DOCSLIB.ORG

Classic Antarctica

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Classic Antarctica Classic Antarctica On board USHUAIA Expedition Log February 2nd to February 11th, 2007 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula MASTER of the VESSEL Bernardo Padilla ICE PILOT Sergio Osiroff EXPEDITION LEADER Sebastián Arrebola HOTEL MANAGER Ludwin Zavala CHEF Rubén Leguizamón LECTURERS/GUIDES Berenice Charpin Agustín Ullmann Shoshanah Jacobs Andrea Raya Rey Marcelo Zárate PHYSICIAN Dr. Konstantin Petrosyan 1 Our Itinerary February 2: Ushuaia, Argentina, Beagle Channel. February 3: Drake Passage. February 4: Drake Passage. Barrientos Island, Aitcho Islands. February 5: Hannah Point, Livingston Island. Whalers’ Bay, Deception Island. February 6: Neko Harbour. Paradise Bay. Lemaire Channel. Petermann Island. February 7: Port Lockroy, Goudier Island. Jougla Point, Weinke Island. Cuverville Island. February 8: Half Moon Island. Yankee Harbour, Greenwhich Island. February 9: Drake Passage. February 10: Drake Passage. Mouth of Beagle Channel. Ushuaia, Argentina. February 11: Ushuaia, Argentina. Daily Log of Our Voyage Friday, February 2nd Evening Temp.: 12º C Ushuaia, Argentina - Lat. 54º 48' S, Long. 68º 18' W Winds: 8 Knots NW Antarctic Facts Our voyage to the frozen land of the Antarctic started at 6.30pm from the Ushuaia pier as we left behind us unusually warm temperatures. Prior to our departure, most of us had spent some Antarctica is a continent time getting to know the quaint little town. capped by an inland ice sheet up to 4.8km thick, Once onboard, we settled into our cabins and right after setting sail, containing about 90% of we gathered in the pub for a Welcome Cocktail, with chances to meet the world's fresh water. our fellow passengers and the staff of the USHUAIA. The ice sheet is so During our first briefing, the expedition staff and officers were heavy that it has pushed introduced to us. The Expedition Leader of the USHUAIA, Sebastián the land below sea level Arrebola presented the staff who would accompany us during the in places. landings and help us to understand how sensitive the ecosystem in Antarctica is. Berenice Charpin, Andrea Raya Rey, Shoshanah Jacobs, Because of the thickness Agustín Ullmann, and Marcelo Zárate would teach us a lot of interesting details about the wildlife, history, geography, and of the ice sheet, conservation, and would guide us safely through the landscapes of Antarctica has the this wild part of the world. All of them have long been bitten by the highest average altitude polar bug and could not help but love the White Continent. We felt of all of the continents. that we were in good hands with this enthusiastic team. Our hotel manager, Ludwin Zavala, would take care of all our needs and Doctor Konstantin Petrosyan would care for our health as the case may be. Sebastian also introduced us to the Third Mate Guido Grandi. Our captain, Bernardo Padilla was on the bridge at that time, as the USHUAIA sailed through the Beagle Channel on our way to the Drake Passage. Later on we had our mandatory lifeboat drill. Donning our lifejackets, we made our way to the lifeboats on the outer deck and hoped that we would never all meet there again. 2 We ate dinner, our first meal onboard, as we left the Beagle Channel towards open water. It was a perfect way to start our adventure. Saturday, February 3rd Morning Temp: 10ºC Winds:8 Knots NW Evening Temp: 10ºC Drake Passage Winds: 24 Knots N Antarctic Facts During the night, we encountered calm seas and as we awoke, only gentle winds continued to blow. We enjoyed our first breakfast on board, after which we wandered around the inside The South Pole is 1235 km and outer decks to familiarise ourselves with the ship and our from the closest coastline, surroundings. With such calm conditions, we marvelled at the and is situated high on the wildlife that we were already seeing. Wandering Albatross, polar plateau (height 2800 Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, and Giant m). Petrels were some of the birds that we spotted following us to the White Continent. Here it may be as cold as - 75°C, but the world Before lunch, we attended a lecture by the ship’s seabird record lowest temperature specialist, Andrea and learned many useful things for the proper is from an even more identification of albatrosses and petrels, all of us aware that there remote Antarctic station, would later be a test during a birdwatching session, should the Vostok, which logged - conditions allow. 