SEND NPA039.MAY MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",ASAHQ PSDN-3237 SCIENCE SITREP - APRIL 1992 R 030341Z MAY 92 FROM: DR. CHUCK KENNICUTT - S-041 CC EMAIL: Fred Frederick, Station Manager Ann Peoples, Operations Manager !TO ASA PEOPLES 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, E.HOFMANN, R.BOOTH, O.HOLM.HANSEN, G.MITCHELL, M.VERNET, M.HUNTLEY, R.WHRITNER, D.KARL, W.FRASER, B.SIDELL, W.DETRICH, M.KENNICUTT, K.DUNTON, W.STOCKTON, L.QUETIN, R.ROSS, R.BERNSTEIN, W.TRIVELPIECE, R.SMITH.UCSB, T.HOLLIBAUGH, GMCC.BOULDER (pass to B.Mendonca), F.AZAM, R.RADTKE, S.WEILER, SPOLE, DUKE, NATPALMER, VLF@STAR.SPAN, ASAHQ, NSFMCM, KARENTZD@ALM.ADMIN.USFCA.EDU, CHAPPELL@UCRACC.SPAN, TFOSTER@UCSCC.UCSC.EDU,DALLUGE@ATMOS.OGI.EDU, ENELSON%MINES.BITNET@SDS.SPAN, MVW@ARCANE.UCSD.EDU, SRCRNSF@CMV.DSIR.GOVT.NZ SCIENCE SITREP - PALMER STATION - APRIL 1992 S-041 THE ROLE OF GLOBAL POLLUTANTS AND LOCALIZED CONATAMINATION IN DETERMINING HYDROCARBON CONCENTRATIONS ALONG THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA. Dr. Mahlon C. Kennicutt, II, P.I., Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University Field Team: M.Kennicutt, J.Jobling, A.Tripp, K.Foster-Springer and E.Haubold Phase II of our field effort for 1991-92 season began between April 18th and 21st with the exit of one field person (Sue McDonald) and the deployment of three additional field personnel (Chuck Kennicutt, Tony Tripp and Jim Jobling). Phase I was completed successfully and included experiments to assess the response of polar fishes to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the primary toxic component of petroleum products. Exposure was induced by direct injection of diesel fuel arctic, commonly used at Antarctic bases, as well as a model PAH, benzo[a]pyrene, into a series of fishes. The liver, muscle and bile from multiple replicate fishes were collected during time series experiments. Tissues were frozen for subsequent analysis of PAH content at our home laboratory. Bile will be analyzed for the enzymatic transformation products of PAH's which are produced by the inducible detoxification systems within fishes. In addition, microsomal subcellular fractions prepared from liver tissues will be used to determine cytochrome P-450 content, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and ethoxyresorufin o-deethylase (EROD) activity. These assays will be used to study the dynamics of polar fishes detoxification enzyme systems and formulate a comparison with temperate climate fishes. Initial results demonstrated a classic exposure/response relationship as shown by increased or induced P-450 enzyme activities. Native AHH activity in the Antarctic fish species studied is extremely low as hypothesized for fishes from pristine or uncontaminated environments. The end of Phase I activities completed most in-field laboratory activities while Phase II initiated sample collections for subsequent analysis at our home laboratory. Despite limited time the field collections went well with all objectives accomplished. To further document low level contamination associated with Palmer Station, seven transects around Gammage Point and Hero Inlet were reoccupied. Hard substrate locations were sampled for limpets as a biological indicator of hydrocarbon exposure and soft bottoms were sampled for sediments to establish the degree of contaminant build-up in these relatively long-term repositories of contaminants. A suspected contaminant event offshore of Old Palmer Station was resampled to establish the life-time of contaminants in subtidal sediments in the area. It is suspected that wave action and ice movement transports surficial sediments of the area on a regular basis. A comparison transect of sediments was also sampled between Torgeson and Litchfield Islands. Six transects were sampled offshore of Old Palmer Station in a manner similar to those at Palmer Station. To continue to monitor release of fuel from the Bahia Paraiso, divers collected sediments in close proximity to the wreck for the determination of PAH content. Twenty-five of twenty-eight grab sample locations yielded enough undisturbed sediment for analysis using a Smith-MacIntyre grab sampler from the Polar Duke. These samples are used to continue to monitor station as well as spill related contamination in subtidal sediments throughout Arthur Harbor. The high