THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AntaRCTIC SOCIETY Vol 26, No. 2, 2008 Vol is published quarterly by the New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc., ISSN 0003-5327 The New Zealand Antarctic Society is a Registered Charity CC27118 Please address all publication enquiries to: PUBLISHER: Gusto Design P.O. Box 11994, Manners Street Wellington Tel (04) 4999 150, Fax (04) 4999 140 Email: [email protected] EDITOR: Michelle Rogan-Finnemore P.O. Box 404 Christchurch 8015 New Zealand Email: [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITORS: Janet Bray & Natalie Cadenhead PRINTED BY: Format, Wellington Cover photo: Adelie penguin at Cape Bird © K. Riedel, Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection: K084 07/08 www.antarctic.org.nz Volume 26, No 2, 2008 CONTENTS Issue 204 NEWS ‘Perhaps the Most Remarkable Summit’ 22 Antarctic Treaty Countries Adopt Environment Tool 24 Antarctic Penguin Chicks Feeling the Effect of Warmer Weather 26 Antarctica New Zealand Announces Invited Artists 27 Cost of Fuel Hits Antarctic Science 28 EVENTS Ice-packed Antarctic Festival for 2008 29 SCIENCE Back From the Ice Bearing Scientific Treasure 30 HISTORY Treasures From Canterbury Museum: Penguin Menu 34 The Reality of Early Polar Explorers 36 TRIBUTE Dr Bernard Maurice Gunn 38 Albert (Alby) Burton 39 BOOK REVIEW Explorer: The Life of Richard E Byrd 40 Volume 26, No 2, 2008 21 NEWS ‘Perhaps the Most Remarkable Summit’ Celebrating the centenary of the first ascent of Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica One hundred years ago, on 10 the long Antarctic winter closed in. March 1908, Mt Erebus was climbed Six men set off from their winter for the first time. That anniversary quarters at Cape Royds on 5 March was remembered and celebrated at an 1908, and they spent a challenging anniversary dinner held in the USA week climbing the 3974 metre in early 2008. Karen Williams and (12,444 feet) volcano. They were TW Harry Keys attended that dinner and Edgeworth David (professor of geo- recall the story of the first ascent of logy at Sydney University), Douglas Mt Erebus for Antarctic. Mawson (physicist and surveyor), The first ascent of Erebus, the Alistair Mackay (surgeon), Lt JB Adams most active, the largest and the most (meteorologist), Eric Marshall (carto- studied of Antarctica’s active volca- grapher) and Sir Philip Brocklehurst noes, was by a party of scientists from (assistant geologist). Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition of 1907–09. Erebus dominates Ross Island and it presented a tantalizing target for Nimrod Expedition members, keen to test themselves and their gear before Bill McIntosh, Nelia Dunbar and Harry Keys near fumarole tower. Photo by K. Williams 22 Issue 204 NEWS It was a difficult climb for that era. The party sledged at first and then slogged up the volcano’s steep flanks, camping out night after night in freezing conditions. With the summit in sight, Brocklehurst’s feet were so badly frostbitten he had to remain in the final camp. The other five reached the edge of the active crater a little after 10am on March 10. Shackleton noted in his expedition book, The Heart of the Antarctic, that they were the first men to “conquer perhaps the most remarkable summit in the world”. His book also records the following from the David and Adams report: Erebus lava lake. Photo by H. Keys “We stood on the verge of a vast abyss and at first could see neither to the bottom nor across it on account crystals in detail, along with the Erebus research has long been in the of the huge mass of steam filling the curious ice towers: the frozen steam town of Socorro, New Mexico, USA crater and soaring aloft in a column fumaroles that are such a feature of (population 8,600). This is the hotbed 500 to 1000 ft high. After a continuous Erebus. Although the party noted at of volcanic research relating to Erebus. loud hissing sound, lasting for some least three well-defined openings at the The New Mexican connection can be minutes, there would come from below bottom of the cauldron, and said it was traced to New Zealander Phil Kyle, a big dull boom, and immediately great from these that the steam explosions who in 1972–73 was a member of a globular masses of steam would rush proceeded, there was no mention of Victoria University of Wellington and upwards to swell the volume of the the persistent lava lake for which Mt Department of Scientific and Industrial snow-white cloud which ever sways Erebus is now famous. Research team that was the first to over the crater. This phenomenon While Shackleton’s party climbed observe Erebus’s convecting lake of recurred at intervals during the whole the mountain in 1908, it was Capt. molten lava within the summit crater. of our stay at the crater. Meanwhile, James Clark Ross and his men who Kyle has lived and worked in the USA the air around us was extremely in 1841 had discovered and named since 1976 and has been based from redolent of burning sulphur. Presently the mountain. Erebus was named for the ’80s at the New Mexico Institute a pleasant northerly breeze