OCT91 Palmer SITREP - D.Karentz SEND PLM058.OCT MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",ASAHQ PSDN-1470 SCIENCE SITREP R 032146Z OCT 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, 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-014 ENERGETICS OF THE ADULTS AND LARVAE OF THE ANTARCTIC KRILL EUPHAUSIA SUPERBA R. ROSS AND L. QUETIN, University of California, Santa Barbara Field Party: L. Quetin, T. Frazer, K. Habermann, T. Moylan, N. Adams, M. Talkovic, V. Vreedenburg, W. Halford L. Quetin and T. Moylan are presently at Palmer Station and the remainder of the field party are enroute to Punta Arenas aboard the Polar Duke. Logistic movements for the month of September: Sailed from Punta Arenas 2230 2 Sept., arrived Palmer 1000 7 Sept., load for cruise and depart Palmer 0900 11 Sept. for WC IV, arrive Palmer 0900 1 Oct., Polar Duke departed Palmer 0930 2 Oct. WinCruise IV went very well. We worked exclusively on larval krill during a transect that started off Adelaide Island in ice free water and continued into 9/10 pack ice until the Polar Duke could no longer make adequate progress. We then back tracked and completed three stations more completely than they were previously sampled. 22 stations were sampled and four stations were repeated. Krill larvae were found at every station except 3. Krill were sampled both with a 2-m Tucker trawl and by diving in the pack ice. Dive transects were completed to determine the number of krill below the pack ice and these will be compared to net tows. Krill larvae found were mostly in the F6 and Juvenile stages with some F5 and fewer F4 stages found. Samples were collected for determinations of condition factor and lipid and protein for different larval stages. Eight experiments were completed to determine the instantaneous growth rates of the larvae - two for larvae from open water and 6 for larvae in the pack ice. Whole Body Experiments were completed for various lengths of time due to the difficulty of obtaining enough krill quickly. We conducted 5 experiments and 4 were successful. In addition, krill from open water and under the ice, phytoplankton and ice algae were collected for analysis of their isotopic ratios. This cruise was successful in every way and results from it will help us understand and quantify the role of pack ice in the winter over energetics of krill larvae. The officers and crew of the Polar Duke, and the the ASA personnel aboard were instrumental in its success. Thanks. A special thanks to the engineering department, ship's electrician, and J. Scott for going way beyond the call of duty and replacing the electric motor of the dive compressor. Mating English and metric units was no easy task. Without their help the diving operation and our primary means of collecting krill would have been shut down. Thanks also to the Palmer Station personnel for expediting our onload at Palmer Station at the beginning of the cruise. S-031 PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF ULTRAVIOLET-ABSORBING COMPOUNDS IN ANTARCTIC ORGANISMS D. Karentz, University of California, San Francisco Field Party: D. Karentz, I. Bosch, M. Slattery, T. Gast Ice conditions during the past month have severely limited areas accessible for field sampling. There were only two days when Arthur Harbor was clear of ice and boats could be put in the water. Therefore, Hero Inlet and the south side of Bonaparte Point have been selected for early sample sites. SCUBA dives were made in Hero Inlet to collect plants and animals at 0, 25, 50 and 75 feet. These collections establish two vertical profile series set at three week intervals. Additional time series collections of intertidal organisms have been made from Bonaparte Point. HPLC analyses of 12 invertebrate and 8 algal species have been completed for initial determinations of mycosporine-like amino-acid compounds (MAAs). Whenever possible, invertebrates have been dissected and various organs/body parts (body wall, gut, gonad, etc.) have been analyzed separately. Preliminary data indicate differences in the complement of MAAs in different tissues in nearly all species. Collections of invertebrate species selected for detailed life history studies of MAA content are well underway. These samples will be analyzed for determination of possible differences between adults and larval stages, and comparisons of life history strategies with MAA content (e.g., brooded vs. broadcasted eggs/embryos/larvae). Outdoor tank experiments have been started. Three tanks with different UV-filtering properties (total sunlight, sunlight minus UV-B, and sunlight minus UV-B and UV-A) have been stocked with three invetebrate (Odontaster validis, Sterechinus neumayeri and Nacella concinna) and three algal (Desmarestia menzesii, Plumariopsis appendicularia and Plocamium sp.) species. These organisms will be sampled periodically during the next few months to determine if the ambient UV regime affects MAA content. Outdoor incubation systems have also been constructed for experiments with invertebrate larvae. At present, only one species (the seastar, Perknaster auroae) has spawned and these embryos are being exposed to similar ambient and filtered light conditions described above. It is expected that many of the other local invertebrates will be spawning with the next few weeks and the remainder of the larval experiments will be initiated. On one ice-free day, a vertical sampling was completed in the water column (0-30m), including monitoring of UV-B (actinometry, broad-band radiometry), phytoplankton cell densities, chlorophyll and DNA concentrations. Nearly all phytoplankton isolates from August were lost due to an incubator failure. Single cell isolations have been repeated and cultures are currently being maintained in the Aquarium cold room. During the next month collections for vertical profiles will be continued at three-week intervals. As soon as possible (ice- permitting), new field sites will be established at nearby areas and vertical sampling of the water column will be resumed. S-033 SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANTARCTIC SURFACE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM SATELLITE AND IN SITU MEASUREMENTS K. Gautier, University of California, Santa Barbara Field Party: Dan Lubin, California Space Institute As of 9/30/91 Mike Butler and I have tracked and archived 75 satellite passes which have simultaneous surface UV-monitor measurements. Mike has installed the new bit-sync, and we have added DMSP F-9 to our tracking schedule, which now gives this project at least 3 daylight satellite passes every day. The AVHRR and PIR sensor additions to the UV-monitor DAS continue to function. I have looked at the PIR signal voltages on several occasions and they look reasonable. The FTIR spectroradiometer (IR-monitor) experiments continue to go well. I now have 150 separate