success rate of grab sampling suggested that significant sediment accumulations were present throughout the harbor in contrast to previous year's results. We would like to thank the Captain and crew of the Polar Duke and the ASA Support Staff at Palmer Station for contributing to another highly successful field season. Despite limited time for Phase II activities, all primary and secondary sampling activities were conducted in a successful and safe manner. S-106 VLF REMOTE SENSING OF THUNDERSTORM AND RADIATION BELT COUPLING TO THE IONOSPHERE. U.S. Inan, Stanford University, P.I. This field report submitted by William Burgess, Stanford University. Equipment was monitored and maintained by ASA science technician Rod Corson until my arrival on 25 April. No problems have been encountered during normal recording operations. On site inspection indicates that the VLF equipment, as well as the VLF Hut/Clean Air Facility in which it is housed, has been exceptionally well cared for by Mr. Corson. Most equipment appears to be operating properly, with the exception of the Kinemetrics satellite-synchronized clock; the GOES-East satellite has been moved and its signal is considerably weaker than before. The antenna has been re-aimed, and slight modifications to the clock are underway to improve its ability to lock to weak signals. The recording schedule currently in effect is broadband (0-20 kHz) from 0000 to 0300 UT and from 0700 to 1000 UT, and digitized narrowband from 0130 to approximately 1200 UT. Inventory of data now on station: (April 30, 1992) 56 - Continuous VLF Tapes from 02 Apr to present. 28 - Trimpi recordings on digital tape from 02 Apr to present. All recorded data tapes on site up to 01 April were retrograded 12 April with the departure of R/V POLAR DUKE. S-254 CHLORINE - AND BROMINE - CONTAINING GASES IN THE ANTARCTIC. R.A.Rasmussen, P.I., Oregon state University. No personnel on station; the project is being monitored and maintained by the station physician. A total of 9 clean air samples have been archived for retrograde for S-254. There are currently 93 empty canisters on station. S-257 GEOPHYSICAL MONITORING FOR CLIMATE CONTROL (GMCC). J.T. Peterson and L.Waterman, P.I.'s, NOAA No personnel on station; the project is being monitored and maintained by the station physician. A total of 6 air samples have been archived for retrograde for S-257. There are currently 74 empty canisters on station. S-275 UM/DOE ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING PROGRAM AT PALMER STATION. T. Snowdon of University of Miami and C.Sanderson/N.Chui, EML/DOE N.Y., P.I.'s No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson. System continued to operate with normal weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts, with one sample filter being exposed for the duration of the week. Recorded data and filters on station were retrograded 12 April via R/V POLAR DUKE. Information on 3.5 floppies were copied and stored on site before the originals are shipped. On Station there are currently one (1) exposed filter, one (1) filter being exposed, one (1) prepared blank filter, and one (1) data disk currently being used to log data. T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson The satellite collection schedule continued with three (3) NOAA satellite passes. Two (2) DMSP f-10 satellite passes were also collected daily. These passes were recorded digitally on 8mm video tape. There is one (1) full 8mm "video" tapes of collected passes on station and one current tape almost complete. A few passes have failed in the collection process for various reasons and Palmer is in contact with Bob Whritner and Seaspace about these irregularities. The lost passes amount to only a very small percentage of total desired passes. T-313 UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C.Booth, Biospherical Instruments. No personnel on station. System being run by ASA science technician Rod Corson. The scan schedule and high voltage settings were changed on 06 April. Data scans are now run from 1000 to 2200 GMT. Response and wavelength scans are run at 1000, 1400, 1600, 1900 and 2200 GMT Daily data packages were sent to Biospherical via E-Mail. The Palmer monthly weather summaries are now being sent to Biospherical on what we expect to be a regular basis. An absolute calibration scan was peformed on 29 April. Action?