From: "Palmer Labs" Organization: Palmer Station, Antarctica To: palmer_science@asa.org Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:22:06 -0000 Subject: January Science Monthly PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP JANUARY 1999 William R. Fraser, SSL NEWS FROM THE LAB. Ken Doggett, Sr. Asst. Supervisor, Laboratory Operations It was an exciting time at Palmer Station this month, as we celebrated the naming of Fraser Island honoring Dr. William Fraser (BP-013-O). Dr. Fraser has been conducting science operations in the Peninsula area for over 20 years. A plaque commemorating the event was presented to Bill in front of a packed house. Fraser Island is located in Wylie Bay, 2.5 miles northwest of Station. Congratulations Bill! The R/V Laurence M. Gould arrived at the beginning of the month for the start of the annual January LTER cruise (LMG99-1) bringing a Researcher and new lab staff to Station. Members from three of Palmers' science groups departed station to join the cruise leaving two science groups operating on station. Summer weather conditions continued in January. Daily temperatures ranged from -1.4 C to +7.1 C, with an average of +2.4 C. Peak wind speed was 63 knots, averaging 9 knots prevailing mainly from the North. Precipitation was reported on 25 days, including snow on 11 of those, totalling 79 mm (water equivalent). Open water was reported all month long and boating operations occurred almost daily, allowing several trips by researchers to Dream Island and Biscoe Point. 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. Thomas A. Day, Principal Investigator, Department of Plant Biology and The Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis, Arizona State University. Personnel on station: Thomas A. Day, Christopher T. Ruhland, Fusheng Xiong, Jenny S. Lin. Research continued on the influence of warming and UV-B radiation on the two species of Antarctic vascular plants, Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. By early January, we had finished the vast majority of sampling from our experiment on Gamage Point where we are examining the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation associated with spring-time ozone depletion on potted plants. Early in the month, we analyzed biomass and growth-analysis samples that we had collected in late December, at the end of ozone-depletion season. Preliminary results from this experiment show that plants produced substantially more biomass when the levels of UV-B radiation they received was reduced by placing UV-B-absorbing filters over them from October to mid-December. This suggests that enhanced UV-B radiation associated with ozone depletion events is reducing growth and production of plants along the Peninsula. This month we extracted DNA from leaf samples collected in November and December during this experiment -330 samples were extracted during January and an additional 100 remain for extraction in February. Analyses of data on chlorophylls and UV-B-radiation absorbing compounds in leaves from this experiment were finished this month, and analysis of photosynthetic data from this experiment continues. A final harvest of a subset of plants that remain from this experiment is scheduled for late February, in order to assess whether plants that were exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation during spring-time ozone depletion events can compensate for spring-time growth reductions over the remainder of the growing season. Sampling began in earnest this month at the easternmost island of Stepping Stones, our long-term field site where we have been manipulating levels of UV-B radiation and temperatures around naturally growing plants for four field seasons. From early to mid January, growth analysis data on plants were collected, and involved censusing about 1000 tillers of Deschampsia antarctica and 1000 shoots of Colobanthus quitensis. These tillers and shoots were measured, tagged and mapped, and will be recensused in late February. We also censused the number and developmental stage of over 2000 reproductive structures on these plants in early January. These reproductive structures will be recensused in mid February and early March. In late January we also began collecting vegetation and soil cores at Stepping Stones. Cores are being collected from one Deschampsia antarctica tussock and one Colobanthus quitensis cushion in each of 90 treatment frames at the site and will be analyzed for soil morphological characteristics, plant and soil nutrient levels and isotope ratios, and invertebrate populations. Invertebrate populations are being sampled using a modified Tullgren extraction procedure, which is working well; the cores are yielding high numbers of invertebrates, particularly springtails and mites. Lastly, we conducted a survey of vascular plant populations on recently deglaciated areas in the Arthur Harbor area in January. We surveyed recently deglaciated points and small islands along the coast of Anvers