Return-Path: palmer@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu Return-Path: Received: from atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu by crseo.ucsb.edu (4.1/SMI-4.4-Crseo Special) id AA15190; Fri, 2 Dec 94 07:32:13 PST Date: Fri, 2 Dec 94 15:20:46 GMT From: palmer@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu Message-Id: <941202152046.21c183be@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu> Subject: SCIENCE SITREP - November 94 To: palmer_science@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu, kiyotaki.asa@asa.org, smithgl.asa@asa.org X-St-Vmsmail-To: MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",MSG%"kiyotaki.asa@asa.org",MSG%"smithgl.asa@asa.org" SEND PLM093.DEC MSG%"PALMER_SCIENCE",msg%"kiyotaki.asa@asa.org",msg%"smithgl.asa@asa.org" SCIENCE SITREP - November 94 R 021444Z DEC 94 FROM: Kevin Bliss Responding: Please insert in message, all CAPS, with the ! in column 1: !TO PAL SCIENCE, MANAGER, LABMANAGER, ADMIN, SCITECH 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 LIST: SPOLE, DUKE, PPENHALE@NSF.GOV, HAYESMI.ASA@ASA.ORG, VLF@STAR.STANFORD.EDU, KARENTZD@ALM.ADMIN.USFCA.EDU, CHAPPELL@UCRVMS.SPAN, DPP-MESSAGES@NSF.GOV, NATPALMER, DALLUGE@ATMOS.OGI.EDU, NSFCHCH@ASA.IAC.ORG.NZ, GRESS@ASA.ORG, NSFMCM.MCMURDO@MCMURDO.GOV, EVANSJO.ASA@ASA.ORG, KAREN@CRSEO.UCSB.EDU, BROWNKA.ASA@ASA.ORG, ICEMAN@NEU.EDU, ASACHCH@ASA.IAC.ORG.NZ, WWWEATHERS@UCDAVIS.EDU, ROBIN@CRSEO.UCSB.EDU, LANGDON@CRSEO.UCSB.EDU, MCK2@GERGA.TAMU.EDU, RAY@CRSEO.UCSB.EDU, DUNTON@UTMSI.ZO.UTEXAS.EDU, WOODBA.ASA@ASA.ORG, FNTED@AURORA.ALASKA.EDU, CSULLIVA@NSF.GOV, GAUTIER@ESRG.UCSB.EDU, OHOLMHANSEN@UCSD.EDU, DAN@FIZBIN.UCSD.EDU, 71552.1334@COMPUSERVE.COM, HOFMANN@KUROSHIO.CCPO.ODU.EDU, WEILER@WHITMAN.EDU, RBHANSON@NSF.GOV, ROCKY@BIOSPHERICAL.COM, JCALLAHA@NSF.GOV, DPEACOCK@NSF.GOV, SUPPORT@CALIFIA.SEASPACE.COM, BSIDELL@MAINE.MAINE.EDU, PROSPERO@RCF.RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU, SAVOIE@RCF.RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU, FRAZER@LIFESCI.UCSB.EDU, WHBOB@ARCANE.UCSD.EDU, SHEPHEDO.ASA@ASA.ORG, NOLLMA.ASA@ASA.ORG, CHAMBEJA.ASA@ASA.ORG, WOODKE.ASA@ASA.ORG, OWENSK.ASA@ASA.ORG, ASAMCM.MCMURDO@MCMURDO.GOV PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP November 1994 S-013 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (SEABIRD COMPONENT). William R. Fraser/Wayne Z. Trivelpiece, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Eric Holm, Karen Carney, and Laura Somervill Access to local islands and study sites have been kept to a minimum during the month of November. Heavy pack ice moving in and out of the area as well as high winds made it possible to boat only 11 days this month. During the station-bound days we were able to do intertidal limpet size distribution analysis and up date field notebooks. Population counts on Torgesen, Humble, and Litchfield islands were completed in early November which determined the total number of attempted breeders. Reproductive study sites for Adelies were also set up on Torgesen (90 nests) and Humble (20 nests) Islands as well as reproductive sites for the 27 breeding Known Aged Birds on Humble Island. As a part of the ongoing reproductive success study occurring on Torgesen Island the "tourist impact" study was also set up this month. Brown and south polar skua study sites were visited when possible on Shortcut, Litchfield, and Humble Islands. Arrival dates were tracked and as of 11-22 no eggs were laid. Marine mammal observations have been noted when possible as well as observations of migrant and vagrant species of birds. On November 11 twelve yellow-billed pintails were spotted in front of Palmer Station by S-013 personnel, and again on November 15 three more were spotted flying near Torgesen Island. Twenty Arctic terns in non breeding plumage have arrived in Arthur Harbor. On November 30 and Dec 1 S-013 will accompany members of the D.V. visit to Torgesen Island and discuss the current studies and answer questions about the local wildlife. S-016 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PHYTOPLANKTON COMPONENT). Maria Vernet, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Personnel on Station: Wendy Kozlowski, Doug Ikelheimer, and Karen Patterson Though during the beginning of the month the ice remained blocking access to the B through E station transect, lab setup and method protocol was completed during this time. Both the nutrient autoanalyzer (nitrate, nitrite, silicate and phosphate) and the HPLC system (pigments) are running and available for data collection at this point. Radiocarbon methods and all applicable incubators (a table incubator for the 14C - Chlorophyll experiments has been set up, and an additional tube rack with UVB resistant tubes is now in place on the NW side of BioLab) have been calibrated and tested. We were able to get out in the zodiac Nov 16 and sample at station B, which served as a successful test of the sampling equipment and methods. A full E through B transect was sampled Nov. 22 (thank you Bruno R. for your