6/99 NSF Fastlane https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/ Enter Award Number : 9632763 (7 digits) Pin#: xxxx (4 digits) Enter Start Date: 06/01/1998 Enter End Date: 06/01/1999 Annual Project Report: Palmer LTER ************** Reporting Categories 1. Participants: Who has been involved? June98-June99 A person who worked significantly on the project and received salary, wages, stipend or other support from NSF funding. (ie, anyone in field since supported by NSF to get there) 1A What people have worked on the project? Name >160 hrs? Role Raymond C. Smith yes Lead-PI, Optics, Remote Sensing, SeaIce William R. Fraser yes Co-PI, Seabirds Eileen E. Hofmann yes Co-PI, Modeling David M. Karl yes Co-PI, Microbial Processes John M. Klinck yes Co-PI, Modeling Douglas G. Martinson yes Co-PI, Modeling/Physical Oceanography Langdon B. Quetin yes Co-PI, Prey Robin M. Ross yes Co-PI, Prey Maria Vernet yes Co-PI, Phytoplankton Karen S. Baker yes Co-PI, Data Management Charleen R. Johnson yes Staff, Logistics Ronald D. Batie yes Staff Peter A. Duley yes Staff Kimberly M. Grimm yes Staff Terrance A. Houlihan yes Staff Janice L. Jones yes Staff Jared C. Kneebone yes Staff Wendy A. Kozlowski yes Staff Daniel Martin yes Staff David W. Menzies yes Staff Eric R. Pohlman yes Staff Caroline T. Shaw yes Staff Sharon E. Stammerjohn yes Staff Luis M. Tupas yes Staff Karen Z. Weinbaum yes Staff Jennifer A. White yes Staff Markus Karner yes Post-doc Eric J. Woehler yes Visiting Scientist Christopher J. Carrillo yes Graduate Student Heidi M. Dierssen yes Graduate Student Donna L. Patterson yes Graduate Student Karen W. Patterson yes Graduate Student Besse B. Dawson no K-12 teacher Laurel A. Coe yes Field Volunteer Robert E. Kozlowski yes Field Volunteer Andrew L. King yes Ugrad, Field Volunteer Justin B. Smith yes Field Volunteer Stephanie L. White yes Grad, Field Volunteer 1B What other organizations have been involved as partners? ASA-Antarctic Support Associates CONICET-Comision Nacional de Investigaciones y Cientificas y Tecnicas DEB-Division of Environmental Biology LTER-Long-Term Ecological Research Program NASA-National Space and Aeronautics Administration AMLR-Antarctic Marine Living Resources CCAMLR-Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources JGOFS-Joint Global Ocean Flux Meetings TEA-Teachers Experiencing Antarctica or Artic HOT-Hawaii Ocean Time-Series BAS-British Antarctic Survey SCAR-Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research SCOR-Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research SI-Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History 1C Have you had other collaborators or contacts? David Ainley (H.T. Harvey & Assoc.) - seabird ecology; Palmer Steering Comm Penny Allen (British Broadcasting) - krill filming at Palmer Andrew Clarke (BAS) - carotenoids in krill; Palmer Steering Comm. Frank Crandall (Smithsonian, Natural Museum of Natural History)-pelagic Nemertea Lucia deLeiris (artist in residence Palmer Station) - live zooplankton samples Ed DeLong - (MBARI) - microbial processes Douglas DeMaster (NMML) - fisheries; Palmer Steering Comm. Mark Drinkwater (JPL) - sea ice dynamics Eugene Domack (Hamilton College) - sedimentology, paleoecology Wencke Eikrem-University of Oslo, polar phytoplankton Steve Emslie (U North Carolina) - seabird archeology, paleoecology Martha Ferrario - phytoplankton taxonomy Tom Fisher (HPEL) - ecology, nutrients; Palmer Steering Comm. Irene Garibotti-University of Oslo, graduate student Danielle Harvey-University of Southern California, Rodolfo Iturriaga advisor John Hobbie (MBL) - microbial processes; Palmer Steering Comm. George Hunt (UCI) - seabird ecology; Palmer Steering Comm. James Kennett (UCSB) - marine paleooceanography, paleoecology Amy Leventer (Colgate U) - paleobiology, paleoecology Xiang Liu (JPL) - sea ice dynamics Stephen Nicol (Australian Antarctic Division) - krill/salps separation/genetics Christine Moraes-Japan-Brazil Ellen Mosley-Thompson (Ohio State U) - ice core records, paleoecology Jim Reichman (NCEAS,UCSB) - mammals, ecology; Palmer Steering Comm. Brad Seibel (RSMAS) - enzymes in pteropods Janet Sprintall (SIO) - collaboration on Drake Passage XBT program Angela Swafford, Discovery Channel Latin America/Iberia Jahn Trondsen-University of Oslo, polar phytoplankton Bob Whritner- (AARC/SIO) satellite imagery 2. Activities and Findings: What have you done? What have you learned? 