89°C. After a filling lunch, we attended a lecture by Marcelo, our on board geologist, who taught us about the geological history of Antarctica. It certainly is a busy place with many different formations and conditions that were became excited to see. After tea, we attended a lecture by Berenice, our naturalist, who gave us a comprehensive introduction to the wildlife of Antarctica and where they are placed within the complicated ecological web. This day’s educational program would be sure to prepare us for our adventure to come. Giant Petrels In the evening, we gathered in the conference room to watch the film Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure. Sunday, February 4th Morning Temp: 8ºC Winds: 24 Knots ENE Drake Passage Evening Temp: 6ºC Aitcho Islands, S. Shetlands – Lat 62°24’S, Long 59°47’W Winds: 13 Knots NE Antarctic Facts Very early in the morning, at 02.00, we crossed the Antarctic convergence where the sea temperature dropped from 7ºC to 2.2ºC. This is a very rich area, biologically, hosting many birds and whales. Antarctica is a cold In the morning, we attended a lecture by Agustin, on Antarctica, the desert, with snowfall land of records, and learned all the reasons for why Antarctica is equivalent to only 150 truly a unique place, and a lecture on the penguins of Antarctica by mm of water each year. Andrea. This snow builds up In the afternoon, we attended our IAATO briefing, learning about the sensitivity of the Antarctic ecosystem and how we are to conduct 3 gradually, and ice flows landings to ensure a minimum impact. We also reviewed the Zodiac towards the coast as operations; how to safely enter and leave our ´taxis of the huge glaciers. In many Antarctic´. places, these extend out over the sea as massive The seas were rather calm and many of us ventured out on the ice shelves. decks to watch birds and our approach to the frozen continent. We saw Giant Petrels, Cape Petrels, Wandering Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Prions, and Wilson´s Storm Petrels. Since we had made excellent progress over unusually calm seas, it was possible to make our first landing at the Aitcho Islands after dinner. On Barrientos Island, we were greeted by a fur seal laying on the beach. We spent over an hour walking around the Gentoo Penguin and Chinstrap Penguin colonies, watching their funny behaviours as they stole pebbles for each other. Both species had very large chicks running all over the place and some of us were lucky enough to witness them being fed by their watchful parents. We returned back to the ship tired and ready for bed, anticipating tomorrow’s activities. Monday, February 5th Morning Temp: 5ºC Hannah Point, Livingston Island Winds: 8 Knots NW – Lat 62° 39’ S, Long 60° 37’ W Evening Temp: 6ºC Whalers Bay, Deception Island Winds: 13 Knots NNW – Lat 62° 59’ S, Long 60° 34’ W Antarctic Facts We landed at Hannah Point on Livingston Island; part of the South Shetland Archipelago, in In Whalers Bay lay the the early morning after an even remains of the Norwegian earlier breakfast. This point “Hektor” Whaling Station forms the eastern side of the (1911-1931). The remains of entrance to Walker Bay on the the abandoned Biscoe House South coast of Livingston Island. (Base “B” of the Operation It was named after the sealing Tabarin) and the BAS (British vessel Hannah of Liverpool, which wrecked here in 1820. Antarctic Survey) base can also be seen. This beach is a microcosm of Antarctic Peninsula fauna, with Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Shags, The old barrels, equipment, Southern Giant Petrels, Cape Petrels, and Snowy Sheathbills whalebones, and other debris nesting in close proximity. There were also many Southern Elephant Seals hauling out. Some of us also had the chance to are partially buried by black see a young male Fur Seals on the beach. In addition, we and reddish volcanic spotted three Macaroni Penguins among the Chinstraps. pyroclastic sediments of various sizes related to the As we walked along the path through the penguin rookeries, and eruption of 1969 which past the noisy and rather smelly elephant seals, we spotted forced the BAS to abandon patches of Antarctic Hairgrass and Antarctic Pearlwort, the only this scientific station. two species of flowering plants in all the White Continent! In 1995 the whaling station Our last stop on Walker Bay took us to a rock where anonymous was designated as Historic hands had placed a number of fossils from a nearby moraine, Site under the Antarctic mainly remains of ferns and Nothofagus trees, inhabitants of the Treaty. forest that once covered this part of the sub Antarctic Islands; 4 an indication of a previously warmer climate. We returned to the ship to rest and warm up but soon realised that this would not be our fate. Just as soon as we entered the warmth of our cabins, we were enticed out to the outer decks to watch several humpback whales swimming around the area. We stood with our cameras, binoculars, and video cameras, ready to capture the activity. There were even a few young whales spotted swimming next to their mothers, copying every movement that she was making.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Falkland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula Discovery
