■' >,.*.:«• ■

A NEWS BULLETIN published quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC)

_ THIS IS THE HEAD OF GLYPTONOTUS ANTARCTICUS, OTHERWISE THE GIANT ANTARCTIC SLATER. ITS HEAVILY-PIGMENTED EYES ARE ONE OF THE FEATURES WHICH MAKES IT AN EXCELLENT EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL FOR VISION RESEARCH CONDUCTED THIS SEASON AT SCOTT BASE BY DR V. B. MEYER- ROCHOW, A UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO BIOLOGIST.

Registered at Post Office Headquarters. Vol.8 No. 4 Wellington, New Zealand, as a magazine. December, 1977 SOUTH GEORGIA "... SO UTH SANDWICH Is"

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Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor.

CONTENTS

ARTICLES ANTARCTIC TOURISTS 132-134

POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 106-113 UNITED STATES 114-119 AUSTRALIA 121,123 FRANCE 122-123 SOVIET UNION UNITED KINGDOM 124-126 SOUTH AFRICA 130-131 JAPAN ARGENTINE

SUB-ANTARCTIC MARION ISLAND'S CATS 128-129

GENERAL ANTARCTIC TREATY .... SMITH ISLAND "AURORA AUSTRALIS" THE READER WRITES .... December, 1977 NEW ZEALAND FIELD RESEARCH PARTIES

By the middle of this month the first part of the New Zealand Antarctic research programme for 1977-78 was in full swing. The programme began officially on October 8 when the first party arrived to relieve the winter team of 10 men at Scott Base. In the next two months New Zealand field parties or summer support staff were flown by United States Navy Hercules aircraft and helicopters to the dry valleys of Victoria Land, the glaciers of the Royal Society Range, Cape Bird, on Ross Island, and even as far south as the South Pole. This summer New Zealand scientists greater payload than its American ski- will work at Vostok, the Soviet station on equipped counterpart. the Polar Plateau, known as the coldest place on earth, which is 1250km from FIRST ARRIVALS Scott Base. For the third successive season there are New Zealanders at the New Zealand's summer programme Amundsen-Scott Pole Station. Two of began as soon as the first of the support the four will remain to run the meteor staff reached Scott Base on October 8. ological programme next winter. New Mr R.S. Straight, who will be in charge Zealand geologists are working with the at Scott Base this season, Mr N. C. United States research programme in McPherson, executive officer, Ant Marie Byrd Land from a field camp arctic Division, Mr J. R. Lythgoe, wr- the Hobbs Coast, and other New will lead the winter team, and the

IjTJaEiliMl hauled down his leader's flag, and Mr Ice Tongue project in McMurdo Sound. Straight took over for the summer Early this month the Royal New season. Zealand Air Force completed nine Four scientists also arrived at Scott flights, two more than last season, using Base on October 8 to continue their two Hercules wheeled aircraft, to psychological and psychological studies provide logistic support for the New of the winter teams. They were Prof Zealand and United States program essor A. J. W. Taylor, professor of mes. This is the 13th season that the clinical psychology, Victoria University R.N.Z.A.F. has carried passengers of Wellington, who has been a "first and cargo between New Zealand and footer" at Scott Base for nine previous Antarctica. summers, and Professor R. A. M. Greg- First of the cargo flights was made on son, Dr A. Barabasz, and J. Barton November 12 to transport a heavy bull (technician), psychology department, dozer to McMurdo Station. This mach University of Canterbury. The latter ine, weighing about 10 tonnes, replaced made psychometric tests of the winter another flown to the Marie Byrd Land party — their first "before-and-after" field camp. The R.N.Z.A.F. Hercules study of men who winter at Scott Base — was called upon because it can carry a using electronic equipment to compare

■ December, 1977 ANTARCTIC

Patricia Harris, first woman dog-handler at Scott Base, with Clara (left) and Muff, two of the huskies she drove 76km to Cape Royds and back this month. Antarctic Division photo

results with Professor Taylor's inter of Scott Base, in a United States Navy view and observation methods. helicopter. He found the station in excellent condition after eight months of By the third week of October the solitude, but the seven huts on the shores summer support staff had settled in, and of Lake Vanda were not left completely Wmmmmmm mtmRm gramme was to check huts and equip blasted by high winds in the Wright ment at Vanda Station, staging base for the parties working in the dry valleys, Valley. where the normal scientific projects will Mr. McPherson flew to Vanda Station be resumed. by way of Lake Bonney in theTaylor Val HIGH WINDS ley. There the Americans examined the hut built in 1961 to house scientists and Checking was done by Mr. McPher field laboratory equipment for summer son, who flew to the station, 130km west work in the Taylor Valley. The hut will m^M

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 be removed this season because the rise remain indoors until the storms gradual in dry valley lake levels — for reasons ly abated on October 27. yet unknown — has brought the waters of Lake Bonney almost to the doorstep of RECORD SNOWFALL the hut. New Zealand's southernmost post Before tne storms reached their worst office opened for business in the third a party went to McMurdo Station to week of October when the postmaster, deliver outward mail. It encountered Randolph Waller, who will be the young rapidly growing snowdrifts and a stiff est member of next winter's team, headwind on the return journey. The trip was of no avail because several t'l»l^i{0|(^;|m[»aiI?gCO*MWiWit tional ceremony in bright sunshine and a temperature of minus 16deg Celsius. postponed. Conditions at McMurdo Station were SURVIVAL TRAINING even worse. There winds rising to more than 95 miles an hour were accompanied Post Office staff work inside, handling by a wind chill factor of minus 60deg the large volume of mail and telephone Fahrenheit. Visibility dropped to slight calls from New Zealanders and Ameri ly more than half a metre, and most cans. Outside the base in the same week ground operations were also cancelled. the New Zealand snowcraft and survival When the storm blew itself out the training team, Peter Farrell, John station was left with the heaviest snow Horsley, and Bryan Carter, began their fall since 1960. Ten inches of snow fell in programme on the ice cliffs 3km from fho h'lCIl \llith A morir..|n hnl!>innln>n{|n|n three days, breaking the record 9.6 from McMurdo Station. By January they expect to train 200 men and women, including all members of the New Zea One of the main field events of the land programme. season — the detailed mapping by the Geological Survey of the region between On October.24'the first field party of the Koettlitz and Blue Glaciers — was the season flew by helicopter to open the delayed by the storms. The field party, University of Canterbury field sttion at Dr D. N. B. Skinner (leader), R. Find- unit is continuing its annual studies of ^as unable t0 leave Scott Base for the _„• __ . '„i.„„ j — r~ area east oi me noyai society Mange f^ LJLn?:„f,kuf J(?ensu,S' ,an? ,™anne until October 29. It was to have started mtmmWmmtmm Max Wenden, Antarctic Division field iVMiT-\A'-m 111»', j i ■ ■ t ■ i) t October 22, but were delayed by cloudy Foster Glacier. weather. Because of the weather the party had This cloudy weather was the fore to sledge between the Foster and Ren- runner of a series of storms which egar Glaciers instead of using motor lashed the McMurdo Sound area for toboggans. These arrived on later flights nearly a week, leaving Scott Base blan when the weather finally cleared, and keted with snow. Southerly winds of the party began the first of its expected more than 70 miles an hour, blowing 80 days in the field travelling towards snow, and visibility reduced to only Heald Island. This party will be the 50m, forced the cancellation of all flight longest in the field, the most remote operations. Everyone at Scott Base, from Scott Base, and will cover the Vanda Station, and Cape Bird, had to greatest distance. **A&J" -../ '-'■' - * I :•• H11 *

_P" I. .'..■■■-. r '■ ^^^^^H December, 1977 ANTARCTIC POLE PARTY and frozen over at this time of the year, to collect water samples for their stud In the first week of November the men ies last summer of species of plankton and women at Scott Base said hullo and living under the ice. They took about goodbye tc their southernmost collea nine litres of water samples which will gues — John Waller, Keith Herrick, be examined when they return to New Kevin Bisset, and Tim Hurst — who flew Zealand late in January. The weather to the Amundsen-Scott Pole Station to was not exactly kind. When they tried to take part in the United States Meteoro filter the water it froze — the temper logical programme. They received a ature was about minus 15deg C. warm welcome from Simon Norman and Lloyd Anderson, who had not seen A week later the two biologists flew to any New Zealanders for nearly a year. Cape Bird where they will continue their John Waller and Kevin Bisset will not studies of plankton. Dr. Y. Yom-Tov, leave the South Pole until November from the University of Tel Aviv, was next year. unable to join the unit to study the effect of interference on penguin breeding One of the three teams of Victoria success. He was replaced by Graham University's 22nd expedition began its Wilson from the University of Canter fourth successive study of the Taylor bury. Dr M. Crawley will join the unit Glacier and its surrounds, which lie next month. west of McMurdo Sound. Three U.S. Navy helicopters put in the team — Paul RESEARCH FISHING Robinson, Walter Fowlie, an Antarctic Fishing for research, not sport, began Division field leader, and two surveyors, in McMurdo Sound last month. As a part J. Palmer and N. F. Nalder. Alan Hull, a of their studies of the metabolic adap V.U.W. honurs student, joined the team tions of polar fish and invertebrates to later in the month. Also with the team constant low temperatures, Drs John for a week was Colin Monteath, field McDonald and Rufus Wells, of the Uni operations officer, Antarctic Division. versity of Auckland, tried to catch When the team left Scott Base was still Antarctic cod from a hole blasted in the thickly blanketed with snow from the sea ice, using a fish trap, baited lines, October storms, but the temperature and lures. As well as temperatures of was a relatively warm minus 9deg around minus ldeg C. they had to cope Celsius, and there was only a 13-mile-an- with Weddell seals which used the hole hour wind. The departure was observed as a breathing passage between feeding high in the sky by 230 day trippers to dives, and were suspected of reducing Antarctica — passengers on Air New the catch by eating or scaring away all Zealand's second DC10 flight. the fish nearby. SEA ICE TRIP On a recent trip to Cape Royds, how ever, with some American divers from Last season members of the Univers McMurdo Station, the scientists obtain ity of Canterbury's research unit spent ed two small Antarctic cod-like fish, one three months studying an isolated Wed called a plunderfish. Other catches in dell seal population on White Island, and the fish trap included marine isopods the benthic community in the tide crack 10cm long, sea spiders, red sea urchins, there. The research could not be contin and long-armed starfish. So far these ued this season, but on November 6 the are the only catches which can be used leader of the team at Cape Bird, Paul in the experiments. Ensor, and Elspeth Waghorn, returned to White Island by sno-trac across the Another party headed by an experienced sea ice of McMurdo Sound. fisherman, Dr Warren Featherston, of the University of Otago, who has been The pair used pick and shovel to dig studying parasites found in notothenid through the tide crack, which is narrow fishes for several seasons, also began Tcm\ m

