AN,™ RClilG A NEWS BULLETIN published quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC)

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.; -Ldrsen.'-.■:■ i Ice Shelf WNiTHBWCi (successor to 'Antarctic News Bulletin') Vol.9, No. 7. 103rd Issue. September, 1981 Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch, 5. Address all contributions, inquiries etc. to the Editor.

CONTENTS ARTICLES TRANSGLOBE EXPEDITION 239-240 RESEARCH COMMUNITY 248 POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 210-223 UNITED STATES 224-228 AUSTRALIA 229-234 UNITED KINGDOM 235-237 SOVIET UNION 238 JAPAN 240 POLAND 240 SOUTH AFRICA 243 GENERAL WHALING COMMISSION 241-242 BIOMASS REPORTS 242-243 SHACKLETON FILM 222 OBITUARIES 244-245 ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF 246-247

ISSN 0003-5327 © New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc) 1978. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the prior permission of the publishers. ANTARCTIC September 1981

NEW ZEALAND PLANS ^H FOR SEASON Two international projects — a major geological study of Northern Victoria Land and observations on Mt Erebus — are included in New Zealand's Antarctic research programme for 1981-82. Five scientific field parties will work in Northern Victoria Land with United States and Australian scientists, and one New Zealand guest scientist and three mountaineers with Antarctic field experience will take part in the second West German expedition to Northern Victoria Land. New Zealanders will return to work on Mt Erebus with a United States party which, for a second season, will include scientists from the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. The New Zealand team will have scientists from Victoria University of Wellington and Waikato University, the Geological Survey, a Lands and Survey Department surveyor, and an Antarctic Division field assistant. In addition to the major projects in United States icebreaker, along the coast Northern Victoria Land and on Erebus of Victoria Land, in the dry valleys, at New Zealand will provide support for or Cape Bird, and on the sea ice of McMurdo take part in other projects with the Sound. United States, Japan, and Australia. Of particular significance this season Four Japanese scientists will conduct will be the celebration of the 25th an geochemical research in the Wright, niversary of the opening of Scott Base. Miers, and Victoria Valleys, and at Cape On January 20 New Zealanders in Bird. Antarctica will honour the occasion in For the first time two scientists from company with a group of invited guests, the People's Republic of China will be some of whom took part in the first New guests of the New Zealand programme. Zealand Antarctic programme in 1957. They are Mr Ye Dezan, a microbiologist As part of the official proceedings the from the 3rd Oceanographic Institute, new accommodation block will be and Mr Wang Sheng-yuan, a geochemist commissioned. from the Institute of Geochemistry, Academy of Science. The two wil be attached to scientific parties working in MANY PROJECTS the dry valleys. Scientists from four universities will This season 160 men and women will undertake a number of field research take part in the programme during the projects, including programmes in summer months. All the continuous biology, vulcanology, glaciology, scientific studies at Scott Base will be geology, botany, paleontology, geo maintained, and the programme covers chemistry, and ornithology. Men and a wide range of disciplines, including women from the universities, Antarctic glaciology, geology, vulcanology, geo Division, Ministry of Works and Dev physics, oceanography, botany, and elopment, Geological Survey, Geo ornithology. In addition to the parties in physics Division, Physics and Engineer Northern Victoria Land and on Erebus ing Laboratory, Soil Bureau, Meteoro New Zealand will have teams working at logical Service, Institute of Nuclear Cape Adare, in the Ross Sea from a Sciences, and National Museum, will m&& ,??!'*«•.ii" **" September 1981 ANTARCTIC

work on a wide range of projects. Army Carlos Plummer in the Daniels Range of construction teams will continue the the USARP Mountains later in the Scott Base rebuilding programme, and season. Post Office riggers will check aerial in Dr Cooper's party will work in the stallations. centre of the Bowers Mountains, the New Zealand science parties will begin Leitch Massif, and the Mt McCarthy their work in Northern Victoria Land area, to continue investigations of early in November and will be in the various fossiliferous units begun int he field until early January. They will be 1974-75 season. Dr Jim Jago, of the flown to a United States major base South Australian Institute of Tech camp established late next month on a nology, who is under the auspices of high snowfield at the head of the Australian National Antarctic Research Canham Glacier in the Evans Neve area. Expeditions (ANARE), worked with Dr United States Navy Hercules aircraft of Cooper in the 1974-75 season. The other VXE-6 Squadron will make about 50 members of the party are Professor Bert flights to support the operation. Rowell, University of Kansas, and Peter Braddock (field leader). Five Jamesway huts will be erected alongside a skiway to accommodate up Another Geological Survey scientist, to 100 men and women (60 scientists and Dr George Grindley, plans to establish a support staff). Three helicopters will be polar wander path for the volcanic and flown to the camp which is 648km from sedimentary rocks of Northern Victoria McMurdo Station. These will be used to Land. By comparing this with polar transport field parties to their work sites. wander paths for Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of Antarctica, Using motor toboggans and sledges Dr Grindley will test the reconstruction the five New Zealand parties will remain of Eastern Gondwanaland, and check in the field for extended periods, calling the possibility of large (greater than on helicopter support for movement to 500km) strike dip movements between other sites if required. Two of the parties Australia and Antarctica, and with An will be led by Geological Survey scientists tarctic, since the early Paleozoic period. who have worked in Northern Victoria Land in previous seasons. HELICOPTER SUPPORT In the first three weeks of November, Dr Grindley will work with Dr Plummer's SLEDGING TEAM party in the Daniels Range. Towards the Dr Malcolm Laird will take a sledging end of the month he will be joined by Dr team into the Bowers Mountains in an Peter Oliver (Geological Survey). Using attempt to define the regional extent of a combination of helicopter and motor the Bowers Supergroup. He and Dr toboggan support the pair will visit out John Bradshaw, geology department. crops in the Gallipoli Heights, Canham University of Canterbury, and Dr Chris Glacier, Lanterman Range, Leitch Adams, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Massif, Morozumi Range, Mariner will resolve outstanding stratigraphic Glacier, and Mt McCarthy regions. structural and correlation problems An Antarctic Division geologist, Dr created after Dr Laird's 1974-75 exped Bob Findlay, will lead a sledging party ition to the area. The field leader in the of four on a traverse from the Lyttelton team is Ken Sullivan. Range to the Milieu Range in an effort, This group's area of operations will be to look at structural and sedimen- the edge of the Rennick Glacier, the tological aspects of the Robertson Bay Bowers Mountains, the Mariner Glacier, Group rocks. With him will be a and Mt McCarthy. It will amalgamate Geological Survey geologist, Brad Field, with the other Geological Survey party Walter Fowlie (field leader) and Bill led by Dr Roger Cooper for scientific- Atkinson (field assistant). reasons and also because Dr Adams will A former New Zealand geologist, Dr join a United States project led by Dr Barrie McKelvey, now of the University SU -^f^/^TAt^J^r ANTARCTIC September 1981 of New England, Armidale, New South on the volcano has transmitted signals to Wales, who is under ANARE auspices, recorders at Scott Base 30km away dur plans to study the Beacon Supergroup of ing the 1981 winter. Northern Victoria Land, and investigate A VUW seismologist, Dr Ray Dibble, the paleohydrology of the Triassic part will continue the seismic audio and of the Beacon sequence. With helicopter magnetic studies he made on Erebus last support from the Evans Neve camp he summer, and also check and service the and a Victoria University of Wellington seismic array. He has been on several geologist, Barrie Walker, will examine earlier expeditions to Erebus, and his sequences on Mt Moody, in the southern work is an integral part of IMESS. Freyberg Mountains, and the northern Morozumi Range. In addition to the field parties New EARTH MOVEMENT Zealand will provide two men to aid the Last season Peter Otway, of the base camp administration. A field Geological Survey, established a leader, Eric Saxby, who is a former volcanic deformation monitoring pro Vanda Station leader, will co-ordinate gramme around the summit caldera of all New Zealand interests in the area, Erebus. This summer he will observe the and maintain communications with survey network again to determine the Scott Base. Graeme Morgan will be an nature of earth deformation associated assistant cook at the camp. with observed variations in the level of volcanic activity. GERMAN PLANS Two Waikato University scientists, Dr Keith Thompson and Neville Rogers, Four New Zealanders will take part in will join the IMESS group to continue the West German GANOVEX II expedi botanical research begun at the summit tion which will also work in Northern area in the 1977-78 season. They will Victoria Land this summer. The expedi examine mosses, algae, and fungi thriv tion's ship Gotland II will operate off ing in the fumaroles and warm soil of the the coast from mid-November to the end summit area. of February and scientists will be transported inland by four Hughes 500 A Lands and Survey Department helicopters. The New Zealanders are a surveyor, Pat Tinnelly, will work with guest geophysicist, Tim Stern, of the Peter Otway in the summit caldera area. Geophysics Division, and Gary Ball, An Antarctic Division field assistant, Maurice Conway, and Andy Brown, Nick Cradock, will be responsible for who will oversee the field safety of the the safety aspects of the project. expedition. Ball and Conway worked with GANOVEX I in the 1979-80 CLIMATIC CHANGES season. Brown was a snowcraft and sur vival training field assistant at Scott Base Vanda Station in the Wright Valley in the 1978-79 summer. will be operated for the summer only. A Six New Zealanders will take part in team of three led by Russell Millington the three-year International Mt Erebus will continue a programme of daily Seismic Study (IMESS) which was begun meteorological observations, and last season. The project has been planned measurements of wind and temperature to obtain a long-term record of seismic variations in the free air above the valley activity, and to gain a better understand floor. ing of the volcano's magma chamber Also the station will provide support and the magma lake in the crater, the for Andrew Woods, of the Ministry of only accessible active lava lake in the Works and Development, who will have world. the help of a field assistant and a surveyor This season a fourth permanent to continue the monitoring programme seismic station will be installed on the that documents long and short term east flank of Erebus. A seismic array climatic variations in the dry valleys by established last season at three locations studying the flow of the Onyx River, i^^^^^^H ^^'^^£?'" 11 September 1981 ANTARCTIC measuring the levels of eight enclosed Dependency, which are New Zealand's lakes, and making mass balance and responsibility under the Antarctic Treaty, ablation measurements on selected will be the concern of two parties this glaciers. season. On behalf of the Ross Measurements of lake levels at the Dependency Research Committee's his beginning and end of summer will be toric sites management working group continued on Lakes Vida, Vanda, Joyce, Mr G. Turner, senior planning surveyor Bonney, Henderson, Hoare (formerly of the Lands and Survey Department, Chad), Fryxell, and Don Juan Pond. and Mr J. Fry, a National Museum con One of the world's unique lakes, Don servator, will evaluate historic sites at Juan Pond has a salt content so high Hut Point, Cape Evans, and Cape that it does not freeze in winter. It has Royds to develop an effective manage also been described as the only known ment plan for future restoration and outflow of ground water in Antarctica. conservation. A modified water-level recorder was Far to the north three New Zealanders tested at the pond last summer and was will attempt to make an assessment of left to operate this winter. If the trial is the condition of Antarctica's oldest successful the existence and amount of buildings on Ridley Beach, Cape Adare. winter ground water flow will be moni These are a hut and a storeroom built in tored in future years. 1899 by C. E. Borchgrevink's Southern Cross Expedition, the first to winter on Glacier measurements will be made to the mainland. Another historic building monitor longer-term climatic variations on the windswept pebbly beach is the (five to 100 years). Mass balance hutt built in 1911 by the six men of measurements will be continued on the Scott's Northern Party, who spent 10 Heimdall Glacier, and comparative abla months there. tion measurements will be made again in the margins of one inland glacier A party led by David Harrowfield, of (Wright Upper) and two coastal glaciers the Canterbury Museum, will assess the (Clark and Wright Lower). condition of the huts so that a manage ment plan can be formulated for possi ICE TEMPERATURES ble future restoration and conservation. The Northern Party's hut is now in a To obtain more precise knowledge of state of ruin. It was on the verge of col mean air temperatures which is needed lapse in 1973 when two members of the for a great number of studies in the dry New Zealand Antarctic research pro valleys ice temperature will be measured gramme, Shaun Norman, deputy-leader in 20m holes drilled with a motorised at Scott Base, and Laurie Cairns, worked auger on a number of glaciers. This will on the huts for two weeks. establish approximate values of mean annual air temperatures for different Early in January the New Zealand altitudes. party will be landed at Ridley Beach In past seasons Soil Bureau scientists from the United States Coast Guard ice have worked at remote sites far from breaker Glacier on her way south. Scott Base. This season Dr Tom Speir Another Coach Guard icebreaker, the and Jan Heine will work on Ross Island. Polar Sea, will pick the three men up They will spend three weeks at Cape again early in February. Bird analysing the organic matter of "soils" in the Adelie penguin rookeries. PENGUIN CENSUS Samples will be taken from sites in in habited and uninhabited rookeries as During their stay at Cape Adare David well from a control site never lived in by Harrowfield, of the University of penguins. Auckland, Dr Maurice Mabin, of the Unversity of Canterbury, and Graham HISTORIC HUTS Wilsonhope to do some restoration work on the huts. In addition Dr Mabin Preservation and future management will study beach levels in the area to of historic sites and buildings in the Ross determine the relationship between the 7*WV ANTARCTIC September 1981 polar ice-cap and world ocean levels, and Arrival Heights this season and next and Graham Wilson will carry out a cen winter. During the summer a sus of the Cape Adare Adelie penguin Meteorological Service technician will rookery. undertake research at Scott Base and Most of the work of the surveyors will provide a weather briefing service to the be in the McMurdo Sound area and the officer-in-charge and New Zealand field dry valleys. They will monitor the parties. Physics and Engineering McMurdo Ice Shelf movement study, Laboratory staff will reoccupy field using a dog team from Scott Base, and magnetic stations at Cape Evans, Cape will be associated with the base Royds, and Vanda Station. rebuilding project and the installation of As in past seasons courses in basic a cable to Arrival Heights. Other pro snowcraft and survival techniques will jects will take them to Ml Erebus, and to be provided for United States air crews, Taylor Valley in support of a United Coast Guard icebreaker crews, and States glaciological study. American and New Zealand research Established laboratory research pro and support staff. An Antarctic Division gramme in atmospheric physics and field leader and two field assistants will earth sciences will continue at Scott Base conduct the courses. Logistic support by air forces United States, New Zealand, and Station with Australian National An Australian aircraft will provide logistic tarctic Research Expeditions scientists support for three Antarctic research pro and other staff. These flights of 2200km grammes again this season. Early next will be made in November and January. month United States Air Force Star- Two RNZAF helicopter crews will be lifters will begin the summer airlift of attached to VXE-6 Squadron and will men and materials from Christchurch to fly on support missions as in past McMurdo Station. They will be joined seasons. A pilot, loadmaster, and in mid-November and early December engineer will fly in the squadron's Her by Hercules aircraft of the Royal New cules aircraft throughout the summer. Zealand Air Force and the Royal Aust RNZAF and New Zealand Army cargo ralian Air Force. handling teams will operate during the New Zealand's contribution to the airlift. They will work in Christchurch United States — New Zealand logistics and at Williams Field near McMurdo pool has been reduced this year. No. 40 Station. Squadron will make 10 flights in Opera tion Ice Cube, two less than last season. Additional flights were made in 1980 to Representatives of the 14 con transport building materials for the sultative parties to the Antarctic Scott Base reconstruction programme. Treaty have recommended to their governments that the site of the Air This year Australian aircraft will New Zealand DC10 crash on Mt operate through Christchurch again and Erebus on November 28, 1979, be contribute to the pool under an agree declared a tomb, and that the govern ment which provides for Australian ments should ensure the area on the scientists to be flown from McMurdo northern slopes is left in peace. A Station to Casey Station. The RAAF commemorative resolution adopted will make four flights from Christchurch by the consultative parties' meeting to McMurdo Station, two less than last in Buenos Aires noted that some year. bodies had not been recovered, and In return for the RAAF Operation no permanent material could be Snowllake flights United States Navy erected on the ice slopes at the site of ski-equipped Hercules aircraft of VXE-6 the crash. Squadron will make two flights to Casey September 1981 ANTARCTIC Winter team at Scott Base

