Delivery-Date: Sat Dec  5 08:33:33 1998
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Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 13:30:46 -0400
To: palmer_science@asa.org
From: quetinla@palmer.usap.nsf.gov (Langdon Quetin)
Subject: NOVEMBER SCIIENCE SITREP - PALLMER STATION
Cc: quetinla@palmer.usap.nsf.gov (Langdon Quetin)

PALMER STATION
SCIENCE SITREP
NOV 1998
LANGDON B. QUETIN, SSL


Field work during the month of November was severely limited by extensive
pack ice, usually extending from Hero Inlet to the horizon. Boating days
(including half days) totaled 7, the lowest number of days since at least
1991, the start of the Palmer LTER program.  On the days when the boats
could be launched pack ice had retreated beyond the 2 mile boating limit
only on 3 November.  In contrast, pack ice west of the Antarctic Peninsula
this season is not unusually extensive for November, and the snow pack is
at unusually low levels and found only in persistent summer snow fields.
Based on SitRep reports for November since 1991 there have been three years
when the number of boating days was 11 d or less (1991, 1994, 1998) and two
years when the number of boating days was 25 d or greater (1992, 1996).
This suggests a three to four year periodicity in boating days for the
month of November linked to larger scale weather and pack ice variability.


NEWS FROM THE LAB
Robert L. Edwards, Supervisor, Laboratory Operations

In November, the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD arrived at Palmer Station near the
conclusion of the LMG99-9 UV research cruise, bringing two more researchers
and one more research project to Palmer Station.  The ship remained in the
area for several days, continuing the UV research and allowing station
scientists to access local waters which were inaccessible by Zodiac because
of ice, returning to offload cargo and borrowed lab equipment and
materials.  The laboratories are now supporting a full complement of summer
scientists, with 11 individuals from five different research projects.  All
primary lab space on station is being utilized, including the active use of
the dive locker, and remaining aquarium and lab bench areas.  In contrast
to November of last year, however, we don't have the same degree of
crowding and space overlap, due to fewer researchers and more dedicated
office and library space.  Researchers were not the only recent arrivals,
the appearance of skuas and Wilson's storm-petrels rounds out the summer
complement of birds nesting in the local area, and crabeater seals, Minke
whales and Orca were sighted for the first time this summer in Arthur
Harbor.

Divers were able to take advantage of early season water clarity to observe
and videotape the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD and pier area this month.  Several
proposals to provide greater depth clearance to the ship when docked at
Palmer Station are under review.  Station staff were also able to clear the
pier of cargo vans and equipment, allowing the installation of an active
corrosion protection system for the sheet pilings to begin.

Some summer weather conditions arrived at Palmer Station as November became
warmer and less windy than October. Temperatures ranged from -8 to +7 C,
with an average just barely below freezing at  -0.1 C.  Precipitation was
slightly greater than last month, 39 mm ( water equivalent) fell mostly as
snow, even though the net snow pack decreased to zero at our standard
snowstake.  Precipitation occurred on 26 days, and there was only 1 clear
day throughout the month.  The peak wind of 51 kts occurred on the 2nd,
with the average wind velocity dropping to 8 kts and fairly even
distribution of prevailing wind direction around all points of the compass.
Unfortunately, the winds and currents conspired to pack quite a bit of ice
in waters around station


The following programs were involved in research at Palmer Station:


BO-003-O  IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ANTARCTIC VASCULAR PLANTS:  WARMING
AND UV-B RADIATION.  Principal Investigator Thomas A. Day, Department of
Plant Biology and The Center for the Study of Early Events in
Photosynthesis, Arizona State University

PERSONNEL ON STATION: Christopher T. Ruhland, Fusheng Xiong, Jenny S. Lin

Studies continued on the effects of UV-B and warming on the two species of
Antarctic vascular plants, Deschampsia antarctica (Antarctic hairgrass) and
Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic   pearlwort).  Access to Stepping Stones
Islands (a group of islands 2 km SE of Palmer Station), the site of our
main field experiment, has been limited in the months of October and
November due to heavy sea ice conditions.  We have taken photographs for
initial estimates of cover analysis on all 70 of our treatment frames that
modify ambient levels of UV radiation and temperature. We have also added
supplemental water and nutrients to an extra 20 frames at our field site.

We have been sampling intensively from our experiment being conducted on
Gamage Point, near Palmer Station.  We have nine UV-radiation manipulation
filter frames (UV-B exclusion, UV-B transparent and open) with both species
growing under these frames.  Plants under these frames have been sampled on
four different  sampling dates during the month of November for UV-mediated
DNA  damage.  We expect that plants under the UV-B transparent and open
frames will yield higher levels of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers than those
under UV-B exclusion frames.   These samples are currently being processed
in the lab at Palmer Station for transport back to Arizona State
University.  In addition to DNA sampling, we  have been simultaneously
making measurements of light- and dark-adapted photosynthetic yield of
photosystem II with a pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer on separate
plants under each of the  treatment frames.