2A What were your major research activities? The Palmer LTER sampling strategy combines seasonal time series data from the nearshore Palmer stations and seabird observations from nesting sites near Palmer Station with annual cruises covering a regional grid along the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). During USAP9899 the Palmer LTER completed an eighth season at Palmer Station (with field sampling from mid-November to late March) as well as the seventh mesoscale summer time series research cruise. A key objective of this sampling is long-term, integrated studies on ecological processes of the marine ecology of the Southern Ocean. During this reporting period Doug Martinson officially became a PI of the Palmer LTER. His work will emphasize physical oceanography and modeling. Also, during this period each component was assisted in meeting the data policy requirement (data online via the Palmer LTER web page) and the creation of our long-term data legacy. Robin Ross was the Chief Scientist for the LMG99-01 annual summer cruise of the Palmer LTER. All field components participated in the cruise which included the following objectives: (1) To document the spatial and temporal variability in Western Antarctic Peninsula region (specifically the shelf & slope between Anvers and Adelaide Islands) in order to distinguish among trends, cycles and natural variability in the ecosystem; (2) To investigate linkages between the Adelie penguins nesting near Palmer Station and the marine resources within their foraging range; (3) To continue a study of the factors that determine the spatial patterns observed in the ecosystem and the space/time variability of these factors over the study region; and (4) To conduct experiments to understand the mechanisms underlying the structure and function of this Antarctic marine ecosystem. The LMG99-01 cruise (Palmer to Palmer) was from 8 Jan 99 through 11 Feb 99, and all cruise objectives were accomplished. All cardinal stations along the 200 - 600 lines were occupied: PRR/PUV cast to measure down and upwelling radiation in the UV and visible wavelengths; a shallow CTD cast with a HydroScat-6 for hydrography and backscattering in 6 visible wavelengths and water samples for chl_a and CDOM; a core CTD cast with full bottle sampling to characterize the gasses, pigments, nutrients and living microorganisms (including primary producers) in the water column; 2 net tows with simultaneous bioacoustic transects; and seabird observations. A drifter buoy was deployed on the inner shelf on 9 Jan. The Hugo Island sediment trap was retrieved (in place since Jan 1998) and subsequently redeployed (25 Jan 1999). The redeployed array included an ice sonar that senses both the presence and thickness of sea ice. In addition, a second sediment trap was deployed in a location closer to Palmer station (21 Jan). The cruise also included a stop at, and scientific interaction with, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) at Rothera Base. Both groups have established long-term sampling in the nearshore area and collaboration between and intercomparison of results from the two areas separated by 400 km will complement the scientific objectives from both sites. The 1998/99 field season (Oct98-Mar99) at Palmer Station included research activities by BP-013 (Fraser), BP-028 (Quetin/Ross), BP-016 (Vernet) and BP-032 (Smith). Researchers from three groups (Fraser, Smith & Vernet) arrived at Palmer on 1 October. These components began collecting core data within a few days of arrival including arrival dates and population counts of Adelies as well as physical, optical and biological observations at stations B & E. Field work during the following month (November) was severely limited by extensive pack ice, usually extending from Hero Inlet to the horizon. BP-028 arrived in mid-November and was able to observe the under-ice habitat with scuba when boating was not possible. Boating days during this month (including half days) totaled 7, the lowest number of days since the start of the Palmer LTER program in 1991. December began with heavy brash & pack ice but began to dissipate by mid-month allowing the field work to return to schedule. The LMG99-01 cruise occupied Jan and early February while the Palmer field season was completed during late February and early March. During USAP 9900 we plan to participant in two research cruises (99Jun and 00Jan) and the seasonal time series at Palmer Station (Sep99-Mar00). Efforts will continue to streamline core operations both at Palmer Station and the Jan cruise. The June99 cruise will be a sea-ice process cruise during fall/winter to investigate, document & understand sea-ice growth processes & the relationship of these processes to the biota. Observations at the ice edge & in the pack ice will be designed to address several hypothesis associated with the period of sea ice formation and the relationship of this formation period to various components (ie microalgae, krill, penguin) of the ecosystem (see proposal, esp. Figs. 8,9, & 10). Sea ice characteristics across an ice gradient from open water, frazil, small & large pancake, to open and close pack ice will be determined in order to investigate key parameters important for the biota. 