A 36-year-old New Zealand Forest Service ranger, Mr A. E. Newton, of Hokitika, has been appointed officer-in- charge at Scott Base for the 1981-82 summer season of the New Zealand Antarctic research programme. Mr Newton is deputy to the senior environment forest ranger for the Westland Conservancy. He has had 17 years' experience in all aspects of Forest Service mountain land management and animal control work. His experience also covers operations with aircraft and helicopters, and search and rescue units. Vanda Station's leader next summer will be Mr R.E. Millington, of Well ington. He is a 32-year-old teacher. In the 1978-79 season he worked at Vanda as a field assistant. Nine men have been selected to winter at Scott Base through 1982. The postmaster, Mr L.P. Slattery, wintered at Scott Base in 1980, and was there in the 1973-74 summer. Mr A.M. Bab- ington, senior Post Office technician, was in the 1979 winter team. Most of the men are from the North Island. Their ages range from 38 to 26. TONY NEWTON Members of the winter team are: P.R. Wheeler (38), Thames. Techni C.T. Choros (26), Wellington. Senior cian. He is a former flight sergeant in the technical officer. He works for the Civil Royal New Zealand Air Force. Aviation Division, Ministry of L.P.B. Slattery (28), Christchurch. Transport. Postmaster. He is a supervisor in a cen K.J. Martin (31), Hastings. Base tral city post office. engineer. He is a power board engineer. A.M. Babington (27), Invercargill. B.K. Greenwood (30), Ohakea. Chef. Senior Post Office technician. He is a He is a chef with the Royal New Zealand technician in the Post Office radio depot Air Force at Ohakea. at Invercargill. R.B. Walshe (27), Wellington. Fitter- E.G. Bowcock (28), Northland. Field electrician. He is a construction super assistant and dog handler. He is a coun visor. ty council pest destruction officer. P.R. Nelson (33), Whangarei. Fitter- mechanic. He is a senior mechanic with a local motor firm. R.S. Mason (29), Wellington. Techni cian. He is a technician with the Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Depart ment of Scientific and Industrial Research. *5B?r3$- ANTARCTIC September 1981 SUMMER RESEARCH PROJECTS New Zealand scientists will work in the mountains of Northern Victoria Land this summer with a United States sponsored inter national expedition, and also at Cape Adare. Others will work from icebreakers in the Ross Sea, in the dry valleys of Victoria Land, and at Cape Bird. They are all members of field parties in the Antarctic research programme for the 1981-82 season which, including support and construction activities, will call on the services of between 150 and 160 men and women. Research projects will be conducted by scientists from four New Zealand universities, and the programme will draw on staff from the Antarctic Divi sion, Ministry of Works and Develop ment, Geological Survey, Geophysics Division, Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Soil Bureau, Meteorological Service, Post Office, National Museum, Television New Zealand, New Zealand Army, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. The programme will also include guests scientists from Australia, United ^ States, Japan, and the People's Republic of China, and a natural history team from the British Broadcasting Corporation. Men and women in the programme will work at or from Scott Base, on the sea ice of McMurdo Sound, at Cape r.,: .. , , .,, RUSSELL MILLINGTON Bird, Cape Evans, and Cape Royds, and RUSSELL MILLINGTON in the Taylor and Wright Valleys. Theytechnician technician from from the the University University of will work with Americans and Japanese Waikato. Waikato. She She will assist in botanical at the summit of Mt Erebus, and with researchresearch on on algae algae and and lichenslichens atat Lake Japanese and Chinese on Ross Island Fryxell in the Taylor Valley, and in the dry valleys.Fryxell ., in . the .Taylor it_ Valley. . . «•< , _ . . , „...... Members Members of the of summer the summer support support staft staff Vanda Station in the Wright Valley, at at Scott Scott Base Base are are Anne Anne RobertsonRobertson and 130km from Scott Base, will be operatedDonna Donna Cook. Cook. AnneAnne Roberston Roberston is an again this summer by a team of four men assistantassjstant cook, and her general duties led by Mr Russell Milhngton. They will wi„will inciudeinclude runningrunning thethe base canteen. canteen, provide base support for New Zealand, Last Last summer thetne Post Office had a American, and Japanese field parties, WOmanwoman clerk clerk at at the the base base for the first and also meteorological information. Iimp_time. The The sec0nd second woman woman clerk clerk is is DonnaDonna This season there are six women in the Cook. programme. Barbara Ward will work on For the first time two of the three the sea ice of McMurdo Sound for her members of the youth group which will third summer. She is an American spend three weeks at Scott Base are paleontologist who is completing doc women. Adele Fenn is a Venturer Scout toral studies at Victoria University of from Westport, and Kathleen Smith is a Wellington, and she will work on fora- St John Ambulance Brigade cadet from minifera in sediments collected from the floor of the sound by a VUW team. Wanganui. The third member of the group is Allan Senior, who is a Navy Another woman, Sue Green, is a League sea cadet in Christchurch. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

SCOTT BASE Cape Evans, and Vanda Station. Drs R. A.E. Newton, Hokitika. Officer-in Barr and I. Axford, C. Roper. ch arge. Meteorological Service. Observation R.J. Frost, Christchurch, Deputy programmes at Scott Base, and Vanda officer-in-charge. He is a 42-year-old Station. O. Druce (Scott Base), D. Allen builder. (Vanda). B.M. Warren, New Plymouth. Antarctic Division. Annual census by Storekeeper. Scott Base staff and visiting scientists of small Adelie penguin rookery at Cape H.J. Carter, Wellington. Assistant Royds. maintenance officer-carpenter. Antarctic Division-Victoria University P.G. Breen, Linton. Assistant of Wellington. Psychological testing of maintenance officer-mechanic. Scott Base winter teams (1981 and 1982). O . J . D r u c e , W e l l i n g t o n . Professor A. J. W. Taylor, professor of Meterological observer. clinical psychology, and Martin Taylor. G. Halligan, Palmerston North. In International projects. Twenty New formation officer. Zealanders, one now at an Australian Anne M. Robertson, Wellington. university, will work with United States General duties-assistant cook. and Australian scientists in a major geological study of Northern Victoria A.M. Thomas, Darfield. General Land, and with the West German duties-assistant cook. GANOVEX II expedition. M.R. Goldsmith, Hamilton. Post Of Field parties are: (1) Paleomagnetic fice technician. and structural studies, Drs G. W. Donna J. Cook, Wellington. Post Of Grindley, P. Oliver (Geological Survey); fice clerk. (2) Beacon Supergroup, New Zealander Dr B. McKelvey (University of New P.M. Atwell, Wellington. Post Office clerk. England, New South Wales), B. Walker (VUW); (3) Bowers Supergroup, Drs M. VANDA STATION G. Laird (Geological Survey); J. Brad R.E. Millington, Wellington. Leader. shaw (University of Canterbury), C. D. Allen, Meteorological technician. Adams (Institute of Nuclear Sciences), K. R. Sullivan (field leader); (4) Bowers Mountains, Drs R. Cooper (Geological maintenance officer-field assistant. Survey), J. Jago (South Australian A.H.D. Woods, Christchurch. Institute of Technology), Professor B. Technician. Rowell, (University of Kansas), P. Brad- Ministry of Works and Development. dock (field leader); (5) Robertson Bay Glaciology and hydrology in the dry Group, Dr R. H. Findlay (Antarctic valley area. A. Woods and D. Levick Division), B. Field (Geological Survey), (field assistant). W. Fowlie (field leader), W. Atkinson Lands and Survey Department. Two (Field assistant). surveyors will work on a variety of pro Evans Neve base camp. E. J. Saxby, jects at Scott Base, on the McMurdo Ice field leader and New Zealand co Shelf and Mt Erebus, and in the dry ordinator, G. Morgan (assistant cook). valleys. G. Neale, P. D. Tinnelly. GANOVEX 11. Guest scientist T. Soil Bureau. Analysis of the soil Stern (Geophysics Division), G. Ball, M. organic matter in the Cape Bird Adelie Conway, A. Brown (field safety). penguin rookery. Dr T. Speir, Jan Dr T. Torii will lead a team of Heine. Japanese scientists who, with New Physics and Engineering Laboratory. Zealand support, will conduct geological Continuation of upper atmosphere and geochemical studies in the Wright, studies at Scott Base and Arrival Miers, and Victoria Valleys, and at Cape Heights. Magnetic measurements and Bird. Drs Y. Yusa and G. Matsumoto, servicing of instruments at Scott Base, and H. Murayama. ANTARCTIC September 1981 University projects in Southern Ocean Observations of seabirds in the Southern Ocean, and Adelie penguin rookeries in the Ross Sea region from Cape Adare to Cape Bird, will be one of the main projects to be carried out by university scientists during the New Zealand Antarctic research programme this season. Other university parties will work in the mountains of Nor thern Victoria Land, and examine mosses, algae, and fungi, thriving in the fumaroles and warm soil on Mt Erebus. Four universities — Auckland, dies on bryophytes and endolithic algae. Waikato, Victoria, and Canterbury — Chemical analysis equipment will also be will contribute teams to this summer's used to try to establish the nutrient programme, and will work with scien status of the Fryxell stream in relation to tists from United States, Australian, and the lichen and algal flora present in it. Japanese universities. One team will at tempt to estimate the level of floating pollutants in the surface waters of the PLANTS ON EREBUS Southern Ocean, and other scientists will Later in the season Dr Thompson and study the relationship between the An Neville Rogers will spend up to two tarctic ice-cap and world sea levels. weeks on Erebus carrying out pattern Waikato University's 12th expedition sampling from the fumaroles and hot will continue botanical research begun at ground. If possible they will make a full Lake Fryxell in the Taylor Valley and at ecological survey to gain a clearer idea of the summit of Mt Erebus in the 1977-78 what plants are there. season. The project covers the ecology Five physiologists from the University and physiology of endolithic and sub- of Auckland will continue their research lithic algae and lichens, the functioning into the neuro-muscular physiology, of the "ice-bubble ecosystem," and the parasitology, and demography of Ross microbiology (mosses, algae, and fungi) Sea fishes. They will catch fish for study of the fumaroles and hot ground on through three holes in the sea ice of Erebus. McMurdo Sound near Scott Base, and Leader of the botanical research team will also spend about two weeks at Cape is Dr Keith Thompson, a plant ecologist. Royds in December. In 1977-78 he was one of the three scien Leader of the team is Dr John Mac- tists from the University of Waikato Donald, who has worked on the project who discovered evidence of life near the since the 1977-78 season. With him will summit of Erebus — a small, dark-col be Dr John Montgomery, who was in oured moss growing on geo-thermally the 1979-80 team, and Messrs D. McCar warmed ground in an air temperature of thy, A. Stephenson, and M. Taler. minus 27deg Celsius. Other members of Objectives of the team's studies will the team are Dudley Bell, a technician, be: (1) temperature sensitivity of neuro Neville Rogers, a research student who muscular post-synoptic processes in the worked at Lake Fryxell and on Erebus in extra-ocular muscle of Trematomus bor- the 1979-80 season, and Sue Green, a chgrevinki; (2) host-parasite relation technician. ships of isopod ecto-parasites on Ross This team will go south in November Sea fishes; (3) demography of the Cape and will work in the Taylor Valley and Royds population of Trematomus ber- on Erebus until early January. It will use nacchii; (4) screening of fish blood the hut at Lake Fryxell and set up equip samples for micro-filaroid haemo- ment for continuing physiological stu- parasites. re«WP*PlB September 1981 ANTARCTIC