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 fishing on the McMurdo Sound sea ice Wright and Victoria Valleys. last month. Dr Featherston and his two assistants, Roslin Freeth and Craig Two scientists from the Geophysics Ellison, collected their fish from a hole Division, D.S.I.R., spent two weeks last drilled in the sea ice, working in a hut month making a gravimetric survey with a hole in the floor over the ice hole. across the mouth of the Taylor Valley at New Harbour. Steve Hicks and Dave SEAL COUNT Bennett also worked across the valley During last month support staff from near Lake Fryxell, tying in with the old Scott Base were busy making the annual Dry Valley Drilling Project holes. They counts of Weddell Seals along the shores took gravity readings from the Sues of Roos Island and on the sea ice of Glacier down to the sea ice of McMurdo McMurdo Sound. The second census of Sound. These, after analysis, will help to the season was made from a U.S. Navy indicate the depth of glacier debris helicopter, and more than 700 adults and lining the valley floor. many pups were counted. After the census the base team, headed by Alan Two Massey University microbio logists spent a week in the dry valleys MacLeod, assistant maintenance of collecting samples of soil, \ ficer, who was in charge of the counting, ice, as part of a Health D called at Cape Royds to pick up another distribution study of the amoebae which census taker, Patricia Harris! who had cause "hot pool" primary m< rookery near Shackleton's hut. known as "hot pool" meningitis because Because Cape Royds is the world's New Zealand victims contracted it in southernmost Adelie penguin rookery, it mineral pools. has been designated by the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research FROZEN LAKE (SCAR) and the Antarctic Treaty na Dr Tim Brown and Ray Cursons made tions as a site of special scientific their first camp in the windy Taylor interest. New Zealand is now required to Valley beside Lake Fryxell, which was provide annual reports to SCAR and the frozen over. Their introduction to life in treaty nations, giving details of the the field was to struggle for more than census figures and other observations. an hour.to pitch their polar tent in gusts whipping up to 55 miles an hour. They cuuecieu samples oi glacier men water cia Harris counted about 2500 adult and soil, and drilled through four metres :s which were expected to hatch in the next of ice into Lake Fryxell to obtain sam few weeks, bringing the population ples from underneath the ice. probably to its peak for the season-. After working at Lake Hoare further ROCK STUDIES up the Taylor Valley, the two scientists were flown by U.S. Navy helicopter to Most of the field parties were working the Wright Valley, and became the first in the dry valleys, and particularly the field party to work out of Vanda Station. Taylor Valley, by the end of last month. They collected samples from Lake After a week north of Scott Base study Vanda, and then moved to the western ing the lava flows on the slopes of Mt. shores of Ross Island. There they work Erebus, a second Victoria University ed at Cape Evans and Cape Royds, and team, headed by Dr Jim Johnston, and took samples from material such as including two students, Nick Logan and pony straw around the historic huts. Also Jim Metson, and a field assistant, Joce- they took samples in the Adelie penguin lyn Lang, flew to the Upper Taylor rookery at Cape Royds. Valley on November 21. Its purpose was to make geochemical studies of the A team of six scientists from the rocks, and later in the season in the Waikato University Antarctic research December, 1977 ANTARCTIC

Antarctic still .life: members of the Geological Survey party working between the Koettlitz and Blue glaciers face the camera at Dismal Ridge, below Mt. Rucker (3816m). From left: Anne Wright, Margaret Clark, Dr David Skinner (leader) and Bob Findlay. Antarctic Division photo unit, led by Professor Alex Wilson, this summer's monitoring of selected began the consolidation of some five dry valley glaciers, the flow of the Onyx years' work on glacial advances in the River, and the levels of Lake Vanda and dry valleys of the McMurdo Oasis, other major dry valley lakes. The hydro concentrating first on the Taylor Gla logists will also continue tracking the cier and the Taylor Valley. One member movement of the McMurdo Ice Shelf. of the team, Dr V. B. Meyer-Rochow, They will return home about the middle remained at Scott Base to study benthic of this month. forms in McMurdo Sound. Later this month three scientists from Two members of the team, Professor the New Zealand Oceanographic In Wilson, and Dr Chris Hendy, flew to the stitute will take part in the Ross Ice Soviet station, Vostok, to continue a Shelf Project in which scientists of survey of the accumulation of salts in several nations will study the physical, the snow of the Antarctic ice-caps. They chemical, biological, and geological arrived there on December 18, two days conditions beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. after the 20th anniversary of the estab Dr Janet Bradford will seek samples of lishment of the station. pelagic copepods from under the shelf, Neville Day will carry out benthic biota WORK AT VANDA studies on the sea floor, and Bill Whitley Vanda Station's population of four, will take temperature measurements at including the leader, Eric Saxby, was various depths down the drill hole increased last month by the arrival of through the ice shelf. two Ministry of Works and Development hydrologists, Trevor Chinn and Tim Omundsen, and two surveyors, John. Palmer and Nigel Nalder. They started " sh

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 Giant Antarctic slater and vision research

For several years Dr V. B. Meyer-Rochow, of the department of biological sciences, University of Waikato, has been engaged in vision research, and has studied the eye of the giant Antarctic slater Glyptonotus antarcticus (Isopoda). He is continuing his studies in the field this summer as a member of the University of Waikato Antarctic research unit. Working mainly from Scott Base, he will be able to use fresh instead of preserved specimens of Glyptonotus in his research. The Antarctic slater Glyptonotus ed as in the related deep-sea species. On antarcticus is neither abundant nor is it the other hand, during the summer the of any economical importance. It is, animals are continuously exposed to however, large, is closely related to light. How does this affect eye ultra- forms that occur in the deep-sea. can be structure and visual performance? caught relatively easily by diving, and has two heavily-pigmented eyes, all This year we will attempt to gain some features which make it an excellent insight into the adaptional mechanisms experimental animal for visual re which govern the eye's sensitivity and search. limit of resolution. The ultrastructure of dark and light-adapted eyes will be From preserved specimens and scan studied with the transmission electron ning electron micrographs of the head microscope. Also the behaviour of the region, we now know that Glyptono animal to different lights (colour intens tus has compound eyes, which are ity and polarisation), its orientation to not compartmentalised externally, black and white stripes, and the reaction but which retain the ommatidial unit- of unilaterally-blinded animals will all system of the typical compound eye be used in elucidating how Glyptonotus below the smooth and uniform cornea. uses its eyes and what it can actually see For reasons not yet fully understood the with them. eyes are relatively larger and darker pigmented in younger specimens of Particular attention will also be given Glyptonotus. The eyes are oval in shape, to temperature adaption, for most sen and in an 8cm (body lenght) specimen sory systems are affected by temperat have an external radius of curvature of ure changes in one way or another. 4mm. They are surrounded by unusual, Because of the uniform environment in stalked, featherlike hairs, each of which which Glyptonotus lives, it is expected measures 80mm in length. These cuticu- that it will exhibit temperature effects lar hairs seem to gradually grow over better and more unambiguously than the eye and reduce the corneal area in other animals. older individuals of Glyptonotus. The work on Glyptonotus eyes, as The environment in which this animal outlined above, is likely to be of greater lives is characterised by extraordinari relevance to sensory physiology than ly constant temperatures and unusual the layman would think, because visual light conditions. For many months, in principles are basically the same irres winter. Glyptonotus, lives in perpetual pective of whether one studies slater, darkness, but its eyes are not degenerat rat or man. December, 1977 white lettering on a black background. White rings, and white lettering on a gold background, are used in the other badge. Mozart on ice Mozart has come to the Antarctic again this summer. Dr D. N. B. Skinner, leader of the Geological Survey team working between the Koettlitz and Blue Glaciers, is rehearsing the role of Lepar- ello, servant to Don Giovanni, which he will play in an Auckland performance of Mozart's opera. Dr Skinner first began mixing geology and opera in the 1975-76 season when he worked in the Skelton Glacier area. Two versions of the badge now worn When blizzards kept the Geological by men and women who work in Ant Survey party tentbound for days on end, arctica with the New Zealand Antarctic he rehearsed, with the aid of a tape Research Programme. It replaces the recorder, for the baritone role of Guil- familiar black kiwi on a yellow back emo, in Mozart's opera, "Cosi Fan ground worn by New Zealanders for Tutti". On some days he sang for two or many years. three hours. Designed by a Christchurch artist, In 1975-76 Dr Skinner returned home Maurice Conly, the badge shows Mt Erebus and the five stars of the Southern and exchanged glacier ice for the stage Cross as they appear on the New Zea after 77 days in the field. This season he land flag. One badge has the design in will be in the field for 80 days. His only light and dark blue, white, and red with audience then will be Bob Findlay, the inner and outer rings in gold, and Margaret Clark, and Anne Wright. More husky pups at Scott Base Four husky pups from a litter of five These new arrivals have a proud born at Scott Base towards the end of lineage. Tiea is a son of Apolotok, the October have increased the dog popula biggest of the Scott Base huskies when tion to 25. In August two of the base he died last winter. Betty's father was huskies, Teia and Betty, celebrated Osman, the grand old man of the dog sunrise in their own fashion, and the lines, and the oldest husky at the base results of their union appeared a week when he died in January, aged 10 years. after the doghandler, Steve Chambers, of Waiouru, built Betty a fibreglass- Nina and Nemaluk, two huskies lined kennel to keep the pups warm brought from Australian Antarctic bases in March for exhibition in the during their first few weeks. Adelaide Zoo produced a litter of two Two of the pups will be named after male pups early in July. Nemaluk, a dogs in Scott's last expedition — Noogis black four-year-old came from Mawson, (Nugis) and Vaida. The other two will be where he was born in July, 1973. Nina, a named Helge and Jens, after members fawn 3'/2-year-old, was also born at of Amundsen's teams. Helge was killed Mawson in October the same year. She after reaching the South Pole, Jens died was shipped to Davis in late February, on an earlier journey. 1974. to act as the station pet. ANTARCTIC December, 1977 U.S. Science projects this summer