Island from Loudwater Cove south to the Cormorant Island area. Several of these recently deglaciated areas had small populations of vascular plants. Populations were censused and photographed to provide baseline data on expansion of vascular plants in the Arthur Harbor area. We thank ASA personnel for timely, quality support of BO-003-O through the month of January. BP-013-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (SEABIRD COMPONENT). William R. Fraser, Principal Investigator, Biology Department, Montana State University. Personnel on station: William R. Fraser, Donna L. Patterson and Matt Irinaga. Continued good access to our island study sites during January has allowed us to maintain the timely aquisition of the LTER Seabird Component core data. On 3 January we initiated Adelie Penguin diet sampling and deployed 35 radio transmitters to begin collecting data on the duration of foraging trips, an index of krill availability. These studies will continue into the month of February. On 25 January, coincident with creching of the last remaining chicks, we ended studies on breeding biology initiated in early October. A variety of area-wide censuses related to breeding chronology and chick production were also completed by the end of the month. As in past season, we have continued the aquisition of basic data on the demography, breeding biology and foraging ecology of Giant Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Shags and Brown and South Polar Skuas. These data add to several species-specific time series that began in the mid-1970s. BP-016-0 LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PHYTOPLANKTON COMPONENT). Maria Vernet, Principal Investigator, Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Personnel are reporting through the Chief Scientist of the annual January LTER cruise aboard the Lawrence M. Gould. BP-028-0 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED SYSTEM (PREY COMPONENT). Robin M. Ross and Langdon B.Quetin, Principal Investigators, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara. Personnel are reporting through the Chief Scientist of the annual January LTER cruise aboard the Lawrence M. Gould. BP-032-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (OPTICS COMPONENT). Raymond C. Smith, Principal Investigator, ICESS, University of California at Santa Barbara. Personnel are reporting through the Chief Scientist of the annual January LTER cruise aboard the Lawrence M. Gould. WO-004, ARTISTS AND WRITERS Personnel on station: Meredith Hooper and Lucia Deleiris We have been working on HIDDEN WORLDS, a children's book to be published by National Geographic in the United States and Frances Lincoln in the U.K. The book reveals the interconnecting wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula area, emphasizing the dependency of all life on the microscopic life of the ocean, beginning with diatoms directly linked to the sun's energy. Subltley woven throughout the book are several timely environmental themes that directly impact the wildlife such as the seasonal growth and retreat of the pack ice, the increase and decrease of daylight hours during the summer months, and a warming trend in the local climate. Both Meredith's writing and Lucia's illustrations have involved researching scientific papers, consultations with scientists at Palmer, and direct observation of the wildlife and landscape in the local area. In this way it has been possible to incorporate up to date research. Meredith's text and Lucia's illustrations will have the freshness and immediacy resulting from having lived and worked in the environment gathering first hand impressions. We began planning and researching a second book, THE ISLAND THAT MOVED, while aboard the LMG 98-10 cruise. The seismologists on board worked closely with us to select an island appropriate to our need to track an island through time and place as a way of introducing the concepts of plate tectonics to children. The seismologists put us in contact with academics in the States for specific geological, paleontological and paleobotanical information. We observed landscape, rock formations and the wildlife of the islands, visiting several. Lucia produced sketches and small watercolors for later reference, and Meredith researched the text. Lucia, as in past trips, has gathered much new reference material for future painting of Antarctic subjects. In addition to gaining the experience of direct observation in the field, she has produced reference sketches in pencil, ink and watercolor. Two weeks travelling in the Peninsula area on board HMS ENDURANCE has given Meredith valuable input for both books. In addition she has used opportunities on the GOULD, at Palmer, and on ENDURANCE to gather material for her work on the public understanding of science at the Royal Institution in London where she is a Visiting Research Fellow in the History of Science. She has focused on the 'doing of science' , and on the logistics of delivering scientists to