OIL SPILLS Zealand and McMurdo Sound. Their studies of penguins and seabirds will be part of New Zealand's contribution to Northern Victoria Land coast of the the three-year International Survey of Ross Sea will be made by Dr Murray Antarctic Seabirds (ISAS) programme, and the 10-year BIOMASS programme. Gregory, of the geology department, University of Auckland. He will also at Early next year Dr Peter Harper, of tempt to make an estimation of the level the University of Canterbury extension of pelagic plastics and tar in the surface department, who is the New Zealand co waters of the Southern Ocean. This will ordinator of ISAS, will join the Glacier have a bearing on work already done on for her voyage from Wellington to New Zealand waters. McMurdo Sound. He will continue ISAS seabird observations begun on During the voyage of the United States Coast Guard icebreaker Glacier several cruises last season during his from New Zealand to McMurdo Sound voyages between New Zealand and An Dr Gregory and Dr Robert Kirk, of the tarctica. geography department, University of On her voyage south the Glacier is ex Canterbury, will sample the waters by pected to visit Cape Adare, Cape Hal towing a "neuston" net and barge lett, and Inexpressible, Franklin, and beyond the icebreaker's bow wave for Beaufort islands. If short landings can up to one hour a day. When the Glacier be made Dr Harper will carry out rou reaches McMurdo Sound the team will tine ISAS observations and census recor be flown by United States Navy heli ding at penguin rookeries. copter to continue, their sampling at Dr Harper, who is an authority on more beaches like Cape Royds and Cape Antarctic seabirds, made eight Antarctic Bird. cruises aboard the United States Nat Towards the end of January the team ional Science Foundation's research ship will join the Coast Guard icebreaker Eltanin between 1965 and 1967. His Polar Sea on a six-day science cruise. main purpose this summer will be to Where possible the icebreaker's heli observe, collate, and record all informa copter will be used to allow Drs Gregory tion on seabirds obtained during his and Kirk to sample selected breaches cruises. All this data will be assembled along the coast of Northern Victoria with that from previous ornithological Land in an attempt to gauge an "oil spill observations in the region into a detailed vulnerability index." distributional paper to be published in A University of Auckland geography 1982. lecturer, Dr Mark Mabin, who studied glacial land forms at the University of Canterbury, will work far to the north at PENGUIN CENSUS Cape Adare. He will be landed there by For his own research . into the the Glacier and will study the relation biochemical systematics of penguins and ship of the Antarctic ice-cap to world sea levels by analysing beach ridges built up petrels Dr Harper will take blood samples from these marine bird groups. over thousands of years. This study is He will also obtain photographs to up part of a project initiated by Dr Kirk, date the next edition of the guide to who will continue his research during his Antarctic seabirds. association with Dr Gregory. In late-November and early December SEABIRD SURVEY at the time of the peak Adelie penguin population in the Cape Bird rookery two This season University of Canterbury University of Canterbury scientists, scientists will work at Cape Bird, Cape Graham Wilson, of the zoology depart Royds, and Cape Adare, in Northern ment, and Dr Laurence Greenfield, of Victoria Land, along the shores of Vic the botany department, will conduct the toria Land to the south, and in the annual census. This work is part of a Southern Ocean waters between New population monitoring programme ANTARCTIC September 1981 which began in 1965, and also part of thern Victoria Land this summer. He New Zealand's contribution to ISAS. will be one of the team of four which This will be the eighth consecutive will sledge into the Bower Mountains. year the rookery population has been Dr Andrew von Biel and three techni counted, and the 14th since the pro cians from the physics department, Ray gramme began in 1965. Graham Wilson Borrell, Graham Lees, and Wayne will be carrying out his fifth census at Smith, will go south in November to Cape Bird, and Dr Greenfield will be complete the installation and testing of taking part for the second time. the equipment at Scott Base and Arrival While the team is at the Cape Bird hut Heights which has been designed for the Graham Wilson will continue other study of the normal and disturbed ionospheric D-region. They will be long-term studies on penguins and assisted by base laboratory staff. skuas, and make general observations of birds and mammals in the area. Dr Greenfield will continue last season's studies on plants and micro-organisms. SEDIMENT STUDIES He will measure the levels of nitrogen This summer members of the 26th present in soils, sediments, plants, and Victory University of Wellington An animal and faecal matter. tarctic Expedition (VUWAE 26) will Before they return to Scott Base work in Northern Victoria Land, on the Graham Wilson and Dr Greenfield will sea ice of McMurdo Sound, and in the take part in the annual census of the dry valleys. They will take part in four small Adelie rookery at Cape Royds for separate projects ranging from seafloor the New Zealand Antarctic research pro studies to the seismicity of Mt Erebus, and will collaborate with scientists from gramme. This will be done with staff from Scott Base and other visiting scien Australian universities. tists. A six-week survey of the floor of McMurdo Sound, the waters of which reach depths of more than 800m, will CAPE ADARE begin next month. Alex Pyne, field In the New Year Graham Wilson will leader of the project, and a veteran of travel to Cape Adare aboard the Glacier. four previous expeditions, will be the There he will have the daunting task of first to go south to set up oceanographic carrying out a census of Antarctica's equipment for sampling sediments in largest penguin rookery. When the last McMurdo Sound. census was made in 1961 there were To do the sampling a heated caravan about 289,500 breeding pairs of Adelie on a heavy duty sledge will be towed by a penguins in the area. Other birds will tractor into position over a series of also be studied, and systematic observa 30cm holes drilled in the sea ice which is tions will be made of seabirds on the 2cm thick. A bottom sampler and voyage from New Zealand to Cape camera will be lowered through holes at Adare. more than 30 stations over an area of There are estimated to be between 7000 square kilometres. At six stations 750,000 and 800,000 breeding pairs of 24-hour measurements will be made of Adelie penguins in the Ross Sea, which salinity, temperatures, currents, and is one of the priority regions for the In tides. ternational Survey of Antarctic Sea- This will be the second year of the sea birds. The census of the Cape Adare floor study which is to explain the rookery, and Dr Harper's visit to other distribution of modern micro-organisms rookeries on the coast of Victoria Land, in terms of bathymetry, bottom sedi will enable New Zealand to make a sub ment texture, and oceanographic fac stantial contribution to the ISAS pro tors. Barbara Ward will continue her gramme. study of the factors controlling the A University of Canterbury geologist, diversity and abundance of the fora- Dr John Bradshaw, will work in Nor minifera population for her Ph.D thesis. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

An honours student, Brent Alloway, will coast between Gneiss Point and Dunlop study radiolaria in the sediments. Island, and will be assisted by Paul Fit zgerald. He will use fission tracking dating of apatites to determine the rate FUTURE DRILLING of uplift of the rock for particular times Dr Peter Barrett, director of the in the past. university's Antarctic research unit, will collect data for a study of sediment Dr Gleadow, who is a guest of VUW transport paths in McMurdo Sound. and the Antarctic Division, has already The team, which will be assisted by Mike established from samples collected 18 Cattley, an Antarctic Division field months ago that the Trans-antarctic assistant, will also collect oceanographic Mountains rose at the rate of only data near Butter Point and Granite Har 13m/million years from 130 to 70 bour to help assess potential drill sites million years ago, but must have come for further scientific drilling offshore. up faster since. This year's collection A Ph.D geology student, Barry will be to obtain samples covering a Walker, will begin a two-year study of younger period of time. Triassic alluvial plain strata in Victoria Land. His task will be to find out what After the completion of the seafloor Victoria Land was like in the Triassic survey in McMurdo Sound Paul Fitz period between 195 and 225 million gerald will join Alex Pyne and Brent years ago, the character of the river Alloway to do further work on the system, local and regional flow direc Weller coal measures and the Feather tions, and climate, and to discover new conglomerates. The three men will visit ways of obtaining paleohydraulic data. Mt Feather and Tabular Mountain at the head of the Taylor Valley. This project will be carried out at Horseshore Mountain and Mt Bastion at Seismic and magnetic studies will be the head of the Barwick Valley. An conducted on Erebus again this summer honours student, Paul Fitzgerald, will by a VUW seismologist, Dr Ray Dibble, assist Barry Walker, and will study a the work he begun last season is an in 200m-thick sequence of river gravel and tegral part of Dr Philip Kyle's Interna sand at the head of the Barwick Valley. tional Mt Erebus Science Study In late November Barry Walker will (IMESS), which is a joint three-year pro join Dr Barrie McKelvey, University of ject of the United States, New Zealand, New England, New South Wales, to and Japanese scientists. spend six weeks examining and collec ting from Triassic (and Permian) strata in Northern Victoria Land as part of the international expedition of United States, New Zealand, and Australian scientists. Dr McKelvey), who will work under the auspices of Australian Nat ional Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) is an old VUWAE member of several summers, and has extensive field experience of these strata both in the McMurdo Sound region and Australia. "Antarctic" Index Completion and printing of the index UPLIFT HISTORY to Volume 8 of "Antarctic," which covers the years 1977 to 1979, took To investigate the detailed uplift longer than expected, and subscribers history of the Trans-antarctic Moun could not be advised of the cost in the tains in the dry valleys Dr Andrew June issue. Copies are now avaiable Gleadow, a research fellow in geology from the treasurer of the New Zealand from the University of Melbourne, will Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 1223, work in the Wright Valley, and along the Christchurch. The price is $1.25. ■ ■*m?> ANTARCTIC September 1981 BBC documentary on Shackleton

Background material for a BBC Discovery and Nimrod expeditions, and dramatised documentary on Sir Ernest the experiences of the Ross Sea Party of Shackleton's expeditions will be obtain the 1914—17 expedition the TVNZ-BBC ed by a combined Television New film crew will film Shackleton's hut at Zealand-BBC natural history film crew Cape Royds and its surroundings, and in Antarctica this summer. The film will take a series of "establishing shots" of be used in the four-episode production, features such as Mt Erebus and the Ross which will cost $1.2 million, and be the Ice Shelf. But its main objective is to ob major BBC documentary for 1982. tain material for a BBC natural history Executive producer of the series is programme. Christopher Railings, who visited New Between November 15 and December Zealand earlier this year. He is well- 20 the film crew, which is part of the known in New Zealand as the producer New Zealand research programme this of three notable documentaries, "The summer, will work at various locations Voyage of Charles Darwin", "Fight around Ross Island, and in the dry Against Slavery", and "Search for the valleys of Victoria Land. It will film Nile". Adelie and Emperor penguins at Cape Bird and Cape Royds, and in the dry inally the series was planned to ucgm with Shackleton's 1907-09 expedi valleys will film some of the unique tion in the Nimrod. Now the first features, and their relationship to jisode will cover Shackleton's ex science projects. This material will be used for David Attenborough's series periences as third officer with Scott's 1901-04 expedition in the Discovery. The "Planet Earth". main emphasis, however, will be on the Heading the BBC section of the film 1914-17 expedition when the Endurance crew are Dr John Sparks, of the BBC was trapped in the ice of the Weddell natural history unit at Bristol, and Sea, and Shackleton made his historic Robert Brown, a TVNZ cameraman on boat voyage from Elephant Island to loan to the BBC. The other New South Georgia. Zealanders are Neil Harraway, director Most of the documentary, which will of the TVNZ natural history unit, Dunedin, and Ian Masterton, a TVNZ have a central group of eight to 10 sound technician actors, will probably be shot in Greenland because the BBC can get a ship there more easily. A Norwegian ship will be chartered, and will double as the Nimrod and the Endurance. A 50-minute documentary film on the Recreating the realism of the En durance party's experiences in the Wed dell Sea poses some problems for the film-makers because the BBC cannot Mawson, has been planned to mark th centenary of his birth in May, 198: put actors in small boats in Antarctic film will be made by the Australian conditions. But a film unit will go to South Georgia in November aboard Broadcasting Commission's natural H.M.S. Endurance, the Royal Navy's history unit with the collaboration of the ice patrol ship. It will film around Gryt Australian Antarctic Division. viken, the old whaling station which In addition to his Antarctic exper Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean reach iences the film will cover Mawson's ed after their journey over the moun geological work in the Flinders Range. tains of South Georgia, and will also go The makers hope also to present a recon to the Antarctic Peninsula, and struction of his sledging journey with Elephant Island. Mertz and Ninnis during his 1911-14 To obtain material about the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

■

Twenty-five years ago a construction A team of nine Army carpenters, unit of eight men from the Ministry of MOWD building services staff, and an Works, the Royal New Zealand Navy, electrician, Hew south on August 24 to and the New Zealand Army, was working make an early start on the interior work against time and Antarctic weather to before the main team arrives in October. complete Scott Base for occupation by Early in November the old C hut New Zealand's first polar expedition. accommodation block will be removed This summer when the formal opening so the site can be prepared for the of Scott Base on January 20, 1957, is building of the new galley, mess, and bar celebrated, men from the Ministry of block by another MOWD and Army Works and the Army will be back at team. This building is planned to be Pram Point engaged on another stage of finished to the shell stage by the end of the base rebuilding programme which the season, but the freezers inside it will began in the 1976-77 season. be operational. In the photograph of Scott Base above One of the three Army men in the - taken in January this year — the old 1957 construction unit was a 23-year-old buildings are: B (science), A (mess), E electrician, Lance-Corporal Ernie Bec- (post office), D and C (accommodation), consall, who wired all the new base, in F (recreation), K (carport and auxiliary cluding C hut. He will be back in generator), N (garage), S (old hangar, November as an MOWD electrician. now store). New buildings since 1976-77 are Q (bio-laboratory), T (accommoda Members of this season's construction tion and ablutions), PH (powerhouse). team are: MOWD, E. Becconsall, P. Birt, G. G. Chalken, B. R. Clements, B. Last season a construction team from M. Davcy, R. Dunnachie, R. P. Hit- the Antarctic Division and the Ministry chen, S. C. Little, C. J. Lynch, A. M. of Works and Development erected the Richardson, A. Rossiter, A. R. Sands, new accommodation block and ablutions T. Wall; Army, R. Broome, B. Buck facilities for 42 people to the shell stage. ingham, M. Dimond, G. J. Fenton, S. The roofing was still unfinished when Flaws, N. Gattsche, W. Henderson, H. the photograph was taken. M. Kaa, T. Shaw, I. L. Stobie, S. Completion date for the accommoda Trodd, T. Uriarvau, M. J. Vincent, S. tion block is planned for December 30. Wells. P. V. Winter. ANTARCTIC September 1981 U.S.-Soviet expedition to Weddell Sea

A joint United States-Soviet Union oceanographic expedition into the Weddell Sea Polynya aboard the Mikhail Somov, flagship of the Soviet Antarctic fleet, is included in the United States research pro gramme for 1981-82. One of the major projects will be the establish ment of a helicopter-supported geological field camp in the Evans Neve area of Northern Victoria Land from which research will be undertaken by the United States, New Zealand, and Australian scien tists in petrology, stratigraphy, paleontology, glacial geology, geochemistry, paleomagnetism, and resource evaluation.