    FALKLAND ISLANDS & ANTARCTIC PENINSULA DISCOVERY ABOARD THE OCEAN ENDEAVOUR Set sail aboard the comfortable and spacious polar expedition vessel, the Ocean Endeavour, to discover the raw beauty of the untamed Falkland Islands and Antarctica on a 19 day voyage. Starting in Buenos Aires, giving you the chance to explore this buzzing Latin America city before embarking your vessel and heading for the ruggedly beautiful Falkland Islands. A stop in Ushuaia en route to Antarctica allows a day of exploration of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Enter into a world of ice, surrounded by the spellbindingly beautiful landscapes created by the harsh Antarctic climate. This is a journey of unspoiled wilderness you’ll never forget DEPARTS: 27 OCT 2020 DURATION: 19 DAYS Highlights and inclusions: Explore the amazing city of Buenos Aires. A day of exploration of Tierra del Fuego National Park, as we get off the beaten track with our expert guide Experience the White Continent and encounter an incredible variety of wildlife. Take in the Sub-Antarctic South Shetland Islands and the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula. Discover the top wildlife destination in the world where you can see penguins, seals, whales and albatrosses. Admire breathtaking scenery such as icebergs, glaciated mountains and volcanoes. Enjoy regular zodiac excursions and on-shore landings. Benefit from a variety of on-board activities including educational lectures on the history, geology and ecology by the expedition team. Enjoy the amenities on board including expedition lounge, restaurant, bar, pool, jacuzzi, library, gym, sun deck, spa facilities and sauna. Your cruise is full-board including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
    [Show full text]
  • South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey
    South Georgia and Antarctic Odyssey 30 November – 18 December 2019 | Greg Mortimer About Us Aurora Expeditions embodies the spirit of adventure, travelling to some of the most wild opportunity for adventure and discovery. Our highly experienced expedition team of and remote places on our planet. With over 28 years’ experience, our small group voyages naturalists, historians and destination specialists are passionate and knowledgeable – they allow for a truly intimate experience with nature. are the secret to a fulfilling and successful voyage. Our expeditions push the boundaries with flexible and innovative itineraries, exciting Whilst we are dedicated to providing a ‘trip of a lifetime’, we are also deeply committed to wildlife experiences and fascinating lectures. You’ll share your adventure with a group education and preservation of the environment. Our aim is to travel respectfully, creating of like-minded souls in a relaxed, casual atmosphere while making the most of every lifelong ambassadors for the protection of our destinations. DAY 1 | Saturday 30 November 2019 Ushuaia, Beagle Channel Position: 20:00 hours Course: 83° Wind Speed: 20 knots Barometer: 991 hPa & steady Latitude: 54°49’ S Wind Direction: W Air Temp: 6° C Longitude: 68°18’ W Sea Temp: 5° C Explore. Dream. Discover. —Mark Twain in the soft afternoon light. The wildlife bonanza was off to a good start with a plethora of seabirds circling the ship as we departed. Finally we are here on the Beagle Channel aboard our sparkling new ice-strengthened vessel. This afternoon in the wharf in Ushuaia we were treated to a true polar welcome, with On our port side stretched the beech forested slopes of Argentina, while Chile, its mountain an invigorating breeze sweeping the cobwebs of travel away.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POLAR RECORD Editor: L
    THE POLAR RECORD Editor: L. M. Forbes. Editorial Committee: B. B. Roberts, G. de Q. Robin, Sir J. M. Wordie Vol. 9 January 1959 No. 61 CONTENTS The Scott Polar Research Institute page 297 ARTICLES : The Canadian Northern Insect Survey, 1947-57. By T. N. Freeman 299 Recent economic developments in northern Quebec and Labrador. By J. Brian Bird . 308 Iron ore in Arctic Europe. By P. A. B. Gethin .... 314 Geodetic survey of northern Canada by shoran trilateration. By Angus C. Hamilton 320 The manuscript collection of the Scott Polar Research Institute. By Ann Savours .......... 331 FIELD WORK: British expedition to Vestspitsbergen, 1956 . • . 336 French expedition to central Greenland, 1956-57 .... 336 British expedition to north-west Greenland, 1957 .... 336 Soviet Arctic expeditions, 1957 337 The Northern Sea Route in 1957 337 Swedish-Finnish-Swiss International Geophysical Year Expedition to Nordaustlandet, 1957-58; and Swedish Expedition to Nordaust- landet, 1958-59: Season 1957-58. ...... 338 Swedish Glaciological Expedition to Nordaustlandet, 1958 . 339 Under-ice crossing of the Arctic basin: U.S.S. Nautilus and U.S.S. Skate, 1958 340 . Arctic Institute Greenland Expedition, 1958 341 British naval hydrographic surveys in the Falkland Islands Depen- dencies, 1956-57 and 1957-58 '. 341 The Australian automatic weather station on Lewis Islet, Wilkes Land 342 Anglo-American physiological team in Ross Dependency, 1957-58 . 343 NOTES : Extension of International Geophysical Year activities into 1959 . 345 Norwegian-Soviet sealing agreement, 1958 ..... 845 Tenth meeting of the International Whaling Commission, 1958 . 349 New Soviet ice-strengthened ships 350 New geographical institute in Siberia 350 ig Pit 296 CONTENTS NOTES (cont.) Soviet organizations concerned with the Antarctic .
