Date:    Mon, 4 Apr 94 17:47:10 GMT
From: palmer@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu
Message-Id: <940404174710.2580ba54@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu>
Subject: PALMER SCIENCE SITREP - March 94
To: palmer_science@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu, peterspe.asa@asa.org,
        kiyotaki.asa@asa.org, spraybka.asa@asa.org, woodba.asa@asa.org,
        smithgl.asa@asa.org, evansjo.asa@asa.org, woodke.asa@asa.org,
        owensk.asa@asa.org

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PALMER SCIENCE SITREP - March 94
R 041608Z APR 94
FROM: John Booth


       P A L M E R   S T A T I O N   A N T A R C T I C A

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Responding: Please insert in message, all CAPS, with the ! in column 1:
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			 PALMER STATION
		   SCIENCE SITREP MARCH 1994


S-013     LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC
	  MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (SEABIRD
	  COMPONENT). William R. Fraser, Montana State University

	  Personnel on station: William Fraser, Donna Patterson

     High winds and bad weather prevented safe boating conditions 
on five days during the month of March.  Field work for the 1993-
94  season  was  completed on 22 March and  all  S-013  personnel 
departed Palmer Station aboard the Polar Duke on 23 March.  

     Cormorant  censuses were completed on 01  March,  coincident 
with fledging of the last chicks.  Although Cormorants  exhibited 
high  breeding success (1.83 chicks per pair), breeding pairs  on 
Cormorant Island have decreased by approximately 65% since  1989.  
This  decrease  is  attributed to the Bahia  Paraiso  oil  spill.  
Giant petrel chick banding was completed by 15 March; 344  chicks 
were  banded out of an initial population of 405 breeding  pairs.  
Breeding  success  was thus estimated to  be  approximately  0.85 
chicks  per pair.  Field work on Kelp Gulls was completed  on  18 
March  with a final census of active nests and the collection  of 
limpet  shells  at designated study sites.  Breeding  success  in 
this species was high this season (1.90 chicks fledged per  pair) 
in  areas not originally oiled during the oil spill.  Within  the 
oil spill area another colony on Limitrophe Island went  extinct.  

     South Polar Skua study sites on Shortcut Island were visited 
on  3/09 and 3/17 to band remaining chicks, obtain final  weights 
and  measurements,  and to determine fledging  success.   Of  the 
original 60 pairs that attempted to breed this season, 17 fledged 
chicks,  suggesting a productivity of .28 chicks per pair.   Diet 
samples  were collected on both dates for otolith  identification 
to be used as part of a seasonal comparison in food availability. 
The  South Polar Skua study on Bonaparte Point was  concluded  as 
well, with 7 fledglings being produced from 24 active territories 
for  a  productivity of .29 chicks per pair.  The  conclusion  of 
studies with Brown Skuas indicated poor breeding success as well, 
with  0.69  chicks fledged per pair.  A new pair of  Brown  Skuas 
appeared  to  have formed on Cormorant Island, but they  did  not 
breed  this  season.   The  male  of  the  pair  is  a  known-age 
individual banded by Dr. D. Parmelee in the mid-1980's.  

     Marine  mammal censuses continued throughout the month  with 
two  all-island censuses of fur seals taking place on  1-3  March 
and 10-11 March.  Fur seals within the study area increased by  a 
factor  of  three between the two dates, with the  second  census 
totaling  over 1850 animals.  An additional census (20 March)  on 
Litchfield  Island alone indicated the presence of 874 fur  seals 
on  that  date, an increase of approximately 30% since  the  last 
census  was  done  on  Litchfield on  11  March.   The  continued 
increase  in fur seals is having detrimental effects on  most  of 
the area's vegetation; Litchfield Island alone has lost about 40% 
of  its original vegetation cover in the last two  decades. 
 
     On  8  March a helicopter from the HMS Endurance  landed  on 
Hermit   Island.   The  helicopter  remained  in  the  area   for 
approximately  five minutes,  during which time nesting birds  in 
the area were scattered.  Out of nine giant petrel chicks  banded 
on 3/2, only five were found on 3/11.  


S-014     ENERGETICS OF THE ADULTS AND LARVAE OF ANTARCTIC KRILL,
	  EUPHAUSIA SUPERBA.  Langdon Quetin and Robin Ross,
	  University of California, Santa Barbara

	  Personnel on station: Johana Squier

  Algal monocultures were maintained in anticipation of experiments
to be performed during the next few months. Inventory of items on 
station was conducted.  Personnel also assisted in water collection, 
filtration and HPLC analysis conducted by S-028. 


S-016     LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC
	  MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT 
	  (PRODUCTION COMPONENT).  Barbara B. Prezelin, University
	  of California, Santa Barbara.

	  Personnel on Station:  T.J. Evens

  For S-016, the month of March, 1994 continued with HPLC (High 
Pressure Liquid Chromatography) analysis of stored water samples.  
HPLC data was then imported to spreadsheets for further study.  
During HPLC analysis and data import, T.J. Evens of S-016 trained 
S-028 scientists in the methods of using the HPLC machines.  
Techniques and maintenance were also discussed.  Prior to the March 
23 northbound ship's departure, S-016 HPLC sample runs were 
completed and the data sent to Santa Barbara.  The lab was packed 
up and organized, and the S-016 scientist departed Palmer Station 
on the northbound ship.


S-028     LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC
	  MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PREY
	  COMPONENT).  Robin Ross and Langdon Quetin, University 
	  of California, Santa Barbara. 