Siple Station in Ellsworth Land, need for data within and below the which was closed this winter because of Southern Ocean sea ice in such regions economic restraints, will be opened as the Weddell Sea Polynya at the end of again this summer, and will be manned the growth period when the cumulative next winter. It will be a centre for upper effects of sea ice formation develop the atmosphere physics research during the seasonal maximum in surface water density.

Satellite images of the Southern WORK AT DOME C Ocean sea ice during the 1970s revealed near the Greenwich meridian and 65deg In addition to the major geological South in the South Atlantic sector that project in Northern Victoria Land, the the winter sea ice there is incomplete, summer research programme will include perhaps absent, in an area of about 3km geological studies supported by the by 10km. The area has been called the research vessel Hero in the Falkland Weddell Sea Polynya. Islands (Lslas Malvinas). Investigations of the glaciological geology, paleon United States scientists from the tology, stratigraphy, and structure of the Scotia Arc-Antarctic Peninsula area Lamont-Doherty Geological Observa will be continued, and also the search tory and Oregon State University will for meteorites on the East Antarctric ice carry out a co-operative programme of sheet. physical and chemical oceanography, air-sea interaction studies, and nutrient United States and French glaciologists chemistry, from the Mikhail Somov. will work again at the Dome C summer 'he ship will attempt to reach the Wed camp in Wilkes Land. Their activities dell Sea Polynya to obtain a series of late will be part of the International Antarc winter measurements. tic Glaciological Project for investiga tion of the East Antarctic ice-cap. Drill This feature may have a significant ing to intermediate depths through the climatic and biological impact on the ice will be undertaken at the Amundsen- Southern Ocean, primarily related to Scott South Pole Station. suspected increased activity of vertical transfer processes believed to be assoc Meteorological research studies will be iated with the polynya. Late winter continued at the South Pole Station to observations are needed to study the investigate the nature of the polar heat active condition, and there is a specific sink, its effectiveness in driving the ■ ■ ■ ■ September 1981 ANTARCTIC

katabatic-thermal inversion winds, and diatoms, Antarctic fishes, benthic its possible effect on global circulation. foraminifera, and Weddell seals. Four new automatic weather stations Research will be initiated on the feeding will be installed in the Antarctic of Weddell seals, and on egg formation Peninsula-Weddell Sea area for a study in Antarctic seabirds. of barrier winds, and the chain of automatic weather stations deployed In the region of Palmer Station and between Dome C and Dumont d'Urville the nearby Antarctic Peninsula studies for the study of katabatic winds will will continue on the population ecology continue in operation. of penguins, the thermo-regulation of Antarctic birds, and the ecology of ben thic communities. Research will be init iated on the physiology, development, PENGUIN ECOLOGY ecology, and behaviour of krill, and on Biological research in the McMurdo the rates of protein synthesis in Antarctic Sound area will include studies of sea-ice fishes.

Four women winter at stations

An American scientist, Cynthia leader of a field team from the Scripps McFee, the third of her sex to winter at Institution of Oceanography, University the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Sta of California. tion, has not been deprived entirely of feminine company in Antarctica as "Antarctic" reported in June. She has three women neighbours this year, but they all live a long way from the Pole — Spring releases 1352km to the north on Ross Island. Two of the women, Maria Davis and icebreaker Jeanne Williams Honea, are scientists at McMurdo Station. Both are with their Spring in the Arctic brought release husbands. The third, Sandra Ackley, from the ice of the Chukchi Sea to the works for Antarctic Services as manager United States Coast Guard icebreaker of the Eklund Biological Centre. Polar Sea in mid-May. She had been David and Jeanne Honea have work trapped in ice up to 6m thick since ed this winter at the McMurdo Station February 20. ("Antarctic", June, 1981). geodetic satellite observatory for the University of Texas Applied Research On January 20 the Polar Sea sailed Laboratory. They have collected dual- from Seattle on her first winter cruise to frequency doppler data from polar or Point Barrow She arrived there on biting satellites which transmit similar February 10—11, but damaged her rud data to the South Pole Station on der on the way home, and remained specific orbits. The data collected from locked in a 965km icefield off the both stations helps to determine the Alaskan coast for nearly three months. spatial and time variations of the ionosphere and provides geodetic posi Forty-two members of the Polar Sea's tioning controls. crew, not 50 as originally reported, were To study the winter behaviour of flown out by Coast Guard helicopters, Weddell seals Maria Davis and her hus and 108 men remained aboard to await band have worked during the winter for the spring break-up of the ice. Several various periods at a camp established on scientists also remained aboard to con White Island, about 26km from McMur tinue biological, glaciological, and polar do Station, last summer. Her husband is communications studies. V m *$&■*(££■? icy. ANTARCTIC Septemberl 981 First winter mail drop to South Pole Station A winter mail and supply drop to 17 Americans at the Amundsen- Scott South Pole Station was made for the first time ever by a United States Air Force Starlifter on June 22. The Starlifter, which was refuelled by three Stratotankers on its mission from Christchurch, also dropped mail and supplies into the total darkness of Williams Field on the Ross Ice Shelf for the men and women wintering on Ross Island at McMurdo Station and Scott Base. This was the third winter mail and stead of the side parachute doors. Only supply drop in seven years, but the first one pass over the zone at 3.04.8m was to the South Pole where 16 men and one needed and all the bundles cleared the woman have been isolated for more than aircraft in six seconds. four months. To complete the mission in u:-h the United States Navy and Battery-powered stroboscopic lights >.»..y, New Zealand Army, and Royal New Zealand Air Force co-operated the made the longest non-stop the low temperature. All the container ,ht to the Pole and back to landed in the drop zone within a spread Christchurch — 5694 nautical miles — in of 304.8m, and the maximum distance Antarctic aviation history. It was also between each one was 9.1m. the first time an aircraft had been refuelled in flight over Antarctic waters. By 9.40 a.m. the drop was completed and the Starlifter headed for the South A C141B "stretched" Starlifter was Pole, following the Beardmore Glacier flown from Norton Air Force Base, route. When the aircraft arrived at 11.40 California, to Christchurch for the a.m. the weather had deteriorated. A mission. When it took off at 4 a.m. it whiteout and blowing snow reduced carried 5.9 tonnes of mail and cargo, in visibility, and the temperature was cluding 2 tonnes of fresh fruit and minus 68 C. vegetables, packed in 32 bundles, 26 for Two passes over the drop zone were McMurdo Station and Scott Base, and six for the South Pole Station. needed, but the operation was com pleted by noon. To avoid the risk of the Three Stratotankers flew from Guam cargo ramp doors' hydraulic system be and Okinawa to Auckland for the re ing affected by the extreme cold the six fuelling operation. They took off at 3 bundles were dropped from the side a.m. and rendezvoused with the parachute doors, four on the first pass, Starlifter at 68deg S. The first tanker and two on the second. delivered 30,0001bs of fuel to the Star lifter, the second 2(),0001bs, and the third 15,0001bs. LONG FLIGHT When the Starlifter returned to By 9.21 a.m. the Starlifter was over Christchurch at 7.5 p.m. its crew of 32, the Williams Field drop zone, which was headed by the mission commander, in total darkness except for identifica Lieutenant-Colonel J. Galyen, had been tion lights on the ice. The temperature in the air for more than 15 hours. was minus 36deg Celsius, but the Colonel Galyen and three members of weather was fine with a clear sky and the crew also took part in last year's sup light winds. ply drop to the winter teams on Ross Island. They were the navigator, Major ONE PASS C. Slaton, Chief Warrant Officer IV R. For the first time the drop was made Langstraat, United States Army and through the rear cargo ramp doors in Corporal K. Peru, New Zealand Army. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

Nothing was damaged in the drops to munications system was working Williams Field and the Pole Station. perfectly. Lieutenant A. Brunhart, U.S.N., Lieutenant Brunhart was also able to officer-in-charge at McMurdo Station, report with special pleasure the safe ar reported later that no fresh fruit or rival of a box of biscuits sent to him by vegetables had been lost, and a $15,000 children at a Californian school. Not amplifier urgently needed for the com one biscuit was broken. Chill prelude to spring on Ross Island With temperatures in the minus 50s spring was well around the cor ner on August 24 when 93 Americans and 10 New Zealanders on Ross Island welcomed the arrival of three ski-equipped Hercules air craft from New Zealand which brought them their first direct contact with the outside world for six months. But the arrival of 1.5 tonnes of mail, and fresh fruit and vegetables on the six flights made last month more than compensated for the lack of any signs of spring.

Three United States Navy VXE-6 On their six nights south the Hercules Squadron Hercules aircraft made the six aircraft carried 18.5 tonnes of cargo. flights to prepare for the United States This included 1.6 tonnes of personal and and New Zealand scientific programmes official mail, 2.5 tonnes of fresh food, of the 1981-82 season. Again this year all and 10.9 tonnes of general cargo. The the flights of the operation known to the aircraft brought back 4.7 tonnes of United States naval support force as cargo and six passengers on the return Winfly (winter nights) were completed nights. before the southern spring began offic ially on September 1. Three nights were Among the 194 passengers on the made on August 24, two on August 25, nights south were technicians, construc and the last on August 26. tion workers, and others, who will pre pare for the major airlift by Hercules Although the winter on Ross Island and Starlifter aircraft which begins early Kts been relatively mild, and warmer ...an last year's August 24 was a fine but next month. One task they will have is to prepare the airfield on the sea ice in really cold day. Visibility was 20 miles, McMurdo Sound, which is 2m to 3.6m there was a light wind, and the tempera thick. ture was minus 50deg Celsius at Williams Field on the Ross Ice Shelf. It Captain J. M. Pearigen, the support was minus 56deg on August 26 when the force commander, new in the first air last aircraft returned to Christchurch. craft to meet the McMurdo Station In spite of the cold weather the Ross winter party, and to initiate preparations Island winter community, which received for the new season. Also on the aircraft, an air drop of mail and fresh food on which was flown by VXE-6 Squadron's June 22, had a warm welcome for the commanding officer, Commander P. new arrivals. When Wintly ended the Dykeman, were 10 New Zealanders, Mr spring population of Ross Island had R. B. Thomson, superintendent, grown to 269 men and three women at Antarctic Division, who was making his McMurdo Station, and 19 men at Scott 58th llighi to Antarctica, and nine men Base. from the Ministry of Works and mm ANTARCTIC September 1981

Development and the New Zealand representative, Mr A. Brown, resident Army, who will make an early start on manager at McMurdo Station, represen construction work at Scott Base. ting Antarctic Services, contractors to Sixty-four of the American passengers NSF for support services, 61 members of on Winfly will prepare for the United the contractors' staff, and one scientist, States National Science Foundation's Mr R. Maue. He will join the team research programme this summer. They which has been studying Weddell seals were Mr Price Lewis, jnr., an NSF on White Island this winter.

Shergottites might be Martian Four unusual meteorites, two of them Not all lunar and planetary scientists found in Victoria land in 1977 and 1979 are prepared to accept the Martian may have originated on Mars. Scientists theory. One in particular is Dr William from the United States National A. Cassidy, of the department of Aeronautics and Space Administration, geology and planetary science, Univer who have analysed and dated the An sity of Pittsburgh. He has headed five tarctic meteorites, believe they are expeditions to collect Antarctic material ejected into space when a giant meteorites since the 1976—77 season. meteor smashed into Mars at a time Dr Cassidy says that since rocks when it was volcanically active. knocked off the Moon have never been found on Earth he finds it hard to Those meteorites arc known as believe material could escape the much shergottites from the name of an Indian stronger gravitational pull of Mars. He town, Shergotty, where the first of the prefers the idea that one or more moons four meteorites was found in 1805. The or planet-sized bodies large enough to second shergottitc was found in Zagima, have volcanic activity might have existed Nigeria, in 1962. in the asteroid belt until relatively recently and could have been destroyed Scientists who have put forward the by a catastrophic collision. theory of Martian origin say that the Antarctic shergottites appear to have Asteroids, the belt of rocks concen trated in space between Mars and crystallised from molten lava no more than 1200 million years ago, and perhaps Jupiter, are thought to be the source of as recently as 600 million years ago. The most meteorites hitting Earth. But there shergottites are composed mainly of is no generally acceptable theory to ex feldspars and pyroxenes much like basalt plain how an asteroid body could rocks found on Earth from cooling become hot enough to create volcanic volcanic lava. material so late in the history of the solar system. John O. Annexstad, of the Johnson In the 1977—78 season a United Space Centre, Houston, has collected States-Japanese team led by Dr Cassidy meteorites in Victoria Land since the collected 310 meteorites in the area of 197g_79 season. He says the Antarctic the Allan Nunatak about 200km north shergottites probably came from Mars west of MrMurdo Station. One of these because the planet is known to have been was a shergottite. volcanically active within the last 1200 Dr Cassidy's team found 28 meteor million years. ites during its search in Victoria Land Other scientists claim that the ex during the 1979—80 season. It worked plosive force of the giant meteor could on a large patch of bare ice that extends have propelled pieces from the new sur westward from Reckling Peak (76deg face of Mars fast enough to escape the 16min S/159 15min E) and recovered 14 gravitational pull of the small planet, meteorites at one location, and 14 at and sent them into space. Some pieces another nearby. Relatively rare types could have fallen to Earth later. were found at both locations.