Evaluations of Antarctica's mineral and marine living resources are among 90 projects in the United States Antarctic Research Programme this season. More than 330 scientists in the programme, which is costing the National Science Foundation $45 million, are engaged in research areas as far apart as Marie Byrd Land, on the Ross Ice Shelf, around the Antarctic Peninsula, at the South Pole, in Victoria Land, and on the East Antarctic ice sheet. This research includes a geological MAJOR EVENT reconnaissance of the Orville Coast portion of the Antarctic Peninsula — This month one of the main objectives completed last month — which will of a major event in the programme — produce information about the mineral the Ross Ice Shelf Project — to drill resource potential, a geological and through the floating shelf so that any geophysical survey of the Hobbs Coast possible life can be studied — was area of Marie Byrd Land, and an achieved. On December 2 engineers and extension from Victoria Land to Marie technicians, using a new flame-jet drill, Byrd Land of the survey of radioactive cut through 420m of ice to the waters of elements in exposed rocks, which was the Ross Sea which have been in started last season. The survey is perpetual darkness under the shelf for designed to assess the potential for at least 120,000 years. uranium and thorium resources. In December last year the drilling Marine resources of commercial project had to be terminated when ice interest are being studied again in the flowing under the pressure of its own Antarctic Peninsula area. Catches of weight blocked the drill assembly when the dominant species of Antarctic krill the hole had reached a depth of 330.3m. (Euphausia superba) are being taken And this time there was another initial from the research vessel Hero in the setback — sea water gushed up, flooded Bransfield Strait, among the Palmer the 25cm hole, and then froze before adn Biscoe archipelagos, and in the closed circuit television cameras could Scotia Sea. The purpose is to obtain .be lowered into the hole to study the dark population data and growth rates, and to waters and the seabed below the shelf. study the factors which cause krill to swarm. LIFE UNDER SHELF Biological productivity studies of the Provided the hole can be kept open, 36 northern Weddell Sea, the southern scientists from six nations — Australia, Indian Ocean, and the waters of the Ross Norway, the Soviet Union, New Zea Sea off West Antarctica, are being made land, Denmark, and the United States — aboard the United States Coast Guard will spend more than a month studying icebreaker Glacier. Full knowledge of the environment under the ice shelf. the productivity of these waters and the They will look for life in the 200m of factors controlling production is water under the ice, take tidal, tem regarded as basic to the potential perature, and salinity measurements, harvest of Antarctic marine living and collect samples of the water and the resources. seabed sediment. Ice cores will be

m^M^m

'=T*: December, 1977

A polar tent camp on the Orville Coast of the southern Antarctic Peninsula where United States geologists and topographic engineers are making a geological mapping reconnaissance of about 6000 square kilometres of previously unvisited mountains. The party was flown there from McMurdo Station, more than 2500km away. u.s. Navy photo collected from another hole drilled.w-ith" related to atmospheric and earth scien conventional equipment. ces, glaciology, oceanography, meteor ology, and the study of bird and marine Research on the ice shelf since 1973 has life. Several of these projects are being included the related Ross Ice Shelf carried out in co-operation with scien Glaciological and Geophysical Survey tists of other nations. (RIGGS). In the fourth and final season its scientists are completing inves United States scientists are associa tigations of the ice shelf's physical ted with those of Britain, Japan, the characteristics, working from the RSP Soviet Union, New Zealand, Australia, drill camp, J9, about 664km south-east Norway, Denmark, France, and Argen of McMurdo Station, and two other sites. tina. As in past seasons the British Supported by a chartered Twin-Otter Antarctic Survey's Royal Research aircraft from Canada, they are survey Ship Bransfield has transported most of ing ice thickness, water depth, sediment the resupply material for the Hero, and thickness, crustal structure, seismic Palmer Station, on Anvers Island, off wave velocity, and electrical resistivity the Antarctic Peninsula. in and under the ice shelf. Two remote projects this season are MANY PROJECTS the geological and geophysical survey in Marie Byrd Land, which is based on This summer scientists from uni preliminary field work in the 1966-67 and versities and scientific organisations, 1967-68 seasons, and the geological the National Aeronautics and Space reconnaissance of the Orville Coast area Administration, and the National Oce by the United States Geological Survey, anic and Atmospheric Administration, which has been combined with a topo are engaged on a wide range of projects graphic survey of the Lassiter and I " 1 1 1 . ' f ' H ' j . ; . v ■ -lrt:'.-.'j L H ' ' I II I I

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 Orville Coasts. Both projects have been area in the 1970-71 season came from supported by U.S. Navy Hercules air- many different species, and bore a craft which have put in scientific parties marked faunal correspondence eith after long flights from McMurdo Sta- collections of nearly the same age from tion. other continents. FIELD CAMP A second party from Ohio State Uni- With air suDDort a field camn Mahel vers»ty is studying the stratigraphy and t u^S^f^u^^SSu^SS sedimentary petrology of the Lower mountain peaks. To enable the scien provenance of the Freemouw Forma tists to map geologic structures, deter tion, determine the occurrence patterns mine the ages of rock formations and of fossiliferous beds, and locate addi their radioactivity, and to study extinct tional fossil beds. volcanoes and volcanic rocks, three Geologists from Columbia University helicopters were flown to the area by wil examine the processes involved in Hercules aircraft. the creation of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Scotia Arc, the underwater Scotia the Southern Antarctic Peninsula seven visited mountains.They travelled by standing of the breakup of south-wes- tural, and paleontologic studies of folded fossiliferous marine sedimentary rocks ROCKET FIRING of Jurassic age, as well as petrologic, Siple Station, which is at the base of paleomagnetic, geochemical, and is- the Sentinel Mountains in Ellsworth topic studies of igneous and meta Land, is about 2500km from McMurdo morphic rocks of Jurassic and Cretace Station, and is the remotest American ous ages. station in Antarctica. This summer it is the base for several upper atmosphere Another U.S. Geological Survey team nrnippt<; Amnna thp nrnippts arp stud una cAieuueu niiu me oweeuey lviuuu- ies of. changes in the earth's magnetic tains area of the Orville Coast the field produced by magnetic storms and geodetic control established during two previous seasons in the adjacent ultra-low-frequency waves propagating Lassiter Coast area. This is to meet in the earth's magnetosphere, and prob-

earth's magentosphere, and probing of the magnetosphere to determine the relationships between very-low-fre FOSSIL SEARCH quency radio waves and particles in the Two geological teams are working in magnetosphere. the central Transantarctic Mountains. This season scientists from the Uni One from Wayne State University, Mi versity of Houston and the National chigan, is exploring the proven fossil Aeronautics and Space Administration fields of the Fremouw Formation, Cum will fire at least three Super Arcus solid ulus Hills (85deg 15min S/175deg W), to propellant rockets into the lower iono collect early Triassic amphibians, rep sphere in an experiment designed to tiles, and fish. Fossils collected in this improve understanding of how very- December, 1977

A United States Navy Hercules aircraft ready to return to McMurdo Station after making a flight of more than 2500km to put a party of geologists on the Orville Coast of the southern Antarctic Peninsula. U.S. Navy photo low-frequency radio waves trigger elec face aerosols, atmospheric turbidity, trons to precipitate into the earth's total solar radiation, and trace gases upper atmosphere from the magneto such as carbon dioxide and ozone. sphere. The X-ray flux- in the atmo sphere will be measured at altitudes of This summer and next winter aerosols 80km and below by instruments aboard will be collected near the Pole Station, the rockets. both at the new clean air facility com Research for the last three seasons pleted last season, and at a site about into the concentration distribution of 5km from the main station. The collec man-made fluorocarbons and related tion is part of a study of the sources and chlorocarbons in the Antarctic atmo distribution of atmospheric trace ele ments by the University of Maryland. sphere has revealed a steady increase in the atmospheric concentrations of these NEW RADAR chemicals. This is consistent with their similarly observed buildup in the atmo A newly installed radar system at sphere of the Northern Hemisphere. Palmer Station will be operated this season by a scientist from the Desert POLLUTION LEVELS Research Institute, University of Nev ada System. The 3cm wavelength sys This analysis of halocarbons in the tem provides information on storms atmosphere and the snow and ice is within 150km of the station, and sea ice being continued this season near Mc and iceberg movements and forma Murdo Station and the Amundsen-Scott tions. It is also used to track migrating South Pole Station. In the last three flocks of various bird species. The radar seasons there has been a more rapid system is linked by ATS-3 satellite increase in chlorocarbon atmospheric directly to the institute in Reno, Nevada. levels as compared to fluorocarbon. In southern Victoria Land University Geophysical monitoring continued at of Kansas scientists will make a radio the Pole Station to identify present activity survey, using airborne gamma- pollution levels and long-term trends in ray spectometry Data from the survey the concentration of significant con of the distribution and concentration of stituents that may affect the environ radioactive elements will enable an ment and possible induce climatic assessment to be made of the uranium change. Scientists from the National and thorium resource potential of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra surveyed area. Last season's survey tion are making measurements of sur will be extended southward, and will rv.n'. i.e. f':-,-ir4 ~„*T -"