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctic Primer
    Antarctic Primer By Nigel Sitwell, Tom Ritchie & Gary Miller By Nigel Sitwell, Tom Ritchie & Gary Miller Designed by: Olivia Young, Aurora Expeditions October 2018 Cover image © I.Tortosa Morgan Suite 12, Level 2 35 Buckingham Street Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia To anyone who goes to the Antarctic, there is a tremendous appeal, an unparalleled combination of grandeur, beauty, vastness, loneliness, and malevolence —all of which sound terribly melodramatic — but which truly convey the actual feeling of Antarctica. Where else in the world are all of these descriptions really true? —Captain T.L.M. Sunter, ‘The Antarctic Century Newsletter ANTARCTIC PRIMER 2018 | 3 CONTENTS I. CONSERVING ANTARCTICA Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic Antarctica’s Historic Heritage South Georgia Biosecurity II. THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Antarctica The Southern Ocean The Continent Climate Atmospheric Phenomena The Ozone Hole Climate Change Sea Ice The Antarctic Ice Cap Icebergs A Short Glossary of Ice Terms III. THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Life in Antarctica Adapting to the Cold The Kingdom of Krill IV. THE WILDLIFE Antarctic Squids Antarctic Fishes Antarctic Birds Antarctic Seals Antarctic Whales 4 AURORA EXPEDITIONS | Pioneering expedition travel to the heart of nature. CONTENTS V. EXPLORERS AND SCIENTISTS The Exploration of Antarctica The Antarctic Treaty VI. PLACES YOU MAY VISIT South Shetland Islands Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Sea South Orkney Islands South Georgia The Falkland Islands South Sandwich Islands The Historic Ross Sea Sector Commonwealth Bay VII. FURTHER READING VIII. WILDLIFE CHECKLISTS ANTARCTIC PRIMER 2018 | 5 Adélie penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula I. CONSERVING ANTARCTICA Antarctica is the largest wilderness area on earth, a place that must be preserved in its present, virtually pristine state.
    [Show full text]
  • Geochronology, Geochemistry and Mineralogy
    293 THE PLUTONIC ROCKS OF THE SOUTHERN GERLACHE STRAIT, ANTARCTICA: GEOCHRONOLOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY Parada Qki Jem SapWe”, Ada Rlcanb’. Guerm Rslsp. Muniiaga Francisco*. Berg Karstan’. l Cepartamenb da Geokafa Y Geoffsiy Unkersided da Chib. Casitfa 13518, cons0 21, Sawlago. Chite. ‘* Maratofre 6 GaobgfPekobgfe. FacutaOdes Scbnma et Techniques. 23. rue du Docteur Paul Mbhebn ,4023 .%it Elienrm. tXdex, Frano. Reaumen Las mcas ptut6nk.a~estudiadas se cam&&an por una dsminu&n hwia el 0~s.~ ds tar adadas (Cretktm inferic+ Mibcw~~). Gaoqlmicamen te son simiiares am-qua sn tos granitofdes CretAdt se datecta una ten&n& de aumentar at StO, hacfa et es% Esknaknes de h pmfunddad & la hmnti y da mphmmienb rugiers VI aumentc hada et oesw. Key wor&: F%Jtism, An- geochmrmfogy. gecdwmtsby. Introduction The inbusi~ rocks of the G&ache Strait induda gabrros. diirites. tonafites. granodiirites and granites (Akro5n et at. 1976). which form part01 the extensiw plutonism developed in Ihe Antarctic Peninsula as a pmductof a continwus subducbn since Early Mesozoic to Lals Tertiary (cf. Parkhurst 1962). Prevfour studier dstinguished pru and post-vokanic rocks ptutons (West, 1974) and reported radiietric eges that indicate Cretaceous ages for the Dance Coast rocks and Tertiary ages for the Wrenke Is. andSouthern Anversls. (Scott, 1965; Par&hunt, 1482: British AntucScSurvey. 1964). Thusaweshvarddecreasing ages of tie pfulonio mdts is insinuated. The aim of this study is to get a better undarstandrg of the poorly known plutonic history of tie Geriache Strait, based ongeochronotogical. ge~emicalandmineralogicaldalaofalimitednumberof samples. ThisstudywastinmcedbythetNACH grant 8.17, and is a conbibu%n to the IGCP Profact 249 ‘An&m Msgmatism’.