'^*#^^ i'» %*'•'"? W. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

ANARE REPORTS Offshore marine geology project Investigations of one of the geologically least-known areas of the world — the seabed between David Station and Heard Island — will be part of the main Australian National Antactic Research Expedi tions (ANARE) programme for the 1981—82 summer. Marine geological studies will be carried out from the Nella Dan in the Prydz Bay-Lambert Glacier region between Mawson and Davis Stations, and the undersea Gaussberg-Kerguelen Ridge north-east of Davis. The Prydz Bay—Lambert Glacier region is considered to be a prime hydrocarbon exploration area. This will be the first time Australia has THICK SEDIMENT conducted offshore marine geology in The Lambert Glacier-Prydz Bay area Antarctica. Dr Pat Quilty, the Antarctic is one of the major geological features of Division's deputy director (research), Antarctica. The Lambert Glacier, the who will lead the expedition, has largest glacier in the world, nows from described the Nella Dan's voyage early the interior of Eastern Antarctica down next year as important to Australia's a major structural depression, in the Antarctic research programme as the earth's crust. That depression (or FIBEX marine biological programme "graben") is known to continue out to last summer. sea beneath Prydz Bay, and is thought to Two studies approved by the Antarc be filled with sediment many kilometres tic Research Policy Advisory Committee thick. are at the centre of the marine geology programme. The major research will be Running beneath the ocean for some conducted by scientists and technicians 1,500 km between the Antarctic of the Bureau of Mineral Resources coastline north-east of Davis and the island of Kerguelen is the huge (geology and geophysics). Scientists Gaussberg-Kerguelen Ridge — one of from the University of Melbourne's the world's major oceanographic geology department will also make an features. To the west and east of the important contribution to the pro ridge the ttoor of the Southern Ocean is gramme. relatively ttat, averaging 4,000 to 5,000 On her third voyage south after metres in depth. The Gaussberg- resupply visits to Mawson and Davis the Kerguelen ridge stands on the sea-bed as Nella Dan will conduct the marine a massive mountain range 3,000 to 4,000 geology programme for six weeks from metres high. mid-January to early March. Then she will return to Mawson to embark staff Geologists are interested in both of for return to Australia. these areas because their formation and Last summer the Nella Dan was evolution are thought to be closely con modiFied by the Australian Government nected with the splitting up of the at a cost of $1.2 million to take part in "super-continent" Gondwanaland. the First International BIOMASS Ex- Gondwanaland consisted of the present- periment (FIBEX) which studied the day land masses of Australia, India, distribution and abundance of krill. It Africa, South America, New Zealand, was fitted with a wide range of and Antarctica. Before its disintegration sophisticated research equipment which millions of years ago, the north-east will be used in the forthcoming marine coast of India lay against what is now geology programme. Prydz Bay, while the south-west coast of

I >. tf**1^ g*'i ANTARCTIC September 1981

Western Australia, near Perth, lay terest along the Gaussberg-Kerguelen alongside the Casey region. Ridge area are a number of seamounts As India was moved away from An which are only 1,500 to 2,000 m below tarctica by the processes of continental sea level close to the southern end of the drift, the Indian Ocean was formed. ridge. One theory is that they are old Very little is known about how the volcanoes, related to the extinct volcano Gaussberg-Kerguelen Ridge was formed Gaussberg on the coast of the Antarctic during the drift of India northwards. Continent north-east of Davis. The research to be carried out next Dredging will be carried out along the summer is expected to throw some light side of the seamounts to obtain sediment on Gondwanaland's break-up. and rock samples, and also some of the organisms that live there. Irrespective of how they were formed, a knowledge of SEABED PROBE their evolution is vital to finding out Studies of Prydz Bay will include more about the ridge system. seismic surveys to probe the sediment to Two volcanoes are known along the depths of two to three kilometres ridge complex. One is Gaussberg, and beneath the bed of the bay. A device the other is Heard Island, whose near- known as a "seismic streamer" will be perfct 2,745 m volcanic cone is the towed behind the Nella Dan as she criss highest point in the Gaussberg- crosses the region. Electro-magnetic Kerguelen "mountain range". From waves will be generated by equipment on 1947 to 1955, when the ANARE station board the ship and renected by struc operated on the island, smoke was seen tures beneath the seabed. The returning issuing from the peak on numerous pulse will be detected by the streamer occasions. which will relay the data to equipment housed in the vessel's laboratories. Analysis of the returned signals will Areas where the main Australian give information on the geology of the research programme will be carried out region. Some of the sediments expected are shown on the map on the opposite to be found in the Prydz Bay region page. These are Prydz Bay and the should be related to the break-up of underseas Gaussbergp-Kerguelen Ridge. Gondwanaland, and as such are basic to The dots surrounded by circles indicate understanding how the earth evolved. where samples will be dredged from sea mounts that may be old volcanoes north Samples of the bed of the bay will also be collected with equipment supplied by of Gaussberg. the University of Melbourne. These bot tom samples are important for they are expected to return material which has "Heat wave" at Mawson been removed by the Lambert Glacier from the trench beneath the glacier, then Australia's oldest Antarctic station, carried into Prydz Bay. Because of the Mawson, experienced its highest July thickness of the ice in that region such temperature since records were first kept samples could otherwise only be obtain in 1954, when the mercury reached 5 deg ed by a massive drilling program inland. Celsius on July 14. Over the last 27 years It is hoped that the samples obtained the average temperature at Mawson for from the seabed will provide informa July has been minus 20 deg C, while the tion on the geology of the Lambert average daily maximum temperature is Glacier basin which can be compared minus 15 deg C. with the findings in Prydz Bay. In addi To celebrate the occasion a barbeque tion, the bottom samples will also pro was held outside the base. Many of the vide samples of living organisms for Mawson party wore tee-shirts, shorts study by biologists from the Antarctic and thongs. Unfortunately the "heat Division, and other samples of interest wave" made it difficult to sleep. Inside to the geologists. the sleeping quarters the temperature On this voyage the main areas of in reached 30 deg C. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

KERGULEN

4000 I000

4000 ® HEARD ~\\/ ISLAND

I000

4000

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MAWSON^IVDZ^^ ^//lOOO DAVIS > AMERY iAUSSBERG) \/ / / / / /ice shelf /lambert a at / g l ! a c i e r M M J CASEY" ANTARCTIC September 1981 Australian relief ship planned Australia is to have a specialist research and supply ship to support its continuing scientific programme in Antarctica. The Australian Government has announced that a ship will be commissioned within the next year. It is expected to be of about 6000 tonnes, and will be equipped with helicopters, laboratories, and a crew of about 70, and will be ice-strengthened. Meanwhile the relief and resupply of sail from Hobart for the ice edge north Australia's three Antarctic bases, of Davis and Mawson Stations, where Mawson, Casey, and Davis, and the sub- staff and some cargo will be rtown Antarctic base on Macquarie Island in ashore by helicopter. Nella Dan is ex the 1981—82 season will be carried out pected to be at the ice edge north of for Australian National Antarctic Mawson between 30 November, 25 and Research Expeditions (ANARE) again 27, and at the ice edge north of Davis by three chartered Danish ships. Bet from November 30 to December 3. ween October and March the Nella Dan, The success of this operation depends Thala Dan, and Nanok S, will make six on the extent of sea ice in the Davis- voyages to Antarctica. Mawson region, which can vary marked On their outward and homeward ly from year to year. Should it extend voyages the ships will carry 276 scientific too far north from the continent the and logistic staff. Of these 104 will be helicopters on board the ship may not members of the 1982 winter teams have the range to reach the stations. travelling to the stations, and the 1981 Should operations be successful the teams returning to Australia. The re helicopters will be left at Davis for the maining 172 will be summer teams and summer. They will be used to continue a staff making round trips. Some scientists programme of scientific research started will be nown to Casey from McMurdo several years ago in the Prydz Bay Station in November by a United States region. Navy Hercules aircraft. After this voyage the Nella Dan will First to go south next month will be be in Hobart from December 18 to the Nella Dan. This voyage will be her December 24 when she will leave for the 60th for ANARE, which has used her in marine geological cruise. She is expected Antarctic operations for 20 years. She is at Davis on January 5, and will sail for expected to leave Hobart on October 14 Mawson on January 10, arriving on and carry out the resupply and change January 13. over of the Macquarie Island station bet On January 18 the Nella Dan will ween October 18 and 22. begin her 42-day marine geological Then the Nella Dan will proceed to the cruise. She is expected back on March 1, ice edge north of the coastline of and will leave for Australia the next day. George V Land to conduct trials to be used in the marine geological cruise to CASEY RELIEF Prydz Bay and the Gaussberg-Kerguelen As in past years the Thala Dan will be Ridge. These trials are expected to take sub-chartered from Expeditions Polaires nine days. Francaises to carry out the relief of When the trials are completed the Casey Station and call at Macquarie Nella Dan will return to Macquarie Island to return the summer party there Island to embark a team of scientific and to Australia. other staff left there in October. She will She is scheduled to leave Hobart on then depart for Hobart where she is ex January 12 conducting the change-over pected on November 6. at Casey from January 21 to 29, then ICE EDGE departing for Macquarie Island where After three days in port the vessel will she is expected to be from February 4 to I ^^^^^^H ■■ September 1981 ANTARCTIC

6. She is scheduled to arrive in Hobart returning to Melbourne where she is ex on February 10. pected on January 25. After loading in Melbourne she is to This summer the Nanok S will be used depart on the last day of January, calling on two voyages. On the first she will at Hobart (February 2 — 5), Davis depart Hobart on December 18, calling (February 17 — 22), and Mawson at Casey (December 27 — January 1), (February 24 to March 3). The Nanok S and Davis (January 6 — 13), before is expected back in Hobart on March 16. Winter traverses from Casey Two glaciological traverses were carri Weather conditions on both traverses ed out from Casey during June and July. were difficult. Blizzards caused long They were part of the continuing study delays and temperatures were down to of the local ice-cap in the area of Law minus 41deg Celsius. Visibility was bad Dome and north-east to Cape Folger. most of the time, and because of the Twelve men took part in each short daylight hours navigation was bas traverse, and research activities were co ed on radar navigation techniques. ordinated by the 1981 glaciologist, Mar Snow surfaces varied from extremely tin Hendy. The activities included soft to firm, and the tractor drivers fac measurements of snow accumulation, ed a constant challenge to keep their snow isotope sampling, ice density and trains moving. Digging the trains out gravity recording, ice radar investigation after blizzards presented further pro of the rock topography beneath the ice blems, and often took up to half a day to cap, and measurement of the horizontal complete. movement of the ice-cap using satellite The first traverse spent the fortnight doppler techniques. before midwinter in the Cape Folger, S2, Both traverse parties used self- Dome Summit area, and the second, contained tractor trains hauled by D5 away for more than three weeks in July, tractors. These consisted of living vans, operated on the north-east side of Law instrument vans, combined workshop Dome. Both were able to visit the aban and generator vans, and fuel sledges. On doned under-ice research station at S2 the first traverse a Nodwell tracked per built by the United States as part of its sonnel carrier was used for recon- glaciological programme during the In ternational Geophysical Year (1957-58). West German and New Zealand Agreement Provision for scientific co-operation agreed ports, airports, and other in Antarctica between New Zealand and necessary services in accordance with West Germany is made in a bilateral New Zealand law, and subject to the agremeent concluded by the govern payment of normal dues and fees. In ments of the two countries. The agree return the West German Government ment, proposed by the New Zealand has agreed to provide logistic support re Government, places the previousinformal quested by the New Zealand Antarctic arrangement between the two countries research programme whenever it is able. on a more permanent footing. In recent years West Germany has shown an increasing interest in conduct Under the agreement New Zealand ing scientific research in Antarctica. It formally undertakes to allow West has sent several expeditions south, and Germans engaged in their country's An earlier this year established its first per tarctic research programme to pass manent scientific station. In March West through New Zealand on their way to Germany became a consultative party of and from Antarctica. West German the Antarctic Treaty, a move which was ships and aircraft engaged in the pro fully supported by the New Zealand gramme will have access to and use of Government. ANTARCTIC September 1981

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Antarctic Division's new complex After more than 33 years in enclosed overhead walkways. In Melbourne the Antarctic Division of the Melbourne sections were scattered at Department of Science and Technology five locations up to 6km apart. is now established at Kingston, 12km An L-shaped scientific block and a south of Hobart. The division occupies display-conference building are at the four buildings in a complex built at a front of the complex. The latter houses a cost of $9 million. Its headquarters, display area, conference room, and which were opened officially by the library and offices for the division's in Prince of Wales on April 22, are shown formation and welfare services. in the photograph above. In the scientific block are offices and laboratories for research into the An ■uilt after nine years of reports, tarctic environment and the develon- recommendations, political disagree ment and testing of equipment use ments, and delays, the Kingston com scientific programmes. These inclut plex is the headquarters of Australian national Antarctic research program zoological, botanical, micro-biological, physics, electronic, and photographic mes. .All the Antarctic Division's ac laboratories. tivities are concentrated there and in future all expeditions to the three An Behind the display-conference tarctic bases and the sub-Antarctic base building is the administration and opera on Macquarie Island will leave from tions building. It contains offices for ex Hobart. ecutive staff, the various sections, and logistics, communications, mechanical, For the first time the various sections and construction staff. There is a com of the division are close to one another. munications room linked by telex to the Each of the four large two-storey stations in Antarctica, and a gymnasium buildings they occupy is connected by and cafeteria on the ground noor. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