fanned their ship – fittingly, as Erebus is the of Mining and Technology in Socorro. away the steam cloud, and at once the son of Chaos in Greek mythology, Socorro is the site of the Mt Erebus whole crater stood revealed to us in all and the mountain was belching “flame Volcano Observatory (MEVO). Kyle’s its vast extent and depth. Mawson’s and smoke”. Robert McCormick, closest colleagues there are husband- angular measurements made the surgeon aboard the Erebus, described and-wife team Bill McIntosh and Nelia depth 900 ft and the greatest width “a stupendous volcanic mountain Dunbar. These three scientists and about half a mile.” (The Heart of the in a high state of activity”. Another associated students have spent Antarctic (1910) page 114). crew member, Dr. Hooker wrote: “... numerous field seasons at Erebus. The party was spellbound by to see the dark cloud of smoke, tinged On 10 March 2008, Socorro was the amazing contrast of fire and ice. with flame, rising from the volcano the venue for a low-key anniversary David was of the opinion that Erebus in a perfectly unbroken column, one dinner to celebrate a hundred years had erupted recently. In his report he side jet-black, the other giving back since the volcano was first climbed, wrote, “The fresh volcanic bombs the colours of the sun....was a sight and a handful of people gathered there picked up by us at spots four miles so surpassing everything that can to toast the first explorer-scientists. distant from the crater and lying on be imagined...that it really caused a Harry Keys is a veteran of numerous Erebus the surface of comparatively new snow feeling of awe to steal over us...” field seasons and is currently a Department are evidences that Erebus has recently Although there have been num- of Conservation scientist. Karen Williams was journalist at Scott Base in 1978–79 and became been projecting lava to great heights.” erous international expeditions to the the first woman to venture into the main crater The summit party described Erebus volcano over the decades, the focus for of Erebus. Volume 26, No 2, 2008 23 NEWS Antarctic Treaty Countries Adopt Environmental Tool What does the phrase “systematic environmental geographical framework” actually mean? This question had been considered by the Antarctic Treaty Countries (all 48 of them) ever since the Protocol for Environmental Protection was created in 1991. This June, at the 31st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, New Zealand finally provided the answer. “Well Fraser... we did it! Fantastic for short!) for Antarctica was adopted environment is adequately protected. job... we got there” This email from by the Committee for the Environmental The CEP considers the obligations a decidedly happy Harry Keys Protection (CEP) at their annual found in the Protocol, considers (a scientist with the Department of Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting impacts that all human activities have Conservation) to Fraser Morgan (Land- in Kiev. in the Antarctic, then provides advice care Research) confirming that the The CEP is the “caretaker” of to countries working in Antarctica on Systematic Environmental Geographic the Protocol, a legal document that how to minimise their environmental Framework (Environmental Domains was drafted to ensure the Antarctic impact there and how best to proceed Environmental Domains of Antarctica Alphabet label EDA Type Environments and extended descriptors A Antarctic Peninsula northern geologic B Antarctic Peninsula mid-northern latitudes geologic C Antarctic Peninsula southern geologic D East Antarctic coastal geologic (e.g. Vestfold, Bunger, Wilson hills) E Antarctic Peninsula, Alexander and other islands main ice fields and glaciers) F Larsen Ice Shelf (also includes Prince Gustav and other northern peninsula ice shelf remnants) G Antarctic Peninsula offshore islands (e.g. most of Deception Island) H East Antarctic low latitude glacier tongues (e.g. Mertz, Rennick) I East Antarctic ice shelves (e.g. Fimbulisen, Amery, Shackleton, Cook, Moubray Bay) J Southern latitude coastal fringe ice shelves and floating glaciers (e.g. Pine Island,Thwaites, Getz, Drygalski) K Northern latitude ice shelves (e.g. Wordie, George VI, Wilkins, Abbot, Riser-Larsenisen, Nansen) L Continental coastal-zone ice sheet M Continental mid-latitude sloping ice (e.g. Ellsworth & Coats lands, upper Lambert Gl, northern Berkner & Thurston islands) N East Antarctic inland ice sheet O West Antarctic Ice Sheet (also includes inland Coats Land, Taylor Dome, Ross Island ice cap) P Ross and Ronne-Filchner ice shelves Q East Antarctic high interior ice sheet R Transantarctic Mountains geologic (Shackleton Range to Cook Mountains) S McMurdo – South Victoria Land geologic (also includes Ellsworth, Werner etc mountains) T Inland continental geologic (Dronning Maud, MacRobertson, Victoria, Oates lands, Ford Range) U North Victoria Land geologic (also includes Executive Committee Range, Prince Charles & Jones mountains) The spatial classification of Antarctica into 21 Environmental Domains is presented in the attached figure.