wamsm A NEWS BULLETIN published quarterly by the NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY (INC) /-> ;j^ *j»f as ■ "". v? &. &F v*i Grytviken, South Georgia, once the main base for Antarctic whaling operations, and now a British Antarctic Survey base. The disused shore station is in the background and in the foregound is the BAS marine sampling boat. B.A.S. photo by M. R. Pawley ,':5. fVi^y m"v Registered at Post Office Headquarters, Wellington, New Zealand, as a magazine. SOUTH GEORGIA SOUTH SANDWICH Is" f S O U T H O R K N E Y I s ' ^ /o Orcadas arg Sanae sa^ Novolazarevskaya ussr XJ FALKLAND Is /flSignyl.uK , V\60"W / SOUTH AMERICA / \ S > B o r g a Syowa vjapan Molodezhnaya 4 S O U T H o . f t WEDDELL \ 8 SA ' / vr\ussR „ ff SHETLANOWto * I i s - j R C / Halley Bay9j DR0NNING MAUD LAN0 ENDERBY / S E A U . K . 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(successor to 'Antarctic News Bulletin') Vol.8, No. 10 94th Issue June, 1979 Editor: J. M. CAFFIN, 35 Chepstow Avenue, Christchurch, 5. Address all contributions, inquiries etc. to the Editor. CONTENTS ARTICLES WINTER DIARY 338-343 BRIGANTINE 346-348 POLAR ACTIVITIES NEW ZEALAND 345, 362-366 UNITED STATES 343, 349, 368 JAPAN 356-358 UNITED KINGDOM 352-355 WEST GERMANY 350 EAST GERMANY 355 SOUTH AFRICA 358-359 POLAND 360-361 ARGENTINE 367-368 GENERAL MID-WINTER'S DAY 344-345 WHALING COMMISSIONS 351 THE READER WRITES 366-367 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. ■ m*mj mm^Mr*T-T LW^"s^ ANTARCTIC June 1979 WINTER DIARY RECORD COLD MAY AT %••:•• H ^^^ POLE STATION Winter did not delay its coming to the South Pole this year. Temper atures began to drop steadily before the sun began to depart in the third week of March. By the time 17 Americans, including a woman doctor, had completed their first six months at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station the temperature had come within four degrees of the magical figure of minus lOOdeg Farenheit (minus 73.3deg Celsius). And at the end of May the thermometer recorded 72.4deg C, and several times after midnight on May 29 the temperature came within two degrees of lOOdeg F. Last month was one of the two coldest at the Pole began preparations for months of May on record at the Pole winter. The problems of daily living — since 1957. The average temperature for heating, lighting, and plumbing — are the month was minus 61.6deg C In part of the winter routine, which includes May, 1964 the record figure was 61.4deg. checking stores and equipment, and the But for stronger breezes on the night of regular scientific observations. May 29-30 the average would have been even lower. FIRST SIGNS On Ross Island 1327km to the north Early in March came the first signs of of the Pole Station's nearest neighbours, winter. The shadows of the station build 71 Americans, 12 New Zealanders, in ings began to lengthen, and the temper cluding a woman scientist, and a Soviet ature dropped below minus 50deg C In exchange scientist, had the sun with side the geodesic dome which houses the them a little longer; it did not depart living quarters the winter team, under until April 25. But now, like all the the management of Ron Peck, started its winter parties in Antarctica, they have indoor recreation with a pool tourna settled down to a regular pattern of ment. darkness and lower temperatures — a Still lower temperatures marked the pattern which will not be broken until first weeks of March, minus 60.1 deg and the sun returns in August. 65.9deg. Then, as the sun began to drop Winter began more slowly for the towards the horizon 20-knot winds eight Americans at the new Siple Station, brought a brief kind of Indian summer the most remote United States station on to the Pole, and temperatures climbed to the continent, 2250km from McMurdo a relatively warm minus 34.9deg. But the Station, at the base of the Antarctic last week ended with a minimum temper Peninsula in Ellsworth Island, and ature of minus 66.1deg, and a storm 1500km from the Pole. The sun remain prevented observation of the last sunset. ed with them until April 30, and although •' Hlswnrth Land weather pattern gave High winds and blowing snow, ac companied by rising temperatures, arriv .m many days of high winds ed in the first two weeks of April. The snow, there have been clear stormy weather increased the amount of snow drift against the station buildings, the rising moon. and brought the maximum temperature After the departure of the last aircraft to minus 39.2deg. The minimum temper of the season on February 11, the team ature was also higher — minus 57.5deg. ANTARCTIC In the third week clear skies enabled above the horizon again at the end of the the winter team to look out on a full month. moon and the fleeting colours of auroras. Siple II was opened officially in a There was also a last faint glimmer of fierce snowstorm early in January, but the sun on the horizon. The weather was its first winter occupants had some com colder, and the minimum temperature paratively pleasant weather after the last dropped to minus 64.3deg. aircraft departed from McMurdo Sta tion on February 11, and thc weeks of WINTER'S BITE high winds and blowing snow began. As the last days of the team's first six There was only a few windy days, and months at the Pole passed the temper blue skies on February 28. The minimum ature dropped to minus 66.5dcg. But by temperature was minus 27.4deg on May 3 there was a miniscule improve February 24, and a peak gust of 32 knots ment — the thermometer recorded minus was recorded on February 27. 66.4deg. Preparations for winter occupied Then came the first real bite of winter. most of the last days of February, but members of the team were able to enjoy Early in the seventh month the temper ature went down to minus 71.3deg. The cross-country ski-ing. To keep fit when drop prompted some members of the they are confined to their living quarters am to head for the station's sauna. the men have a choice of yoga or calis thenics. They also take winter courses They hoped to qualify for membership of the exclusive 300 Club by remaining during their long isolation. Brian Berry, in the sauna until the temperature reach the station leader, reports that the most ed 200deg Fahrenheit, and then dash popular three are computer programm out-side to endure briefly a temperature ing, medical technology, and learning to of lOOdeg F. play the guitar. But the decline stopped four degrees short of the Fahrenheit century. Inside FINE SUNSETS the station a bridge addict started winter Colder weather marked the first two bridge classes, and a chess game began weeks of March, and the temperature by radio with Soviet players at Vostok, dropped below minus 40deg. But the the coldest place on earth. skies were only partly cloudy, and there A full moon arrived on schedule out were some fine sunsets. About 4.57cm side early in the third week of May, and of snow fell, and on March 11 and 12 the inside the station the team turned its at minimum temperature was minus 41 deg. tention to the remodelling of the Club Gusty winds and cold temperatures 90° South. Walls were papered, trees were recorded in the third week, and a were "planted" on one wall in the form 24-hour storm with a peak gust of 38 of a mural, and preparations were made knots reduced visibility to zero for most for carpet laying when the thaw began. of the time. The minimum temperature The minimum temperature was minus was minus 40.9deg but the wind chill 68.7deg. factor brought temperatures below minus 68.8deg. May ended with a grand reopening of the Club 90° South, and a record average Because of the bad weather the team low temperature for the month. The concentrated on inside chores, scrub minimum in the last week was 72.4deg. bing, waxing, and polishing the floors.