    [Show full text]
  • Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands) ANTARCTIC TREATY King George Is
    Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands) ANTARCTIC TREATY King George Is. Barrientos Island visitor site guide Ferraz Station Turret Point (Aitcho Islands) Admiralty Bay Elephant Is. Maxwell Bay Penguin Island 62˚24’S, 59˚47’W - North entrance to English Strait Marsh/frei Stations Great Wall Station between Robert and Greenwich Islands. Bellingshausen Station Arctowski Station Artigas Station Jubany Station King Sejong Station Potter Cove Key features AITCHO Nelson Is. ISLANDRobert Is. - Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins S Mitchell Cove - Southern Elephant Seals Greenwich Is. Robert Point - Geological features Fort Point Half Moon Is. Yankee Harbour - Southern Giant Petrels Livingston Is. - Vegetation Hannah Point Bransfield Strait Snow Is. Telefon Bay Pendulum Cove Gourdin Is. Deception Is. Baily Head Description Vapour Col Cape Whaler's Bay Dubouzet B. O'higgins Station TOPOGRAPHY This 1.5km island’s north coast is dominated by steep cliffs, reaching a height of approximatelyAstr 70olabe Cape Hope metres, with a gentle slope down to the south coast. The eastern and western ends of the island Island are Legoupil Bay black sand and cobbled beaches. Columnar basalt outcrops are a notable feature of the western end. a insul FAUNA Confirmed breeders: Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica), Pen inity southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), kelp gull (LarusNorthwest dominicanus (Nw)), and skuas (Catharacta spp.). Tr Suspected breeders: Blue-eyed shag (Phalacrocorax atricepsSubar) andea Wilson’s storm-petrel (OceanitesBone Bay Tower Is. oceanicus). Regularly haul out: Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii), southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), and from late December, Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus Trgazellainity Is. ). Charcot Bay FLORA The entire centre of the island is covered by a very extensive moss carpet.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Register/Vol. 84, No. 78/Tuesday, April 23, 2019/Rules
    Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 16791 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require Agricultural commodities, Pesticides SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The any special considerations under and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as Executive Order 12898, entitled requirements. amended (‘‘ACA’’) (16 U.S.C. 2401, et ‘‘Federal Actions to Address Dated: April 12, 2019. seq.) implements the Protocol on Environmental Justice in Minority Environmental Protection to the Richard P. Keigwin, Jr., Populations and Low-Income Antarctic Treaty (‘‘the Protocol’’). Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. Annex V contains provisions for the 1994). Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is protection of specially designated areas Since tolerances and exemptions that amended as follows: specially managed areas and historic are established on the basis of a petition sites and monuments. Section 2405 of under FFDCA section 408(d), such as PART 180—[AMENDED] title 16 of the ACA directs the Director the tolerance exemption in this action, of the National Science Foundation to ■ do not require the issuance of a 1. The authority citation for part 180 issue such regulations as are necessary proposed rule, the requirements of the continues to read as follows: and appropriate to implement Annex V Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. to the Protocol. et seq.) do not apply. ■ 2. Add § 180.1365 to subpart D to read The Antarctic Treaty Parties, which This action directly regulates growers, as follows: includes the United States, periodically food processors, food handlers, and food adopt measures to establish, consolidate retailers, not States or tribes.
