Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 02:57:19 +0800 To: mo-sciweekly@polar.org cc: pallterpi@icess.ucsb.edu, Hugh.ducklow-palmer.usap.nsf.gov@rvmail.polar.org, Bill.Fraser@palmer.usap.nsf.gov, mpc@lmg.polar.org, captain@lmg.polar.org, kerb@nsf.gov, al.sutherland@mcmurdo.gov From: Robin Ross Subject: LMG02-01 Palmer LTER week 1 -- LMG02-01 Palmer LTER Weekly Synopsis 1 (2 - 10 January 2002) The central hypothesis of the Palmer LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) project is that physical processes, especially the annual advance and retreat of sea ice over the study area, significantly impact the structure and function of the marine pelagic ecosystem west of the Antarctic Peninsula. This multi-disciplinary project includes research teams studying hydrography (BP-021-O, Doug Martinson, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory), bio-optics (BP-032, Ray Smith, U C Santa Barbara), microbiology and carbon flux (BP-046-O, David Karl, U Hawaii), phytoplankton ecology (BP-016-O, Maria Vernet, UCSD), zooplankton ecology (BP-028-O, Langdon Quetin and Robin Ross, U C Santa Barbara) and seabird ecology (BP-013-O, William Fraser, Montana State University). The sampling strategy includes continuous measurements from a sediment trap and satellites (sea ice and SeaWIFS), a small spatial and long temporal scale seasonal study based at Palmer Station, and an annual mesoscale cruise in summer. The goals of LMG02-01 (02Jan LTER), the 10th annual summer cruise for the Palmer LTER, are to: (1) conduct physical and biological sampling and experiments over a mesoscale grid between Anvers and Adelaide I with transect lines 100 km apart and stations along those transect lines 20 km apart, (2) retrieve and redeploy the sediment trap which is south west of Palmer Station about 60 km, (3) conduct a high density sampling of a 10 km by 20 km grid within the foraging range of the Adelie penguins nesting near Palmer Station, (4) continue to sample the seasonal stations near Palmer Station when the ship is in the area, and (5) continue our collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey and their seasonal time-series at Rothera at the southern end of our study region. 02Jan LTER departed Punta Arenas midday on 2 January after a busy port call. The support given on New Year's Day by both AGUNSA and RPSC personnel in locating and loading cargo essential for both shipboard and station bound research was greatly appreciated. Our first task was a high density expendable bathythermograph (XBT) transect across Drake Passage and up onto the shelf (line W of Janet Sprintall of Scripps) to characterize water mass variability within Drake Passage. Volunteers from the scientists on board were of great assistance with round-the-clock observations. The LMG docked at Palmer Station the morning of 6 January, in time for us to complete a large and complex cargo offload by the end of the day. A joint station/ship barbeque that evening was enjoyed by all. Onload and setup for 02Jan LTER continued on 7 January and we departed on schedule at 1700. The quick turnaround and successful set up was greatly aided by efficiency and experience of RPSC personnel from both the ship and the station. From 7 to 10 January we completed sampling on 10 stations on the 600 transect (the transect line ~ 25 km south of Anvers I), from a station in Palmer Deep to a station off the shelf in 3000 m of water. Each station included casts of the PRR (Profiling Reflectance Radiometer), a hand-towed shallow net tow for phytoplankton, a CTD cast with 22 bottles and a FRRF (Fast Repitition Rate Fluorometer), and simultaneous acoustic transects and net tows for zooplankton and micronekton with a 1-M and 2-M Metro net. Two deep CTD casts to the bottom were conducted without the FRRF at slope and off-shelf stations. The sediment trap was successfully retrieved during the early morning hours of 9 January and redeployed at dinner time that same day. A problem with the autosampler for the nutrient sampler was solved on board, and all systems are operating well. We have had a very successful start to our annual cruise with all its complexities and multiple tasks, and attribute this success to the efficiency and experience of all - the science party, RPSC personnel and the able ship handling and cooperation of Captain Verret and his crew. Robin Ross, Chief Scientist, and Team leaders Chris Carrillo (BP-046), Heidi Geisz (BP-013), Wendy Kozlowski (BP-016), Rich Iannuzzi (BP-021) and Karen Pelletreau (BP-032)