FmiiJvVtiojyitfuo A N E W S B U L L E T I N p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y t h e NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY PENGUINS ON AN ICE FLOE AT CAPE BIRD, ROSS ISLAND, WHICH MARKS THE ENTRANCE TO McMURDO SOUND. NEARBY IS NEW ZEALAND'S BIRD STATION, BUILT IN THE 1965-66 SEASON, AND USED EACH SUMMER BY MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY ANTARCTIC BIOLOGICAL UNIT. ANTARCTIC DIVISION, D.S.I.R. PHOTO—R. K. McBRIDE December 1972 . ) / E 1 8 0 ' W \ AUSTRALIA / 1 W E L L I N G T O N f J - i C H R I S T C H U R C H —' o / / N E W Z E A L A N D 4 ' < ^ ) TA S M A N I A * Campbell 1 (NZ) * Micqumc 1 (Aim) ^A^OSS DEPENDENc,^ I uj» ANTARCTICA/\ / l \ A h (USSR) \ , < ? 6 X ^v«#£ DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS * SURVEY WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALAND. AUG 1969 3rd EDITION eeiiiWiiiB©*ira(B^ (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") 68th ISSUE December 1972 Editor: H. F. GRIFFITHS, 14 Woodchester Avenue, Christchurch 1. Assistant Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch 5. Address all contributions, enquiries, etc., to the Editor. All Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: The Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 1223, Christchurch, N.Z CONTENTS ARTICLES ■ ■ ■ SCOTT BASE LEADER'S YEAR .... BwsflM 274, 275 FLOATING LABORATORY 278, 279 POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 262, 263, 264, 265, 277', 289, 291 UNITED STATES 266, 267, 268, 273, 296 BELGIUM 267 UNITED KINGDOM .... 269, 273, 280, 2811, 282, 283 AUSTRALIA 283 JAPAN 284, 285 FRANCE :■■'■:•' Bt»'V 286 SOUTH AFRICA ^^^^^^^^M 288 SOVIET UNION ...). 138 ^ 290 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS EBBfl 268, 276 SUB-ANTARCTIC AUCKLAND ISLANDS ML? 272 MACQUARIE ISLAND **■ '"W^ 1 ■jPraS 289 GENERAL ^jfcs^pfes^ TREATY NATIONS MEETING 270, 271 TOURISM 287 ANTARCTIC WEEK ■421 THE READER WRITES wm ANTARCTIC BOOKSHELF 29'1, 295, 296 Once again we have reached the end of another year, and the 68th issue of "Antarctic," which has faithfully chronicled the story of Antarctic exploration and research since 1956. The Editor would like to be able to wish all readers, wherever they are, unqualified season's greetings, but he is reluctant to have to announce that because of rising costs the price of "Antarctic" will be increased as from the first issue for 1973. Details of the new subscription rates are given on the inside back cover to which your attention is directed. We regret this increase which is due to circumstances beyond our control. ■^-•:c December 1972 Other Nations Working With N.Z. Research Programme Co-operation with scientists of other nations has been a feature of the New Zealand Antarctic research programme this season. Russian and Japanese scientists are working in the dry valley area of the Ross Depend ency with New Zealand assistance. New Zealand is taking part in a French experiment to determine the drift of icebergs in the Southern Ocean, and Italian scientists have been studying the New Zealand programme. New Zealand is also involved in drilling projects on Ross Island and in Antarctic waters. An Italian scientific team may partici sity arrived there early this month. The pate in the New Zealand programme university's fifth expedition to the Ant next season. Originally the Italian arctic is led by Dr C. H. Hendry, a National Research Council had plans to geochemist. establish its own base in the Antarctic. Other members of the party are Dr A survey this season, however, has indi P. L. Hosking, of the University of cated that this would not be economic. Auckland, Mr T. I. Oliver, and Mr A. For several weeks Dr C. Stocchino, Hogg. chief hydrographer of the Institute of The Waikato scientists will make a Oceanography, Genoa, and Dr M. short visit to the Victoria. Wright, and Manzoni, a geologist, have studied the Taylor Valleys. They will work in the NZ programme at Scott Base and Victoria Valley for three weeks exam outlying stations, and field camps. They ining rock degradation and salt depo will recommend to their National sits. Then they will move to the other Research Council that a team of six to valleys for separate studies. eight scientists be formed to work from New Zealand participation in the Scott Base next summer. French iceberg drift experiment involves Because of logistic difficulties Italy the placing of a transponder on an ice could not establish a base in the area berg in the Ross Sea. A transnonder is where its scientists could work. The an electronic device which will receive problems of transporting men and sup specific signals by satellite and transmit plies