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands Field Report
    Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands January 24 - February 14, 2019 ARGENTINA West Point Island Elsehul Bay Salisbury Plain Stromness Bay Grytviken Tierra Stanley del Fuego FALKLAND SOUTH Gold Harbour ISLANDS GEORGIA Drygalski Fjord SCOTIA SEA Ushuaia Elephant Island DRAKE Spightly Island PASSAGE Port Lockroy/ Cuverville Island LEMAIRE CHANNEL Wilhelmina Bay ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Saturday, January 26, 2019 Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark Island Sky Having arrived at the Arakur Hotel & Resort in Ushuaia the day before, and caught up on at least some sleep overnight, we set out this morning to explore Tierra del Fuego National Park. Guided by our ornithologist, Jim Wilson, our birders were first out, keen to find their target species, the Magellanic woodpecker. In this they were more than successful, spotting five, both males and females. Meanwhile, the rest of us boarded a catamaran and sailed the Beagle Channel towards the national park. En route we visited several small rocky islands, home to South American sea lions, imperial and rock cormorants (or shags), and South American terns. Disembarking in the national park at Lapataia Bay, we enjoyed lunch and walking trails through the southern beech forest with views of the Beagle Channel and Lago Roca before heading back to Ushuaia by bus. Awaiting us there was our home for the next few weeks, the Island Sky. Once settled in our cabins, we went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off and we sailed out into the Beagle Channel. Our Antarctic adventure had begun! Sunday, January 27 At Sea Our day at sea began with Jim introducing us to the birds of the Falkland Islands, and preparing us for our upcoming wildlife encounters.
    [Show full text]
  • The Annual Report 2003
    The Antarctic Site Inventory 2003 Annual Report from Oceanites, Inc. CONTENTS Research Update Long-term Monitoring at Petermann Island The 26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Oceanites Site Compendium, Second Edition Unfunded Needs — Website, Site Guide, Peninsula GIS Analysis Contact Numbers TO HIGHER GROUND Science and education to conserve Antarctica for future generations — that’s the goal that drives Oceanites and the Antarctic Site Inventory. I’m pleased to report much success in the last year — the Inventory now has made 503 visits to 82 sites in the Antarctic Peninsula, the second edition of Oceanites’ Compendium of Antarctic Peninsula Visitor Sites is being published by the U.S. EPA, and Antarctic Treaty countries have begun using our compre- hensive database to fashion guidelines that will assist visitors in avoiding poten- tially environmental disruptions. Most importantly, Oceanites has been honored with a five-year grant award from the U. S. National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs, to begin long-term monitoring at a key site, Petermann Island. This is wonderful valida- tion for the project and for those of you who’ve taken Antarctica, penguins, and our work to heart. The Petermann effort is another step onward and upward, taking the Inventory to even higher levels of achievement. We intend a close examination of all factors that may be affecting Petermann’s population of Adélie and gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags, and south polar skuas. Ultimately, we intend to examine why the Peninsula’s blue- eyed shag population, as a whole, is declining. Are climatalogical factors like temperature rise and snow deposition adversely affecting the size or distribu- tion of fish stocks that comprise the shags’ diet? Perhaps circumstances have changed and the shags, as yet, haven’t adjusted.
