TO: Polly Penhale, OPP FROM: Palmer LTER SUBJ: Long-Term Science and Logistics Plan DATE: 9 July 98 Long-Term Science and Logistics Plan for the Palmer LTER The science plan for the Palmer LTER involves sampling on two different scales: seasonal sampling during spring and summer, and mesoscale sampling during both the annual summer and periodic non-summer cruises. Each study is a combina- tion of 'core' observations and process work. The 'core' observations are repeated each year, both at Palmer station (high frequency temporal scale, fine spatial scale) and across the Palmer grid (low frequency temporal scale, large spatial scale). The process work focuses on a particular question for one to several years, and can be on many scales. With this combination we maintain the broad per- spective articulated in our proposal and supported by our Steering Committee in October 1997. The goals are - to collect and maintain a suite of core data, one of the major legacies of any LTER; - to use these core data to test hypotheses on short- and long-term ecological processes; - to conduct process studies to understand the mechanisms underlying perceived linkages, and - to retain the ability to respond appropriately to new findings. We recognize that our remote site with its unique marine setting and small marine laboratory imposes considerable lo- gistical constraints that limit our ability to launch sea- sonal field efforts comparable to most other LTER sites. As part of this constraint, our funding opportunities outside of the Office of Polar Programs are limited, hindering our ability to deploy larger, more comprehensive field efforts. However, we believe that with careful planning we can main- tain a highly efficient, well-balanced field program that will provide the fundamental long-term core data sets, and support a selection of process studies crucial to the in- terpretation of these core data. Simultaneously, we can satisfy goals that are intrinsic to and demanded of all LTERs: education of the next generation of ecologists, and cross-site research with either LTER Network sites or inter- national sites. To achieve this optimal balance, we have refined our original proposal as articulated below, incor- porating both insights from our experiences of the last 7 years, and discussions with our Steering Committee. MESOSCALE STUDIES Our shipboard operations as originally designed have proven successful, and we do not anticipate requesting changes in the format of an annual cruise in January/February plus a process cruise to study the ecosys- tem in different periods of sea ice dynamics every 3 years. Logistical requirements for mesoscale studies Each year the ~ 45-d summer (January/February) cruise includes (1) a mesoscale survey of a 400 by 200 km region between Anvers and Adelaide Islands, (2) a fine scale survey of the foraging region of the Adlie penguins nesting near Palmer Station during peak chick growth, (3) the annual sediment trap retrieval and deployment, and (4) time for process studies that vary with the year and PI interest. During the first 4 summer cruises the focus was on foraging ecology of the Adlie penguins. The two process cruises for the next 4 years will address hypotheses specific to (1) the period of initial ice formation and growth (June 1999, Nathaniel B. Palmer), and (2) the period of ice decay and retreat (September/October 2001, Laurence M. Gould). Equipment requests anticipated for the future for ship board research With recent changes in Pis we will confirm and re- vise our long-range equipment requests. SEASONAL STUDIES Our experience suggests that our field ef- fort for the seasonal studies has not been consistently suc- cessful in achieving its goals primarily due to limited ac- cess to the Palmer Station facilities, not due to financial, personnel or technical problems. The goals are (1) to col- lect the core date sets documenting seasonal dynamics in both the environment and at several trophic levels, and (2) to conduct process studies that are not possible on board ship because of duration or specific timing or access to specialized facilities. In our proposal we stated that a field team of 10 was the optimal size at Palmer Station. However, we recognize that space is severely limited at Pal- mer Station, and upon review of our results believe that with a field team of 8 and with specific reductions in our program we can meet the major goals of our project without unduly compromising the scientific results. Below we out- line our logistical requirements for the seasonal studies. Logistical requirements for seasonal studies A. Personnel With a nominal field team of 8, we will be able: 1) to collect core data sets and document linkages with the required frequency to resolve within and between season differences. These data sets allow us - to test hypotheses about temporal linkages (Table 1), - to put the regional cruise and shore-based seabird data in a more comprehensive seasonal and interannual perspective, and - to provide surface validation for both satellite (SeaWiFS, AVHRR, passive and active microwave) and aircraft (proposed exercise with BAS) remotely sensed observations that allow us to extend our region of inference. 