (a) Retrieving and analyzing relevant travelled to and worked in Antarctica and —the requirement that mineral resource information from past observations and not returned; research programs; activities undertaken pursuant to the regime Noting that on November 28, 1979, two be undertaken in compliance with such (b) Ensuring in relation to the needs for hundred and fifty-seven people of several rules. information identified by the Experts Re- nationalities lost their lives when the air- II. Include procedures for adherence by port, that effective use is made of existing craft in which they were travelling crashed programs; States other than the Consultative Parties, into the slopes of Mount Erebus, Ross either through the Antarctic Treaty or (c) Identifying and developing new Island, Antarctica; otherwise, which would: programs that should have priority, taking Aware that in spite of the determined account of the length of time required for (a) ensure that the adhering State is and courageous action of members of the results to become available. bound by the basic provisions of the Ant- New Zealand and United States Antarctic expeditions the bodies of some of those arctic Treaty, in particular Articles I, IV, V 10. In elaborating the regime, they take who died could not be recovered; and VI, and by the relevant Recommenda- account of the provisions of Recommen- tions adopted by the Consultative Parties; dations IX-1, paragraph 8. Aware, too, that no permanent memo- and rial may be placed on the ice slopes at the (b) make entities of that State eligible to X1-2 Antarctic marine living site of the tragedy; participate in mineral resource activities Express, their deep sympathy with the under the regime. resources relatives of those who died and with the III. Include provisions for cooperative Government and people of New Zealand; arrangements between the regime and other The Representatives, and relevant international organizations. Recalling the responsibilities of the Con- Recommend to their Governments that IV. Apply to all mineral resource activi- sultative Parties regarding the conservation the site on the northern slopes of Mount ties taking place on the Antarctic Conti- of Antarctic marine living resources; Erebus where the accident took place be nent and its adjacent offshore areas but declared a tomb and that they ensure that Recalling further the history of actions without encroachment on the deep seabed. the area is left in peace. taken by Consultative Parties concerning The precise limits of the area of applica- protection of the Antarctic ecosystem, tion would be determined in the elabora- including in particular, Recommendations tion of the regime. III-VIII, VIII-10, VIII-13, IX-2, IX-5 and V. Include provisions to ensure that the X-2, special responsibilities of the Consultative Parties in respect of the environment in Welcoming the conclusion of the Con- the Antarctic Treaty area are protected, vention on the Conservation of Antarctic taking into account responsibilities which Marine Living Resources at a diplomatic may be exercised in the area by other interna- conference held in Canberra, Australia in tional organizations. May 1980 and the signature of that con- vention, also in Canberra, Australia in Sep- VI. Cover commercial exploration (activi- tember, 1980; ties related to minerals involving, in gen- eral, retention of proprietary data and/or Noting that a meeting is to be held later non-scientific exploratory drilling) and this year in Hobart, Tasmania to consider exploitation (commercial development and steps to facilitate the early operation of the protection). Commission, the Scientific Committee and the Executive Secretariat to be established VII. Promote the conduct of research under the Convention on the Conserva- necessary to make environmental and tion of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; resource management decisions which would be required. Recommend to their Governments that: 8. They promote and cooperate in scien- 1. They seek the earliest possible entry tific investigations which would facilitate into force of the Convention on the Con-

December 1981 o

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U S Navy photo (700094)byPH2John

For the last 8 years, the U. S. Geological Survey has tracked satellites continuously at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Because South Pole Station is on a moving ice sheet, the position of the tracking antenna is recomputed monthly. Using data from the satellites, researchers have recomputed the elevation of the snow surface at the South Pole and found it to be 2,835 meters. This aerial photo was taken in 1976.