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctic Treaty Handbook
    Annex Proposed Renumbering of Antarctic Protected Areas Existing SPA’s Existing Site Proposed Year Annex V No. New Site Management Plan No. Adopted ‘Taylor Rookery 1 101 1992 Rookery Islands 2 102 1992 Ardery Island and Odbert Island 3 103 1992 Sabrina Island 4 104 Beaufort Island 5 105 Cape Crozier [redesignated as SSSI no.4] - - Cape Hallet 7 106 Dion Islands 8 107 Green Island 9 108 Byers Peninsula [redesignated as SSSI no. 6] - - Cape Shireff [redesignated as SSSI no. 32] - - Fildes Peninsula [redesignated as SSSI no.5] - - Moe Island 13 109 1995 Lynch Island 14 110 Southern Powell Island 15 111 1995 Coppermine Peninsula 16 112 Litchfield Island 17 113 North Coronation Island 18 114 Lagotellerie Island 19 115 New College Valley 20 116 1992 Avian Island (was SSSI no. 30) 21 117 ‘Cryptogram Ridge’ 22 118 Forlidas and Davis Valley Ponds 23 119 Pointe-Geologic Archipelago 24 120 1995 Cape Royds 1 121 Arrival Heights 2 122 Barwick Valley 3 123 Cape Crozier (was SPA no. 6) 4 124 Fildes Peninsula (was SPA no. 12) 5 125 Byers Peninsula (was SPA no. 10) 6 126 Haswell Island 7 127 Western Shore of Admiralty Bay 8 128 Rothera Point 9 129 Caughley Beach 10 116 1995 ‘Tramway Ridge’ 11 130 Canada Glacier 12 131 Potter Peninsula 13 132 Existing SPA’s Existing Site Proposed Year Annex V No. New Site Management Plan No. Adopted Harmony Point 14 133 Cierva Point 15 134 North-east Bailey Peninsula 16 135 Clark Peninsula 17 136 North-west White Island 18 137 Linnaeus Terrace 19 138 Biscoe Point 20 139 Parts of Deception Island 21 140 ‘Yukidori Valley’ 22 141 Svarthmaren 23 142 Summit of Mount Melbourne 24 118 ‘Marine Plain’ 25 143 Chile Bay 26 144 Port Foster 27 145 South Bay 28 146 Ablation Point 29 147 Avian Island [redesignated as SPA no.
    [Show full text]
  • 12.2% 116000 120M Top 1% 154 3900
    We are IntechOpen, the world’s leading publisher of Open Access books Built by scientists, for scientists 3,900 116,000 120M Open access books available International authors and editors Downloads Our authors are among the 154 TOP 1% 12.2% Countries delivered to most cited scientists Contributors from top 500 universities Selection of our books indexed in the Book Citation Index in Web of Science™ Core Collection (BKCI) Interested in publishing with us? Contact [email protected] Numbers displayed above are based on latest data collected. For more information visit www.intechopen.com Chapter 3 Perfluorinated Chemicals in Sediments, Lichens, and Seabirds from the Antarctic Peninsula — Environmental Assessment and Management Perspectives Juan José Alava, Mandy R.R. McDougall, Mercy J. Borbor-Córdova, K. Paola Calle, Mónica Riofrio, Nastenka Calle, Michael G. Ikonomou and Frank A.P.C. Gobas Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/60205 Abstract Antarctica is one of the last frontiers of the planet to be investigated for the envi‐ ronmental transport and accumulation of persistent organic pollutants. Per‐ fluorinated contaminants (PFCs) are a group of widely used anthropogenic substances, representing a significant risk to wildlife and humans due to their high biomagnification potential and toxicity risks, especially in food webs of the northern hemisphere and Arctic. Because the assessment of PFCs in the Antarctic continent is scarce, questions linger about the long-range transport and bioaccu‐ mulation capacity of PFCs in Antarctic food webs. To better understand the global environmental fate of PFCs, sediment, lichen (Usnea aurantiaco-atra), and seabird samples (southern giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus; gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua) were collected around the Antarctic Peninsula in 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Environmental Conditions of Antarctic Footpaths to Support Management Decisions
    Journal of Environmental Management 177 (2016) 320e330 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Environmental Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman Research article Assessing environmental conditions of Antarctic footpaths to support management decisions * Pablo Tejedo a, , Javier Benayas a, Daniela Cajiao b, Belen Albertos c, Francisco Lara d, Luis R. Pertierra a, Manuela Andres-Abell an e, Consuelo Wic e, Maria Jose Lucianez~ d, Natalia Enríquez d, Ana Justel f, Günther K. Reck b a Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, ES-28049 Madrid, Spain b Instituto de Ecología Aplicada ECOLAP-USFQ, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito, P.O. Box 1712841, Quito, Ecuador c Departamento de Botanica, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andres Estelles s/n, ES-46100 Burjassot, Spain d Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, ES-28049 Madrid, Spain e Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genetica, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Espana~ s/n, ES-02071 Albacete, Spain f Departamento de Matematicas, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Francisco Tomas y Valiente 5, ES-28049 Madrid, Spain article info abstract Article history: Thousands of tourists visit certain Antarctic sites each year, generating a wide variety of environmental Received 18 September 2015 impacts. Scientific knowledge of human activities and their impacts can help in the effective design of Received in revised form management measures and impact mitigation. We present a case study from Barrientos Island in which a 6 April 2016 management measure was originally put in place with the goal of minimizing environmental impacts but Accepted 10 April 2016 resulted in new undesired impacts.
    [Show full text]