would be too great. Therefore Drs replies automatically. Members of Stocchino and Manzoni will work out Expeditions Polaires Francaiscs placed a research priorities so they can be incor transponder on a large iceberg in March porated in the 1973-74 New Zealand pro this year soon after the relief ship Thala gramme. The plan would be to pay for Dan left Dumomnt d'Urville for Hobart the use of New Zealand facilities in ("Antarctic" June, p. 197). In seven the Antarctic. months this berg drifted about 1000 A Soviet micro-biologist will work miles. with the New Zealanders at Lake Vanda The French will use three of the this season. He will fly south next transponders this summer on icebergs month and will remain at Vanda Station at various latitudes off Adelie Land, for two months. Russian geologists have and up to 10 will be used by scientists worked at Vanda Station previously. of other Antarctic Treaty nations. Two Japanese scientists will also work Measurements will be taken daily, bar in the dry valley area, and two or three ring accidents, until June 30 next year. others may join them. Another New The E.O.L.E. satellite which interro Zealand party from Waikato Univer gates the transponder can determine the December 1972 ANTARCTIC location of an iceberg to within one toria University party, which dis kilometre three to five times a day. covered marine fossils in the Evans Information will be transmitted from Neve area. the transponder by the satellite to Scott Base was like a miniature ground receiving stations, particularly to United Nations headquarters for a time those of the National Space Research last month when the New Zealanders Centre in Brittany. were hosts to 14 delegates to the seventh Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent consultative meeting of the Antarctic of the Antarctic Division, D.S.I.R.," Treaty nations in Wellington. New Zealand's flag outside the base was says that one of the main attractions of the experiment is joined by those of the 11 other treaty that it will continue long enough to nations. show what movement of icebergs takes Before the delegates visited Scott Base they encountered Antarctic ice in place in winter. Satellite pictures and observations from ships have given this their drinks at a reception in Welling information in summer, but there arc no ton. It was a 1501b block of ice cut satellite pictures in the winter darkness. from the pressure ridges in front of the base with a chain saw, wrapped in Now, for the first time, says Mr Thom son, there will be accurate details of plastic, packed in a wooden box, flown winds and ocean currents during the to Christchurch aboard a Military Air winter. lift Command Starlifter, and then on to Wellington. PROJECTS STOPPED While a new project has been added to the New Zealand research programme this season, two others have not pro ceeded. The loss of the University of Canterbury marine biology unit's tri maran when it was blown away from HISTORIC SITES Cape Bird and adbandoned has stopped this season's research. Another pro MARKED ject in the Bowers Mountains of North ern Victoria Land was cancelled last Three bronze plaques marking his month because damage to one of the toric sites in the Ross Dependency were United States Navy's three Hercules air placed in position at Cape Royds, Cape craft meant that air support could not Evans, and Observation Hill, near Mc be provided. Murdo Station, by a team of New Zea When the aircraft was brought back landers from Scott Base last month. to Christchurch to have its damaged port The marking of seven other historic undercarriage repaired, Drs M. G. Laird places in accordance with recommenda and P. B. Andrews, of the Geological tions made at the sixth consultative meeting of the Antarctic Treaty nations Survey, Mr J. Bradshaw, of the Univer in Tokyo is expected to be completed sity of Canterbury, and Father M. F. before the end of next season. Mahoney, a field assistant, had to come All the plaques, which bear the rele home from Scott Base. vant information in English, French, The Northern Victoria Land project Spanish, and Russian, have been fixed involved the mapping, structural inter firmly in rock to prevent storm damage. pretation, stratigraphy, photography, One has been placed at Scott's hut at and sedimentation of the Bowers Cape Evans, another at Shackleton's Mountains. It had to be removed from hut at Cape Royds, and the third on top last year's summer research programme of Observation Hill to mark the jarrah because of economic cuts. Drs Laird and cross erected there in 1913 to com Andrews were able to spend 13 days in memorate Scott and the South Pole the Bowers Mountains but with the Vic party.