BAS PROGRAMME Geophysical project on Ronne Ice Shelf

Investigation of the boundary and structural relationships between East and West Antarctica in the Weddell Sea area will be one of the major projects in the British Antarctic Survey programme this season. Geophysical ground and air parties will work on the Ronne Ice Shelf during the summer, using motor toboggans and a Twin Otter aircraft fitted with remote sensing equipment. Marine biologists from BAS and the West German Wegener Polar Research Institute will co-operate in oceanographic research around South Georgia from the Royal Research Ship John Biscoe. Part of the John Biscoe's cruise from December to February will be a con tinuation of the BAS long-term Offshore Biological Programme (OBP). This season the John Biscoe will leave and pup mortality between the crowded Southampton in mid-September. The and less dense colonies are being investi earlier sailing is to help compensate for gated, and may have relevance to other her being out of action most of last mammals living in crowded conditions. season because of a damaged propeller. Her first call will be at Bird Island, FELLFIELD PROJECT just off the north-western tip of South Next the John Biscoe will visit Signy Georgia, to disembark biologists who in the South Orkney Islands where a will be continuing work on the enor wide range of programmes continues. mous colonies of birds and fur seals One newly-established programme con there. The biologists will be accom cerns Antarctic fellfields. These are bar panied by a team of builders who will ren stony areas comprising most of the construct a prefabricated hut, replacing tiny fraction of Antarctica that for some the present one which was put up nearly part of the year is clear of snow and ice. 20 years ago. Processes of colonisation by and sur A small field party will also be vival of mosses, lichens and minute established at Schlieper Bay, a few miles invertebrates in an extremely harsh away to the south-east on the coast of environment are of considerable South Georgia, to study another colony biological interest. There is also a strong of fur seals. The fur seals on and around conservation interest, since the Antarctic South Georgia were almost exterminated fellfields could be severely affected by during the 19th century by sealers hunt any future oil or mineral exploitation. ing them for their pelts, but they have An understanding of their dynamics at recovered very well. Now their numbers this stage might aid future management. have reached about half a million. Other programmes being continued The Schlieper Bay colony was include work on the Signy freshwater established comparatively recently, and lakes which are frozen for most of the has not yet reached the density of those year. Knowledge of the cycling of on Bird Island. Differences in behaviour nutrients in these comparatively simple tthw^w

ANTARCTIC September 1981 water bodies will aid understanding of Meanwhile, geophysicists employing processes in lakes in temperate regions. gravity, magnetic, radio-echo sounding and seismic techniques will investigate SEDIMENTARY ROCKS the boundary and structural relation Sea ice permitting, the John Biscoe ships between East and West Antarctica will then proceed to James Ross Island, in the Weddell Sea area. Ground parties south of Trinity Peninsula at the north using motor toboggans, and an air party western tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. using one of the two BAS Twin Otter The island consists of sedimentary rocks aircraft fitted with remote-sensing 70 to 100 million years old, pierced by a equipment will traverse the Ronne Ice Shelf. recently extinct volcano. Geologists will study their structure, formation and Information collected will be inter fossil content. The sedimentaries con preted in the light of geological and tain an abundance of superbly preserved palaeomagnetic evidence. The objective marine fossils which should enable com this season is to locate a geological parison with similar sequences in South boundary in this ice-covered area where America. there are few rock outcrops. The remote- Finally the John Biscoe will take sum sensing equipment will include a new mer field workers to Damoy air facility, synthetic-aperture radar set designed at Wiencke Island, off the west coast of the B A S f o r m a p p i n g t h e b o t t o m Antarctic Peninsula. From there they topography of the ice. will be ttown to southern work sites. Oceanographic studies will be con From December to February, the tinued from sites adjacent to George VI John Biscoe will continue the Offshore Ice Shelf to determine the ways in which Antarctica's ice shelves melt in the sea. Biological Programme (OBP) around South Georgia. This is aimed at the It is hoped that two current meters sus pended below the ttoating ice sheet since study of krill and its relations with its January, 1981 will yield data for the en environment and principal predators tire winter period. Measurements of sea- which can contribute to rational water salinity, temperature, currents, management of the stocks. turbulence, and dissolved oxygen, will BAS is co-operating with West Ger be made during the summer to deter many in this venture and, for the last mine the circulation under the ice shelf month of the cruise, a number of Ger and the rate of melting of its bottom sur man marine biologists will be on board, face. making observations for their own programme. WINTER ACTIVITIES Dog training trips were undertaken at ICE SHELF TRAVERSE Rothera, the Adelaide Island station, For most of the season the R.R.S. shortly after Mid-winter's Day. Bransfield, which is due to sail from Although most of the BAS dogs were Southampton on October 28, will be replaced by motor-toboggans a number chieny engaged in relief activities. At the of years ago, about 40 dogs are main end of February she is scheduled to pick tained at Rothera so that they can be up the James Ross Island party and then brought back into use if necessary. give support to geologists working Geophysical observatory, modernisa around the the Antarctic Peninsula. tion and re-organisation of the buildings These geologists will be examining the have continued at Faraday (Argentine oldest rocks in the area to determine Islands). Part of the main hut was rebuilt their structure and metamorphic history last season. Several parties have made in relation to the adjacent volcanic arc. short journeys to neighbouring islands The constituent minerals of these rocks or the mainland. are related to subduction of the Pacific A French yacht Kim which sailed Ocean noor beneath the Antarctic from New Zealand last summer spent Peninsula and to ancient volcanoes. mid-winter a few miles to the north at September 1981 ANTARCTIC

Petermann Island, where there is a So far the rats have not spread to Bird refuge hut, and the four-man crew joined Island and other off-lying islands and in Faraday's mid-winter festivities. The islets, and their bird populations con yacht departed southwards at the begin tinue to breed unmolested. Near Gryt ning of July. viken, the South Georgia pipit breeds prolifically on Right Whale Rocks and the whole of Bird Island is teeming with hirds (including four species of penguins, four of albatrosses, two of Sea ice which formed early and per gian petrels, two of diving petrels, blue sisted late in the 1980 winter at Signy was petrels, dove prions, shags and cape late in arriving this year. It was not until pigeons) as well as fur seals and a few the end of June that it was possible to elephant seals. resume biological diving at fixed posi tions through the ice or travel across Normanna Strait to the neighbouring WILDLIFE RESERVE Coronation Island. On one day in mid- July the temperature nuctuated from Bird Island is now a wildlife reserve minus 18deg Celsius to 1 ldeg and the ice protected by Falkland Islands disappeared but soon re-formed. Dependencies regulations. It was made a As usual, formation of the ice in Fac seal reserve by the Government as long tory Cove, where the station is situated, ago as 1921, and a number of other pro was celebrated by holding the main tective measures were introduced in sporting event of the year — the annual subsequent years, culminating in the Signy Thin Ice Race. This is a 350m dash Conservation Ordinance of 1975. over the ice in divers' wet suits, the com petitors generally breaking through at Now the whole of South Georgia is intervals, ostensibly to test its thickness. also protected, and Bird Island has been designated a "Site of Special Scientific RAT PROBLEM Interest" (as has another small island — Annenkov). Cooper Island at the south Further north on South Georgia, fohn eastern tip of South Georgia is now z winds in July raised temperatures to specially protected area where only more than 16deg Celsius. Advantage was scientists may land, and then only with taken of the brief good weather to the prior permission of the Governor of undertake a number of short journeys, the Falklands or the director of BAS. training for summer field work, and visiting one field hut to repair rat This legislation became particularly damage. The rats were accidentally in necessary with the growth of tourism. troduced by the whalers, and their Several tourist ships now visit the area depredations on the mainland of South each year and their passengers are allow Georgia are now a serious problem. ed ashore at Grytviken and the peninsula Field huts, left unattended throughout between Cumberland East and West the winter, and the old whaling stations, Bays where Cooper Island is situated. are overrun by them, and emergency supplies have to be kept in metal con tainers. The rats scavenge where they can but subsist mainly on tussock grass, locally causing severe damage. They have now increased to alarming numbers around Grytviken, and as most of the buildings are of wood it is im possible to keep them out. A cat may have to be added to the station's comple ment to combat them. Fortunately the rats appear to be free of transmittable disease. ^H A J* r.j> I ^ -r- N.. . ■ :i-yrf

ANTARCTIC September 1981 SOVIET NEWS i i Compacted snow runway at Vostok Construction of a compacted snow runway at Vostok for use by heavier aircraft, and increased use of a long-range Ilyushin-18D turbo-prop aircraft for research and transport work, are among plan ned Soviet Antarctic air operations. For a start two flights will be made this season on the new air route from the Soviet Union, and in the future an I1-18D will remain in Antarctica for the whole summer] When the trial night on the new route in Antarctica for the entire summer was made in February last year the I1-18D season. After the trial night last year the ttew by way of Moscow-Odessa-Cairo- IL-18D new to the South Pole and the Aden-Maputo-Molodezhnaya. This year Pole of Inaccessibility, and was used as a the aircraft flew first from Moscow to scientific laboratory by geophysicists Leningrad, headquarters of the Arctic and meteorologists. and Antarctic Research Institute. Some of the scientific results of After refuelling and taking on geological and geophysical investiga passengers at Polkovo the I1-18D took tions by scientists of the 26th Soviet off on February 10 for Molodezhnaya. Antarctic Expedition, who worked on From Odessa it followed the usual route the Weddell Sea coast and in adjacent — a distance of 17,190km, including the mountain regions from the summer sta Moscow-Leningrad section. On the tions Druzhnaya I and II, were reported 5000km ocean crossing from Maputo to in the Soviet weekly, "New Times." Enderby Land radio communications Plant and animal fossils, and samples of were handled by Molodezhnaya, and the rocks and minerals were collected from research ship Professor Vize was not used mountain ridges in West Antarctica. again as a radio beacon and relay station. I night carried During the summer a geological and 40 members of the winter teams to geophysical unit headed by Dr Evgeny Antarctica. This season the first night is Kameniev investigated an area of planned for November. The passengers 750,000 square miles, using aircraft and will be scientists who will arrive sooner snow vehicles to link Druzhnaya I and than by ship. In November ice conditions the so-called Pacific Ocean belt which limit the approach of ships to certain includes the Kuriles-Kamchatka reigon stations. of the Soviet Union. Dr Kameniev described the research as vital in the In the future the 11-18 will be used for study of the inter-relationship of the transport work on the continent itself. geological history, structure, and Freight will be flown from Moldezhnaya mineral resources, of Earth. to other stations, and especially to the Important data about Antarctica's continental station, Vostok, when the underwater structure was obtained by new airfield is completed. Since Vostok scientists who made seismic probes of was established in 1957 fuel and supplies the seabed of the Weddell Sea from the have been delivered by tractor trains from Mirny along a 1410km route. Kapitan Markov. They used sound pulses from a pneumatic gun to deter More extensive research will be carried mine the thickness of a sedimentary out in the future from the I1-18D in cover on Antarctica's crystallic founda regions of difficult access. This means tion. The thickness proved to be more that eventually the aircraft will be used than 7km. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

TRANSGLOBE Ice team in North-West Passage

After a hazardous landing in inflatable rubber boats at the mouth of the Yukon River off the west coast of Alaska the British Tran sglobe Expedition is now in the Canadian Arctic. The leader, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Charles Burton, are navigating the North- West Passage on their way to the north-eastern tip of Ellesmere Island, which is 901km from the North Pole. By the middle of last month they were reported to have reached Spence Bay on the Boothia Peninsula.

On the last stage of its planned polar Tuktoyaktuk, a Polar Continental Shelf circumnavigation of the world, using the Project research station, to begin the Greenwich meridian as a basic route, the North-West Passage journey. expedition will attempt to cross the Arctic No serious pack ice was encountered Ocean from Alert on Ellsemere Island on the way south from Tuktoyaktuk, by way of the North Pole to the Spits and last month Fiennes and Burton were bergen area. It is now likely that the at Spence Bay, a Distant Early Warning Arctic section of the journey will be Line station on the Boothia Peninsula. completed by two men, Fiennes and Earlier a base had been established at Burton. Oliver Shepard, who shared Resolute (74deg 42min N/94deg 54min with them the crossing of Antarctica in W), a Canadian military and research 1980-81 had to withdraw from the ice station on Cornwallis Island with the group for personal reasons. support of the expedition's Twin Otter Before they reached the Arctic port of aircraft which had been nown out from Inuvik at the mouth of the Mackenzie England by Captain Giles Kershaw and River Fiennes and Burton took their Sergeant Gerry Nicholson, night rubber boats, equipped with outboard engineer. motors, 2000km up the Yukon River to the Klondike town of Dawson. There they were transferred to utility vehicles AIR DROP for crossing the watershed to the Two members of the expedition at Mackenzie River. Then they returned to Resolute have supported the North-West the rubber boats for the journey down Passage team. Lady Virginia Fiennes has the Mackenzie to Inuvik. maintained radio communications, and Because of the bad weather encoun with her is Simon Grimes, one of the tered earlier a faster boat was needed for support group for the Antarctic crossing the sea journey through the North-West during the last southern summer. Passage to Ellesmere Island before the Another expedition base will be set up route was completely covered by ice. on Ellesmere Island in Tanquary Fiord There was a delay of several days until about 482km from Alert. From there the the boat, fitted with two 60 h.p. out other members of the crossing team will board motors, was freighted to Inuvik. provide air and radio support for Fien Then Fiennes and Burton carried on to nes and Burton. EfKaUB* ANTARCTIC September 1981

Fiennes and Burton expect to reach peratures in winter drop to minus 50deg Alert (82deg 31min N/62deg 05min W) Celsius. A permanent population of late in October. They will winter there, some 200 Canadian servicemen is sup and Ginnie Fiennes will remain with plied entirely by air, and has a weekly them to handle communications. The mail delivery, closed circuit colour Twin Otter crew arid Simon Grimes will television, washing machines and clothes tty back to England. They will return in dryers, and a family radio and telephone February next year to support the ice link almost every day. team on its crossing of the Arctic Ocean Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert to Spitsbergen. began in 1950 as a joint Canadian- American meteorological station. In ALERT STATION 1956 the Royal Canadian Air Force set up a post near the meteorological station Alert is completely unlike the Trans for communications research. Two years globe Expedition's Antarctic base, Ryv later the Army took over, and since then ingen, where Ran Fiennes, his wife, Bur has made major changes to provide all ton, and Shepard, spent the southern the services of modern society. Alert winter of 1980. Its polar darkness lasts also maintains a field station for the from October 12 to March 3 and tem Polar Continental Shelf Project.