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 evaluate radioactive pegmatites of the research vessel Polarsirkel set out 10 Garwood Valley (78deg 02min S/164deg current meters in five moorings bet 15min E) and Roaring Valley (78deg ween 74deg and 75deg S. and 33deg and 16min S/163deg 06min E). 40deg W. These will be retrieved by scientists from the Scripps Institution of METEORITES ON ICE Oceanography, University of Califor Working on blue ice near the Allan nia, working from the United States Nunatak in southern Victoria Land a Coast Guard icebreaker Glacier. group of United States and Japanese Also the scientists expect to set out scientists is searching for meteorites. nine new current meter moorings in the Last season an American-Japanese same general area for retrieval in 1978- field party discovered the largest mete orite ever found in Antarctica. It was 79. A closely-spaced array of current- one of the larges stony meteorites ever temperature-depth stations (up to 441 found in the world, weighing 407kg. This stations five nautical miles apart in a was one of 11 found in Victoria Land. square grid) will also be made in this Nine came from the Allan Nunatak, and area during the season. two were found at Mt Baldr in the Upper Wright Valley. One was found to have a terrestrial age of about 1.7 million Christmas gifts years. Dr William A. Cassidy, associate Christmas gifts for four New Zea professor in the department of earth and landers at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station were flown south from planetary sciences, University ofPitts- Christchurch this month. A special burgh, who was in last season's party, has with him this year Dr Brian H. parcel of two Christmas cakes and Mason, of the Smithsonian Institution's home-made biscuits for the men at the division of meteorites. The Japanese Pole — John Waller, Keith Herrick, group is headed by Dr Keizo Yanai, Kevin Bisset, and Tim Hurst — was meteorite curator in the National In included in a consignment of 11 Christ stitute of Polar Research, Tokyo. He mas cakes and 40 dozen biscuits from collected 11 meteorites in Victoria Land members of the Canterbury branch of last season. the New Zealand Antarctic Society. PENGUIN BEHAVIOUR For the last 14 years members of the society have sent biscuits and Christ In a project designed to discover the mas cakes to New Zealanders working role of penguins in the Antarctic marine in the Antarctic. As in former years the ecosystem a field team from the State cake and biscuits will be shared by men University of New York is spending the and women at Scott Base and in the summer on King George Island in the field. The field parties will have an South Shetlands. To extend its observa aerial delivery, weather permitting, tions of the behaviour and ecological and the gifts will arrive on Christmas adaptions of Adelie, Chinstrap, and Day or New Year's Day if there is any Gentoo penguins for a whole year, on delay. member of the party will spend next winter at Poland's new Arctowski Sta tion (62deg lOmin S/58 deg 28 min W) established in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, last season. Late in the season the International Weddell Sea Oceanographic Expedition will again investigate the formation of Antarctic bottom water in the southern Weddell Sea. Last season the Norwegian December, 1977 ANTARCTIC Airlift of 100 penguins to United States Eighty Adelie and 20 Emperor arrived safely. PengmnscollectedatCapeCrozier andin curator of birds and the McMurdo Sound area were flown "" ™ associate at from the Antarctic to San Diego, EftiKSSJSKKS

Starlifter. They will be used in the month with the support of United^States

•.'-am'imvmt un stock that failed to acclimatise after last for long-term research and education. \ncluded M AdeUe eggg and 12 skuag> This was the third large consignment After the birds were brought to of penguins to be flown from the McMurdo Station they were kept in a Antarctic. Eighty Adelie and 20 wire enclosure. For the special flight to Emperor penguins were safely trans San Diego they were placed in special ported in November, 1975, but all died containers, and the Starlifter's cabin from smoke inhalation in a fire which was kept at a temperature of minus 5deg destroyed the quarantine building. Last Celsius. Other precautions were taken to year's consignment — 95 Adelies from ensure safe and humane transport of the the McMurdo Sound area, and 40 birds, and in San Diego they received Emperors from Cape Crozier — all additional acclimatisation. Conservation trophy awarded to Project Jonah This year for the first time the New flora and fauna in the Antarctic or on Zealand Antarctic Society's sub-Antarctic islands. Conservation Trophy has been awarded lisation — Project Jonah in As a result of Project Jonah's efforts New Zealand. The award, announced by in New Zealand the Government Mr R. G. McElrea, chairman of the banned imports of whale . rejoined the International Whaling Canterbury branch of the society, has Commission, and drafted a Marine been made in recognation of Project Mammals Protection Bill. The trophy Jonah's contribution to the preservation has been accepted on behalf of Project of the world's whaling stocks, Jonah by one of its original members, particularly in Antarctica. Mr Graeme Martin. His organisation receives a certificate to mark the There have been five previous awards award, and holds the trophy for a year. of the trophy — a 43cm carving of an Emperor penguin in African walnut, Since the first award in 1972 the which was presented to the Canterbury Conservation Trophy has gone to branch by one of its members, Mr Peter individuals who have worked in the I. Voyce, in 1971. The trophy is awarded Antarctic or sub-Antarctic. Previous to any person or organisation awards have been made to J. N. Foster contributing significantly to any aspect (1972), L. B. Quartermain (1973, of Antarctic conservation — posthumous), B. N. Norris (1974), E. R. preservation of historic buildings and Gibbs (1975), P. M. Sagar (1976). ANTARCTIC December, 1977 TREATY MEETING Antarctica's resources and environment Interim measures designed to check exploration and exploitation of Antarctica's mineral resources while the environmental effects of such activities are being studied and assessed were agreed to by the ninth consultative meeting of representatives of the Antarctic Treaty nations held in London from September 19 to October 7. The meeting also agreed to the drafting of a regime designed to protect the marine living resources of the oceans surrounding Antarctica on which the continent's ecosystem revolves. Thirteen nations were represented at Vvays of increasing research co-opera the meeting. They were the 12 original tion will be considered when the regime signatories of the Antarctic Treaty — is drafted. In the meantime the repre Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Britain, sentatives will recommend that all the Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, nations "show the greatest possible care Norway, South Africa, Soviet Union, and concern to avoid the depletion of and the United States — and Poland, stocks or the jeopardising of the marine which was admitted as a consultative ecosystem." A special meeting will member earlier in the year. probably be held in Washington late next year to ratify the draft regime atives agreed to recommend to their uiawu i governments to urge their nationals and One of the most important decisions of others to refrain from mineral explora the consultative meeting was to extend tion and exploitation while intensive the suspension of territorial claims studies on the environmental implica provided for in the Antarctic Treaty to tions are carried out. Preliminary meet cover mineral and marine pending the ings next year, and the next full consult establishment of permanent rules to ative meeting in Washington in 1979, will govern the exploitation of these resour work out an internationally agreed ces. The treaty, when first drafted, was approach to other aspects of possible concerned primarily with scientific mineral exploitation. research, and did not cover exploration Under the terms of the unanimous and exploitation of resources. resolution on marine living resources a special meeting will be held next year— probably in Canberra in February and Rare visitors March — to draft a regime for the protection of krill and all other living A cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and a resources. The draft regime will allow white stork (Ciconia ciconia) were two "rational harvesting". It will not spell anomalous visitors to the South African out what quantities of krill or fish can be sub-Antarctic weather station on Maron taken by individual nations, but will Island this year. The island, 2300km impose an overall limit on the total south-south-east of Cape Town, is the permissable catch to prevent over breeding ground of 26 species of sea fishing and protect the Antarctic eco birds, and has an estimated Macaroni system. penguin population of 2,000,000.

!4»J December, 1977 ANARE BEGINS Restoration of Mawson's Cape Denison hut Preliminary marine research studies of the Southern Ocean will be carried out along the ship tracks of the Nella Dan during her relief voyages to Australia's Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations this season. The Nella Dan sailed from Melbourne for Macquarie Island last month on the first of the four annual Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) and was expected to return on November 26. the relief operations and this summer. Marine research is expected to be One party of four biologists from the come increasingly important in future Australian Museum, Sydney, will stay Australian Antarctic scientific pro grammes. This season Antarctic Divi sion scientists working from the Nella fauna and flora. Dan will study the distribution of phyto- plankton, which is the basic food of Later this season the Antarctic Divi marine life. Complementing this re sion will initiate a long-term program search is the work of the Division of me of restoration and preservation of Fisheries and Oceanography, Common the main hut at Cape Denison, Common wealth Scientific and Industrial Re wealth Bay, erected by Sir Douglas search Organisation, which will con Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Ex tinue measurements of the chemistry pedition of 1911-14. A party of four men and temperature of the sea water will leave Melbourne on January 12 throughout the voyages south. aboard the Thala Dan, and will remain at Cape Denison for a month to make a On the Nella Dan's first voyage the thorough appraisal of the base and the expedition was led by Mr Attila Vrana, four huts. of the Antarctic Division, and the ship carried 19 members of the 1978 Mac Since 1974 three visits of a few hours quarie Island winter party, which will duration have been made by ANARE continue research in meteorology, upper staff to Cape Denison, and only "first atmosphere physics, geophysics, and aid" maintenance has been possible. biology. The officer-in-charge is Mr P. But these visits have revealed the need Pritchard, of Melbourne. Ms Enid to clear the ice which fills most of the Borschmann, of Mildura, Victoria, ac interior of the main hut and encapsul companied the expedition as a cook. ates the remaining contents. The struc This continues the recent practice of ture of the hut is still substantially including women in the Marquarie complete, although much of the fabric is Island winter party. The station doctor in various stages of decomposition. and one of the radio operators last winter were women. During their stay at Cape Denison members of the restoration team will Other passengers on the Nella Dan live in tents on a ration pack diet. Their included scientists from universities, main objectives will be removal of ice the C.S.I.R.O., the Tasmanian National and snow from the main living hut, Parks and Wildlife Services, and other preventing of further ingress of snow, Australian institutions. They were to and assessment of the structure for undertake a number of studies during future restoration work. m^M m^M ^^H

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 Glaciologists to meet at Dome C