Elevation of Amundsen-Scott South Pole monographs and many papers in meteoro- Station: 2,835 meters logical journals. In the early 1970s, the elevation of the South Pole station was determined to be close to 2,840 meters. That value was intro- In 1957 when regular meteorological mea- rectness of the measurements and on the duced, without any further comment or surements at Amundsen-Scott South Pole distance between the individual stations. explanation, as 9,340.6 feet in the station Station were begun, the elevation (height Until 1970, the place with radiosonde ascents description on page VII of the NOAA publi- above mean sea level) of the site was not nearest to the South Pole was Byrd Station cation Climatological Data for Amundsen- known with desirable exactness. An approx- (80°S 120°W). Since then the nearest sta- Scott, Antarctica, for 1974 and 75, No. 14, imate value, 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) was tion is the USSR station (78°28S June 1977, while the other periodical pub- assumed, corresponding to 2,808 geopo- 106°48E, 3,488 meters). An error in any lished by NOAA (Monthly Climatic Data tential meters (gpm) (Smithsonian Meteo- of the basic values, such as the elevation of for the World) did not take notice of the rological Tables, fifth edition, 1958, Tables a station, would affect the contour on the change. Nevertheless, the value of 2,846 49 and 50). Geopotential height is the height upper air maps over a large part of the meters is the basic value employed since 1 of a given point in the atmosphere in units interior of Antarctica, as well as the geo- January 1975 in the evaluation of the daily proportional to the potential energy of unit strophic winds computed from such maps. upper air soundings at the South Pole. mass (geopotential) at this height relative For instance, this statement applies to the to sea level. numerical data, maps, and graphs for the In the meantime, the situation has become area south of 75°S in the valuable and more confusing and in need of repair, In the following 18 years, this value was often quoted volumes of Climate of the because two recent National Science Foun- employed for pressure-height computations, Upper Air, Southern Hemisphere, volumes I dation publications (U.S. Antarctic Research in particular the heights of the so-called to IV, 1969 and 1971 (jointly produced by Program, Personnel Manual, and Antarc- standard pressure levels, 700 millibars, 500 National Center for Atmospheric Research, tic Journal of the U.S., Vol. 15, numbers 2, millibars, and so on. Such height values National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- 3, and 4) give the South Pole elevation as are used to construct geopotentlal contour istration (NOAA), and Department of 2,912 meters. In fact, the appearance of maps (absolute topographies) of constant Defense). Likewise it applies to the widely that value and the possibility of a discrep- pressure levels, provided simultaneous data distributed NOAA-World Meteorological ancy as large as 112 meters raised new are available for several stations. The reli- Organization series Monthly Climatic Data questions and provided the impulse for an ability of such maps depends on the cor- for the World and consequently to some inquiry and this note.

10 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL Fortunately, a well-founded answer can Federal Republic of Germany establishes antarctic now be given, thanks to the valuable cooper- ation of the Chief of the Field Instrumen- program tation Section, U.S. Geological Survey, in Reston, Virginia, William H. Chapman, who contributed the following information: German interest in antarctic research be- engineering problems. The core of the sta- "South Pole Station elevation: For over gan 100 years ago, when Georg von Neumyer, tion consists of two 50-meter-long tubes in which containers are placed for living 8 years the U.S. Geological Survey has for whom a newly established German sta- continuously operated a satellite tracking tion is named, helped promote the first quarters, workshops, a power plant, and a garage for snow vehicles. Over the years instrument at the Amundsen-Scott Station, in 1882-1883. In the station will slowly but steadily sink Antarctica, at the South Pole. The instru- 1902-1903, Georg von Drygaiski on the ment is a Geoceiver and is part of the led the first German expedition to into the ice and move with the ice shelf TRANET network that consists of 20 to the continent primarily to study geophys- toward the sea. During the 1981 winter 30 such instruments distributed about the ics. During a 1911-1912 expedition, Wil- five people occupied the station; in the earth. The main purpose of this network is helm Filchner aboard the Deutschland future, the station will house up to 40 to monitor selected satellites of the U.S. penetrated the Weddell Sea as far south as persons in summer and 10 in winter. the ice shelf which now bears his name. Navy Navigational Satellite System so that Both the station and the 118-meter, precise orbit parameters for these satellites His party did some surveying in the area of the ice shelf and began their northward $80-million (U.S. dollars) research and can be computed and made available for supply vessel will be under the supervi- applications requiring accurate positioning. return trip, during which the ship became trapped in the pack ice for nine months. sion of the Alfred Wegener Institute for "Because the South Pole Station is on a The "Schwabenland Expedition" (1938- Polar Research, established in Bremerha- moving ice sheet, it is necessary to recom- 1939) urder the leadership of A. Ritscher ven in 1980. Over the next few years, the pute the tracking station position at monthly was the last prewar expedition and com- Institute will expand its staff to 150 scien- intervals. Twenty positions have been com- pleted a large-scale aerial photo survey. tists, technicans, and others. Besides pro- puted during the last 2 years. The height Forty years after the Ritscher expedition, viding logistics, the Institute also will spon- value has varied from 2,805.8 to 2,807.4 the Federal Republic of Germany decided sor scientific research in all natural sciences meters above the adopted ellipsoid; the to renew antarctic research efforts. In early and conduct seminars, workshops and other mean is 2,806.6 meters. Several corrections 1981 the country established its first year- meetings. Visiting scientists and postdoctoral to this value are required to obtain an ele- round station in Antarctica, at Atka and other students, many from foreign vation, a height above sea level. These are (70°35S 751W), for a cost equivalent to countries, will be invited to participate in for antenna height (-3.0 meters), for dif- $10 million U.S. dollars and by late 1982 the research institutes programs. ference in ellipsoids (5.0 meters), and for will have its first polar research and supply German polar research will not be com- the geoid height (26.6 meters). The last ship, the Polarstern. pletely centralized in the Institute for Polar correction was obtained from the National Research. Individual scientists or small Aeronautics and Space Administrations Early German research in the Antarctic mainly comprised earth magnetic and other scientific groups, scattered throughout uni- GEM lOB geoid model. These values com- versities and federal and independent bine to give an estimate of the elevation geophysical studies, investigations of deep water circulation, and comparative biology institutions, are funded by the German (height above the geoid) of the snow sur- Research Society (Deutsche Forschungsge- face at the South Pole of 2,835 meters. of arctic and antarctic planktonic fauna and flora. Since World War II research has meinschaft), which has developed a spe- This method of computing elevations was cial antarctic research program and has tested at two antarctic coastline stations concentrated on krill as one of the most important marine living resources. In made available each year the equivalent of where sea level heights are easily obtained. $1 million U.S. dollars for scientific inves- The agreements were good, and therefore 1975-1976 and 1977-1978 seasons, two German ships went to the Sea to tigations. The logistic needs of these activ- we estimate the computed elevation of the ities will be met by the Institute for Polar South Pole Station is within 5 meters." investigate krill and fish stocks. In 1980- 1981 two Federal Republic research ves- Research. Hence, 2,835 meters (2,843 gpm) is the sels, Meteor and Walther Herwig, partici- value for the elevation of the snow surface pated in the First International BIOMASS at the South Pole which should be used in Experiment (FIBEX), which was devoted the coming years. For this reason the fol- primarily to krill studies. At the same time, lowing corrections should be applied to all the German Federal Institute for Geosci- geopotential height values obtained by ences and Mineral Resources of Hannover Specifications of the radiosondes released at Amundsen-Scott sponsored a number of geological and geo- Polarstern Station-1957-74: +35 gpm and 1975-81: physical expeditions to the Weddell and -12 gpm. Ross Seas and northern . More Over all length 118.00m and more German scientists also participate Length on deck 102.20m in the polar geology and biology programs Width 25.00m —Werner Schwerdtfeger, Department of of other countries, some as exchange sci- Height of gunnal to the Meteorology, University of Wisconsin. entists with the United States Antarctic main deck 13.60m Research Program. With the opening of Draft 10.50m the year-round station, German antarctic Load carrying capacity 3900 metric research has expanded to include glaciol- tons ogy and meteorology at the station and in Speed 15.50 knots Power 4x3670kW the surrounding areas. A summer station, Total passenger capacity 106 to be established on the Filchner Ice Shelf, Crew 36 will further extend research capabilities. Scientific personnel 40 Replacement crew for The construction of the polar station 30 kilt year-round station involved interesting December 1981 11 2 A.11 --ffi