2) to conduct mechanistic or process studies that focus on controlled experiments, or sampling/experiment combinations that explore interactions among trophic levels on seasonal and interannual time scales, e.g. not days (Table 2). These studies will include both integrative and cross site experi- ments. Through a combination of REU funds, the USCB academic pro- gram for field experience, and non-NSF funding for graduate students, we have been able to complement and leverage the tight LTER budget, and support field teams both at Palmer Station and on board ship. These students not only collect core data and conduct experiments, they also provide a steady year-round intellectual contribution to data processing/analysis, qa/qc and interpretation. This greatly extends the efforts of the PIs, and simultaneously addresses the educational goals of the LTERs. However, for process studies that require seasonal data or long term mechanistic experiments the success of these 'leveraging' efforts is contingent upon our ability to deploy investigators at Pal- mer Station. B. Timing of arrival and departure of LTER personnel (Fig- ure 1) Our objectives require that we arrive on site at specific times each year or the value of the long-term data sets is diminished. We require - arrival on station around 10 October (range 5 - 15 October) - one exchange of personnel in the 2nd to 4th week of December - LTER personnel on station will decrease from 8 to 2 -4 on station during the annual cruise - departure from station of about one-half of personnel 3rd or 4th week of March - departure from station of remainder of personnel after the end of March Arrivals and departures are based on timing of seasonal events, e.g., - document arrival of penguins, peak arrival 20-25 October - sample larval krill for post-winter condition between mid October and early November - begin open water column sampling as soon as ice departs, historically mid-November - document peak, decline and reappearance of krill, complete by mid-March - document phytoplankton activity/production through March, fall activity sometimes 50% of the January/February production, - document departure of penguins for winter at end of March Future needs and benefits 1. Zodiacs With the support of NSF and ASA we have built an oceano- graphic zodiac sampling fleet that has been well received. BAS took the LTER fleet as a model when they designed their own fleet for Rothera. We have moved from hauling nets by hand to a trawling zodiac with an A-frame, winch and fish- finder, and from a generator based system on ROZE, the elec- tronic zodiac, to an electrical system that is more effi- cient, safer, and non-polluting. Currently 3 Mark V zodiacs are used for water sampling and 2 zodiacs (1 Mark III and 1 F470) for seabird operations, in- cluding LTER. We propose to consolidate the optics, hydrog- raphy and water sampling into 1 Mark V zodiac, and the acoustic survey and trawling capacity into 1 Mark V zodiac within the next two seasons. This consolidation will entail some changes in platform and A-frame design, including changing to an electric winch for trawling. Palmer LTER will then be requesting 2 Mark V, 1 Mark III and 1 F470 zo- diacs for each season. The scientific benefits are that % the optics are measured and the water column sampled for ex- periments nearly synchronously, and % sampling for Antarctic krill can occur simultaneously with quantitative assessment of both acoustic biomass and aggregation statistics. 2. Mooring Mooring buoys are very valuable in providing long-time series at selected locations. We propose to place a moored buoy near the 200 m contour. The continuous record of ocean color optical properties, with no interruptions from storms or ship movements, will be a significant improvement in our efforts to provide surface validation data for SeaWiFS (this is especially important for development and testing of algo- rithms suitable for high latitude regions). We've (RCS) re- quested NASA funding for the equipment necessary for this effort and anticipate that such a bio-optics mooring could become a locus for other physical and sediment trap observa- tions. New buoys are much less expensive than in the past and, with ARGOS tracking, can be tracked and potentially re- trieved if broken loose from their mooring. 3. Overflights in collaboration with BAS We intend to document sea ice, penguin locations, and ocean color for near surface pigments. Overflights can operate under the high cloud cover which 90% of the time makes sa- tellite data useless. 4. Autonomous vehicles We are investigating several possible avenues for either leasing or acquiring autonomous vehicles for both use both under the ice and in extending the spatial range of measure- ments taken throughout the season. 5. ASA support - winter sampling of water for chlorophyll a - weather observations throughout the year - science technician downloading SeaWIFS and sea ice data from satellites