2B What are your major research findings? Data Management (Karen S. Baker) Groups were assisted in meeting data requirements in conformity with data policy. Group co-ordination was facilitated by data management's maintenance and update of the Palmer LTER web pages. The completion of cruise and Palmer season reports making use of a co-ordinated format in the form of Antarctic Journal (AJUS) articles for the January 1998 cruises and the Palmer 1997-1998 season provides a valuable & consistent long-term context for a general description of our annual activities. Drafts for the January 1999 cruises and the Palmer 1998-1999 season have begun. Both the extension of current at sea capabilities such as the ability to make LTER grid computations in the field and the investigation of relational database design for the growing LTER database have been addressed. The LTER Palmer database is part of an LTER Network Information System (NIS) model which was further developed and the paradigm described in a cross-site manuscript (Baker, Benson, Henshaw, Blodgett, Porter and Stafford, submitted Bioscience). NIS component modules were developed through joint work initiated at LTER Meetings including the 1998 DataManager Meeting, 1999 DataTask Meeting at NCEAS, the Technology Committee Meeting at San Diego Supercomputer Center and a one month LTER Network office exchange. Optics, Remote Sensing, Sea Ice, Productivity (R. Smith) Remote sensing efforts continue to focus on sea ice and phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Investigations have a primary objective of understanding the physical & climatic controls on interannual sea ice variability and the effects of this variability on the marine ecosystem also continue. Passive microwave derived ice concentrations and sea-ice indexes continue to be updated and used to study the southern ocean and the WAP area. As discussed in an article of Bioscience (Smith et. al., 1999) sea-ice indexes quantitatively define the timing & magnitude of ice coverage & give a common context within which to interpret ecosystem studies (Smith, Baker & Stammerjohn, 1998, Karl et al, 1996, Ross et al., accepted). This multidisciplinary work also quantitatively demonstrated the marine ecosystem sensitivity to climate change and presented conceptual models for understanding this change. Our findings show that this century's rapid climate warming has occurred concurrently with a shift in the population sie and distribution of penguine species. Work continues on a collaborative NASA-funded effort to investigate the variability in sea-ice coverage and the ice-motion dynamics in the Palmer LTER region (Stammerjohn, Smith, Drinkwater & Liu, 1998) making use of high resolution SAR data. Combined visible, infrared, passive & active microwave satellite data along with NCEP weather charts quantitatively illustrate the influence of synoptic scale storm events on the net convergence/divergence of the sea-ice cover. This closing/opening of the sea-ice has a significant influence on air-ice-ocean interactions as well as an important influence on the marine ecosystem. This work was reported at the Gordon Research Conference on Polar Marine Science (March 1999). Peer review manuscripts accepted in the Journal of Marine Science in July 1996 (Brest conference) were published ("Seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton biomass west of the Antarctic Peninsula", Smith, Baker & Vernet, JMS 1998 & "Primary productivity of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Area and the Southern Ocean", Smith, Baker, Byers & Stammerjohn, JMS 1998). A manuscript, "Modeling primary productivity in Antarctic coastal waters" (Dierssen, Vernet & Smith) has been submitted which quantitatively demonstrates that phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean have significantly different photoadaptive variable and model parameters than phytoplankton in temperate waters. We find that the remotely sensed reflectance spectrum, as a function of chlorophyll concentrations, is significantly different from the SeaBAM dataset collected from other regions of the world's oceans. Model studies (Dierssen & Smith, submitted) suggest that the shape of the Antarctic remote sensing reflectance spectra is consistent with waters that have very low backscattering. We