The Polarstern, the new 118-meter-long West German research ship, is ice-strengthened and will be used for research and station resupply.

Two other federal institutes, one for geo- level. In all this work, close cooperation book is arranged by 13 subject headings: sciences in Hannover and one for fisheries with other countries interested in polar general; biological sciences; cartography; research in Hamburg, have already con- research is planned, either in the frame- expeditions; geological sciences; ice and ducted important applied research in Ant- work of international programs or through snow; logistics, equipment, and supplies; arctica, and have received strong support bilateral cooperation at the national and medical sciences; meteorology; oceanogra- from the Ministries of Commerce and of institutional levels. phy; atmospheric physics; terrestrial phy- Food. It is envisioned that the new Insti- sics; and political geology. Items that ap- tute for Polar Research will coordinate all ply to more than one subject are listed only of these activities, on both a national and —Gotthilf Hempel, Director of the Alf red- in one section but are cross-referenced at the international level. Wegener Institute of Polar Research, end of the pertinent sections. Abstracts are Bremerhaven, Federal Republic of Germany. designed to be informative, although no The Institutes research program encom- attempt is made to verify or critically eval- passes arctic as well as antarctic studies. uate the authors statements or conclusions. Planned research projects include investi- Author, subject, geographic (place, station, gations of trace elements in the polar atmo- or geographic feature), and grantee (organ- sphere, water, sediments, and organisms, ization or institution performing NSF- and studies of Mesozoic rocks in the area Antarctic Bibliography supported work) indexes are provided. between the Weddell and Ross Seas. volume 11 published In addition to publications in the Library Marine geophysics will be linked to of Congress collection and those received onshore investigations, the ice dynamics Volume 11 of the Antarctic Bibliography from institutions and other federal agen- of the Filchner Ice Shelf will be studied, has been published by the Library of Con- cies, review copies and reprints are solic- and climatological and paleoclimatological gress and is available for sale from the ited from publishing companies and au- observations will be made, particularly in Government Printing Office. Supported thors. These contributions help significantly support of the international World Climate by the National Science Foundation, the to make the Bibliography complete and Program. Air-ice-sea interactions and the Cold Regions Bibliography Project of the current. Publishers and authors are encour- formation of bottom water and small scale Library of Congress Science and Technol- aged to send review copies and reprints to inhomogeneities of the surface water as ogy Division has compiled indexes and the Library of Congress, Science and Tech- they relate to phytoplankton and krill also abstracts of current antarctic literature and nology Division, Cold Regions Bibliogra- will be investigated. Satellite observations published this information in the Antarc- phy Project, Washington, D.C. 20540. will augment the study of surface ice drift tic Bibliography since 1965. The edition is patterns and temperature distribution. In generated from a computerized data base. The Antarctic Bibliography, Volume 11, is biology three fields will receive attention: available for $15 from the Government cold adaptation on the cellular level, eco- Volume 11 contains 2,362 abstracts cover- Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. physiology of marine organisms particularly ing the worlds current antarctic literature Cite document number SN 030-018-00021-4 krill, and interactions on the community through 1980. The 468-page, hard bound when ordering.

