NBP99-06 	Weekly Report – 27 June – 3 July, 1999   (JD178-184)

After three weeks at sea we have now completed four multi-day ice stations representing
various stages of sea ice growth: medium (70-120cm), thin (30-70cm) first-year ice,
young ice (10-30cm), & new ice (<10cm).  During this past week we have completed ice stations 
#3 & #4, carried out CTD, ice observations & LTER core measurements along the 200 line (from 
200.100 to 200.-100) and carried out sea bird observations in the Special Permit Area (SPA) at 
the Dion Islands.  We are preparing to return to more northerly (& increased daylight) stations. 
During the two week period since we first encountered sea ice the extent of sea ice along the 
Western Antarctic Peninsula has wasted & receded at least 60km toward the SW.  Consistent with 
this season’s relatively slow (to date) sea ice growth, air temperatures are a few degrees below the 
annual means (information kindly provided by BAS folk at Rothera) for May & June of 1999.

Two ceremonies were conducted this week.  Since most of our cruise has been located south of 
the Antarctic Circle the “uninitiated” were required to redress various offenses against King 
Neptune & his Queen. This done, winds in excess of 30 knots abated and calm seas prevailed. 
Our teacher on board (see http://www.icess.ucsb.edu/lter/field/field99jun/teacher) noted that this 
ceremony, in the true spirit of mythology, had all the “attributes of a Rite of passage: separation 
of the non-initiates, hardship & trial, and re-integration in the group with full membership 
privileges”.  In addition to the crossing ceremony, July 1st ended with a “special ceremony” in 
which Captain Joeseph B. Borkowski III, officer exercising jurisdiction, performed a marriage 
ceremony for Dominique Sonier-Cresson and Raymond Smith.  The couple exchanged vows and 
were pronounced man and wife by Captain Borkowski.  The ship’s position at the time of the 
wedding was 67 53.2 S, 67 53.0W.

The cruise continues to meet our scientific objectives.  One important objective, requiring special 
permit, was to put a scientific party ashore on Dion Island (see below) for a sea bird census. 
Support from the Captain and crew of the NBP and from ASA personnel is excellent and all 
scientific groups are working as an integrated team.  Brief summaries follow from each PI.

BP—013 Eric Woehler, P. Duley (Bill Fraser, PI)
Seabird observations have been made while the NB Palmer has been underway and at stations in 
the ice.  Observations are made whenever light and weather conditions permit.  At present, 
approximately 4 to 5 hours of usable light occur each day.  All seabirds and marine mammals are 
recorded.  Six Adelie Penguins were captured on 28 June.  All were brought onto the ship to 
obtain stomach samples.  All six birds had empty stomachs, with no prey items present.  An 
attempt to capture Adelie Penguins on Ginger I to obtain stomach contents was unsuccessful due 
to unfavorable weather and sea ice conditions.  No flying birds (specifically Snow & Antarctic 
Petrels) have been collected and only relatively few sighted. The Dion Is SPA (Specially 
Protected Area) was visited on 1 & 2 July.  A landing was made on 1 July on Emperor Is, and the 
breeding Emperor Penguins counted.  All seabirds & mammals present were surveyed.  The 
survey was completed on 2 July from zodiac (no landing).  Based on our observations, it is clear 
that a greater number of seabirds, and in greater diversity, are using Emperor Is than previously 
recorded. 

BP-016 Maria Vernet (PI), M.E. Ferrario, M. Zirbel, I. Garibotti, B. Bradshaw & D. Hamm
The phytoplankton group has collected samples in the ice & water column for primary production 
experiments, photosynthetic pigments, taxonomic composition, particulate carbon & nitrogen & 
inorganic nutrients.  Photosynthesis versus Irradiance curves show phytoplankton cells are active 
& adapted to very low irradiance (Ik = 15-25 microEinstein per meter square per second). Total 
ice & water column production is low (<0.1 milligram carbon per cubic meter per hour) due to 
low biomass concentration (0.01-0.2 mg chlorophyll a per liter) & low incident radiation (30 
microEinstein per meter square per second on clear days at noon) but the photosynthetic 
efficiency is comparable to that measured in the summer phytoplankton (Pmax = 1.0 mg carbon 
per mg chlorophyll a per hour).  Algae in the ice & water column are very similar in their 
photosynthetic properties.  Photosynthetic pigments also indicate low-light adaptation in 
phytoplankton.  Diatoms and small flagellates (<10 micrometers) are the most abundant 
phytoplankton types.   Phytoplankton abundance, both in ice & water column is low.  Cells seem 
active & healthy & their physiological adaptation to extreme low light indicate they are prepared 
to photosynthesize when light becomes available.

BP-021 Doug Martinson (PI), R. Iannuzzi
CTD operation continues without problems with 50 casts to date.  Protocols for CTD operations 
on subsequent LTER cruises have been developed and are being tested.

BP-028 Langdon Quetin (PI), J. Flaherty, J. Kneebone, S. Oakes, M. Scott, T. Shaw, J. White
Investigations of krill & zooplankton continue to go well as we enter the final phase of the cruise.  
Operationally the ship has proven a superb diving platform.  We have been able to dive near the 
ship with little or no effect by the ship on the under ice habitat & the diving operation.  This has 
made it possible to reoccupy the same area under the ice over a period of several days.  Surveys 
of krill larvae in the areas of ice floes support previous observations that larvae predominantly 
graze on upward facing surfaces & are found in areas of over rafting between floes, even during 
growth.  To date krill & zooplankton have been collected from 20 net tows & 12 dives.  Krill 
larvae have been collected for experiments to assess winter growth, condition & stage & length 
frequency.  Also the abundance of other dominant zooplankton species has been recorded.

BP-032 Raymond Smith (PI), J. Ukita, M. Colee, D. Menzies, T. Newberger, D. Sonier, S. 
Stammerjohn
Sea ice work during the past week has included stations in young ice and nilas.  A snow/ice 
transect was made on young ice as well as cores and ice sampling by personnel basket.  Nilas was 
successfully sampled from a zodiac.  Full physical analysis of each sea ice stage has been carried 
out as well as samples collected for biological analysis.  In addition, snow/ice optical 
observations were carried out at these stations as well as optical measurements in the water 
column. 

BP-046 Dave Karl (PI),  K. Bjorkman, C. Carrillo, L. Fujieki, D. Hebel, A. Thomson-Bulldis
Seawater & seaice samples were collected for bacteria and Archaea abundance and heterotrophic 
prokaryotic production estimation.  A continuous underway CO2/O2 measurement system has 
operated without failure since the beginning of the cruise.  Surface seawater has been generally 
oversaturated with CO2 (with respect to atmospheric concentrations) with the exception of 
Margurtie Bay where winter undersaturations were measured.



Ray Smith, Chief Scientist
NBP-06 Palmer LTER Sea Ice Cruise