hypothesize that low coefficients of backscattering are because concentrations of bacteria and viruses, the primary backscattering particulates, have been found to be an order of magnitude lower throughout the Southern Ocean when compared to most other oceanic regions (Karl et al., 1996). During the LMG99-01 cruise spectral backscattering was measured with HydroScat-6 to test this hypothesis. Ocean color algorithms specific for the Southern Ocean (SO) are being developed and tested. These SO algorithms will permit more accurate estimation of pigment biomass and resultant estimates of phytoplankton productivity making use of ocean color satellite data. Modeling (J. Klinck & E. Hofmann) No report filed. Physical Oceanography & Modeling (D. Martinson) Doug Martinson (Lamont) joined the Palmer LTER during this report period. Most of the initial efforts to date have focused on the CTD data collection during the January LTER cruise (LMG99-01). Specifically: (1) a 2-day training session for the CTD operation was provided to shipboard participants at USCB prior to the cruise, (2) T and S profiles were emailed to Lamont following every cast, where they were examined and inspected for quality-control and to identify physically-meaningful features requiring additional study or sampling; (3) because the CTD was not optimally configured for dual sensor operation, a series of test measurements were made by shipboard participants, and the results emailed to Lamont for assessment and additional testing required to assure optimal high-quality data return until the problem with the dual sensor CTD operation could be rectified. The shore-based analyses and quality-control, though time-intensive, helped establish a number of operational procedures that will facilitate collection of future CTD data, and will help minimize future equipment problems. The CTD data were given to the Lamont group following completion of the cruise, and they will be processed and provided to the LTER data base as soon as possible following the SeaBird post-cruise sensor calibrations. Other initial efforts have involved data analyses aimed at providing a consistent and integrated framework in which the multi-disciplinary data sets, collected over the previous LTER cruises, can be examined. In particular, the bulk analyses established for encapsulating key physical characteristics in the Antarctic polar seas (Martinson and Iannuzzi, 1998), will be applied to all of the LTER data sets that can be quantified and placed in a space-time framework. To date, we have discussed the techniques and identified those observations that will be analyzed through the bulk analyses. This work will continue with the initial desire to identify, quantitatively, the nature of any covariation between the various data sets. This is the first step required prior to identifying the mechanisms controlling the covarying relationships, and potentially identifying predictive relationships. This classification will also allow us to tie the variability of the various LTER field parameters to broader covariability observed (and documented) throughout the Antarctic region and extra-polar regions. Microbiology and Carbon Flux (D. Karl) The microbiology and carbon flux measurements collectively provide a description of the large scale movements of carbon, from photosynthetic production to respiration and sediment burial. The use of autonomous moorings allows us to record events year round and to examine the role of sea ice in export production processes. Several papers are currently in preparation. Past field work has revealed several significant features: (1) documentation of substantial depletions in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), especially in areas near Palmer Basin and in Marguerite Bay, that are associated with and indicative of hypereutrophic conditions and extensive net production of particulate organic matter, (2) confirmation of our previous report of an unusual temporal decoupling of photoautotrophic and chemoheterotrophic bacterial processes which sustains both the high net CO2 depletions mentioned above, and a net accumulation of dissolved oxygen -- reasons for this decoupling are not known and (3) significant export of particulate matter from the euphotic zone, especially at the initiation of the spring bloom (Nov-Dec), as recorded by the bottom-moored sediment traps. All aspects of this research have continued in the current project year. In addition, two new areas of research have been included: (1) collaborative studies of the distribution of planktonic Archaea in the LTER region and (2) measurements of phytoplankton photorespiration. With regard