12 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL If

Antarctic and arctic proposals invited (National Science Foundation Program Report, vol. 3, no. 9) from the Government Printing Office. Cite stock number 038- 000-00434-4 when ordering. Proposals U. S. scientists are invited by the Na- Interested scientists should investigate should follow the format in the NSF Guide tional Science Foundation to submit pro- requirements for eligibility before submit- to Programs and should be submitted by posals for research in the Antarctic and the ting proposals in conjunction with their investigators in conjunction with their in- Arctic. institutions. Proposals should follow the stitutions. Award notifications will be made instructions given in the National Science by early 1983 for proposals received by 1 Antarctic Foundation booklet Grants for Scientific September 1982. For projects within the U. S. Antarctic and Engineering Research (NSF 81-79). Research Program (USARP), the target date Proposal preparation kits, available through To obtain antarctic proposal preparation for properly prepared proposals is 1 June the Division of Polar Programs, must be kits and announcements or arctic proposal of each year. Project descriptions for NSF used; they include this booklet, descrip- preparation kits, contact the Polar Infor- proposals are limited to 15 single-spaced tions of antarctic research opportunities mation Service, Division of Polar Programs, pages. Proposals received by 1 June 1982 and activities, and all necessary forms and National Science Foundation, Washington, will be considered for: instructions. D. C. 20550 (202/357-7817). • research in Antarctica during the 1983- 1984 austral summer season (September Arctic 1983 through March 1984) and extending U. S. scientists who wish to perform through the southern hemisphere winter research as a part of the Foundations Arctic of 1984; Research Program should submit their pro- NSF International posals by 1 September to request awards • research or data analysis in the United in the fiscal year beginning 1 October. The Travel Grants States to commence early 1983. National Science Foundation is one of about 10 Federal agencies that sponsor or con- The National Science Foundations cen- Projects requiring large amounts of equip- duct arctic research. While other agencies tralized International Travel Grant program ment in Antarctica may not be fielded un- support research in areas related to their was discontinued on 1 October 1981. Al- til 1 year later than above so that equip- missions, Foundation support is broader though a separate budget for international ment may be transported by ship. Grant because of its assigned objective to initiate travel awards will no longer exist, policies award notifications for 1982 proposals will and support basic scientific research. for handling proposals and inquiries from be made beginning in early 1983. A list of fiscal 1981 projects supported the scientific community have been estab- Since photographic services at McMurdo by the Foundation may be obtained from lished by each NSF directorate. Station have been greatly reduced, inves- the Division of Polar Programs. A discus- Under the policy established for the Di- tigators whose projects require such ser- sion of Foundation-supported arctic re- vision of Polar Programs, only proposals vices should include photography in their search and a list of fiscal 1978 projects are for group travel organized through a uni- proposal budgets. available in Arctic Research Programs versity, professional society, or other non- profit institution will be considered. These proposals will compete directly with research proposals for funding. Using a microscope in one of Palmer Stations biology laboratories, Margret Amsler studies the development of krill. When an organization requests funds - _ for group travel to international meetings, K] it must define the criteria by which U.S. :It4k&j scientists will be selected to participate. Generally, employees of Federal agencies will not be supported under group travel grants; however, U.S. scientists whose re- search is Federally supported are eligible for participation. All travel to international LII meetings should contribute basically to the objectives of NSF. rd For more detailed information contact the appropriate program manager at the Division of Polar Programs.

