PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP OCTOBER 1998 NEWS FROM THE LAB. Robert Edwards, Supervisor, Laboratory Operations October was the first full month of summer operations at Palmer Station for the 9899 season. Nine researchers from four projects arrived at the beginning of the month and proceeded immediately to prepare labs and field gear. Relatively good weather and ice conditions allowed some boating activites on eight days this month, twice as many as last year. A large amount of lab equipment was transferred to the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD in support of the UV research cruise LMG98-9. There was some impact to station science projects in that a few pieces of equipment had to be shared between groups for the duration of the cruise. Researchers have been very cooperative in this effort to make efficient use of USAP equipment. Last season, the seawater intake pumps were rebuilt to provide higher flow rates, and this past winter, the water lines out of the pumphouse were modified with new heat trace. On a sunny day (+1 C) with the heat trace on, while we still had very cold sea surface temperatures of -1.7 C, I measured the temperatures in various aquaria inside and outside under different flow rates. Under conditions of moderate and high flows the seawater temperature increase was less than or equal to 0.3 C. The maximum temperature measured was -0.9 C in an uninsulated outside tank under low flow conditions. Information I've heard about previous use of the aquaria indicate that the present system is an improvement in maintaining a minimal temperature increase from ambient conditions. One of the recent projects taking place through ASA Denver is the assesment of "Y2K compliance" of USAP equipment, that is, the ability of equipment which uses computers or microprocessors to continue to function during and after the transition from 1999 to the year 2000. Almost all lab equipment has been found to be compliant or can be made compliant with some simple software patches. We hope to replace any non-compliant equipment before the millenium change. There are still a few items which require further testing, which should be completed next month. I'd like to remind researchers that they are responsible for testing any of their own equipment and software. In general, on site staff probably will not have the resources or expertise to troubleshoot Y2K problems when they arise. As one who is always in advance of the tide, Tony Amos has already sent us a revision of his tidegage software which meets Y2K standards. Tony continues to follow the Palmer tide data in his spare time, and has recently completed the 1999 monthly Palmer Station tide predictions. The ASA Science Technician maintains the tidegage equipment on station, and downloads the data. You may contact Tony at "Anthony F. Amos" for instructions on how to access his monthly charts. We continue to have variable spring weather at Palmer Station. Temperatures ranged from a low of -13 C up to an almost balmy 5 C, with the monthly average at -1.3 C. 29mm (water equivalent) of precipitation fell on 20 out of 31 days, primarily as snow. Although one third of the days this month were only partly cloudly, we had no clear days. The prevailing northerlies blew on 20 days, with an average of 11kts and a peak gust of 53kts on the 30th. The following programs were involved in research at Palmer Station: BO-003-O IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ANTARCTIC VASCULAR PLANTS: WARMING AND UV-B RADIATION. Thomas A. Day, Department of Plant Biology and The Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287. Personnel on station: Christopher T. Ruhland, Fusheng Xiong, Jenny S.Lin We arrived at Palmer Station on October 1, 1998 following a smooth crossing of the Drake Passage aboard the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD. Our first week on station consisted of unpacking and setting up lab equipment to be used for the upcoming field season. Access to our field site on Stepping Stones (a group of islands 2 km SE of Palmer Station) was limited by heavy sea ice until October 13. Our field site was already snow-free, and both species of Antarctic vascular plants; Antarctic hairgrass, (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis), under our treatment frames were in early stages of development. UV-radiation manipulation filters were cut by ASA personnel and we placed these filters on our pre-existing frames in our two field plots. Seven treatments that modify ambient UV and temperature have been established for 3 previous field seasons : (1) UV-A and UV-B exclusion, (2) UV-A and UV-B exclusion and warming, (3) UV-B exclusion, (4) UV-B exclusion and warming, (5) UV-transparent, (6) UV-transparent and warming and (7) open frames (no filter). In addition we have 20 water and nutrient frames at our field site. We are monitoring micrometerological conditions at Stepping Stones using a datalogger in