Dome C, the ice dome in Wilkes Land 1150 from McMurdo Station, will be a meeting place for scientists of five nations this summer — Australia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union. They are taking part in the International Antarctic Glaciological Project, which is a joint study of a large part of the East Antarctic ice sheet. The Dome C region is one of the major centres of ice out-flow in East Antarctica, and is an area of great glaciological interest. This season a French team led by Dr RUSSIAN PLANS Claude Lorius has resumed studies at Dome C, which contains some of the Early next year the 23rd Soviet world's thickest known ice. The team Antarctic Expeditions plans to send a plans to drill into the ice to a depth of traverse party along the route from Mirny 1000m. Cores from the drill hole will help to Pioneerskaya, and then to Dome C. to describe climatic changes over the This will be party of the Soviet Union's last 25,000 years, to determine the origin contribution to the International of chemical impurities, and to study the Antarctic Glaciological Project, and the stability of the East Antarctic ice sheet. International Magnetospheric Study. Last season the Russians made a major Another French team worked for magnetic and glaciological traverse several weeks at the Amundsen-Scott inland from Mirny between January 16 South Pole Station to complete a and March 9. They covered 2200km in 52 geochemical study of snow and ice days, and reached a point 300km from samples started in the 1974-75 season. Dome C. They dug shallow pits near the Pole, and took samples of snow accumulated there On their traverse the Soviet scientists over the last 15 years. This will aid established automatic magnetic sta investigations of aerosol and other tions and made studies of snow chemical constituents of Antarctic snow. accumulation, density, and hardness along the route. A glaciologist from the More than 30 tons of supplies and Australian Antarctic Division took part equipment for the drilling team at Dome in the traverse with a Doppler satellite C was flown from McMurdo Station by receiver, and established markers for United States Navy Hercules aircraft of use in studies of the movement of the VXE-6 Squadron. Members of the East Antarctic ice cap. Two Australian French team followed after several days scientists are expected to take part in acclimatisation at the South Pole to thsi season's traverse to Dome C. prepare for working at Dome C, which is more than 3352m above sea level. The British scientists from the Scott Polar Frenchmen are using the Dome C camp Research Institute will continue their established by the United States naval glaciological and geophysical explora support force for the recovery of the tion of the Antarctic icesheetby airborne three Hercules aircraft damaged when radio-echo sounding, which they have supporting French research in the 1975- done for several seasons. The sounding, 76 season. which is part of the International December, 1977 ANTARCTIC

Antarctic Glaciological Project, is done 225km inland from Dumont d'Urville. from a specially-equipped United States To enable United States Navy and Navy Hercules aircraft in co-operation civilian aviation experts to visit the site with American investigators and staff and decide whether it is feasible to from the Technical University of recover the aircraft the winter team at Denmark. Dumont d'Urville constructed a skiway In past seasons the airborne explora a few kilometres from the station. Early tion of the ice sheet, base.d on McMurdo this month a French support team was Station, has covered a vast area of East flown from McMurdo Station to the site Antarctica, and has also taken in part of — a distance of about 1482km. Then the West Antarctica. This season the team, led by Roger Guillard, who was in specially-equipped Hercules is being charge at Dumont d'Urville last winter, used to make a survey of Dome C for began the 230km journey from the small selection of the mostsuitabledrillingsite inland base of Carrefour towards D259, by the French glaciologists. site of the abandoned Hercules, where a second skiway will be built. PLANE RECOVERY When the skiway is completed experts United States and French co-operation will fly in from McMurdoStationtomake in East Antarctica will extend this a technical review of the present season to aircraft recovery. A French condition of the aircraft, which is traverse team will Build a skiway in partially-buried, but accordingly to Wilkes Land at 68deg 20min S/137deg earlier French reconnaissance reports, 31min E where a United States Navy virtually free of snow inside the fuselage. Hercules was disabled and abandoned If the inspection shows that the aircraft after an accident on December 4, 1971. can be recovered, the support force will The aircraft was disabled after make the effort in the 1978-79 season. resupplying a French traverse about Historic document Two New Zealanders were present on restored the historic occasion when Sir Douglas Mawson read the proclamation. They An historic document which remained were two young scientists. R. A. Falla buried under rocks in the Antarctic for (ornithologist)', now Sir Robert Falla, 46 years has been restored at the Aus and R. G. Simmers (meteorologist) tralian National Library in Canberra. It now Dr Simmers is the proclamation of British sove reignty over King George V Land, now When members of the Australian part of Australian Antarctic territory. National Antarctic Research Expedi tions visited Cape Denison in January, On the second voyage of the British, 1974. they found the original procla Australian, and New Zealand Antarctic mation still in place. It had been buried Research Expedition led by Sir Douglas under rocks in a canister made from Mawson the Discovery anchored off ■three tins, which had become heavily Cape Denison. the main base of the corroded, and produced rust stains on Australasian Antarctic Expedition the document. (1911-14). A landing was made, and the Australian flag was hoisted at noon on When the proclamation was brought Januarys. 1931. In a casket at the foot of back to Australia the rust stains were the flagpole was deposited a proclama removed, and it was placed in the Nati tion which claimed formal possession of onal Library's manuscript section. A King George V Land — as situated facsimile will be returned to the original between 142deg and 160deg E, and be site when an A.N.A.R.E. party visits tween 66 deg S and the South Pole. Cape Denison again. ANTARCTIC December, 1977 B.A.S. REPORTS Marine Research Project in Scotia Sea Area British Antarctic Survey scientists aboard the Royal Research Ship John Biscoe will begin a new programme of marine research this summer, which is likely to be continued for a numberof years. For about two months an intensive study will be made of the marine environment and ecosystem in a small area of high productivity in the Scotia Sea south of South Georgia. An extensive programme of geochem damaged beyond repair on January 22 ical sampling throughout the Antarctic during field operations south of King Peninsula will be carried out from late George VI Sound. February by field parties supported by the R.R.S. Bransfield and aircraft. The Two men were left in charge of the purpose is to determine the evolution of Damoy Point refuge hut, and remained the igneous rocks which form the great there until the ferrying flights were er part of the peninsula. Geologists from completed. The John Biscoe was to have the University of Birmingham will proceeded to South Georgia to land a collaborate with the British Antarctic party of biologists who will be working on and around the island. But the work Survey in the project, and also in an was postponed while Mr Giles Kershaw, investigation of the geochronology and a pilot on short-term loan to B.A.S., who palaeomagnetism of the major intru sions. joined the ship at Damoy Point, in spected the old runway at Deception When the John Biscoe sailed from Island, and then was taken to Punta Southampton at the end of September Delgada, Chile, to fly home. she began her 21st Antarctic season. Next year she will undergo a major Then the John Biscoe sailed for South refit. Georgia, collecting passengers from the Falklands en route. After establishing FERRY FLIGHTS parties of biologists on Bird Island and After calls at Montevideo and the elsewhere, she remained in the South Falkland Islands the John Biscoe pro Georgia area for several weeks, relie ceeded to Damoy Point, Wiencke Island. ving Grytviken Station, and the field On October 27 she landed there 15 men huts, and assisting the biologists. Then and stores. They were geologist, glaci she was to relieve Signy before return ing to South America to pick up more ologists, and geophysicists who will men, including the co-master, from Mar spent two or three months at field sites del Plata on December 26. in Palmer Land and on Alexander Is land, using motor toboggans for trans KRILL STUDIES port. In the marine research programme Because access to Rothera by sea was this summer supplementary studies of blocked by ice this party was flown the biochemistry of krill and the rela south from the Damoy Point air facility tionship between krill and its predators by the two B.A.S. Twin-Otters, which — fish, seals and birds — will be based had made a six-day flight to Rothera on the B.A.S. laboratories at Grytviken. from Toronto. One aircraft is new. It This programme is regarded as of replaces the Twin-Otter which was particular importance because of the December, 1977 ANTARCTIC rapidly increasing interest in the poten unload on to fast ice and snow ramps tial food resources of the Southern near the station before they broke out Ocean. from the base of the ice cliffs. As krill is the key organism in the A speedy relief of Halley will allow food-web that forms the basis of South more time for ship-borne geophysics in ern Ocean ecology, it is vital that its role the northern part of the Weddell Sea. should be fully understood before large- This will be undertaken by the Marine scale exploitation is undertaken. Mis Geophysics Group of the University of management of krill or fish stocks could Birmingham which has worked in the endanger many species of whales, seals, Scotia Sea and surrounding areas con- birds and other animals. tineously since 1959-60. It is hoped that this season's work will help to elucidate The B.A.S. programme will con the structural relationship between tribute to the international BIOMASS East and West Antarctica and also date (Biological Investigation of the Marine the formation of the Weddell Sea floor. Antarctic System and Stocks) pro gramme. This is promoted jointly by the MAIN RELIEF Scientific Committee for Antarctic Re search and the Scientific Committee on The ship will then call at Signy Island Oceanic Research. and revisit South Georgia before turning north to Mar del Plata, Argentina, SUPPLY VOYAGE where the ship's co-master will take over command, and more senior B.A.S. R.R.S. Bransfield left Southampton staff will be picked up. She will then on October 21 with 32 passengers on return to the west coast of the Antarctic board. Her first port of call was May- Peninsula to carry out the main relief of port, Florida, where cargo was picked Rothera. up for Palmer Station. She then passed through the Panama Canal and pro The third and final phrase of the ceeded to Valparaiso to embark senior construction of Rothera should be com B.A.S. staff going south for the summer pleted this season. This includes the and nine Americans going to Palmer addition of one new building, more fuel Station. tanks, an evaporating plant and a jetty, and the conversion of the original all- Her primary task is to supply the five purpose building into a dormitory block. main B.A.S. stations and Palmer Sta Two mobile huts will also be provided tion and, as usual, she will also assist for the airstrip. Interior work has been field parties. An attempt will be made to continued throughout the winter. reach Palmer Sttion and Faraday (Ar gentine Islands) in the middle of this NEW PROGRAMME month and if ice conditions permit, the From late February onwards, field ship will then continue down the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula to parties supported by the Bransfield and deliver building supplies to Rothera. aircraft will carry out an extensive programme of geochemical sampling GEOPHYSICS PROJECT throughout the Antarctic Peninsula. The purpose is to determine the evolu From Rothera the Bransfield will tion of the igneous rocks which form the return to the Falklands to refuel and greater part of the peninsula. This will take on more men before sailing for be supplemented by an investigation Halley Station by way of South Georgia. into the geochronology and palaeomag- The relief of Halley is always unpre netism of the major intrusions. Geo dictable. For several seasons it was an logists from the University of Birming extremely difficult and lenghty opera ham will be collaborating with B.A.S. in tion, but in the last two years, by follow these projects. ing leads on the east side of the Weddell Sea, the ship was able to go in early and In mid-March the Bransfield will ANTARCTIC December, 1977 leave the Antarctic Peninsula area, Brown station where ionospheric equip calling at various stations on the way, ment for the present B.A.S.—Argent including the Argentine Almirante ine—U.S. project will be inspected. Medical emergency flight to Argentine base A British Antarctic Survey pilot flew more than 3000km last month to bring out a sick man from the Argentine base, General Belgrano, on the Luitpold Coast of Coats Land. The pilot, Giles Kershaw, was at the controls of the B.A.S. Twin-Otter for 16 hours on the flight from Rothera to General Belgrano, and then to the Argentine Air Force base, Marambio, on Seymour Island. Available Argentine aircraft could not fly in because they were not ski-equipped. After an urgent request from the While they waited for the weather to Argentine authorities, one of the two clear the crew of the Twin-Otter helped B.A.S. Twin-Otters based at Rothera, the winter team at Palmer Station to with a mechanic and the base doctor, pack material for return to the United left Adelaide Island in the late afternoon States when the summer team arrives. of November 1. It flew more than 1350km across the Antarctic Peninsula, and Mr Kershaw, who was on short-term then over the Ronne and Filchner Ice loan to B.A.S. from Taylor Woodrow Shelves to General Belgrano. The Ar International Ltd., was also in the news gentine base, established on the Filch last January when he flew more than ner Ice Shelf 20 years ago, is now located 2500km across the Antarctic to rescue 6 on the Bertrab Nunatak, between Shac B.A.S. men marooned south of Alexan kleton, the 1956-57 base of the Common der Island after their aircraft had crash- wealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and landed. Vahsel Bay. Before the B.A.S. Twin-Otter made its To bring the sick man. suffering mercy flight an Argentine Twin-Otter on from a severe internal haemorrhage, to its way to Marambio was delayed at Marambio Mr Kershaw had to fly the Palmer Station because of a defective .'win-Otter more than 1100km. The overspeed engine governor. An Argen tine Air Force Hercules dropped a spare flight was followed from the United States base, Palmer Station, on Anvers governor by parachute on the evening of Island, and hourly weather reports from October 30. Marambio and alternates were trans A mail package was attached to the lated from Spanish for the crew of the parachute, and soon after the air drop Twin-Otter, which delivered the sick the crew of the Twin-Otter and the 10 man on the morning of November 2 just men at the station were contentedly as bad weather closed in over the whole munching large amounts of English Antarctic Peninsula and grounded all licorice sweets. The sweets were sent by aircraft. the parents of Edward C. Schwalenberg, of the University of Nevada, who has As soon as the weather cleared the been the station meteorologist this sick man was flown from Marambio to winter. hospital in Buenos Aires by an Argent On October 31 the Argentine crew ine Hercules aircraft. Because Rothera installed the spare governor in their and all other destinations were closed aircraft which left Palmer Station the in, Mr Kershaw had to fly from Maram next afternoon. The Twin-Otter landed bio to Palmer Station on November 3. later at Marambio without incident. December, 1977 ANTARCTIC