IF, \JIi

NSF photo oy Erick Chlang hA December 1981 13 Antarctic Research Program and the Argen- Eltanin retired from tine Navy in cooperation with the U.S. antarctic service Navy. The Eltanin, renamed the ARA Islas Orcadas, was loaned to the Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service, which was respon- sible for the ships operation. The Argen- After 15 years of service to antarctic tine Naval Hydrographic Service and the research, the ice-strengthened ship Eltanin Argentine Antarctic Institute divided half has been returned to the U.S. Navy by the of the ship-time between them, with the National Science Foundation. remaining time available to U.S. research- The 81-meter-long ship was built in 1957 ers. The United States made an annual by the Navy to support arctic operations contribution towards operating costs. and was converted in 1961 to meet the Between 1974 and 1979 the Islas Orcadas National Science Foundations need for a made eight U.S. research cruises (420 days) research platform in antarctic waters. The and six Argentine research cruises (288 Eltanins strengthened hull, cutaway ice- days). The ship covered 116,736 nautical breaker bow, wide beam, and flat bottom miles. provided a stable research platform that could withstand the heaviest seas and move Data collected from aboard the Eltanin/ safely through the southern ocean. Up to 38 Islas Orcadas increased scientific under- science personnel along with a crew of 48 standing of the antarctic marine environ- licensed civilian seamen could be accom- ment. Research included physical ocean- modated on board, and space was available ography, marine geology, marine geophys- for laboratories, storage, and support ics, and marine biology. One major accom- NSF photo. facilities. plishment was the completion of a circum- A researcher lowers a coring device into the water from aboard the Eltanin. Sediment The Military Sealift Command operated antarctic survey, which had been an objec- tive of the U.S. program since the late cores obtained during the Eltanins cruises the Eltanin for the National Science Foun- 1950s. Physical oceanography surveys by continue to provide clues to the geologic dation from 1962 to 1972. During this and climatic . time the ship made 55 cruises totalling both the Eltanin and the Islas Orcadas emphasized the physical and chemical char- 410,000 nautical miles (3,014 days at sea). acteristics of antarctic water masses and In December 1972 the Foundation was the influence of bottom topography on forced to stop operating the ship because open ocean mixing processes which sup- current patterns and directions. A Wed- of a budget cut. plement Antarctic Bottom Water forma- dell Sea survey revealed a cyclonic eddy, tion on the continental margin and are 28 kilometers in diameter and 300 meters In 1974 the Eltanin returned to service important to the circulation dynamics of deep, and demonstrated the existence of under a 5-year agreement between the U.S. the Weddell Sea. Geophysical data obtained from the South Pacific Ocean was instrumental in estab- lishing a reliable record of sea floor spreading Eltanin was used as a research platform in antarctic waters for 15 years. and plate tectonic movement along the ant- arctic plate margin. From sediment cores taken by the Eltanin and Islas Orcadas scientists have produced a detailed evolu- tionary history of the circumantarctic cur- rent and variations in the current in response to climate change. Initial biological studies were limited to gathering quantitative data on the flow rate of energy through the food chain, the types and quantities of standing stocks, mineralization processes, distribution of organic materials in the water column, and other biochemical and physiological char- acteristics of the marine environment. In the last half of the Eltanins decade and during the Islas Orcadas cruises the focus shifted to integrated studies of the nature and function of the entire antarctic marine ecosystem. Mimi The Islas Orcadas was returned to U.S. custody in August 1979. Since that time, the ship has been stored and maintained with support from the National Science Foundation at the Navys Inactive Ship Facility in Portsmouth, Virginia. In October 1981, the Foundation informed the Navy NSF photo that budgetary constraints and rising opera-