to the Archaea project, one joint paper with Ed DeLong's laboratory (Murray et al., Aquatic Microbial Ecology in press) has recently been completed. During the 1998-99 field year (LMG99-01) we made at-sea measurements of Archaea using a novel fluorescence in situ hybridization technique that employs polynucleotide probes. This will allow us to alter experimental design and to otherwise improve the scope of our field observations while still at sea. This work is being done in collaboration with Ed DeLong (MBARI). From past data sets mostly on dissolved oxygen and dissolved carbon dioxide measurements, we had reason to suspect that photorespiration may be an important sink for carbon and energy in the LTER study area in summer. We have developed several new chemical and enzymatic measurement techniques that we will employ in the NBP 99-6 and LMG 2000-01 cruises. Phytoplankton (M. Vernet) The sampling designed for Palmer Station to address the timing and the magnitude of the phytoplankton blooms includes total particulate carbon, primary productivity experiments, photosynthetic pigments, and determination of environmental variables controlling primary production. The bloom development documented previously (Smith,Baker,Vernet 1996), with a larger spring bloom and a smaller summer bloom did not occur in 1997/1998. For 180 days of growth (15 October to 15 April), and based on 132 days of sampling, primary production was estimated at approximately 51.46 g C m-2 a-1, the lowest in the last five seasons, compared with 110 gC m-2 a-1 for 9798, 140 g C m-2 a-1 in 1996/1997, 176 g C m-2 a-1 in 1994/95 and 236 g C m-2 a-1 in 1995/96. This year's values are lower than those observed during 1992/1993 and 1993/1994. They indicate we are close to the completion of an 'ice cycle', expected to last from 5 to 7 years. Primary production over the continental shelf (the LTER grid) was also the lowest in the last 5 years and followed phytoplankton biomass. The spatial distribution followed that of last season (1996/1997). The only area of high biomass accumulation was at Maguerite Bay. The distribution of primary production showed the classical pattern of onshore-offshore gradient. Experiments were run to estimate variability of Primary Production as a function of temperature (0-7 C) (2 hour incubations) and simulated in situ experiments to measure UVB effect on daily primary production. Taxonomic composition of microplankton (cells 5 micrometers) were completed for the January 1995 cruise and continues for January 1996 cruise. This study is done in collaboration with Dr. Martha Ferrario of Argentina and a new graduate student, Irene Garibotti, who is being funded by Argentina through CONICET under a PhD fellowship. Data analysis included preparation of 6 manuscripts: with Ray Smith and others (published in BioScience), with Heidi Dierssen and Ray Smith on modeling of primary production (accepted in Antarctic Science), on krill grazing estimates with Robin Ross and co-workers (accepted in Limnology and Oceanography), a new method to estimate primary production in different phytoplankton groups (to be submitted to Limnology and Oceanography), and with Martha Ferrario, Eugenia Sar (Argentina) and Dave Karl (submitted to Marine Ecology Progress Series). Data analysis continues with graduate students Danielle Harvey (USC), Cristine Moraes (Japan-Brazil), and Karen Haberman (UCSB) who participated in the 1996/1997 season. Samples analysis is now complete and manuscripts are in preparation. For this coming season, we will continue the sampling to ascertain temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton. Collaboration with Argentina will continue for the analysis of microplankton samples. In addition, we have established collaboration with Jahn Trondsen and Wencke Eikrem, University of Oslo, who will train Ms. Irene Garibotti to analyze flagellates in the LTER region, by light and electron microscopy and also by establishing flagellate cultures through the dilution method. Zooplankton and Micro-nekton (R. Ross & L. Quetin) During the annual summer cruise we determine the strength of the previous summer's year class of Antarctic krill after they have passed both critical periods in their early life history (Ross and Quetin 1991). The strength of the 1998 year class of Antarctic krill, detected during the 99Jan cruise, was very low. The strength of each year class is dependent on both the number of larvae produced in the summer, and the survival of those larvae during their first winter. For the year class of 1998, 1) few larvae were produced, as indicated by the low % of the female population reproducing in the summer of 1998 (14%); and 2) survival of those larvae was predicted to be low due to the lateness and small extent of winter sea ice in 1998. The sea ice biota serves as the winter grazing grounds for the larvae during the time of low phytoplankton biomass in the water column. This most recent year adds to the time series of recruitment data that supports our initial hypotheses on the dependence of reproductive success and survival of krill during their first winter on the timing and extent of sea ice. A seasonal pattern is emerging in the biomass of Antarctic krill found near Palmer Station, i.e. within the foraging range of the Adelie penguins nesting on the islands. Weekly bioacoustic transects are conducted within the 3.7 km boating limits at Palmer Station from about mid-November until mid-March each season. Acoustic biomass peaks in mid- to late January, then decreases to an extreme low in mid- to late February. The timing of this pattern varies interannually by as much as 2 weeks. The time of peak demand for food for the growing Adelie chicks also occurs in this time frame. Depending on the exact timing of peak supply and demand, there is either a match or mismatch in food resources for Adelie penguins, the dominant predator on krill. As part of a recently completed Ph.D. thesis (Haberman, December 1998), an immunochemical assay for Phaeocystis in the stomachs of field-collected Antarctic krill was developed. The objective was to determine the extent of grazing by Euphausia superba on Phaeocystis in the field. The antiserum developed was tested on krill collected during the summer of 1997 at stations near Palmer Station and on the mesoscale grid. The antiserum response showed that krill ingested Phaeocystis at 20% of the stations tested. Most of these were in nearshore regions. With this assay, it will be possible to evaluate the role of Phaeocystis in the diet of Antarctic krill. Sea Birds (W. Fraser) Field work on the ecology of Adelie pengins continued to focus on the following core data: pelagic distribution, breeding population size, reproductive success and breeding chronology, chick diets and the duration of parental foraging trips, chick fledging weights and age-specific annual recruitment and survival. Preliminary results for the 98-99 season suggest that Adelie Penguin breeding population size, a measure of overwinter survival, decreased by 12.2% relative to the 1997-1998 season (3762 vs 4285 breeding pairs); per-pair breeding success decreased by 5.7% (1.49 vs 1.58 chicks creched per pair); breeding chronology was earlier relative to last season and mean fledging weights remained unchanged (3.01 vs. 3.05 kg). As last season, crustaceans were the principal dietary component, with the krill Euphausia superba comprising 99% of the diet by weight. Foraging trip durations during the brood period were generally unchanged relative to last season (14.54 vs 14.03 hours). Data related to annual recruitment and pelagic distribution have not been analyzed. The decreases in breeding population size and breeding success agree with the effects that a low ice year is expected to have on these parameters. However, difficulty in reaching the colonies during optimal census periods (peal egg laying) because of late spring ice conditions may have magnified the apparent decrease between seasons; these conclusion must therefore be viewed as tentative. The lack of change in foraging trip durations and chick fledging weights agrees with now well documented trends on the effects that sea ice has on krill recruitment and abundance, and how these influence parental foraging efforts and chick nutrition. A SCAR workshop hosted in Bozeman, Montana (17-21 May 1999) provided the opportunity to compare local and regional trends in seabird populations in Antarctica. 2C What research training has the project helped provide? The LTER cruises and season provided training this year for more than five graduates and undergraduates in addition to postdocs. A CTD Workshop was held at UCSB by the Palmer LTER Team in order to train Antarctic Support Associates in methodology. 