PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP November 2002 Dr. Hugh Ducklow, Station Science Leader NEWS FROM THE LAB Hugh Ducklow Icebergs, mattresses and turkey - those were three words heard most around station in the past month. The LM GOULD arrived back at Palmer on 09 November, carrying more scientists and staff for the summer season, along with the first installment of new mattresses for everyone's bunks. More scientists, staff and the rest of the mattresses arrived on 01 December. The remaining sea ice and brash ice held inshore by steady southerly winds kept most everyone on land until 18 November. Boating coordinator Doug Fink led the accumulated Boating II students out for their checkout Zodiac training that day, including Logistics Coordinator Cheech Navarro, who's completing his 100th month on the ice. Congratulations Cheech! Since that day, the boats have been plying the Harbor and Islands almost daily. Thanksgiving was the highlight of the month. The 37 Palmer citizens enjoyed Antarctica's best food at a family-style candlelight dinner under the Austral sun. Thanks to Palmer chefs Wendy Beeler and Marge Bolten, who roasted three turkeys and many pies, plus all the traditional fixins. The post-Thanksgiving weekend also saw the first cruise ships bringing tourists to Palmer for the summer season. Weather has been pleasantly mild and calm, with hardly any science days lost to winds and swell. The main features of the season this year have been the dozens of tabular bergs and hundreds of smaller icebergs populating Palmer's front yard (Arthur Harbor and vicinity). According to Bill Fraser, the last big berg year at Palmer occurred shortly after the Wordie Ice Shelf in Marguerite Bay disintegrated in 1993-94. Signs of things to come...and without further adieu, the monthly science reports: BP-013-P: PALMER, ANTARCTICA LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: CLIMATE MIGRATION, ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE AND TELECONNECTIONS IN AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT: SEABIRD COMPONENT Dr. William R. Fraser, Principal Investigator, Polar Oceans Research Group, Sheridan, MT. BO-198-O: MONITORING THE EFFECTS OF TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABILITY ON ADELIE PENGUINS AT PALMER STATION, ANTARCTICA Dr. William R. Fraser, Principal Investigator, Polar Oceans Research Group, Sheridan, MT. Personnel on station: Chris Denker, Brett Pickering and Cindy Anderson Weather and sea ice conditions improved dramatically during the period of Nov 8 through Dec 8 allowing twenty-three continuous days of sampling. Heavy ice denied access to area islands during the first week of the period (Nov 8-11, and the 13th-15th.) Inclement weather did not affect our movements. Cindy Anderson was a welcome addition to the team arriving on Dec 1. Adelie penguin population counts were conducted through the month on Torgersen, Christine, Cormorant, Litchfield, and Humble Islands. Based on these numbers Peak Egg populations were determined arriving at different dates on each of the islands. Reproductive success sites for Adelie penguins were also set up on Torgersen and Humble Island. True lay dates were established for the majority of the Torgersen sites, but due to ice blocking access to Humble Island most lay dates for these sites are estimates. Other Adelie related work consisted of an overnight trip to Dream Island during the 19th and 20th allowing us the opportunity to census the entire island. A total island census has not been conducted on Dream since the mid '80's with our counts showing Adelie populations decreasing significantly within that period. Biscoe Point was visited Nov 24 and Dec 5 for Adelie and Gentoo censusing. The overall trend continues with Adelie numbers decreasing while Gentoo populations have increased. A Joubin Island trip was conducted on Dec 1 giving us the first Peak Egg counts on these islands in twenty years. While there, we were fortunate enough to collect a dive/depth PTT transmitter deployed September 3 off western Adelaide Island. This is the second transmitter recovered from Adelie penguins deployed over the past winter. South polar and brown skua study sites have been visited every five days to determine arrival dates, pair formation, territory establishment, and egg laying. As of Dec 6 only two pairs of brown skua nests have eggs. The south polar skuas are arriving in greater numbers, however no eggs have been seen at this time. Blue-eyed shags are being monitored every five days on Cormorant Island with the first eggs being observed Nov 5. A kelp gull survey is being conducted at this time covering all local islands as well as Dream. Marine mammal observations are conducted daily within the two-mile boating limit. Minkie whales have been most numerous with eight individual whales moving through the area. Two male orcas were also