Expedition will attempt Smith Island peaks

Three ice-capped peaks on Smith liams, who discovered the South Shet Island in the South Shetlands will be lands in February, 1819, by accident on a attempted by a British mountaineering voyage from Montevideo to Valparaiso. expedition this summer. Two New Zea Smith sighted Smith Island on his landers, one with Antarctic climbing third Antarctic voyage in Octobe experience, have joined the expedition 'is led by the noted mountaineer, It was known to British and American sealers from 1820 onwards, and the only _ itor, and author. Major H. W. recorded landing was by Captain John Tilman. Davis on February 1, 1821, during an Major Tilman, now 78, was the leader American sealing expedition. He landed of the 1938 Everest expedition. In 1964-65 on the southern coast to find that Aus he sailed the 19.2m schooner Patanela tralian sealers from Botany Bay had 3862km to Heard Island with the mem already established a camp there. bers of the Southern Indian Ocean ex pedition led by Major Warwick Dea One of the two New Zealanders in this cock, which climbed 2743m Big Ben. year's mountaineering expedition is This time he will not do any climbing, Gary Ball, a professional guide from Mt but will sail a converted 18.8m steel- Cook. He was an Antarctic Division field hulled trawler from the Falkland Is assistant in the 1976-77 season, and lands to Smith Island. climbed five peaks in the Royal Society Landing on the rugged coast of Smith Range with Walter Bonatti, the noted Island, whose sheer black cliffs rise mountaineer and alpine .guide with the 609m to 914m is likely to be almost as Italian expedition to the Ross Depen hazardous as scaling its peaks. To the dency. In 1973 he spent several months west the coast slopes gently, but else climbing in South America with a New where the island rises sheer from the Zealand party. water line, and the whole north coast is The other New Zealander is David fronted by breakers extending 3.2km Kilcullen, a farmer from Karamea, who offshore. has climbed extensively in Peru. In 1973 Smith Island lies about 67.5km west he was a member of the New Zealand ward of Deception Island (62deg 55min party which made the sixth ascent of the S/62deg 29min W) and is about 28.9 km west ridge of Pumasillo (6075m) in the long "and 13.14km wide. Two of its ice- Cordillera Vilcabamba of central Peru. capped peaks which can be seen from a The actual ascent was made by Mike great distance are the southern Mt Andrews and Kevin Carroll. Foster (2103) and Mt Pisgah (1859m) 6.4km north-eastward. About 4.8km In November of the same year Kevin north-eastward of Mt Pisgah is Mt Cristi Carroll and David Kilcullen joined two (1280m). Americans, Jeff Salz and Steven McAndrew in an attempt to make the Because of its great height and strik fifth ascent of Cerro Fitzroy (3360m) a ing appearance Smith Island has been a sheer tower of windswept rock in landfall for ships approaching Brans Argentinian Patagonia. Only 200m from field Strait which runs between the the summit Carrol and McAndrew were South Shetlands and the coast of Gra caught in a fierce storm on the west face ham Land. It is named after Captain of the peak and swept to their deaths by William Smith, master of the brig Wil dislodged rocks. ™ ^ T ^ ^ ^ s '

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ANTARCTIC December, 1977 SUB-ANTARCTIC CONTROL OF WILD CATS ON MARION ISLAND

Wild cats on Marion Island are believed to kill between 50,000 and 60,000 petrels each year. The remote sub-Antarctic island, where South Africa has had a weather station since 1949, is the breeding ground of 26 species of seabirds. Cats (Felis domesticus) and mice (Mus musculus) are the only introduced mammals. Mice were probably introduced regular census and tagging of two spec through shipwrecks and sealing expedi ies of fur seal, Arctocephalis tropicalis tions. In 1949 five cats were taken to the and Arctocephalis gazella-, and elephant island to combat the mice problem in the seals (Mirounga leonina). Some eco meteorological station. Since then the logical aspects of the introduced mice cats have gone wild, and the population population are being studied, and a on the coastal plains all round the island record is also kept of sightings of killer has grown to an estimated 3000. Petrels whales. This programme is being run by make up the bulk of the wild cats' diet: H. Erasmus, of the University of Preto mice comprise only a small portion ria. although large numbers are distributed over the island. In August the biologists sighted a Southern Right Whale (Balaena glaci- To check the alarming reduction of alis australis). It apeared off the island the bird population biologists from the on August 19. 24. and 29. On two separate Mammal Research Institute of the occasions team members dived to with University of Pretoria have begun a in metres of the whale and obtained an programme to eradicate the cat popula excellent photographic record. tion of the island by the introduction of the feline pan-leucopenia virus which NITROGEN CYCLING affects only cats. As part of the in stitute's mammal research programme There are 14 men in the 33rd relief two biologists, R. J. Van Aarde and P. team on Marion Island, and all are Condy have investigated for some time involved in microbiological, meteoro the basic ecological relationships of the logical, and ionospheric programmes. feral house cat population. Some are scientists: the others assist them or provide the logistic support VIRUS SPREAD needed to keep the base running. Between April last year and March A study of nitrogen cycling is being this year carrier cats were trapped to made by the microbiologist, Dr H. A. spread the virus. In other parts of the Lindeboom, originally from Groningen, world cats have developed resistance to Holland, and now attached to the Instit the virus: up to now it has not reached ute of Environmental Science, Uni Marion Island. The carrier cats were versity of the Orange Free State. This released over different parts of the project is part of a larger programme island in March, using a Puma heli initiated to investigate the bio-ener copter from the S.A.S. Protea. getics and mineral cycling of the eco Other projects in the mammal re system of the island. search programme this year include the Marion Island has a deficiency of ■ m1. .»v:,*i] '';£•%.