Japan's icebreaker named Shirase Japan's new icebreaker for use in Japan's First expedition to Antarctica in Antarctica will be launched in December 1910-12. His ship was a three-masted and commissioned in November next wooden schooner of only 235 tonnes year. She has been named Shirase, and with an 18 h.p. auxiliary steam engine. after commissioning tests and training With a displacement of about 11,700 exercises have been carried out, she is tonnes the icebreaker Shirase is a far cry expected to make her first trip to the from the tiny Kainan Maru which reach Antarctic with the 25th Japanese An ed the Bay of Whales from Sydney in tarctic Research Expedition in Janury, 1912. The Shirase has a power November, 1983. output of 30,000 h.p. and can handle ice Chosen from the results of a national up to 1.5m thick. She will carry 1000 poll last year the name Shirase com tonnes of exploration equpment and will memorates Lieutenant Choku Shirase, have accommodation for 60 in addition of the Imperial Japanese Navy, who led to the crew.

Smaller Polish research teams Because of present economic restric and the BIOMASS programme. In the tions Polish research in Antarctica will first period of the new plan the accent be concentrated on very precise objec will be on marine biology programmes tives concerning science and the eco and the study of whales. nomy. The new policy, according to Dr This season a Polish expedition led by S.M. Zalewski, secretary of the Com Professor K. Birkenmajer, of the In mittee on Polar Research of the Polish stitute of Geology, will work at Arc Academy of Science, will mean the sus towski Station on King George Island in pension of large and expensive summer the South Shetlands. Dobrowolski Sta expeditions. tion in the Bunger Hills of Queen Mary Future research will be restricted to Land will not be occupied this season. It small scientific teams which will work on was operated in the 1978-79 and 1979-80 precise and strategic subjects like fishing seasons. ^^mBmmmm )^?y(-*\.p&f September 1981 ANTARCTIC Sperm whaling banned by commission

Sperm whaling in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere was banned by the International Whaling Commission at its 33rd annual meeting in Brighton, England, from July 20 to 26 this year. Twenty- five member nations voted in favour of the ban, which was opposed only by Japan. Four members abstained from voting. Other proposals to ban or reduce all North Pacific, 1361; Southern Hemi commercial whaling failed to obtain the sphere, 7072. Most of the southern necessary 75 per cent majority of votes minke whales are caught in the Antarctic in the plenary session. For the sixth suc by Japanese whalers. This year the IWC cessive year the commission rejected a gave Japan the equivalent of its 1980 proposal for a world-wide moratorium quota. on all commercial whaling. Proposals for a moratorium on commercial whal COLD HARPOON ing in the North Atlantic, and a moratorium on the pelagic catch of As from November next year the com- minke whales after the 1983-84 season were also not accepted. iiai. grenades) for killing all species of Although the commission banned whales. The cold harpoon will be replac sperm whaling in both hemispheres for ed by an explosive device, considered to the 1981-82 pelagic seasons and the 1982 be more humane. Cold harpoons have coastal season, the ban on the North been used mainly to take the small Pacific quota of 890 whales taken by minke whales. Japanese coastal whalers is provisional. No sperm whales can be taken this Last year a working group of the IWC season until the commission meets to and its technical committee studies consider evidence for the ban from the humane killing of whales, and parti cularly the cold harpooning method. As scientific committee which will meet in a result the commission imposed a ban March or April next year. to take effect this year on the use of Iceland, one of four whaling nations unarmed grenades for all species except which had agreed earlier to cease sperm minke. A proposal to include minke did whaling, has been permitted to take its not obtain the necessary 75 per cent 1981 quota of 130 male sperm whales in majority. the North Atlantic during 1982 also. The This year use of the cold harpoon 1980-81 sperm whale quota has been from the end of the 1982 season was reduced from 1320 to zero for both banned by consensus. Japan, Norway, and the Soviet Union reserved their posi mmmmmm tions but did not insist on a vote. coming season in the Southern Hemisphere. When quotas were fixed for the 1981-82 season the quota for Fin whales Another 1030 minke whales will be was reduced from 701 to 561. The caught in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in the 1981-82 season. The Bryde's whale quota was increased from commission increased the total quota 1415 to 1460. from 10,987 to 12,017. Last season the As a result of New Zealand's initiative quotas were: North Atlantic, 2554; last year the IWC decided to establish a ^#&SK -*<■ *%. j wmbbwimpp» pi i.'»

ANTARCTIC September 1981

working group to examine whaling oper Quotas for whale stocks of all species ations outside the International Whaling in the Northern and Southern Hemi Convention by private "pirate" whalers spheres set by consensus show a reduc and countries which are not members of tion by the commission from 14,729 for the commission. This group met before the 1980-81 season to 14,352 for the this year's annual meeting and agreed to 1981-82 season. Stocks not hunted the collection of more information so amount to 604, leaving 13,748 available that private whaling and operations by to be taken compared with 14,125 in the non-members would be apparent more previous season. quickly in future. Total catch limits by species set for the 1981-82 season compared with the BOWHEAD WHALES 1980-81 figures (in brackets) are: Sperm 0, subject to scientific committee For the least four years, and again this meeting (1320); Bryde's, 1460 (1415); year, the IWC scientific committee has minke, 12,017 (10,987); fins, 561 (701); recommended that subsistence whaling gray- 179 (179); sei, 100 (100); hump of bowhead whales by Alaskan back, 10 (10); bowhead, 17 (17), part of Eskimoes should cease. Last year the three-year quota. Totals, 14,352 IWC fixed the take at 45 whales landed (14,729). Stocks not hunted, 604. or 65 struck with a maximum of 17 land Numbers available to be taken, 13,748 ed in any one year between 1981-83. (14,125). This year the bowhead quota was not New Zealand was represented at the discussed, and the catch limit was un IWC meeting by Mr I. L. G. Stewart, changed. The commission did accept the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Foreign scientific committee's advice that only Affairs, in his capacity as New Zealand immature, adolescent bowheads should Whaling Commissioner, Mr M. Dono- be taken, and that the numbers struck ghue, of the Greenpeace organisation, but not landed should be reduced to zero and Mr F. Wong, New Zealand High as soon as possible. Commission, London. .;?^'fS£%luUU43ralw^— ■ -'"l*' -■■■'"■ ^"-''Vi^ii' **''•' ■ • :•.;«•*» I Large krill concentrations seen i irrrfWiniKEfiJnrrf ifl by FIBEX ships Large concentrations of krill in their study areas were reported by several of the research ships which took part in the First International BIOMASS Experiment (FIBEX) last season. A "super swarm" esti mated at 10 million metric tons was recorded in March north of Elephant Island in the eastern Scotia Sea by scientists aboard the United States research Melville, and large swarms were also sighted by ships from West Germany, Argentina, Chile, and Poland. In their investigations of krill stocks During the first leg of its two months' and the density of swarms FIBEX scien cruise in the South Atlantic the West tists made acoustic surveys and carried German research ship Walther Herwig out krill patch studies, following and encountered very good concentrations observing the krill for several days. The of krill. The acoustic survey began on programme began in December and end January 26 north of Elephant Island, ed in March, and was supported by ships covered 5200 nautical miles, and was from 11 member countries of the Scien followed by a krill patch study, beginn tific Committee on Antarctic Research. ing on February 22 near the island. September 1981 ANTARCTIC

On the second leg of the cruise the Chilean scientists who took part in Walther Herwig made a transect from both the acoustic survey and the krill 62deg 09min S/67deg 30min W to the swarm study aboard the Itsumi concen southern tip of Anvers Island to investi trated on Bransfield Strait and Drake gate krill distribution and development Passage. Covering 857 nautical miles in west of the Antarctic Peninsula after Bransfield Strait they initially detected spawning. When the transect was con great concentrations of krill south of the tinued through Gerlache Strait and the Piloto Pardo Islands, penetrating west southern Bransfield Strait on March 12 ward to Bransfield Strait and following and 13 large krill concentrations were the countours of the continental shelf. detected in the middle of Gerlache In the Drake Passage area the survey Strait. Twenty tons were collected in 35 covered 283 nautical miles with special minutes, using a commercial-sized krill coverage on the continental shelf of the trawl. Echo sounder records showed only South Shetland Islands. However, no small and scattered krill aggregations in krill swarms were detected. the southern Bransfield Strait. Polish FIBEX activities were carried Scientists on the Argentine research out from February 15 to March 2 aboard ship Eduardo L. Holmberg led by Dr the Professor Siedlecki, and the scientific Aldo P. Tomo sighted in the Scotia Sea team was headed by Dr S. Rakusa- on January 26 a krill swarm approxi Suszczewski, who worked at McMurdo mately 7 by 7.5 nautical miles at a depth Station in the winter of 1974. Heavy krill of 40 to 60 metres. Its central position concentrations were encountered in and was 61deg 24.4min S/47deg 16.1min W. to the west of Bransfield Strait. High On February 13 large luminescent pat concentrations of krill larvae were also ches of krill were observed on the sur encountered in several areas. face where other fish and birds were preying. Dr Tomo reported that the water was almost boiling with krill. Puma helicopters for SANAE field work To support field operations from SANAE III, the South African base in Queen Maud Land, the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) has acquired two new Super-Puma helicopters. These were taken south by the relief and research ship Agulhas last

In April last year two South African tions, she also had some unusual Air Force Puma SA330 helicopters made passengers on board — five women and a rescue night to Sanae III to bring out a two children. They were the wife and member of the winter team who had two daughters of the ship's master, Cap contracted tuberculosis. The helicopters tain W. Leith, and the wives of four operated from the Agulhas and flew 45 government officials. nautical miles to Sanae III. Flight crews As well as the two helicopters, which were able to gain some experience of An have been specially adapted for work on tarctic conditions for future South the ice, the Agulhas brought muskeg African operations. tracked snow vehicles, 4000 drums of When the Agulhas left Cape Town on diesel fuel, and other equipment for the December 30 with the members of base. During her stay Public Works SANAE 22, Public Works Department Department staff checked base equip staff, and scientists from various institu ment and did necessary maintenance. I 'jj*figgj&*-:y ■ ■^^g^^;,?*^'^^ 'rT*V

ANTARCTIC September 1981 OBITUARIES Roy Carlyon was surveyor with TAE One of the men who were the first to With their dogs Carlyon and Ayres winter at Scott Base in 1957 died last were nown from Scott Base to the year. He was R.A. Carlyon, a surveyor Plateau Depot. They made a 321km with the winter party of the New Zealand journey to Depot 480, one of the depots section of the Commonwealth Trans- on the New Zealand tractor party's Antarctic Expedition. His death follows route to the South Pole. those of R.H. Orr, a technical officer in On December 7 the two men headed the International Geophysical Year party, east towards the Darwin Glacier and the in 1978, and P.M. Mulgrew, the chief Ross Ice Shelf. Their purpose was to ex radio operator, in 1979. plore and map the large area between the Roy Carlyon, who was 48, was Darwin Glacier and the Mulock Glacier. selected as assistant surveyor-navigator They completed their project by January with the TAE field party. He was born 13, and then made the first descent of in Wellington, worked with the Ministry the Darwin Glacier to the Ross Ice Shelf of Works and the New Zealand Rail with Flying Officer W.J. Cranfield and ways, and held a civil engineering degree S. Bucknell, pioneering a fourth route from Canterbury University College. from the Polar Plateau. When he returned to New Zealand in In Antarctica Carlyon became a skill 1958 Carlyon worked with the New Zea ed dog driver. Early in 1957 he and the land Railways. Then he joined a con deputy-leader, J.H. Miller, made a 288 struction firm and was engaged on con km journey — their first driving dog tracts in New Zealand and Fiji. Later he teams — across the Ross Ice Shelf to became a director of a concrete products establish the route from Scott Glacier to firm in Auckland. the Skelton Depot. They then surveyed the lower part of the Skelton Glacier. A few days before Christmas, 1957, Carlyon and Ayres were on the Polar Before the winter ended Carlyon took Plateau north of Mt Longhurst. They part in other sledging journeys to Cape climbed Mill Mountain (2560 m) 12.8 Evans and Cape Royds. His most not km to the east. able journey was made in the spring of Carlyon was able to survey the whole 1957 with the mountaineer and dog area at the head of the Darwin and Mul driver, H.H. Ayres. They were in the ock Glaciers, including a previously un field for 75 days with their two dog mapped glacier fiowing 32 km south-east teams from October 29 to January 21 to merge with the ice shelf at 79 deg 30 and carried out 10,000 square miles of min S/ 159 deg 10 min E. That glacier new survey in unknown country. now bears his name. Graham Land expedition veterans Two members of the British Graham dent, was one of a handful of polar Land Expedition (1934-37) led by John explorers awarded the Polar Medal with Rymill died in England late last year. both Arctic and Antarctic clasps. He They were Quintin Riley, aged 75, who was meteorologist of the British Arctic was meteorologist and commissariat Air Route Expedition (1931-32) led by officer, and Norman Gurney, aged 68, Gino Watkins, and with his second one of the crew of the expedition's ship expedition to Greenland. Penola. In the Second World War Riley served Riley, who was killed in a motor acci as a naval officer in Norway, Iceland, ^H ■ I ■ 'H*'*W- September 1981 ANTARCTIC