We have also been examining long-term effects of UV-B on impairment of
photosynthesis and enzyme reaction rates of both species in the lab using a
liquid-phase oxygen electrode in combination with the fluorometer.  Diurnal
rates of photosynthesis (leaf carbon dioxide uptake) under UV-B transparent
and UV-B exclusion conditions are currently being assessed with a portable
infrared gas analysis system.  In addition to these measurements we have
been assessing UV-B effects on growth using Demographic Growth Analysis.
Changes in leaf length and number and tiller/shoot production are currently
being measured on a weekly basis.  We are also measuring changes in
epidermal cell length and number to partially explain differences in leaf
elongation rates under our treatments.  In addition to these measurements
on mature plants, we have germinated seeds of both species of Antarctic
vascular plants in the lab, and placed these seedlings under our
UV-manipulation filters.  We will be conducting physiological measurements
on these seedlings to examine UV-B effects on growth and development.

We would like to thank ASA personnel at Palmer Station who have
continuously provided excellent support to our field team and helped make
November a very productive month for BO-003-O.


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

PERSONNEL ON STATION:  Peter Duley and Matt Irinaga

Heavy and persistent brash ice this month has severely limited access to
our island research study sites.  Adelie penguin reproductive success study
sites were established on Torgersen and Humble Islands.  12 sites in colony
14 and 4 sites each in colonies 8, 18, and 20 on Torgersen Island.  On
Humble Island 12 sites were established in colony 2 and 4 sites each in
colonies 3, 4, and 5.  This year we are looking at the reproductive success
of Adelie penguins at 240 nests in the Palmer area.  Our first Adelie egg
was discovered on 3 November.  Access to Torgersen Island during Adelie
penguin pair formation for diet sampling was restricted due to heavy ice.
On 27 November diet sampling with well established pairs revealed only well
digested krill with one in six birds having krill fresh enough to allow for
any measurement.  Snow transect measurements were taken on Torgersen,
Humble, and Litchfield Islands on 16 November.  On Cormorant and Christine
Islands snow transects were measured on 23 November.

Brown skua pair formation, arrival dates and nesting chronology were
established this month.  Humble Island has two pairs of brown skuas on
eggs.  On Litchfield there are five pairs established with three pairs on
eggs.  With another unbanded brown skua showing interest in a territory
near the cache on Litchfield.  Cormorant and Christine Islands each have
one pair of brown skuas setting up territories.  We have made one trip to
Short Cut Island to look at arrival dates for south polar skuas and to
census the island for active giant petrel nests.  Forty active giant petrel
nests were found.  However, very few south polar skuas have set up
territories on Short Cut Island so far this year.  Access this field season
has been limited to the near shore islands because of the ice.  No trips to
either Bisco or Dream  Islands have been made to assess the   populations
of seabirds on these remote islands.


BP-016-0  LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM -
AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PHYTOPLANKTON COMPONENT).  Principal
Investigator Maria Vernet, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Personnel on Station:  Wendy Kozlowski, Eric Pohlman, Jennifer White

Brash ice has continued to move in and out of Arthur Harbor this month
keeping water column sampling at the inshore stations minimal.  Full
standard profiles from the zodiac were completed at station B three times,
and at station E only once during the month.  Station B was also sampled
once from the LM Gould during it's port call to Palmer on the twelfth, and
we extend our thanks to the ship and science crews for that opportunity.
In addition, station B was sampled one time for a time series UV exposure
experiment.  During non-boating periods, surface water was sampled from the
seawater intake area, giving seven additional sample dates.

All core data sets continue to be collected during these sample days.  The
LMG also brought the HPLC to station and the instrument has been set up and
calibrations begun.

Preliminary measurements from the complete November sampling days at
station B (01 Nov through 28 Nov), integrated through the photic zone show
a low average production of 0.3gC/m^2 as compared to 0.9gC/m^2 for the
single sampling date in November of 1997.


BP-028-0  LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE
ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED SYSTEM (PREY COMPONENT).  Principal
Investigators Robin M. Ross and Langdon B.Quetin, Marine Science Institute,
University of California at Santa Barbara

PERSONNEL ON STATION:  Langdon Quetin and Dan Martin

L. Quetin and D. Martin arrived at Palmer Station at the end of Laurence M.
Gould cruise 98-9 November 10.  During November we have been able to
acoustically search within limited areas for krill during three boating
days: a 2 h search on November 23 between LTER stations A and B, a 1.5 h
search on November 27 near station B and a 1.5 h transect on November 28
along the ice edge from station D to Spume Island to station H to halfway
to station J.  No krill were located acoustically during these searches. We
have been diving 8 times in the area of Hero Inlet, near the Palmer Station
dock. Only on one dive were 4-5 individual krill noted.  Based on past
years and the pack ice (not fast ice) in Hero Inlet, it is unusual not to
find krill abundant enough for collections.

Other activities in addition to lab set up have been to design the new
Rubber Duke platform to accept the new hydraulic winch system and plan for
two LTER cruises: January/February and June/July.  Progess on the new
hydraulic winch system has been delayed since the winch system will not
arrive at Palmer Station until early January 1999.

We thank an excellent crew at Palmer Station this year for their help
moving us smoothly into the lab.