!lBFl*.W?.«3 December, 1977 ANTARCTIC nitrogen and phosphorus as growing palaeo temperatures suggests an factors. The phosphorus is introduced annual mean temperature of some 3deg by both salt spray and animals, whilst Celsius lower than present. Additional the nitrogen is primarily introduced by investigations have determined two animals. In the present study some former sea levels (3m and 6m) and chemical and microbiological factors of periglacial studies have produced inter nitrogen cycling are being investigated. esting data on sorted stripes. Starting with the number of sea-going The results from Marion Island are animals (penguins, elephant seals, and considered to be quite pertinent for the wandering albatrosses) and the amount understanding of the quaternary history of excretion products they produce, the of the Southern Hemisphere, as the cycle is followed as these products are Marion glacial sequence adds impor used by micro-organisms as energy and tant new data for the sub-Antarctic mineral sources. A small amount of the nitrogen is used by plants, and most of it is returned to the sea. the starting point WEATHER PROGRAMMES of the cycle. The 24hour daily meteorological pro Complementary to the main project of gramme is run by four meteorologists, counting penguins, and micro-organ three of them have had previous island isms, scraping faeces and making experience, two on Gough island and one hundreds of chemical analysis, minor on Marion. investigations have been done on nitro The upper air system is based on gen fixation by blue green algae, and on Vaisala 1680Mhz sondes and a 440Mhz the flowering of and the enzymes in transponder ranging system with two plants. Pollen traps have been erected soundings a day. The old pressure- at four different sites in the hope of cooker type aluminium hydroxide gen capturing pollen and spores, which erator has been replaced by a Stuart would indicate longdistance dispersal. electrolytic generator plant, which has greatly improved working conditions. GLACIAL HISTORY All main and intermediate synoptic Between 100.000 and 15.000 years ago observations are conducted-as well as Marion Island was covered by extensive hourly surface observations between glaciers. The glacial history of the 0600 G.M.T. and 1200 G.M.T. island, and the effects of the last ice age, are being studied by a British glacio The meteorological staff operates on a logist. Kevin Hall, who is attached to the shift system, which allows ample oppor Institute for Environmental Sciences, tunity for field excursions. Meteorolo University of Orange Free State. gists are G. J. Luden (senior, ex-Gough), V. L. Trollip (ex-Gough), C. J. Grove Results so far have indicated two (ex-Marion) and P. Schoeman. glacial episodes with an intervening interglacial during which a palaeosoil For the ionospheric and geomagnetic programmes, the N.I.T.R. developed a developed. Evidence for the oldest 30m aluminium mast which was set up glaciation shows at least one interstade while the youngest glaciation can be in 1974 to combat high winds. It is still shown to have experienced at least.four proving highly succesful. The proton stades. By a combination of stratri- procession recording magnetometer, graphy, till fabric analysis, striation designed and manufactured at the mag date and moraine locations, the palaeo netic observatory of the C.S.I.R., and distribution and oscillations of the gla installed in April this year, is producing ciers through the last glacial have been results of high accuracy, chart record delineated. ings being obtained every second. The present ionosphericist is C. J. W. Eras Preliminary analysis of inferred mus. :.-~-„ JX -i>.

ANTARCTIC December, 1977 SANAE REPORT South African team's busy winter Although no earth sciences programme was carried out from Sanae this year — it will be resumed next year — the 16 men of the 18th South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE 18) led by Gideon le Roux have had a busy winter, occupied by program mes of geomagnetics, ionospheric research, magnetospherics, and cosmic ray and riometer experiments. After more than 11 months' isolation in Queen Maud Land the men of the winter team are eagerly awaiting their relief by the supply ship RSA early next month. During the relief last January SANAE programme. 18 had a shocking introduction to the hazards of tlie Antarctic just before the The The groundbased groundbased VLF VLF receivers, supply ship RSA sailed for Cape Town. whichwhich have have been been operatedoperated routinelvroutinely for The meteorological hydrogen generator some some years, again formed the main exploded, and a member of trie new S0Urcesource of of data data during during thethe IMSIMS co-ordin-co-ordin meteorolog.cal team was badly burned ated aled period. New impetus has been about the face and eyes. added byadded the by integration the integration of of a a direction- direction After the RSA departed the new team finderfinder thisthis winter-winter. The satellite system settled down quickly to prepare for the providesprovides VLF VLF data data fromfrom thethe experiment winter, checking instruments for the aboardaboard the thc Isis Isis I andI and two two satellites.satellites. This scientific programme, packing stores datadata 1S is particularly particularly useful useful when augaug- unloaded from the ship, and becoming mentedmented by by the the groundbasedgroundbased data. The geomagnetic micropulsations BecauseRpmnntl of bad S^™^ weather ^T*?^ and the The steadily geomagnetic experiments has micropulsations also «-- experiments has also ' shortening days the team had to rush to continuouslv. but the complete all the outs.de work before hescontinuously, wen't on but a strike tl so tnat punches went on a strike so that k. settling in for the winter. During this waswas limited limited t0to aa continuous onntiniimis chart rhnrt period three different groups went downord. ord The The Iow-li_ , „ h !' . ccoast- Th,ey Hs'ghted very few temtem for for recordfn.recordin; EHX? h ?l ■ hhowever' and !he was was fitted fitted with with a a new new 90ac90uc, ZS5llP g P " much t0 the lustrationmuch to the frustration of the of operators, the operators, appointed. tuara K^,m h^Hi,,there have k™,, hardly .,„,, been any „„„„...,i auroral FOUR PROGRAMMES displays at all. Three of the four scientific program In 1978 the programme will be expand mes have been conducted by the Uni ed to include three new experiments on versity of Natal, Rhodes University of atmospheric electricity. A field mill will Grahamstown, and Potchefstroom Uni measure the variations in the static versity. The geomagnetics programme electrical field, and a VLF system with has been controlled by the Geomagnetic integrated spheric receivers at 5 and 27 Observatory in Hermanus. kHz will be installed, as well as an ELF system with a horizontal loop antenna to Four experiments in magnetospher provide a record of integrated ELF ics make up the University of Natal activity. December, 1977 ANTARCTIC SNOW STATIC and measurements of magnetic fluctua tions were continued as part of the The ionospheric research program geomagnetics programme controlled me, run by Rhodes University of Gra- by the geomagnetic observatory in hamstown, has been run continuously Hermanus. Another attempt was made with very few interruptions. Those that this year to procure (or is it obscure?) actually occurred, were mostly caused some H-Beta auroral data with the aid of by minor faults and snow static which a photometer, but the sensitivity of this builds up during storms. instrument leaves much to be desired Soundings, i.e. vertical and oblique, and no data was collected as a result. are made alternately at 15 minute inter vals, and once a week a calibration is Sanae's old seismograph again show done between Sanae and Grahamstown. ed itself to be the most reliable system in It is envisaged that a more powerful action. It has regularly contributed its transmitter will be installed at Sanae to share to the measurement of the world's enable the generated signal to reach great earthquake shocks. Grahamstown by a single hop instead of FIELD TRIPS a double hop as is the case at present. Because there has been no geological The airglow experiment, which meas programme this year the vehicles at ures airglow intensity at three different Sanae have seen little service. But the frequencies, was run during the dark will be used in a run to the continent months. Very satisfactory results were later this summer to enable members of obtained. the team to see the mountains south of The cosmic ray and riometer experi the base. ments are run under the auspices of After the field trips it is expected that Potchefstroom University. The neutron an evaluation will be made of an experi monitor aboard the RSA' broke '"5 data down was on ment on lubricants which is being con ducted at the base. The experimental i,,..^l,ivv. ,:v .,, ,>.: n 0anae, how vehicle fitted with a V8 diesel engine has ever proved most trustworthy and reli done very little work but it is a vast able data has been collected during the improvement on the previous model. year. The riometers, being such incred ibly sensitive receivers, have given Since the return of the sun the SANAE endless problems caused by interfer 18 has been able to do a lot of work ences of all kinds. outside in between heavy storms. Veh icles have been dug out of the winter BALLOON FLIGHTS snow, stores platforms have been lifted, The balloon package experiment has huts and antennas have been raised, and been quite successful after numerous drums of diesel fuel dug up for use. problems of an electronic nature were Slowly but surely Sanae is being prep solved, both in the packages and signlas ared to receive men of SANAE 19. analyser. Four flights have been at tempted so far, and some more are being planned for the summer under more favourable weather conditions. To ease the analysing of the cosmic ray data, a computer will be installed, probably in 1979. This will delight opera tors who have to do everything manual ly at present. Once again the apparatus was made functional again, standard observations ANTARCTIC December, 1977 TOURISM Day trips and cruises VKUflH*Wift& to Antarctic

Tourism has become almost an Antarctic growth industry this year. Between October and December more than 2000 Australians, New Zealanders, and Japanese, have seen the continent from the ■ air as passengers on day trips made by the aircraft of two international airlines — Qantas and Air New Zealand. Another 500 to 600 tourists will cruise in the Antarctic Peninsula area, making calls at American, British, Russian, and Argentinian bases, and 1250 passengers aboard an Italian cruise liner will be in Antarctic waters next month.

Last summer Air New Zealand and charter to the electronics firm run by Mr Qantas provided five trips for more than Dick Smith, who organised the first day 1200 day tourists. These flights were trips last year, was planned to reach the made on special charters or by arrange South Pole,but because of strong winds ment with travel firms. Qantas flights the 74.7 flew from McMurdo Sound to this summer are all special charters; Dumont d'Urville and over the South Air New Zealand flights have been run Magnetic Pole. entirely by the airline. A third 747 flight from Melbourne on All Air New Zealand's fh'ghts have November 24 under charter to a city been to the Ross Dependency, and the travel firm, also flew to McMurdo Sound, McMurdo Sound area where the tourist and then to Dumont d'Urville. On Nov attractions are Mt Erebus, one of Ant ember 23 a Boeing 707 charter flight arctica's two active volcanoes, the organised by an Adelaide travel firm historic huts of Scott and Shackleton on took 170 passengers south over Mac Ross Island, and the New Zealand and quarie Island, the Australian base, American bases there, and the strange Casey, on the Budd Coast of Wilkes dry valleys of Victoria* Land. Qantas Land, and Dumont d'Urville. The flight flights have been to the South Magnetic began and ended in Adelaide. Pole, which is only a point in the ocean opposite the French base, Dumont d' NOSTALGIC FLIGHT Urville, in Adelie Land. A notable event in Australian and New NEW ROUTE Zealand Antarctic history was recalled on the flight from Sydney to the South One Qantas flight from Melbourne Magnetic Pole on December 1. The last season, however, was to Cape Wash special guest on board the 747 was an ington, on the coast of North Victoria 88-year-old New Zealander, Mr Eric N. Land, in the Ross Dependency. But last Webb, the last survivor of Mawson's month Qantas moved into Air New Australasian Antarctic Expedition Zealand's sphere of influence. The first (1911-14), who with two Australians, flight by a Boeing 747 from Sydney by Bob Bage and Frank Hurley, came way of Melbourne on November 17 took within 80km of the South Magnetic Pole 300 passengers into McMurdo Sound and on December 21, 1912. over Mt Erebus. This flight, under December, 1977