Italy, Yugoslavia, Ceylon, France, and studies, and was ordained after war ser- Germany. He maintained his polar inter- vice in the Royal Navy. Except for seven ests after the war, and spent six months years teaching he was a parish priest for as an adviser to the makers of the film the rest of his life. "Scott of the Antarctic." Gurney had completed his first year at \A& Cambridge when he applied to join the ship's party of the Penola. After the expedition he resumed his theological > Graham McCallum, mountaineer and nuclear physicist One of New Zealand's leading moun A highly-experienced mountaineer, taineers, Mr Graham John McCallum, Mr McCallum had been climbing for 36 who trained United States scientists in years, and was a member of the Tararua snowcraft and survival techniques on Tramping Club for 21 years. He was Ross Island, died in an avalanche on Mt president of the New Zealand Alpine Ruaphehu on July 11. Mr McCallum, Club for the last two years. His ex who was 53, had been with the Depart perience included ascents of every New ment of Scientific and Idustrial Research Zealand peak over 3000m, and climbing since 1949, and was internationally in Nepal, South America, and India. known for his work in experimental nuclear physics. In 1963 Mr McCallum was one of Mr McCallum was a founder-member seven New Zealand mountaineers who of his department's Institute of Nuclear went to Antarctica to instruct members Sciences. He designed and installed the of the United States research pro institute's nuclear physics laboratory, gramme. He worked from Scott Base for and was in charge of the accelerator two weeks under the leadership of the physics section. late Captain L. D. Bridge. New base snow New treaty members vehicle A new wide-tracked snow vehicle for Twenty-six nations have now signed general transport and search and rescue the Antarctic Treaty. Italy, which began operations will be shipped to Scott Base its association with the New Zealand this summer. The vehicle, which cost Antarctic research programme in 1958 $30,000, is a Swedish-built Snow when a naval scientist, Lieutenant Fran Master. It weighs 1250kg and is powered co Faggioni, wintered at Scott Base, by a 1584cc Volkswagen industrial became an acceding party this year as engine. did Peru, and Papua New Guinea. Built to carry six passengers in a heated cab, the Snow Master will replace There are nine other acceding parties a smaller vehicle which has been in use at — Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the base since 1964. It has been designed Denmark, East Germany, Netherlands, with 800mm-wide tracks, which make it South Korea, Rumania, and Uruguay. ideal for soft snow. In the event of a The consultative parties are the original field emergency the vehicle can be taken 12 signatories — Argentina, Australia, by helicopter into any area within 185km Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New of Scott Base. With its wide tracks it is Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United expected to be ideal for use in steep Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union mountainous terrain. — and Poland and West Germany. ■ H

ANTARCTICA September 1981

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

Sledging Into History

David L. Harrowfield Macmillan Co. of N.Z. Ltd, 1981. 119 pp, 86 illustrations in colour, 42 in black and white, 25 pen and ink drawings, 11 diagrams. N.Z. price $29.50. It is now 18 years since publication of Perhaps comparative photographs "Two Huts in the Antarctic" by L.B. could have been used to effect. For in Quartermain. Then the huts at Cape stance, the photograph of Scott's cubicle Royds and Cape Evans had just been at Cape Evans now when compared to restored, after five decades of exposure earlier photographs, shows alarming to the elements. In 1964, the ice-filled evidence that artefacts have disap "Discovery" hut at Hut Point was ex peared. cavated. Since 1969, the restoration and A chapter heading with nostalgic ap ropramme has continued, peal is "They Passed This Way: Hut ie seasons' work by Point". One of those who passed "this rs" from the New Zealand way" was R.W. Richards, that hardy veteran of the Ross Sea Shore Party >ociety. The caretakers in 1978-79 were D.L. Harrowfield and (1914-17). Not only has he set the tone C.C. Buckley. of the book with an eloquent foreword, but also he is often quoted by David "Sledging into History" is based on Harrowfield. He is an important ingre David Harrowfield's experiences during dient in the success of "Sledging into those few weeks, and a life-long interest History." in the subject. It is a sequel to Quarter- main's volume, albeit on a grander and Mr Harrowfield is curator of Antarc more extensive scale. It is not a com tic relics at the Canterbury Museum. He prehensive history of the restoration and brought this expertise to bear in the maintenance of these "museums". Per compilation of an extensive inventory of haps this could have been achieved with historical items at Cape Royds and Cape detailed appendices (rather than some of Evans. In this process, important new the marginally relevant appendices used) material was discovered, and in some to supplement the text of general in cases, rediscovered. A photograph of terest. the only remaining pony harness at Cape Like several recent quality Antarctic Royds is a most important item. The discovery of a tent used by Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is a i into History" is visually vital and unique link with history. This is ....0. —„v of the coloured photo graphs are Mr Harrowfield's own, and truly sledging into history. generally are excellent. Good use has The narrative of "Sledging into been made of reproductions from ex History" is loosely linked to a sledge pedition books now free of copyright journey made by Archdeacon Michael (although some are old favourites which Brown, the Antarctic Division chaplain, over the years have been used too often) and Messrs Harrowfield and Buckley and also photographs taken by the from Scott Base to the huts. "Compared restoration parties in the early 1960's. with many journeys New Zealanders The generous quantity of illustrations is have made with dog teams in Antarctica, supplemented by effective diagrams, ours was a mere stroll. "Nevertheless the and pen and ink illustrations by Mr Har device is an effective framework within rowfield. which the past merges with the present. -v^-.-.-ri^- ^^.v.^W^ September 1981 ANTARCTICA

ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF

Evidence of the historical accuracy of 1911. This important site is not listed in the text appears in two passing refer the historic monuments identified by the ences to Granite Harbour, on the west Antarctic Treaty nations in 1972. side of McMurdo Sound. A detailed ac Mr Harrowfield concludes that An count is given of a hut intended for tarctica is not the perfect storage facility meteorological observations at this loca for artefacts. He details deterioration in tion, which was shipped back to New these which must be countered. His ap Zealand, and later became "The Cabin" proach to preservation is benevolent, on Kinsey's property at Clifton Hill. Se not hard-hitting but generous in its ap cond, an appendix lists a "granite hut" constructed during Griffith Taylor's se preciation of work done to date. cond geological expedition in December, R.G. McELREA

Book series on Polar research

A new series of books to be called Intending authors are invited to get in "Studies in Polar Research" is planned touch with any members of the editorial by the Cambridge University Press. The board, whose names and addresses are plan renects the growth of research as follows: activity in and about polar regions, and was formalised after full discussion with Dr R. J. Adie, British Antarctic the Scott Polar Research Institute and Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge, the British Antarctic Survey. CB3 OET. The series will be international and, Dr T. E. Armstrong (chairman), Scott where appropriate, inter-disciplinary. Its Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, CB2 1ER. scope will include studies in the biological, physical, and social sciences. The aim is to produce fairly short books Dr S. W. Greene, Institute of Ter restrial Ecology, Bush Estate, Penecuik, (about 200 pages in standard 228 x 152mm format) with all necessary il Edinburgh, EH26 OQB. lustrative material. They should be ap Dr B. Stonehouse, Postgraduate propriate for use by research students as School of Studies in Environmental well as professional scientists. Science, University of Bradford, West Yorkshore BD7 1DP. Dr P. Wadhams, Scott Polar Research Tussock-eating rats Institute, Cambridge, CB2 1ER. Dr P. N. Webb, Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, the coastal tussock grass of the northern USA. coasts of South Georgia, have adapted successfully to the rigorous climate since Dr I. Whitaker, Department of they came ashore from ships many years Sociology and Anthropologyt, Simon ago. British Antarctic scientists have Fraser University, Burnaby, British Col found that the tussock grass where they umbia, Canada V5A 1S6. make nest-burrows forms the main part of their diet throughout the year. They also eat beetles regularly and forage on the sea shore. \TTHW i.W!^J!»mM •

ANTARCTICA September 1981 Polar research community changes A distinguished Soviet polar scientist, E. C. Young, head of the zoology Dr Alexander Treshnikov, who has been department, University of Auckland, director of the Arctic and Antarctic who has made seven summer visits to Research Institute in Leningrad for Antarctica. He replaces Dr M. G. Laird, more than 20 years, and led two expedi of the New Zealand Geological Survey, tions to Antarctica, has relinquished his who has completed his term. post. He has been appointed to the chair Professor G. A. Knox, president of of oceanography in the geography the Scientific Committee on Antarctic department at Leningrad University. His Research (SCAR) is chairman of the successor is Boris A.^Krutskikh. Dr Treshnikov began his polar career committee. Other members are Mr R. B. in the Arctic where he worked on North Thomson, superintendent, Antarctic Pole III, one of the Soviet noating ice Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr P. J. Barrett, stations in the Arctic Ocean. He was director of the Antarctic research unit, leader of the second Soviet Antarctic Ex Victoria University of Wellington, Mr I. pedition from 1956 to 1968, and in Campbell, Soil Bureau, D.S.I.R., and charge of Mirny and Vostok I. In Mr J. S. Hickman, director, December, 1957, he led the tractor train while established Vostok. Meteorological Service. In the summer of 1963 Dr Treshnikov Professor Young went to Cape Royds led 67 scientists, construction workers, first in the 1959—60 summer when he and journalists who flew to Mirny in two was a lecturer in biology at the Uni Ilyushin-18 turbo-prop aircraft by way versity of Canterbury. Then between of Christchurch and McMurdo Station. 1964 and 1970 he worked with the This contingent was part of the ninth University of Canterbury Antarctic Soviet Antarctic Expedition, and the biological research unit at Cape Bird. In leader for the summer was the late Pro the 1964—65 season he worked at Cape fessor Mikhail Somov. On his third Crozier. journey to Antarctica Dr Treshnikov led the 13th Soviet Antarctic Expedition. He was in charge at Mirny from 1967 to No Antarctic 1969. West Germany now has a polar re flights search institute which was established at Qantas and the Australian Department Bremerhaven last year. The institute, of Transport have decided to half tourist named after the noted geophysicist fiights over Antarctica because of the Alfred Wegener, will be devoted to basic Air New Zealand DC10 crash on Mt research in northern and southern polar Erebus on November, 1979. Sightseeing regions. nights have been suspended indefinitely Dr Gotthilf Hempel, who is a pro pending a review by the department. fessor at the Institute of Marine Sciene, After the Erebus disaster Qantas, Kiel University, has been appointed which pioneered tourist fiights to An director of the new research institute. He tarctica in February, i977, completed its is chairman of the West German Na programme for 1979-80 with nights on tional Committee for Antarctic December 2 and 9. The Department of Research, and played a leading part in Transport then decided there would be the planning of FIBEX (First Interna no new programme of nights. tional BIOMASS Experiment), and a Recently Qantas refused a request by biological oceanography project last a wealthy Sydney businessman, Mr Dick season in the programme of BIOMASS Smith, for a charter night in February (Biological Investigations of Marine An next year. Mr Smith, who initiated the tarctic Systems and Stocks). first charter fiights to Antarctica, In New Zealand there has been one wanted to use a long-range Boeing 747 change in the membership of the Na- to ny from Sydney to the South Pole or tional Committee for Antarctic a standard 747 for a night to Common- Research. The new member is Professor wealth Bay. ffNiTHRCiTjl is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. It is the only periodical in the world which gives regular up-to-date news of the Antarctic activities of all the nations at work in the far south. It has a worldwide circulation. Yearly subscription NZ$7.00, Overseas NZ$8.00, includes postage (air mail postage extra), single copies $2.00. Details of back issues available, may be obtained from the Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society (Inc.), P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, New Zealand. Back issues more than five years old are available on request. Overseas subscribers are asked to ensure that their remittances are converted to New Zealand currency.

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 Antarctic exploration, development, or research. 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 addresses, see below. The yearly membership fee is NZ$5.00 (or equivalent local currency). Membership fee, overseas and local, including "Antarctic", NZ$11.00.

New Zealand Secretary: P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch

Branch Secretaries: Canterbury: P.O. Box 404, Christchurch. Wellington: P.O. Box 2110, Wellington. -:r< :>*;■ TL 5 ! : K r SLEDGING INTO

HISTORY !* 1 1| j ■ M |H 1 m

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\n RilhraBtng descriptive ami pictorial record <>i the preservation ami raretakimj »urk and a tribute i" ihe achievements ul Ihe pi restoration of historic xntanik- huts and sites along Ihc coastline of ihe Antarctic npwraiion. Kiiv. Dependent, from which Ihe uri-ai men i>i earl) Antarctic David Harrow IWd, now C'urai exploration sel mil mi ihiir celebrated expeditions. (i-nlrr al Ihe (Snterburv Mum rhis Impressive volume reveals Ihe unique contribution made i>> Ihe New compilecompile such such a ai><>< bm /.calami Government's Antarctic Division and volunteer members <>r ihc |moIwo length) length) irii>>. Iritis in In nniarcnca \in;miii:i i mi »iou> ami rmsrai. New Zealand Antarctic Sodel) lo preserving! lor future generations one of Ihe strangest museums ol Ihe world, li iv both a chronkle nl modern 86 Colour Photographs 42 Monochrome Photographs THE IDEAL GIFT FOR HOME AND OVERSEAS

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