BP-032-O  LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE
ECOSYSTEM:  AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (OPTICS).  Principal Investigator
Raymond C. Smith, ICESS, University of California at Santa Barbara

Personnel on station:  Karen W. Patterson

Zodiac sampling was restricted to three days this month due to ice and/or
weather.  Pat Neale and the other science groups on board the L.M. Gould
offered us use of the ship while they were working in the area to sample
our LTER stations between their scheduled stations during the last couple
of days of their cruise.  Taking advantage of this gracious offer, we were
able to sample a fourth day at station B on 12 November.  Chlorophylls
continue to be sampled twice weekly from Bonaparte and Gamage Points and
weekly from the seawater intake.  Ice pictures continue to be taken daily
from the platform on the roof of GWR and weekly from the glacier.
Communications problems between the computers and the Lambda 6
spectrophotometers have been resolved.  However, new problems have arisen
with the Lambda 6 spectrophotometers.  Extremely noisy and unpredictable
baselines are currently preventing accurate and timely processing of light
absorption by particulate, detrital and dissolved organic matter.  I am
continuing to work with John Powell and Rob Edwards to try to resolve this
problem.  This month was also an active planning month for the January 1999
LTER cruise.


GO-052-O  GPS CONTINUOUS OPERATION REFERENCE STATION.  Principal
Investigator J. Mullins, U.S. Geological Survey

The station science technician has monitored the system.

During the month GPS data was collected continuously, converted daily to a
RINEX format, compressed, and transmitted to the US Geological Survey in
Reston, VA.


GO-091-O  GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION.  Principal
Investigator R. Butler, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
(IRIS)

The station science technician has operated the system.

Global seismic events were recorded throughout the month.  All operations
during the month were normal.

The data processing computer was added to the local network so personnel at
Albuquerque Seismic Laboratory can soon download daily status files for
quality control.


AO-106-O  STUDIES OF LIGHTNING-INDUCED ELECTRON PRECIPITATION OF THE
IONOSPHERE.  Principal Investigator U. Inan, Stanford University

The station science technician has monitored the system.

The Stanford receiver records very low frequency (VLF) radio waves for
studying ionospheric and magnetospheric natural phenomena.

Extra data was taken during the Leonid meteor shower.


OO-204-O  MEASUREMENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC O2 IN RELATION TO THE GLOBAL CARBON
CYCLE.  Principal Investigator Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography

Air samples are collected on a semi-weekly basis by the station  physician.
The samples are return shipped to Scripps for  analysis of O2 and CO2
content.  The goal of the program is to resolve seasonal and interannual
variations in atmospheric O2 (detected through changes in O2/N2 ratio)
which can aid in the determination of rates of marine biological
productivity and ocean mixing and aid in the separation of the global sink
for anthropogenic CO2 into terrestrial and oceanic components.  The program
involves air sampling at a network of sites in the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres.  Palmer Station is especially well situated to resolve signals
due to carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean.


OO-254-O  CHLORINE-AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA.
Principal Investigator R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for
Science and Technology

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 austral-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.


OO-264-O  COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA\CMDL WORLDWIDE FLASK
SAMPLING NETWORK.  Principal Investigator James T. Peterson, Environmental
Research Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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.  This data will  be used to determine how the
rate of change of these parameters  affects climate, particularly by
including them in climate model  studies.


OO-275-O  UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM.  Principal
Investigator C. Sanderson, Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements
Laboratory

The station science technician has operated the system.

One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a weekly
schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was maintained.  The
RAMP system is part of a global network seeking to characterize the
quantity and distribution of radionuclide particles occurring both
naturally and artificially in the  atmosphere.

A bad backup battery was replaced.


OO-283-P  ANTARCTIC AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS.  Principal Investigator
Charles Stearns, University of Wisconsin

Automated Weather Station (AWS) transmissions were monitored from Bonaparte
Point, Hugo Island, and RACER Rock using the TeraScan system.

The Racer Rock AWS site has a bad power supply battery, so data collection
and transmission is sporadic, based on the power generated by the solar
panel.


TO-312-O  TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM.  Principal Investigator R.
Whritner, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

The station science technician has operated the system.

Throughout the month, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and
processed DMSP, NOAA and SeaWiFS satellite pass telemetry, maintaining a
schedule of 20-22 passes per day.  NOAA and DMSP telemetry  was archived
for BP-032-O when the LTER grid was clear of clouds.  Chlorophyl indicating
images were generated and used to support the UV Research Cruise.  Some
bugs in the TeraScan system remain, and the vendor has been requested to
fix them.

Ice images were generated when skies were clear for use by the R/V Laurence
M. Gould in navigation.


TO-513-O  UV MONITORING NETWORK.  Principal Investigator C. Booth,
Biospherical Instruments, Inc.

The station science technician has operated the system.

Throughout the month, raw irradiance data scans were collected daily and
transmitted to BSI, and preliminary irradiances and spectral integrals were
produced in support of Science.  Scheduled absolute calibration scans were
performed, and the system is operating normally.


-- End --