	  Personnel on station: Robin Ross, Tim Newberger, Karen 
	  Haberman, Jeanette Zamon, Truc Nguyen 

  Weekly acoustic transects of the Palmer nearshore grid continued 
through mid-March, as did weekly targetted tows for krill.  In 
addition, several krill schools were acoustically mapped. 
Standard weekly zooplankton tows were performed, and samples were 
sorted.  There was a paucity of krill schools detected 
acoustically during March compared to February, and minimal 
numbers were caught in targetted tows.  Growth rate experiments 
and collections for chemical composition and condition factor 
could not be done, due to lack of krill. 

  Weekly water samples were conducted at stations B-J, with samples 
collected at 4-6 depths per station, and water filtered for HPLC, 
CHN, nutrient and ammonia analysis. 

  Several krill grazing experiments were conducted, focused upon 
comparing ingestion rates and assimilation efficiencies of 
Phaeocystis to the diatom Thalassiosira.  Mixture experiments to 
determine whether selective feeding occurs were also conducted.  
Experiments are currently being analyzed using fluorometry and 
HPLC, as well as examining preserved and frozen samples collected 
during the experiment.  In addition, algal cultures were 
maintained for these experiments. 

  Data entry and inventory were also conducted to keep records up 
to date.


S-032     LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC
	  MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (OPTICS
	  COMPONENT).  Ray Smith, University of California, Santa 
	  Barbara. 

	  Personnel on station: Tim Newberger, Sharon Stammerjohn

  Weekly sampling of the water column in the oceanographic zodiac 
(ROZE) continued through mid-March.  This included CTD 
measurements (conductivity, temperature, depth, and chlorophyll 
fluorescence) and OFFI (optical free fall instrument) deployment 
at the 10 Palmer LTER nearshore stations.  Data analysis and 
preliminary processing were kept up to date.  Materials were 
packed for storage at Palmer Station, and other items were 
prepared for retro to AGUNSA Warehouse or CONUS.  All items left 
on station were inventoried.  On March 23, all personnel departed 
Palmer Station on the Polar Duke.


S-091     PALMER IRIS SEISMOLOGY. R. Butler/G. Holcomb, U.S.
	  Geological Survey, Albuquerque, NM

	  No personnel were on station. 
   
  The system has been monitored by the station science technician.
The station continued to be plagued by impulsive events of widely 
variable frequency and intensity.  The north-south component stopped 
producing data on March 21.  A reset of the DP computer failed to 
restore the data stream, and further actions are pending.


S-106     VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF) REMOTE SENSING OF THUNDERSTORM
	  AND RADIATION BELT COUPLING TO THE IONOSPHERE.
	  U. Inan, Stanford University.  

	  No personnel were on station.
  
  The system has been operated by the station science technician.
Both narrowband and broadband data acquisition systems performed
flawlessly throughout the month.  Several IF gains and the clock
frequency standard were adjusted.  The posts supporting the cable
running from the VLF hut to the antenna on the glacier were 
reseated in the glacial ice.


S-254   CHLORINE- AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA.

	R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and 
	Technology.  

	There are no personnel on station. 

  Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. 
The samples are returned to the Institute for analysis of a number
of trace components, especially chlorine- and bromine-containing
gases.  These elements have been implicated in the chemical
processes that contribute to the astral-spring depletion of the
ozone layer over Antarctica.  This work will contribute to a better
understanding of the buildup of trace constituents, particularly
those of high-latitude marine origin.


S-257   SOUTH POLE MONITORING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.  James T.       
	Peterson, Palmer Station, Environmental Research          
	Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric            
	Administration. 

	There are no personnel on station.  

  Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate
Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory team continue long-term
measurements of trace atmospheric constituents that influence
climate.  The Palmer Station air samples are returned to the NOAA
laboratory for analysis of trace constituents, including carbon
dioxide.  These measurements are part of NOAA's effort to determine
and assess the long-term buildup of global pollutants in the
atmosphere.  These data will be used to determine how the rate of
change of these parameters affects climate, particularly by
including them in climate model studies.  


S-275     UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM.
	  J. Prospero/T. Snowdon, University of Miami; C.
	  Sanderson/N. Chui, EML/DOE N.Y.  

	  No personnel were on station.  

  The system has been operated by the station science technician.   
One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a 
weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was 
maintained.  The sampling pump was off for a total of four and a 
half hours on March 11 due to a tripped circuit breaker. 


T-312     TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps
	  Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA.

	  No personnel were on station.  

  The system has been operated by the station science technician.  
DMSP and NOAA telemetry were collected, processed, and archived.  
Large scale weather images were produced in support of Science and
local boating operations.  Several ice images were produced in
support of Marine Operations.


T-313     UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C. Booth, Biospherical
	  Instruments, Inc.  

	  Tim Lucas was on station from March 17 - March 23

  The annual BSI site visit took place from March 17 - March 23.
Following a closing set of absolute calibrations, the instrument 
was removed and disassembled.  Various components were replaced, 
and after a bench test the system was reinstalled.  Another set of
absolute calibrations was then run.  Other system improvements
included the installation of a new Spectralink controller to allow
easier absolute calibrations, the installation of a GPS receiver to
provide accurate time, and the delivery of a faster data processing
computer.  Throughout the month, raw irradiance data were collected 
daily and transmitted to ATSVAX for BSI, and preliminary irradiance
data and inferred ozone abundances were produced in support of
Science.  High voltage levels and the scan schedule were adjusted in
response to the darkening sky conditions. 
04152802.607
PLM090.APR