field sites. She has also gathered material for several more commissioned children's books in particular one on Shackleton; and material for two projected articles. V-011, ARTISTS AND WRITERS Personnel on station: David Helvarg. The longer I stay at Palmer Station the more story ideas I seem to develop, thanks to the cooperation of the scientists, support people and other local residents (of various species). In my first days here (and enroute aboard the RV Gould) I wrote a 4-part diary for SLATE, the online magazine. Since then I've been working on print stories for Sierra and Travel & Leisure magazines (on climate change, and tourism), and recording sounds for a Marketplace radio report (on the corporate history of the continent - starting with Nate Palmer and his fellow sealers) and on penguins as ecosystem indicators (for Pacifica radio). I've also just finished taping two segments for CNN, one on climate change, featuring the work of Bill Fraser, Tad Day and their teams, and the other on Giant Petrels (that Donna Patterson is studying). As we say in the business, "Whatever flies." I've been very impressed by both the science and 'on the ice' society that has emerged out of the USAP, which won't stop me from considering a story on Zodiac addiction on my return to the states, particularly if my withdrawl symptoms are extreme. GO-052-O GPS CONTINUOUS OPERATION REFERENCE STATION. 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. The GPS station was used this month to transmit correctors to a roving GPS being used by the USGS for mapping local islands. GO-052-P FIELD SURVEYING AND MAPPING OF THE SOUTHWEST ANVERS ISLAND AREA, Richard D. Sanchez , U.S. Geological Survey. Personnel on station: Richard Sanchez and William R. Fraser. This collaboration between the USGS and BP-013-0 is designed to provide high quality maps of the southwest coast of Anvers Island. During the month of January the field surveys needed to produce maps of Biscoe Point, Cormorant, Christine, Torgersen, Litchfield and Humble islands were completed. Dream Island will be completed in February. This work employed a variety of technologies linked to stationary and roving GPS surveys, and included placement of permanent survey markers to serve as future reference points. This program received invaluable help from a number of ASA employees, and indeed would not have accomplished some of its key objectives without this assistance. GO-091-O GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION. 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. AO-106-O STUDIES OF LIGHTNING-INDUCED ELECTRON PRECIPITATION OF THE IONOSPHERE. 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. OO-204-O MEASUREMENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC O2 IN RELATION TO THE GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE. 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. 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. 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. 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. OO-283-P ANTARCTIC AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS. 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 Hugo Island AWS site stopped transmitting on 1/21/99. The problem will be diagnosed when a ship is next able to get to the site. TO-312-O TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. 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 and NOAA satellite pass telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 17-20 passes per day. SeaWiFS satellite pass telemetry was also collected and archived in its decrypted format. NOAA and DMSP telemetry was archived for BP-032-O when the LTER grid was clear of clouds. Some bugs in the TeraScan system remain. The vendor has duplicated the problem in house but so far has been unable to fix the problem. Ice images were generated when skies were clear for use by the R/V Laurence M. Gould in navigation. Ice images were also supplied to BP-013-O for use in studying the feeding habits of radio tagged giant petrels while tending to their chicks. TO-513-O UV MONITORING NETWORK. 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. Schedule absolute calibration scans were performed, and the system is operating normally. ========================== Robert L. Edwards Laboratory Services Palmer Station, Antarctica 64.77 South, 64.07 West United States Antarctic Program -------------------------- LABMAN@palmer.usap.nsf.gov INMARSAT voice: 011-874-336-857-710 fax: 011-874-336-857-712 ========================== ******************************************* Ken Doggett Sr. Asst. Supervisor, Laboratory Operations On the ICE at Palmer Station ******************************************* ========================== Ken Doggett Laboratory Services Palmer Station, Antarctica 64.77 South, 64.07 West United States Antarctic Program -------------------------- LABMAN@palmer.usap.nsf.gov INMARSAT voice: 011-874-336-857-710 fax: 011-874-336-857-712 ==========================