2D What other educational and outreach activities have you undertaken In conjunction with the LTER Network of sites, an NSF Schoolyard LTER supplemental grant was received to design an approach to education outreach. Two Palmer representatives attended the first LTER Educational Workshop September 1998 and subsequently held a small working group planning meeting in March 1999 with the high school marine science teacher from Texas who participated in the January 1998 cruise as an NSF Teachers Experiencing Antarctica (TEA) program scholar. Information regarding school weather station collaborations was gathered in discussions with educational groups including the Stephen Birch Aquarium, the SB Natural History Museum, and National Center for Ecosystem Analysis and Synthesis. There were a number of group and LTER-related activities during the June98-May99 period: As part of the US Antarctic community, Palmer LTER scientists participate on the the Antarctic Research Vessel Committee (D.Karl, R.Ross, D.Martinson) and the Palmer Area User's Committee Meeting (W.Fraser,L.Quetin, M.Vernet). There was participation in the international Antarctic community through Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Workshop on Long Term Ecological Research at SCAR (Carrillo, Fraser, Patterson, Ross, Smith, Stammerjohn, Vernet) and the SCAR Workshop on Seabird Population Trends (Fraser). Co-ordination with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) continued with a Rothera Station site visit in January 1999. Participation continued in activities associated with CCAMLR, International Southern Ocean and the US Globec efforts, the Joint Global Ocean Flux Meetings (presentation) and Gordon Conferences on Polar Marine Science (Smith). R.Ross is on the International Organizing Committee for the Second International Symposium on Krill, 23-28 August 1999. An international ANZONE SCOR meeting held at Biosphere 1998 -SCOR was attended by LTER personnel (Stammerjohn and Martinson). LTER Cross Site and Network Level Activities include Ray Smith's attendance, as lead Palmer PI and a member of the LTER Executive Committee, at all the LTER coordinating Committee and Executive Meetings ( 4 per year). R.Smith co-chairs the LTER Network standing committee on "Climate Variability and Ecological Response (CVER)" and is planning a workshop to be held during the LTER All Scientist Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Aug 2000. The output from this workshop is expected to be a book in the LTER Oxford press series as a cross site synthesis on CVER. The Palmer LTER data manager continued as an active member in Network activities with participation at the annual data manager meeting at University of Maryland and as a member of the LTER Data Manager DataTask Group which met at National Center for Ecosystem Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara in Feb99. As a member of the Data Management Climate Committee, Palmer is participating in an effort to create a prototype to harvest site climate data. Palmer's data manager co-leads a project to design an LTER site description module for the LTER Network Information System. A one month exchange for Karen Baker with the Network office has facilitated cross-site data manager activities focused on methods of organization of the LTER group base of information. 3. Publications and Products: What have you produced? +3Ai Major journal publications +3Bi Books and other one-time publications *3Ci What Web sites or other Internet sites reflect this project? project URL: http://www.icess.ucsb.edu/lter *3Di What other specific products (database, collections, software, inventions, etc.) have you developed? database URL: http://www.icess.ucsb.edu/cgi-bin/studycatalog.cgi 4. Contributions: Why does it all matter? 4A To the development of your own discipline(s) Mounting evidence suggests that the earth is experiencing a period of rapid climate change. Direct evidence and model results suggest that the polar regions are areas where such change may be both earlier and larger in magnitude than elsewhere. Consequently, the Antarctic is an area where studies of how environmental change influences the earth's biota and the ability to distinguish anthropogenic change from natural variability may be optimal. The Palmer LTER aims to exploit the sensitivity of this ice dominated ecosystem to environmental variability and to study the important ecological processes associated with this biological response to physical forcing and to provide a long-tern legacy of high quality data for assessing possible change. While this work is focused on the Western Antarctic Peninsula area, evidence suggests that our studies are broadly representative of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and, hence, of global significance. Further, by focusing on year to decadal time scales we provide data within which to evaluate shorter term processes studies within a context of relatively large interannual variability and possible long term trends. 4B To other disciplines of science or engineering? In collaboration with the LTER Network, we are helping to apply computer science and new technology in the development of information system paradigms. This work will have a broad influence on science via both data and information management. Further, we are exploring new technologies for optimizing data collection in this remote and ice dominated ecosystem. 