SEP91 Palmer SITREP - D.Karentz SEND PLM017.SEP MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",ASAHQ PSDN-1194 SCIENCE SITREP R 020029Z SEP 91 FROM: Deneb Karentz P A L M E R S T A T I O N A N T A R C T I C A TELEMAIL::PALMER.STA PHONE/FAX: 011-874-150-3157 SPAN::PALMER@ATSVAX.SPAN TELEX: 5841503157 PNHG INTERNET::PALMER@ATSVAX.RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU CC E-MAIL::ANTARCTIC.OPS, NSF.DPP.OCEANOPS, P.PENHALE, T.DELACA, R.HANSON, ASA.MCMURDO, ASA.DENVER, NSF.MCMURDO, ASA.CHCH, E.HOFMANN, NSF.CHCH, R.BOOTH, O.HOLM.HANSEN, G.MITCHELL, M.VERNET, M.HUNTLEY, R.WHRITNER, D.KARL, D.AINLEY, W.FRASER, B.SIDELL, W.DETRICH, VLF@STAR.SPAN, M.KENNICUTT, K.DUNTON, W.STOCKTON, L.QUETIN, R.ROSS, R.BERNSTEIN, ABENNETT@27867.SPAN, ZEPPLEY@27867.SPAN, POLAR.DUKE, SOUTH.POLE, J.PROSPERO, W.TRIVELPIECE, R.SMITH.UCSB, T.HOLLIBAUGH, GMCC.BOULDER (pass to B.Mendonca), F.AZAM, R.RADTKE, DENEB@RADLAB.UCSF.EDU, CHAPPELL@UCRACC.SPAN, DALLUGE@ATMOS.OGI.EDU, TFOSTER@UCSCC.UCSC.EDU, ENELSON%MINES.BITNET@SDS.SPAN S-031 PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF ULTRAVIOLET-ABSORBING COMPOUNDS IN ANTARCTIC ORGANISMS D. Karentz, University of California, San Francisco D. Karentz, I. Bosch, M. Slattery and T. Gast arrived at Palmer Station on August 22. The major focus of this project is to monitor concentrations of UV-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in marine organisms. This will be accomplished through time series collections at selected field sites and from organisms maintained in outdoor seawater aquaria constructed of various UV filtering materials. Invertebrates and algae from intertidal, benthic and planktonic habitats will be examined. Of additional interest is the determinaton of the degree of variation in MAA content between life cycle stages (gametes, embryos, larvae, juveniles, adults) and between gross anatomical components of organisms (shell, body wall, etc.). During the past week (as weather has allowed) we have sampled in various locations around the station to establish permanent collection sites. Two SCUBA dives were made to survey organisms present and to make preliminary collections. The following species have been collected and prepared for MAA analyses: Parbolasia corrugatus (Nemertena), Neobuccinum eatoni (Mollusca), Nacella concinna (Molusca), unidentified amphipod (Crustacea), Strechinus neumayeri (Echinodermata), Odontaster validus (Echinodermata), Moloula enodis (Chordata), Cnemidocarpa verrucosa (Chordata), Desmarestia menziesii (Phaeophyta), Curdiea racovitzae (Rhodophyta) and Phyllophora appendiculata (Rhodophyta). Specimens of approximately 15 additional species have been collected for examination. Where possible (for invertebrate species), ovaries of females and/or their brooded juveniles have been separated for independent analyses. We have also identified the larvae of several invertebrates in plankton collections and these have been isolated and prepared for quantification of MAAs. Over 150 clonal isolations have been made of 15 species of plantonic diatoms. Cultures established from these isolations will be used in outdoor UV exposure experiments, laboratory UV studies and as a possible food source for rearing of invertebrate larval stages during the next few months. Seawater tanks on the aquarium deck have been prepared for use and construction of additional experimental tanks is underway. Establishment of captive populations for monitoring affects of UV exposure on MAAs and initiation of invertebrate larval cultures are priority activities during the next several weeks. S-033 SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANTARCTIC SURFACE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM SATELLITE AND IN SITU MEASUREMENTS K. Gautier, California Space Institute Field party of one person, D.Lubin, arrived on station Aug 22. As of Friday morning, August 30, all equipment mentioned in the proposal is up and running. Satellite data archival is proceeding at the rate of 6 passes per day. All surface UV, visible, and IR radiation measurements are being made regularly. The all-sky still and video cameras are in use. Mike Butler, ASA Science Technician, has been a tremendous help so far. As of now Mike is taking care of the satellite tracking, and is doing an outstanding job of keeping the upgraded UV monitor working. Mike has also helped with a variety of techincal details. Special thanks also to Rich Skane, Commander, and Dave Christian, carpenter shop, for very timely construction support with a shelter for the IR experiment and a platform on the roof of T-5 for the all-sky cameras. In terms of satellite data collection, Mike and I are emphasizing AVHRR polar orbiter passes during daylight, because the project concerns UV radiation, and because Biospherical Instruments (BSI) has built and installed a special radiometer for this project which duplicates the AVHRR visible channels. Currently there are only 1-2 such passes per day. The remaining passes we archive in a given day are either polar orbiter or DMSP, depending on what general Antarctic coverage Mike and Bob Whritner desire. The upgraded UV-monitor appears to be gathering all the data we need. The integration of the AVHRR ground-truthing radiometer (GTR) and our Eppley infrared radiometer into the UV-monitor's data stream appears to have been successful. Mike has been attempting to perform absolute calibrations on both the UV-monitor and the GTR, and has been working out various technical details with BSI. I look forward to receiving the upgraded version of UVDECODE, so that I can work with these various preliminary data in real time. The IR-monitor (CalSpace Michelson interferometer) is being used 4-5 times a day, typically at local midnight, local noon, and under various satellite passes. Initial linearity tests done in T-5 appear to show that the instrument is performing as well here as in San Diego. A solid state relay in the temperature control circuitry proved to be out of spec, and the IR-monitor's temperature control is being operated by hand. I look forward to receiving the replacement relay which has been rush-ordered for me. This experiment consumes several liters of liquid nitrogen per day, and as of now the liquid nitrogen situation is good. One of CalSpace's big 230 liter dewars arrived 80% full, which is as good as can be expected for a Drake crossing. The other two CalSpace dewars are scheduled to arrive on the next two Duke visits. This will be necessary, as I predict that the current dewar will be empty by the end of September. As of now the all-sky still cameras are being used outside on tripods. The ground around T-5 is high enough that the fisheye lens has an unobstructed view of the sky. A second camera is simultaneously pointed at the mountains on the Antarctic peninsula, for cloud base height estimation. The all-sky video camera was turned on for the first time yesterday, and regular data collection began this morning. I don't know how good the sky images are with this camera yet - it has only been looking at solid overcast skies so far. S-106 VLF TRIMPI STUDIES AT PALMER STATION. VLF REMOTE SENSING OF THUNDERSTORM AND RADIATION BELT COUPLING. U.S. Inan, Stanford University No personnel on station. Equipment being monitored and maintained by station Science Technician, Michael Butler. Weekly printouts of Trimpi data summary charts were faxed to Stanford University for analysis and monitoring of system performance. All normally scheduled data recordings were made for the month of August. There was no lost data on either of the broad band VLF analog tape systems however, there were five failures in the Trimpi data recordings. On August 6, 11, 22, 23, and 25, 1991 the data recorder stopped at the beginning or in the middle of the tape. Full data charts for all five days were produced. The investigators have been contacted about the problems with the Trimpi recordings and possible solutions have been suggested. All systems are operational and a full schedule of data recording continues daily. Three full crates of data were shipped to CONUS on the R/V POLAR DUKE departing Palmer on August 23, 1991. INVENTORY OF RECORDED DATA ON STATION: 31 AUGUST 1991 TYPE QUANTITY DATES COVERED SYNOPTIC ANALOG TAPES.....39......24 July to Present. CONTINUOUS VLF............75......20 June to Present. (missing 27 June. Power Failure) (four tapes for July 11, 1991) DIGITAL TRIMPI TAPES......67......June 29 to Present. (two tapes for July 11, 1991) S-254 CHLORINE & BROMINE - CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN THE ANTARCTIC R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon State University No personnel on station. Equipment being monitored by Hugh Cowan, station physician. Twelve (12) samples were collected during the month of August. A total of fifty (50) samples were retrograded to the P.I. aboard the R/V Polar Duke, Cruise 91-6. There are seven (07) prepared samples archived on station for retrograding. An inventory of forty-four (44) empty cannisters remain on station. S-257 GMMC DIVISION ANTARCTIC RESEARCH PROGRAM - J.T. Peterson / L. Waterman, NOAA No personnel on station. Equipment being monitored by Hugh Cowan, station physician. Eight (08) samples were collected during the month of August. A total of fourteen (14) samples were retrograded to the P.I. aboard the R/V Polar Duke, Cruise 91-6. There are ten (10) prepared samples archived on station for retrograding. An inventory of thirty-two (32) unused flasks remain on station. S-275 UM/DOE ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING PROGRAM at Palmer Station. T. Snowdon, University of Miami; C. Sanderson/N. Chui, EML/DOE N.Y. No personnel on station. System being run by station Science Technician, Michael Butler. Sampling continued to be conducted with a weekly schedule of calibration, background and sample counts, with one sample filter being exposed for the duration of the week. Data was logged on computer disk, as well as transmitted via NOAA satellites. All completed data on station was shipped to the investigators with the departing Polar Duke on August 23, 1991. Recorded Data On Station, 31 JULY 1991: 1) One (1) Data Disk, currently in use. (August) 2) Two (2) exposed filters. 