measurements of the Antarctic infrared sky. This includes an unbroken local noon time series, which I hope to continue unbroken until the end of November, as well as useful time series for local midnight, early morning, and mid afternoon. As far as I know these are the first climate/global change measurements of this type on the Antarctic Peninsula, and I look forward to working with the complete data set. I have gotten some software working to reduce the FTIR data in a preliminary fashion, and have found that most of the data is of high quality, except for the first two days, which were before the construction crew put up the shelter for this instrument. One potential problem with the FTIR experiments: I am running out of liquid nitrogen. The first 230-liter dewar is empty, and the 160-liter dewar is less than half full. There is a 50% chance that I will run out completely before the station opens on October 15. It will definitely be reassuring to get the final 230-liter dewar on the October 15 Polar Duke cruise. Without it the FTIR experiment will grind to a halt. The all-sky video and still cameras are still working well. The darkroom has been very helpful, as I have been able to develop the still camera shots as I go along and correct small mistakes in the exposures. 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 September. There was no lost data for the month on either of the broad band VLF analog tape systems. There was a loss of approximately twelve minutes on Trimpi recordings when a tape failed to start on time. Full data charts for all trimpi recordings were produced. All systems are operational and a full schedule of data recording continues daily. Two crates of recorded data have been prepared for shipment to the Principal investigators with the next departure of the R/V POLAR DUKE. One crate contains ninety-six Trimpi recordings and charts, the other crate contains seventy continuous VLF recordings and fifty-four synoptic VLF recordings. INVENTORY OF RECORDED DATA ON STATION: 30 SEPTEMBER 1991 (items crated for shipment are not counted in inventory) TYPE QUANTITY DATES COVERED SYNOPTIC ANALOG TAPES.....15......16 Sept. to Present. CONTINUOUS VLF............35......27 Aug. to Present. DIGITAL TRIMPI TAPES......16......15 Sept. to Present. 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 September. There are nineteen (19) prepared samples archived on station for retrograding. An inventory of thirty-two (32) 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 September. A total of fourteen (14) samples have been packaged for retrograded to the P.I. The samples will be shipped to Conus on the 91-7 cruise of the R/V Polar Duke. There are four (04) prepared samples archived on station for retrograding. An inventory of twenty-four (24) 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. Recorded Data On Station, 30 SEPTEMBER 1991: 1) One (1) Data Disk, currently in use. (September) 2) Six (6) exposed filters. 3) One (1) prepared blank filters. 4) One (1) filter currently being exposed. 5) One (1) completed Data Disk from previous months (August) System equipment continues to run well. Supplies of filters are becoming short and the investigators have been informed of the need for an additional shipment. 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 eight to ten satellite passes per day. Most of the extra passes are being gathered by request of Dr. Lubin of S-033. In addition to passes collected for S-033 the regular schedule of pass collection is in effect. These passes 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. One NOAA-11 pass is also being gathered for Dr. Ted Scamps to cover the area 81 degrees south latitude, 12 degrees west longitude. Data in no longer being collected from DMSP satellite F-8. F-8 has had a failure and is no longer sending proper images. DMSP satellite F-9 has taken its place in the satellite schedule. F-9 images are now also being collected for Dr. Lubin of S-033. Images of NOAA passes are being printed for the data record of Dr. Lubin of S-033. A new bit-sync for DMSP data was received from the principle investigator and has been installed into the system although it is currently not rack mounted. This new bit-sync should help clear and improve DMSP data. When weather allows a good visual image of the sea ice west of the Antarctic Peninsula, an enhanced, printed image is faxed to the R/V POLAR DUKE for the use of S-014. S-014 is looking for krill near the ice edge. The satellite image data is collected digitally on 8mm video tape. Both HRPT and DMSP satellite data is recorded in this fashion. 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 PAL137 (four tapes). PAL137 is currently being recorded. All recorded data is being held on station for the arrival of the Principle investigator during the month of October. T-313 NSF UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments. No personnel on station. System being run by 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 the voltage on the PMT had to be lowered several times during the month. Absolute calibration scans of the Avhrr and UV system are being made on a weekly schedule as weather permits. Details of these scans are being sent to Biospherical. A calibrated lamp and a seasoned uncalibrated lamp are being alternated for the absolute calibration scans. Biospherical sent an IEEE-488 software package to enable a data collection system for a Fluke meter that is monitoring the current in the response and absolute lamps. The system has been subject to numerous failures and has been discontinued on request of the principle investigators. It is still enabled for the duration of absolute calibration scans however. A different software package was received for the analysis of the UV data packages. Although the data is preliminary in nature, it is being used by all the science groups on station. The data from the system is being converted into "Dobson unit" ozone values by Dr. Lubin of S-033 and distributed to Dr. Karentz of S-031 and to Faraday Station of the BAS. Faraday has been sending their Dobson values to Palmer in return. Special scans are being made for Dr. Lubin of S-033. The scans coincide with satellite passes collected by T-312 and the IR scans and other data collected by Dr. Lubin. All data was collected for the month of September except for scans interrupted by absolute calibration scans. Absolute calibration scans are performed at night so that no significant data is lost. Snow and frost is often removed from the different light collectors as needed. The times of these cleanings are noted in the electronic log made with the daily data. A box is being shipped to the principle investigators containing the monochrometer that failed last month and two defective mercury lamps. The box will be leaving with the next departure of the R/V Polar Duke.