Sixty-five years ago Bage. Webb, tourists on the last two flights — 21 on chief magnetician of the expedition, and November 8 and 84 on November 15 — as Hurley, man-hauled their sledges 482km well as some Australians. south from the main base at Cape Deni son in Commonwealth Bay in driving All the flights were favoured by good blizzards and temperatures below zero. weather, and although cloud was en countered on some occasions, the DClOs They made their last camp at 89deg 35 min S. Three years before three mem did not have to use the alternative route bers of Shackleton's expedition, Maw along the coast of King George V Land to the South Magnetic Pole. Passengers on son, Edgeworth David, and Mackay, had man-hauled their sledges 2027km to the November 1 flight had the best establish the position of the Magnetic viewing — clear skies all the way south Pole on the Victoria Land plateau at and back. Each aircraft flew about 8851km between Auckland. McMurdo 72deg 25 min S. Sound, and Christchurch. Between 1909 and 1912 the shifting Magnetic Pole had moved 281km from MORE CRUISES where Shackleton's men had located it. Over the last 65 years it has continued to Tourists travel in Antarctic waters is move further north towards the coast. more expensive, and takes longer, but From Victoria Land the movement was Lindblad Travel, which has organised across the Ninnis Glacier towards the tourist cruises to the Antarctic Pen coast of King George V Land and Com insula and Ross Sea areas since 1965, monwealth Bay. In 1960 it was located still attracts tourists every season. The near Cape Denison, and five years later Lindblad Explorer, built for the comp it was off the coast of Adelie Land. When any in 1969, made three cruises to Eric Webb made his second journey to Antarctic Peninsula waters last season; the Magnetic Pole its approximate four are planned between December 19 position was at sea near the French and March 8 this season. base, Dumont d'Urville. As in past seasons the cruises will FIRST TRIPS be started from Ushuaia, and include the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Air New Zealand began its first day and visits to various bases. Calls will be trips, classed as domestic flights from made at Hope Bay, King George and Auckland to Christchurch by way of Deception Islands. Port Lockroy, An Antarctic, on October 18. It used four vers Island, the Argentine Islands, and different DC10 aircraft of its fleet, flown Paradise Bay. by Captains M. Hawkins (October 18), A. W. Jones (November 1), R. Johnson In 1968 Lindblad Travel organised the (November 8) and A. Vette (November first tourist cruises to the Ross Sea area, 15). using the Danish polar ship Magga Dan. The Lindblad Explorer made two cruis Each flight left Auckland with a maxi es in the 1970-71 season, and returned to mum fuel load of 109,000kg, the aircraft McMurdo Sound in the 1973-74 season on being required to have 51,000kg remain her way to the Antarctic Peninsula. ing when leaving McMurdo Sound to meet all reserve and contingency re Next season the Lindblad Explorer quirements on the way home. They all will make three Antarctic cruises, tha landed at Christchurch with plenty of last of which will include the Ross Sea fuel to fly on to Auckland (the alternate) area. After visiting the Antarctic Pen if necessary. insula, the ship will cruise along the Antarctic coast and the Ross Ice Shelf to About 230 passengers travelled on each McMurdo Sound, arriving there about flight, and the aircraft carried three February 6. 1979. On the way to Bluff pilots, two flight engineers, and 15 cabin calls will be made, subject to ice condi attendants. There were 105 Japanese tions and weather, at Cape Hallett, Cape vV'.-\V.''^-'

Adare, the Balleny Islands, Macquarie Subject to the base commanders' Island. Campbell Island, and the Auck approval the World Discoverer will call land Islands. at Bellingshausen Station on King Geor ge Island, Esperanza in Hope Bay, NEW SHIP Palmer Station on Anvers Island, Far A West German travel firm, Necker- aday Station (Argentine Islands), and mann und Reisen GmbH, plans two Almirante Brown Station in Paradise Antarctic "educational" expeditions Bay. The ship will also cross the Antarc between December 14 and January 28 tic Circle if ice conditions are favour this season. It will use the 3,153-tonne able, and call at Deception Island. motor-ship World Discoverer, which An Italian cruise liner, the 13,607- can carry 120 passengers. Most of the tonne Enrico C. will take up to 1250 tourists are expected to be West Ger- passengers into Antarctic waters in January next year. The Costa Line's Scientists with Antarctic experience cruise starts at Montevideo and carries will travel on each voyage. They will on to Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Antarctic brief the tourists and accompany them waters, the Falkland Islands, and final on proposed visits to bases in the Antarc ly Buenos Aires. Publicity material tic Peninsula area. The cruises will suggests that visits will be made to begin and end at Ushuaia, and will Antarctic Peninsula base, but these are include visits to the Falkland Islands not named. (Islas Malvinas). Fuji's satellite equipment Tests of telephone and telex com by a radome 1.8m in diameter and 30m munications, using the MARISAT high. The total weight of the above deck Pacific and Atlantic satellites, are being equipment, designed to operate on made aboard the icebreaker Fuji during temperatures of minus 40deg to 65deg her voyage south for the 19th Japanese Celsius, is not more than 200kg. Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE 19). Beacon waves from the third Below deck equipment weighs approx MARISAT over the Indian Ocean will imately 310kg. It consists of a also be observed as long as time permits communication panel 5.7m wide, 6.30m on the voyage. MARISAT- mobile deep, and 15.40m high, which weighs terminal equipment has been installed 250kg, and a teleprinter unit 5.64 wide, on the Fuji, which sailed, from Tokyo on 4.75 deep, and 7.9m high, which weighs November 25, and will complete this 60kg. season's voyage on April 20. Two Frenchwomen will take part in Among the proposed tests of the the 27th French Antarctic Expedition MARASAT equipment will be a check of this season, but they will be more than any faults in the instrumental or 1000km apart. A 28-year-old glaciologist, operational points of the system, Martine Briat, flew this month from particularly in the storm zone around McMurdo Station to Dome C, the ice Antarctica, and of the lowest elevation dome in Wilkes Land, where she will and workable temperature at which the work in the glaciological research team antenna unit can be used. Other features led by Dr Claude Lorius until the end of in the specifications will also be tested. January. Installed by the Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Off the coast of Adelie Land Christiane the equipment is above and below deck. Gillet, who is a mechanical engineer, will Above deck is the parabolic antenna, work at the main French base, Dumont which is 1.2m in diameter. It is protected d'Urville, during the summer. December, 1977 ANTARCTIC "Aurora Australis" sold for world record price A world record price of $2400 was paid for a copy of "Aurora Australis," one of the rarest books about Antarctica, at an auction of rare books, prints, and maps in Wellington. "Aurora Australis" was set in type and printed at Cape Royds by Frank Wild and Ernest Joyce during Shackleton's 1907-09 expedition, and only 100 copies were produced. This copy of "Aurora Australis" is "The Home of the Blizzard" in its signed by Shackleton, who was editor- original edition brought $120, and an in-chief, and George Marston, the expe other copy $110. Roald Amundsen's dition's artist, who was editor. It bears account of his expedition also brought the bookplate of Annie Cowdray. The $110 for the two volumes, and "The copy, which was the most expensive Voyage of the Discovery" and "Scott's book ever sold at auction in New Zea Last Expedition" were sold for $80 and land, will remain in the country. $70 respectively. Some copies of "Aurora Australis" Five books dealing with Shackleton's were given to benefactors of the expedi expeditions realised more than $200. tion, and it is presumed that each mem "The Heart of the Antarctic" (1909 ber of the expedition received a copy. edition) brought $70. and $50 was paid There are at least four other copies in for another two volumes with a typed New Zealand — two in the Alexander letter dated February 4, 1914, on Impe Turnball Library, Wellington, one in the rial Trans-Antarctic Expedition note- Canterbury Museum's polar library, paper and signed by Shackleton. and one owned by Mr P. J. Skellerup, chairman of the Museum Trust Board. A 1920 reprint of "South", the story of Shackleton's 1914-17 expedition was sold Since 1970 when the Canterbury Muse for $20, .and Frank Wild's story of the um paid £450 for its copy at auction in Quest expedition, "Shackleton's Last London there have been two other copies Voyage," brought $35. "Argonauts of of "Aurora Australis" sold at auction. the South" (1925) in which Frank Hurley One was sold for $950 in Melbourne in wrote of his experiences with Mawson 1971, and the last recorded auction price and Shackleton realised $60. was £740 paid in London on December 12, 1975. RARE PAMPHLET FIRST EDITIONS Second highest price in the Antarctic More than $3700 was realised from the expedition was $200 paid for a rare pamphlet by Charles Enderby publis sale of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic hed in 1849. Its title was: "The Auckland books at the auction, which was con Islands: Short Account of Their Cli ducted by McArthur and Co. Among the mate, Soil, and Products, and the Ad books were Mawson's "The Home of the vantages of EstablishingThere A Settle Blizzard," Shackleton's "The Heart of ment at Port Ross for carrying on the the Antarctic," and one of the 350 copies Southern Whale Fisheries with a Pan of the facsimile edition of the "South oramic View of Port Ross, and a map of Polar Times." This was Volume III the Islands." (June to October, 1911) edited by Cherry- Garrard. It was sold for $110. "The Sub-Antarctic Islands of New fcJvfil &te-,:-:

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The New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.)

The New Zealand Antarctic Society was formed in 1933. It comprises New Zealanders and overseas friends, many of whom have seen Antarctica for themselves, and all of whom are vitally interested in some phase of Antarc tic exploration, development, or research. The society has taken an active part in restoring and maintaining the historic huts in the Ross Dependency and has been involved in the establishment of a national Antarctic centre at the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. There are two branches of the society and functions are arranged through out the year. You are invited to become a member, South Island residents should write to the Canterbury secretary, North Islanders should write to the Wellington secretary, and overseas residents to the secretary of the New Zealand Society. For address, see below. The yearly membership fee is NZ$3.00 (or equivalent local currency). Membership fee, overseas and local, including "Antarctic", NZ$6.50. New Zealand Secretary P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch Branch Secretaries Canterbury: P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. I ■

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