3) One (1) prepared blank filters. 4) One (1) filter currently being exposed. 5) No (0) completed Data Disk from previous months System equipment continues to run well and there are adequate system supplies for operation throughout the austral winter. T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institute ARC. No personnel on station. System being run by station Science Technician, Michael Butler. The satellite collection schedule has been increased to five satellite passes per day with the addition on August 13, 1991 of a Noaa-11 pass to cover 81 degrees south, 12 degrees west. Other passes collected include: (1) high elevation pass, one (1) pass to the east of Palmer over the Weddell Sea, one (1) pass to the west over the Bellingshausen and (1) pass of arbitrary elevation and azimuth. With the arrival of Dr. Dan Lubin of S-033, the satellite reception schedule has been increased to include at least two high elevation passes of Noaa satellites. Noaa-10 which was not being collected was added to the satellite schedule in order to accommodate his needs. The satellite image data is was collected digitally on 8mm video tape. Both HRPT and DMSP satellite data is recorded. Images of noaa passes are being printed for the data records of Dr. Lubin of S-033. Orbital elements were received and entered into the Terascan imaging and Telonics tracking systems as received from the principal investigator. Tracking system time continues to be controlled with the Omega clock which maintains accuracy to within one second, calibrated with the GOES satellite clock. Images processed from data uploaded via the Vectra PC continue to look good, with the exception of extremely high elevation passes which contain dropouts. It is believed that this is caused by slight inaccuracies in the omega clock which controls the satellite tracking system. Routine cleaning was also performed on the exebyte 8mm data recorder. Recorded data tapes on station consist of PAL122 through PAL125 (four tapes). PAL126 is currently being recorded. Data tapes PAL108 through PAL121 (fourteen tapes) were shipped to the principal investigator with the departure of the R/V POLAR DUKE on August 23, 1991. T-313 NSF UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments. No personnel on station. System being run station Science Technician, Michael Butler. UV data and calibration scan information continued to be collected and sent to BSI on a daily basis. Due to increasing light levels as the season progresses, the voltage on the PMT had to be lowered several times during the month. On August 21, 1991 the principal investigators made a site visit. Special absolute calibration scans were made prior to their arrival. Additional absolute calibration scans were made after their arrival and the system was shut off for inspection and upgrading. The monochrometer that was in use was replaced with a new unit due to the unusual "step changes" that were noted in the sensitivity of the old unit. An improved DAS system was installed to handle 24 channels of information. New eppley sensors and an AVHRR sensor were installed adjacent to the existing system. Four megabytes of additional memory were added to the systems computer and DOS 5.0 was installed. New operating software was also installed. During this upgrade the hard drive had a failure and had to be replaced by station spares. The data processing computer was also upgraded and Microsoft "windows" and "excell" were installed. The rebuilt system was installed and fully field tested by the principal investigators prior to their departure on the R/V POLAR on August 23, 1991. No absolute calibration scans could be run due to inclement weather. On August 25, 1991, the system experienced a monochrometer failure. Two gears separated and the system was unable to increment through different light frequencies. The system was disassembled and rebuilt with a replacement monochrometer and data was restored by 0700 GMT on August 26, 1991. The weather allowed absolute calibrations to be performed later in the week. Biospherical Instruments was consulted about the proper absolute scan parameters prior to their execution. PLMnnn