assistance in that matter) and sample analysis was completed by the 25th. The ice has since moved back into the harbor, and only limited, non-station sampling was completed Nov 29. December's activities will include continued sampling, as well as preparation for the upcoming LTER cruise in January. We would like to welcome to the group Karen Patterson from UCSB, and mention also how much the presence of Dr. Vernet is missed by all (especially those of us in Lab 3!) here on station. S-028 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED SYSTEM. Robin M. Ross and Langdon B. Quetin, University of California, Marine Science Institute, Santa Barbara, California 93106. Personnel on Station: Langdon B. Quetin, Janice Jones (split position with S-032), Bruno Rowell, Christie Campbell Karen Haberman and Christie Campbell arrived at the station November 25 aboard Polar Duke. Karen's algal cultures survived the winter in good shape and she is setting up equipment for her studies on krill feeding. Cultures for the collaboration with S-046 should be ready for a feeding experiment November 4. Christie had her first orientation dive at the Palmer Station dock November 28. The dive went well. The past month has been one of limited sampling due to ice conditions in Arthur Harbor. We completed acoustic transects from stations A-E and J-H November 22 and 23 respectively, before pack ice restricted our efforts. We dive collected ACO krill 18 November from beneath pack ice and completed LIGR1 later in the week. Subsequent dives in November were restricted by ice conditions. During dives in the immediate vicinity of Palmer Station few krill were observed. Rubber Duke was launched for the first time November 26 and all systems worked well. Schools of krill were located acoustically between ice floes and despite difficult trawling conditions some krill in the 28-35 mm size range were caught at about 10 m. Ice conditions are slowly improving and we expect to be sampling on a more regular basis soon. The LTER group continues to work well together and all equipment is working. The station personnel continue to provide us with outstanding support. S-032 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT. Ray Smith, University of California at Santa Barbara. Personnel on Station: Janice Jones (split position with S-028), Carter Ohlmann S-016 sampled at the seawater intake on November 11 and provided water samples for chlorophyll measurements. The ROZE is fully operational. On November 15, we did CTD and OFFI test runs at stations B and C, and S-016 provided water samples from station B for chlorophyll analysis. One full day of sampling at stations B through E, in conjunction with S-016, was completed on November 16. This full day yielded CTD, OFFI, and chlorophyll data. Due to ice conditions, stations F through J have yet to be sampled. Our laboratory computer systems are up and running with 2 machines linked into the Palmer network. This eases data transfer to our storage machine and allows us access to both the DAT backup system currently in use on station, and our own optical backup system. The salinometer has been checked and is ready for use. S-044 EFFECTS OF OZONE-RELATED INCREASED UV-B FLUENCES ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS, PHOTOADAPTATION, AND VIABILITY OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN ANTARCTIC WATERS. Osmund Holm-Hansen, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. Personnel on station: Virginia Villafane, Walt Dunlap, Humberto Diaz, E. Walter Helbling. During the month of November we continued with our daily UV-exposure experiments using the temperature-controlled incubators on the outside deck of Palmer Station and also utilized in situ incubations when weather or ice conditions permitted. The in situ incubations, which involved incubating phytoplankton samples at various depths between 0.5 m and 12 m, were limited to only 10 days during the entire month due to ice conditions. These in situ incubations involved both short term (one day) and long term (2-6 days) experiments. Our deck incubations involved the following studies: (i) Testing the impact of UV-B and UV-A radiation on the rate of photosynthesis of a natural phytoplankton assemblage sampled daily from Arthur Harbor, (ii) Various monoespecific cultures of phytoplankton, which we had previously isolated from Arthur Harbor, were used to assess the impact of solar UVR on photosynthetic rates, to look at the rate of synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds, and to study the degree to which UVR- induced photoinhibition is reversible. Our preliminary data on carbon incorporation indicates that, of the eight species being tested, diatoms are more resistant to UVR than flagellates or the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis pouchetii (solitary cells). Data on the synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds (determined by HPLC analyses) indicate that centric diatoms synthesize relatively high concentrations