observed in the Joubin Islands. Two tour ships visited Palmer Station during the month of November. Tourist visits were monitored on Torgersen Island to obtain data on tourist flow, and to compare aspects of Adelie reproductive biology and ecology with control sites not visited by tourists. Special thanks to Wendy Beeler and Marge Bolton for keeping us very well fed, Doug Fink for continuing to keep the fleet operational, and Brian Shunamon for assistance with our computer woes. BP-016-P: PALMER, ANTARCTICA LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: CLIMATE MIGRATION, ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE AND TELECONNECTIONS IN AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT: PHYTOPLANKTON ECOLOGY COMPONENT Dr. Maria Vernet, Principal Investigator, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Personnel on station: Maria Vernet (on station through 11/11), Wendy Kozlowski, Lauren Rogers and Michelle Ferrara (on station after 11/9). November greeted us with ice filled waters, but intermittent days and half- days of open water allowed core sampling to begin early in the month. Full profiles were sampled at station B four times before mid month when the ice cleared out "permanently" enough for standard, bi-weekly sampling at both stations E and B (B was sampled four more times, D once and E three times). Five additional microzooplankton grazing experiments and two more DOC (phytoplankton production/heterotrophic uptake) experiments were also completed this month. Despite continued difficulties with the auto- sampler temperature controller, injections began on the HPLC for instrument calibration, and samples were collected and preserved for pigment (HPLC), CHN and inorganic nutrient analysis. The CTD and PRR were deployed at all stations where full profiles were sampled, with the exception of the 21st of November, where the LICOR submersible sensor was used for determining light depths. Preliminary production and chlorophyll measurements show the presence, and depletion, of the first phytoplankton bloom of the season, with production levels at station B increasing three-fold over the course of the month before returning to early spring levels. Average production for the month was less than half than what was measured in November of 2001. Non-quantitative examination of phytoplankton samples during the bloom showed presence of various diatoms and the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii. We would like to thank Doug Fink, Jeff Kietzmann and Barb Watson for all their extra time and effort in assisting us with boating and instrumentation issues this last month. BP-028-P: PALMER, ANTARCTICA LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: CLIMATE MIGRATION, ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE AND TELECONNECTIONS IN AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT: PREY COMPONENT. Drs. Robin Ross and Langdon Quetin, Principal Investigators, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Personnel on station: Dan Martin (team leader/tech), Stephanie Oakes (graduate student), Charlie Boch (tech) (Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara). November proved to be a productive month for our group as drifting pack ice both prevented and provided research opportunities. Sea ice prevented Zodiac-based acoustic transects and trawling from the 3rd-18th November, although 5 sets of transects and trawls were completed on the remaining days. While ice prevented boating we utilized SCUBA and consistently found enough larval krill beneath the ice to launch a number of routine LTER experiments. By month's end the number of standard experiments performed expanded to 6 for the growth and CHN samplings, and 2 for the physiological condition juvenile/adult samplings. We also used the diving activities and collections to initiate several related experiments and observations regarding the extent to which larval feeding and behavior are coupled to the sea ice. To that end, we completed an additional 10 whole-body fluorescence/feeding experiments, 1 hepatopancreas shrinkage experiment, and continued a collaboration begun last season with BP-0179 in which molecular approaches are being investigated as a means for analyzing krill diets. In addition, Stephanie Oakes (graduate student) completed 9 surface and 3 water column feeding experiments. Preserved samples continued to be processed on days when weather conditions impeded field activities. Of course, all would not be possible without the high level of excellent support provided by Station personnel. BP-032-P: PALMER, ANTARCTICA LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: CLIMATE MIGRATION, ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE AND TELECONNECTIONS IN AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT: BIO-OPTICS, REMOTE SENSING, SEA ICE COMPONENT Dr. Raymond C. Smith, Principal