14 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL ting costs precluded modernization and further operation of the ship. Although the U.S. antarctic program does not have an ice-strengthened research ship at this time, the program continues to support substantial marine research conducted from U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers, research ships of the U.S. academic fleet, and research ships of opportunity from the United States and other countries. Polar archivist dies Gerald Pagano, staff member of the Center for Polar Archives of the National Archives since 1972, died in the early morn- ing of 17 October 1981 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Pagano, 68 years old, had worked in various polar programs for nearly 30 years. As a member of the U.S. Army (1935- 1936, 1940-1965), Mr. Pagano worked with both arctic and antarctic programs. In 1955 and 1956 he was public information officer and adjutant of the U.S. military base in U. Navy photo (XAM 5011667-19-74) by K. K. Thornsley. Thule, . After serving as mili- In 1974, as a part of the Dry Valley Drilling Project, this drill site was set up in Taylor Valley, tary assistant to the scientific advisor of southern Victoria Land. the Army Research Office, Office of the Chief, Research and Development from 195o to 1959, he moved on to become has been completed and is available for Preliminary analysis and other investi- technical information officer of the U.S. purchase. The research series, supported gations of DVDP data have been published Antarctic Projects Office. In 1960, he became by a National Science Foundation grant in scientific journals of the three participa- assistant plans and operations officer for since 1963, is designed to serve scientists ting nations and symposia and seminar the U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica and graduate students, actively engaged in reports. This volume does include final (1960-1965). Before joining the staff of antarctic or closely related research, and reports by U.S. scientists with the excep- the Center for Polar Archives in 1972, he other interested researchers in biological tion of final heat flow analysis and a syn- was on the staff of the Research Analysis and physical sciences. thesis of dry valley geology. Corporation (1965-1972). The Dry Valley Drilling Project (DVDP), The American Geophysical Union (AGU) Mr. Pagano was known for his keen begun in 1971, was a 3-year subsurface publishes the Antarctic Research Series as interest in and enthusiasm for the polar geological and geophysical investigation continuing, authoritative medium for the regions. Because of his dedication and intel- by scientists from the United States, Japan, presentation of extensive and detailed sci- lectual curiosity many valuable papers by and New Zealand. The first deep-rock dril- entific research results from Antarctica. and much information from notable polar ling in Antarctica, the project was divided The Board of Associate Editors of the series specialists have been preserved at the in 3 phases: geophysical and geochemical works with individual editors to insure the National Archives. A close associate who exploration of drilling sites; test drilling quality and timeliness of each volume, and provided him with an opportunity to become near McMurdo Station and limited dril- each paper is critically reviewed by two or well versed in the history of antarctic explo- ling in southern Victoria Lands dry (ice- more experts. ration was Paul Siple. Because he shared free) valleys; and drilling into sediments this knowledge with his colleagues and and basement rock in the valleys. Two Dry Valley Drilling Project, edited by others through his work, he enriched the kilometers of core were retrieved from the Lyle D. McGinnis of Northern Illinois Uni- historical record of and 15 DVDP holes and have provided impor- versity, is volume 33 of the Antarctic Re- research. tant data on antarctic geology of the past search Series. It may be purchased for $30 10,000,000 years. from the American Geophysical Union, In recognition of his contributions to 2000 Florida Avenue, N.W., Washington, the U.S. effort in Antarctica, the U.S. Board The 465-page volume focuses on core D.C. 20009. on Geographic Names has named Pagano analysis but includes regional geophysical Nunatak in the Thiel Mountains in his surveys and downhole geophysical logging honor. that augment understanding of the geo- logic setting. It contains 29 papers by U.S., Japanese, and New Zealand researchers. Dry Valley Drilling The papers are divided into seven catego- Project volume ries—exploration geophysics; lithologic, geophysical, and geochemical logs; lake completed chemistry and hydrogeology; analyses of crystalline rocks; analyses of sedimentary The American Geophysical Union has rocks; glacial and geologic history; and announced that an Antarctic Research Series DVDP core storage. A bibliography of other volume on the Dry Valley Drilling Project DVDP publications is included.

December 1981 15 Foundation awards of funds for antarctic projects, 1 July 1981 to 30 September 1981

Following is a list of National Science Foundation antarctic awards made from 1 July to 30 September 1981. Each item contains the name of the principal investigator or project manager, his or her institution, a shortened title of the project, the award number, and the amount awarded. If an investigator received a joint award from more than one Foundation program, the antarctic program funds are listed first, and the total amount of the award is listed in parentheses. Awards were initiated by the Division of Polar Programs.

Glaciology Atmospheric sciences Brooks, Ronald. Geoscience Research Corp., Doupnik, Joe R. Utah State University, Salisbury, Maryland. Ice-sheet surface Logan, Utah. Digital ionosonde studies mapping with satellite altimetry. DPP of the ionosphere from Siple Station 80-20384. $53,946. and Roberval, Quebec. DPP 81-00220. $168,545. Fireman, Edward L. Smithsonian Institu- tion, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Com- Helliwell, Robert A. Stanford University, position and carbon-14 content of gas Stanford, California. Active and passive in ice at meteorite sites. DPP 80-25234. very-low-frequency wave-particle ex- $65,975. periments on the magnetosphere from Siple Station. DPP 80-22282. $232,552.

Kuivinen, Karl C. University of Nebraska, U.S. Navy pnoto (XAM 0721-0-12-80) by E. R. Smith. Lincoln, Nebraska. Coordination of ice Mende, Stephen B. Lockheed Missle and core drilling. DPP 74-08414. $77,966. Karl Kuivinen from the Polar Ice Coring Office Space Company, Inc., Palo Alto, Cali- at the University of Nebraska packs ice cores, ($1,077,966). fornia. Auroral imaging. DPP 80-16574. bored from the ice at South Pole Station. $50,000. Schubert, Gerald. University of California, Los Angeles, California. Shear heating Pomerantz, Martin A. Bartol Research instability in glaciers and ice sheets: Foundation, University of Delaware, a possible triggering mechanism for the Newark, Delaware. Investigations of inception of ice ages. DPP 80-23723. cosmic ray intensity variations. DPP Rosenberg, Theodore J. University of Mary- $28,103. 79-23218. $169,310. land, College Park, Maryland. Naturally and artificially stimulated electron pre- cipitation near the plasmapause. DPP 80-12901. $70,000.