of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), but that pennate diatoms consistently showed very low concentrations of these MAA compounds. Cultures of Phaeocystis pouchetii did not produce significant amounts of UV-absorbing compounds after two weeks of UVR exposure, and were very sensitive to UVR. All experiments are being supported by continuous recording of spectral UVR irradiance, as well as visible radiation, so that all data on the effect of solar UVR can be calculated on the basis of mean irradiance as well as total UVR dose. S-091 PALMER IRIS SEISMOLOGY. R. Butler/G. Holcomb, U.S. Geological Survey, Albuquerque, NM. No personnel were on station. The system has been monitored by the station science technician. In an effort to seal slow vacuum leaks, the three bell jars covering the seismometers were reseated on 11 November. On 16 November, the mass positions were centered on all three sensors. On 17 November, the N channel data streams stopped updating. In an attempt to remedy this reoccurring problem, the QVI, QDP, and QAP cards were reseated in the DA computer. An autoload was performed , and the N channel data streams returned. S-106 VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF) REMOTE SENSING OF THUNDERSTORM AND RADIATION BELT COUPLING TO THE IONOSPHERE. U. Inan, Stanford University. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. The BetaMax recording schedule was modified twice during the month. All other Stanford VLF operations were normal. S-254 CHLORINE- AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA. R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and Technology. There are no personnel on station. Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. The samples are returned to the Institute for analysis of a number of trace components, especially chlorine- and bromine-containing gases. These elements have been implicated in the chemical processes that contribute to the austral-spring depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the buildup of trace constituents, particularly those of high-latitude marine origin. S-257C COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA/CMDL WORLDWIDE FLASK SAMPLING NETWORK. James T. Peterson, Palmer Station, Environmental Research Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There are no personnel on station. Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory team continue long-term measurements of trace atmospheric constituents that influence climate. The Palmer Station air samples are returned to the NOAA laboratory for analysis of trace constituents, including carbon dioxide. These measurements are part of NOAA's effort to determine and assess the long-term buildup of global pollutants in the atmosphere. These data will be used to determine how the rate of change of these parameters affects climate, particularly by including them in climate model studies. S-275 UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM. J. Prospero/T. Snowdon, University of Miami; C. Sanderson/N. Chui, EML/DOE N.Y. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was maintained. S-293 OZONESONDE MEASUREMENTS OF STRATOSPHERIC OZONE OVER ANTARCTICA. Arnold L. Torres, Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility. Personnel on Station: George B. Brothers, E. Charles Seman Ozone balloon soundings continued through 22 November. We continued to have some unexpected but minor problems. For the month, 10 soundings were taken. Of these 10, there were 8 soundings that provided good to very good data. After the final launch on 22 November, we began to pack up our equipment and take down the balloon shelter. As of 25 November, all equipment had been prepared for shipment back to the states and the balloon shelter was prepared for shipment back to Punta Arenas in late December. T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. DMSP and NOAA telemetry were collected, processed, and archived. Throughout the month, ozone concentration maps were produced to support local science on station. One DMSP ols-visible image was produced in support of local boating operations. From 22 November through the end of the month, in a collaboration with the Army Cold Regions Lab, a portion of the Weddell Sea was examined daily for clear conditions. Cloud cover prevailed, so no images were produced. T-313 UV MONITORING EXPERIMENT. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments, Inc. No personnel were on station The system has been operated by the science technician. Throughout the month, raw irradiance data were collected daily and transmitted to BSI. Preliminary irradiance data and inferred ozone abundances were produced in support of Science. Absolute calibrations were performed using the site standard and seasoned lamps. Data scans were added at 0100Z, 0200Z, 0600Z, and 0700Z. On 10 November, the UV Monitor AXSS box was found off line. Connections to the box were inspected and no problems were found. During the inspection, the system returned to normal operation. 02125249.424 PLM093.DEC