4C To education and development of human resources? The LTER sites provide a special opportunity for direct partnership research scientists, information managers and educators. The LTER network provides an established community infrastructure as well as support for local education co-ordination via the Schoolyard LTER supplement. The Palmer LTER interaction with the OPP Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and Artic program also provides a unique opportunity for interaction over time. Further, given the communication and feedback mechanisms within the LTER network, there is an ongoing training within the community itself on wide ranging topics including education, technology and cross-site research. 4D To physical,institutional, & info resources for science & technology? 4E To the public welfare beyond science and engineering? As noted in Sect. 4A, the polar regions may well be those areas best suited for quantitative evaluation and hence "early warning" of global change. The strong linkage between environmental forcing and ecological response makes this an important natural laboratory for such studies. In addition, the esthetic and adventure attraction of our Antarctic area to the general public provides us with a unique opportunity to train volunteers and educate others with respect to an appreciation of this polar ecosystem and our research. 5. Special Requirements 5A Objectives and Scope 5B Change in Objectives or Scope 5C Special Reporting requirements 5D Unobligated funds 5E Animals, biohazards, human subjects 5B *. A brief summary of work to be performed during the next year of support if changed from the original proposal; an indication of any current problems or favorable or unusual developments; and any other significant information pertinent to the type of project supported by NSF or as specified by the terms and conditions of the grant; (a) The shifting of resources from data collection emphasis to meeting data policy requirements, sustainability and publishing results continues. (b) Simplification of hydrographic data collection was sought through development of a supertech concept. The concept was approved by NSF in general, Doug Martinson has provided ASA & OPP/NSF with a "skills list", and the subject remains under trial and discussion. Simplification of hydrographic data collection was sought through development of a minimal dedicated field contingent. The concept is based on CTD data collection through use of the dual-sensor Seabird CTD. With the calibrated double sensor configuration, the physical oceanographic field component need not be burdened with the labor-intensive bottle sampling hydrography and lab work. This allows a relatively manageable field effort since the shipboard operations reduce to fairly standard and automated tasks. (ASA, which owns and maintains the CTD, provides the shipboard maintenance of the equipment.) Consequently, the field party will not include a PO-dedicated specialist, but rather, the CTD will be operated at sea by the (non-PO) members of the LTER field-going scientific party that will be overseeing the Niskin bottle sampling component. To assure high quality, Martinson put in place a standard CTD operating procedure for the field party to follow (he will also participate in the 1999 winter cruise to help refine this procedure). A subset of the data are transmitted to Martinson during the cruise for quality control, and the complete set is delivered to Martinson following the cruise, along with the pre- and post-cruise calibration constants for the sensors. Martinson will run it through standard processing routines and enter it into the LTER data base as soon as the processing is completed (preliminary data will be available immediately). (c) The planned May1998 ice cruise on the new LMGould was delayed a year due to various ship-related delays and uncertainties. The PALMER sea ice cruise has been rescheduled for June99 on the NBPalmer. (d) The Palmer field station effort which was limited to 6 personnel on station during the 9798 season was returned to 8 personnel for 9899 as written in the long-range plan for the field program. (e) Doug Martinson (technically joined Sept 98, however funding delayed until spring 99) has replaced Hofmann & Klinck (effective 31 May 99). 5C A two year review of the Palmer LTER by NSF was held in Washington DC on May 26, 1998. The intent was to review progress and to discuss the future. The LTER mid-term site visit is scheduled for late Aug99.