Investigator, ICESS, University of California at Santa Barbara Personnel on station: Kim McCoy and Graham Tilbury Historically, Palmer data sets have been biased toward the collection of biological information. To expand the scope of long-term physical oceanographic observations near Palmer Station, in November 2002, a vertically profiling autonomous vehicle (APV) was deployed off of Bonaparte Point. Initial efforts implemented an instrument mooring design that successfully survived brash ice and small bergs. The instrument collected CTD, fluorescence and transmissometer data. Profiles of the water column were completed between 1 and 3 times per hour. The instrument has completed over 700 profiles. Profile depths have been from 20 to 55 meters. Initial data indicate a tidally forced thermal signature in the bottom boundary layer. During periods of strong stratification internal wave propagation may be inferred in some of the data sets. These are the first significant efforts to correlate physical data of this type from the Palmer area. It is a long-term goal of BP-032 to expand the amount of biologically significant physical oceanographic data. Several candidate sites are being identified where long-term APV and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) deployments could be completed. Deployment in deeper water (>100 meters) is desirable. Bathymetric surveys (fathometer transects) of outlying areas have been undertaken and need to be expanded. The identification of locations where there is a lower probability of loss due to large icebergs is necessary. It has been a very productive month. We thank the Boating Coordinator in particular and everyone from Raytheon Polar Services who have helped making our successful deployments possible. BP-045-O: PALMER, ANTARCTICA LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: CLIMATE MIGRATION, ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE AND TELECONNECTIONS IN AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT: MICROBIAL/BIOGEOCHEMISTRY COMPONENT Dr. Hugh Ducklow, Principal Investigator, School of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary Personnel on station: Hugh Ducklow In the 2002-03 season the Palmer, Antarctica LTER Program begins its third 6-year grant period and the xxth consecutive season of observations of the nearshore marine ecosystem in Arthur Harbor. The grant is now administered through Wm & Mary after a long and outstanding tenure at UCSB under the direction of Ray Smith. In the new award Hugh Ducklow succeeds Smith as lead PI, and is succeeding Dave Karl (Univ. Hawaii as leader of the microbial biogeochemistry component. In the past, the microbial component did not extend into the nearshore ecosystem. A principal objective in the new grant is characterizing the seasonal cycles of microbial processes, carbon cycling and biogeochemical tracers in this biologically reactive zone. Accordingly, we are now initiating a program of observations and setting up new instrumentation here at Palmer Station. Routine sampling (in conjunction with, and assisted by BP-016) for prokaryote abundance, bacterial production and dissolved organic carbon is performed semiweekly at Stations A,B and E of the LTER inshore grid. Measurements of DOC release from phytoplankton are being performed in cooperation with Maria Vernet's group (BP-016, W. Koslowski, L. Rogers and M. Ferrara). Large volume (~40-80 liter) particulate organic matter samples are taken once per week from Station A. New instrumentation includes a Shimadzu Total Organic Carbon Analyzer and a dissolved organic matter concentrator (Separation Engineering, Inc.), which are being set up and tested at this writing. We hope to start large volume DOM sampling (~1000 liter) soon. I thank the many individuals who have assisted in getting us to Palmer and helping me get started this season: in particular Skip Owen, Cara Sucher, Barb Watson, Brenda Walker and Bob Jirschele. Bacterial production assays benefited from discussions with Alison Murray (BO-179). BO-179-O: GENE EXPRESSION IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS: EXTENDING MICROARRAY TECHNOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND LIFE AT ITS LIMITS. Dr. Alison E. Murray, Principal Investigator, Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada. Personnel on station: Alison Murray (DRI), Joe Grzymski (Rockefeller University), and Alison Kelley (DRI) The month of November was an action-packed month with a full complement of field and laboratory work underway. Variable sea ice conditions in Arthur Harbor in the beginning of the month limited off shore sampling until Nov. 18th, however the seawater intake provided material for our sampling needs, and was characterized by rapid development of a phytoplankton bloom in the later half of November. Our sampling regime generally consisted of a weekly sample from