Marine life from New Harbor near McMurdo Station. The photo was taken at a depth of 29 meters. Biology and medicine Bengtson, John L. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Changes in reproductive patterns of certain seal species as indicators of shifts in ecosys- tem structure and function. DPP 80- 20087. $78,492. Biggs, Douglas C. Texas A&M Universi- ty, College Station, Texas. Physiological ecology of zooplankton: impact of zoo- plankton excretion on NH4 (ammonium ion) nutrient concentration and epipela- gic nitrogen cycling. DPP 79-21355. $45,123. DeVries, Arthur L. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. The effect of tempera- ture on levels of glycoprotein anti-freeze in fishes inhabiting different thermal environments. DPP 78-23462. $7,170. Haschemeyer, Audrey E. Hunter College, New York, New York. Adaptations in protein metabolism of organisms. DPP NSF photo by Robert. K. Cowen. 80-21454. $103,232.

16 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL

• ..;•••• I, Support and services Hushen, W. Timothy. National Academy ii of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Support for the Polar Research Board. DPP 79-13076. $114,520. ($155,000).

Two translations published

Problems of the Arctic and the Antarc- tic, 49 and Problems of Physiographic Zoning of Polar Lands have been translated for the National Science Foundation from Russian into English and may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service. Problems of the Arctic and the Antarc- tic, 49 (1977, 167 pp., TT 77-52041, $15 domestic, $30 foreign), edited by A. F. Treshnikov, is comprised of 22 articles that cover three subject groups. The first group focuses on oceanography with particular attention to water mass circulation and heat exchange of Atlantic Ocean water in the Arctic Basin, long-term changes in thermohaline properties, and long-range tides. In the second group, the authors discuss arctic and and em- phasize different aspects of sea ice and puddle formation, spatial inhomogeneity of old sea ice, and the compression strength of various samples. The third group high- U S. Navy photo (XAM 08 60-A-01 -81) by Brad F. Guttilla. lights the problems of 3-day meteorologi- William Green and Don Caufield from Miami University collect water samples from Lake Vanda cal forecasts in the Arctic and Antarctic. in Wright Valley, southern Victoria Land. The water samples provide information on the distribu- tion and type of trace metals in the lake and the Onyx River, which feeds the lake. Problems of Physiographic Zoning of Polar Lands (1971, 242 pp., TT 75-52080), was edited by L. S. Govorukha and Yu. A. Kruchinin. Natural territorial complexes of different ranks and elementary landforms make up the basic components of physio- Parker, Bruce C. Virginia Polytechnic In- wana sequence in northern Victoria graphic investigations. The polar regions stitute and State University, Blacksburg, Land. DPP 80-19996. $22,207. with their predominantly oceanic charac- Virginia. Lake physiological adaptations. ter and the presence of sea ice and glacial DPP 79-20805. $105,741. McKenzie, Garry D. Ohio State Universi- cover present scientists with a variety of ty, Columbus, Ohio. Intergovernmen- unresolved problems in physiographic clas- Silver, Mary W. University of California, tal Personnel Act mobility assignment. sification. This books 12 articles are di- Santa Cruz, California. Ice algae and DPP 81-16268. $23,000. ($35,120). rected towards developing general princi- phytoplankton communities in the Wed- ples that can be employed in zoning arctic Quaide, William L. National Aeronautics deli Sea. DPP 80-20616. $103,808. and antarctic regions. Three articles exam- and Space Administration, Washington, ine the complex zoning principles, natural D.C. Support of the Lunar and Planetary factors, and characteristics of different Institute. DPP 79-19075. $36,400. Earth sciences physiographic regions. Six articles focus Stump, Edmund. Arizona State University, on analysis of such special factors as hy- Cassidy, William A. University of Pitts- Tempe, Arizona. Petrology and regional drometeorological, glaciological, and bio- burgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Search geology of Early to Middle Paleozoic logical characteristics. In another three ar- for meteorites. DPP 78-21104. $46,191. magmatic rocks, northern Victoria Land. ticles specific schemes for polar zoning are DPP 80-19991. $102,365. developed. Throughout the book, authors Elston, Donald P. U.S. Geological Survey, emphasize the importance of a quantita- Denver, Colorado. Dry valley and Mc- tive analysis of the natural components in Murdo Sound magnetostratigraphy. DPP Meteorology polar regions and the parameters used to 79-07253. $24,389. Bromwich, David H. Ohio State Universi- describe these components. Hammer, William R. Wayne State Univer- ty, Columbus, Ohio. Precipitation over sity, Detroit, Michigan. Vertebrate pale- the coastal areas of . DPP ontology of the Permian-Triassic Gond- 81-00142. $83,425. (continued on page 18)

December 1981 17 (continued from page 17) vice (NTIS), 5852 Port Royal Road, Spring- the night crew noticed smoke and flames field, Virginia 22151; telephone 703/487- coming from the garages metal shop and 4835. evacuated the building, the garage and its The National Science Foundation ad- contents could not be saved. The building ministers the translation program, which When ordering, cite TT number. Because housed vehicles and heavy equipment repair employs overseas contractors with foreign prices change periodically, please contact facilities along with a technical library, shops currencies held by the United States. Sci- NTIS for more current information when for sheet metal work, welding and fabrica- entists are encouraged to suggest titles of ordering. A list of other books published tion, and other machine work, and a bat- significant works for translation. Sugges- in this program appeared in the March tery room. Five vehicles (two passenger tions should be in the form of a short letter 1981 Antarctic Journal of the United States. vans, a jeep, a dump truck, and a fire that gives full bibliographic information truck) were inside and were lost in the fire. on the titles, describes the works scientific Three firefighters sustained minor injuries; importance, and states the anticipated au- two were treated for smoke inhalation and dience in and benefit to the United States. one for a facial cut. The letter should be sent to the Polar In- Fire destroys garage at Temporary facilities were established formation Service, Division of Polar Pro- McMurdo Station immediately so that the stations transpor- grams, National Science Foundation, Wash- tation and repair needs could be adequately months is ington, D. C. 20550. At least 6 met. As a safety precaution, the remains of required for translation and publication. On the evening of 1 December 1981 a the destroyed building will be demolished These two books may be purchased from fire of unknown origin destroyed one of before the end of the 1981-1982 austral the National Technical Information Ser- McMurdo Stations two garages. Although summer.

Snow and ice landscape taken near McMurdo Station, Ross Island.

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.1

U. S. Navy photo (K-41885) by J. B. Clarke.

18 ANTARCTIC JOURNAL

rD Weather at U.S. stations

August 1981 September 1981 October 1981

Feature McMurdo Palmer South Pole McMurdo Palmer South Pole McMurdo Palmer South Pole

Average temperature (°C) -24.7 -8.8 -55.3 -28.2 - 8.3 -62.1 -15.97 -5.3 - -55.7

Temperature maximum (°C) - 5.5 2.0 -42.5 -14.1 1.0 -46.3 - 6.1 6.0 -42.0 (date) (3) (30) (18) (9) (16) (2) (6) (20) (27) Temperature minimum (°C) -38.7 -2.2 -67.6 -43.5 -23.1 -76.7 -35.1 -2.1 - -67.9 (date) (24) (5) (13) (23) (27) (14) (4) (4) - (5) Average station pressure (mb) 996.5 987.4 684.4 989.8 988.5 672.9 981.0 988.1 675.6

C Pressure maximum (mb) 1023.7 1021.0 702.5 1006.9 1025,0 687.9 1003.6 1007.0 - 694.8 (date) C (8) 0 (16) (31) (16) (21) (1) (25) (1) (5) -

0 Pressure minimum (mb) 974.2 962.0 6659 975.3 952.0 662.7 967.3 965.0 657.0 a (date) 0 (31) (27) (24) (8) (23) (18) (28,29) (29) - (22,23) Snowfall (mm) 22,9 175.3 40.6 Trace 104.1 762.0 - Trace 0 53.3 Trace 0 Prevailing wind direction SQ 0450 0300 0450 0700 1500 0200 0700 010° 0200 C Average wind (m/sec) 5.0 4.5 5.9 5.1 2.0 4.5 3.5 2.7 3.2

OD Fastest wind 23.2 31.3 21.1 26.4 26.8 19.5 12.1 24.6 - 13.9 (m /sec) (21) -- (26) (2) -- (2304) (6) (28) (2) I (date) 070 0 0300 3600 0700 3600 3600 1800 0200 360°

Go Average sky cover rQ 3.8 7/10 4.0 6.6 8/10 3.7 5.1 9/10 - Number clear days 15 3 17.4 4 1 17.9 4 1 - 13.7 Number partly cloudy days 10 12 3.5 11 13 4.9 10 4 - 7 Number cloudy days 6 16 10.1 15 16 7.2 17 26 - 9.9 Number days with visibility less than 0.4 km. 0 0 2.4 0.0 1 2.1 0.5 0 1.0

Prepared from information received by teletype from the stations. Locations: McMurdo 77 051S 166 0403E, Palmer 64°46S 64°3W, Amundsen-Scott South Pole 9005 Elevations: McMurdo sea level, Palmer sea level, Amundsen-Scott South Pole 2835 meters. Siple Station (75 055S 83 055W) was closed for the winter in February 1981 and will reopen November 1981. For prior data and daily logs, contact National Climate Center, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. National Science Foundation

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