the SWI (240-400L on 3 occasions), or at LTER Station I (240-400 L on three occasions), where we established our off shore sampling station. Thanks to help from the FEMC carpenters, we were able to set up 4, 100 L polypropylene tanks for seawater mesocosm experiments for use outside on the deck, as well as in the controlled environmental rooms where light banks were mounted for epi-illumination. Three short term (2-3 day) seawater mesocosm experiments were conducted between Nov. 15th and the 28th with seawater collected from the seawater intake for the first set, and from LTER Station I for subsequent experiments. These experiments are designed to induce differential gene expression in the prokaryotic component of the plankton in varying environmental (light, temperature) and biological conditions (stimulating or inhibiting members of the plankton assemblage). In addition to our field and mesocosm experiments, we have been analyzing samples as they are generated for chlorophyll a, salinity, bacterial abundance, and bacterial community structure (bacterial ribosomal RNA diversity via denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). We have also conducting surveys of the picoplankton for biogeochemically or stress-related gene amplification, and evaluated the planktonic marine archaeal signal using a semi-quantitative amplification technique. We have been working on development of a fiber-optic oxygen sensor system to measure microbial respiration, these experiments have been conducted in tandem with bacterial protein production with hopes to simultaneously provide growth and respiration parameters of the microbial assemblage. A bacterial cultivation effort is also underway targeting two groups found in molecular surveys of the bacterioplankton. We have enjoyed collaborations with other science groups on station. We participated in an experiment with the Vernet group (BP-016-P) measuring primary and secondary production in different fractions (both size and phylogenetic domain) of the planktonic community. We are also continuing a collaboration initiated with the Ross and Quetin group (BP- 028-P) in the '01 field season to assess the potential for using molecular approaches in krill diet analysis. The FEMC crew was key in getting our experimental systems up and running, in particular, we appreciate the help of Bo Baumgartner who constructed mesocosm tank lids and rigged light fixtures in the environmental room, and Gary Jirschele who has provided continuous support to keep the environmental rooms operating at their maximum efficiency. The Palmer Station lab staff has also continued to provide stellar support for our instrument and supply needs through the month, their help is much appreciated. AO-106-P: GLOBAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE RADIATION BELTS AND THE LOWER IONOSPHERE Dr. Umran Inan, Principal Investigator, Stanford University. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. The Stanford equipment receives and records Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio waves in order to study natural ionospheric and magnetospheric phenomena, as well as to study the distribution of the lightning strikes that are a principle source of natural VLF signals. Two of the Beta video recorders, used to record VLF transmissions, developed tracking problems. With no spare parts on hand, they could not be fixed so they were sent out for repair. One Beta video recorder remains in service, along with the newer DVD-R based broadband VLF recording system. GO-052-P GPS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING REFERENCE STATION Jerry Mullins, Principal Investigator, U.S. Geological Survey. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. Throughout the month, 15 second epoch GPS transmissions were collected continually at station PALM. Each day, the previous day's data file was examined for completeness, compressed, and transmitted to the USGS in Reston, VA. During the last part of the month, 0.5 second epoch GPS transmissions were also collected continually. This data was passed on to NASA and Centro de Estudios Cientificos (CECS) for use in improving the accuracy of their aerial surveying of glaciers in the Pine Island Bay area. The surveying, which uses a laser altimeter, is part of a study to investigate areas of ice that have begun quite recently to thin, apparently following removal or weakening of ice shelves into which they flowed. GO-090-P GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH NETWORK (GSN) SITE AT PALMER STATION Rhett Butler, Principal Investigator, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. Station PMSA is one of more than 130 sites in the GSN, monitoring seismic waves produced by events worldwide. Data files are recorded to tape and also sent to the USGS in real time. OO-204-O A STUDY OF ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN VARIABILITY IN RELATION TO ANNUAL TO DECADAL VARIATIONS IN TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Dr. Ralph Keeling, Principal Investigator, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Air samples are collected on a semiweekly basis by the station physician. The goal of this project is to resolve seasonal and interannual variations in atmospheric O2 (detected through changes in O2/N2 ratio), which can aid in determining rates of marine biological productivity and ocean mixing. The results are also used to help determine the terrestrial and oceanic distribution of the global anthropogenic CO2 sink. The program involves air sampling at a network of sites in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Palmer Station is especially well situated for resolving signals of carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean. Samples taken from the station are sent to Scripps where the analysis of O2 and CO2 content takes place. OO-264-O COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA\CMDL WORLDWIDE FLASK SAMPLING NETWORK Dr. David Hofmann, Principal Investigator, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Air samples are collected on a weekly basis by the station physician. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory continues its long term measurements of carbon dioxide and other climate relevant atmospheric gases. The Palmer Station air samples are returned to the NOAA laboratory for analysis as part of NOAA's effort to determine and assess the long term buildup of global pollutants in the atmosphere. Data from this experiment will be used in modeling studies to determine how the rate of change of these parameters affects climate. OO-275-O DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM (RAMP) Colin Sanderson, Principal Investigator, Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements Laboratory. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. The RAMP system is part of a global network seeking to characterize the quantity and distribution of radionuclide particles occurring both naturally and artificially in the atmosphere. One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was maintained. OO-283-P ANTARCTIC AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS (AWS) Charles Stearns, Principal Investigator, University of Wisconsin. The Science Technician monitors data transmissions for the project. AWS transmissions from Bonaparte Point, Hugo Island, and RACER Rock were monitored using the TeraScan system. The RACER Rock anemometer is broken. The Hugo Island AWS is not currently transmitting. Personnel from the Laurence M. Gould made two brief visits to Hugo Island. The AWS could not be repaired so on the second visit the main electronics were taken to Palmer Station where they may be repaired or sent back to the University of Wisconsin. In addition to the electronics malfunctioning, the anemometer is broken and will have to be replaced. Snow and ice are covering the sea water temperature sensor cable so the sensor and cable could not be examined. The sea water temperature measurement has not worked in several years. TO-312-O TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM Dr. Dan Lubin, Principal Investigator, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. Throughout the month, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP and NOAA satellite telemetry, capturing approximately 25 passes per day. An 85GHz SSM/I "ice concentration" image was produced and transferred to UCSB for BP-032-P (Smith) on a weekly basis. No SeaWiFS data was received on 19 Nov 2002, presumably due to shuttering of the sensors on the satellite to prevent possible damage from the Leonid meteor shower. TO-513-O ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRORADIOMETER NETWORK Charles Booth, Principal Investigator, Biospherical Instruments, Inc. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. The BSI UV monitor produces full sky irradiance spectra ranging from the atmospheric UV cutoff near 290nm up to 605nm, four times per hour, while the sun is above the horizon. TIDE GAGE Tony Amos, Point of Contact, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute. The Science Technician operates and maintains on-site equipment for the project. Tide height and sea water temperature and salinity are monitored on a continual basis by a gage mounted at the Palmer Station pier. METEOROLOGY Each day, three synoptic weather observations were performed, coded, and sent to Rothera Station via HF radio. At the end of the month, a summary report was prepared and sent to interested parties. The spreadsheet for viewing real time PALMOS weather data was further modified to make it more robust and to save charts for more variables to Palmer Station's web site. It also now saves a worksheet containing some of the most recent numeric data for viewing on the web.