combination with thermocouples, humidity and quantum sensors and UV-A and UV-B dosimeters. In addition to field sites at Stepping Stones, we have established nine UV-manipulation filter frames (UV-B exclusion, UV-transparent and open) on Gamage Point near Palmer Station. Frames were constructed in the All-Trades Shop by ASA personnel. Plants under these treatments will be sampled and harvested during and after ozone depletion events to examine the effects of enhanced levels of UV-B on DNA, photosynthesis and growth. UV-B-mediated damage to DNA will be examined by measuring the frequency of thymine-thymine dimer formation in both species of Antarctic vascular plants. We expect that plants under open and UV-transparent filters may yield higher levels of thymine-thymine dimers than those under UV-B exclusion frames. We will also examine short- and long-term effects of UV-B on impairment of photosynthesis. Specifically, we will examine reduction and recovery of electron transfer rates of photosystem II and enzyme reaction rates of the Calvin Cycle using combinations of chlorophyll fluorescence, oxygen evolution and infrared gas analysis. Growth will be monitored on a weekly basis under each of our treatments using Demographic Growth Analysis and initial biomass has been assayed on representative plants. In summary, the field component of BO-003-O is in place and we are collecting baseline growth and photosynthesis measurements and expect to start collecting samples for DNA analysis shortly. We would like to thank AGUNSA personnel for travel assistance in Santiago and Punta Arenas, Chile. Additionally, we thank ASA personnel at Palmer Station who have provided excellent support of our science group in both laboratory and field settings. BP-013-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (SEABIRD COMPONENT) . William R. Fraser, Montana State University, Bozman, MT. Personnel on station: Peter Duley, and Matt Irinaga BP-013-O Arrived at Palmer late in the day on the first of October after an uneventful crossing of the Drake Passage. Very little ice was encountered in the Bismarck Strait, and we were able to gain access to our Island research sites within a few days of our arrival. The first week was spent in preparation of the materials necessary to conduct our field work here at Palmer. Lab 1 has been organized, our field notebooks have been set up, Islands course, and boating 1 and 2 have been taken. As of this writing all in shore study islands; Cormorant, Christeen, Torgerson, Humble, and Litchfield have been accessed. Arrival dates for Adelies have been documented and population counts have been conducted to determine the total number of attempted breeders. Snow measurement transect have been surveyed and flagged on all of these Islands as well. We are also documenting snow deposition with the use of digital photography once a week. Marine Mammal observations have documented the birth of 5 elephant seal pups in our study area; 3 on Elephant rocks, 1 on Litchfield, and 1 on Humble Island. 3 Weddells have been whelped in Hero Inlet and 1 on Litchfield. Other interesting Marine Mammal observations; No crab-eater seals have been documented in the Palmer area, and one minkie whale has been sighted. Lab work on weather bound days has consisted of intertidal limpet size distribution analysis, Blue-eyed shag, and South Polar Skua diet analysis, and data entry. BP-016-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PHYTOPLANKTON COMPONENT) . Maria Vernet, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Personnel on Station: Wendy Kozlowski, Eric Pohlman, Jennifer White BP-016-0 arrived on station October first, and laboratory setup began immediately. Brash ice has been in and out of Arthur Harbor for the entire month causing standard inshore station sampling (stations E & B) to be rather sporadic. Sampling was continued during non-boating days using surface water from the vicinity of the station seawater intake. After minor modifications to the zodiac sampling platform, water collection began on the fourteenth, and in total, station B was sampled four times, Station E once, and the seawater intake four times. Core LTER measurements are continuing to be taken on all water collected. This includes two types of primary productivity experiments (both long term simulated in situ and a short term multi-irradiance incubation), water collection for pigment analysis with HPLC, filtration for particulate Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen analysis, sample collection for nutrient analysis of Nitrate, Silicate and Phosphate, and several preservations for microscopy. Preliminary measurements from the single complete October sampling day (stations B and E, full profile - October 21) show the expected low production level of 0.1gC/m^2, with the diatom Thalassiosira sp. thus far appearing to dominate the photic zone water column population. BP-032-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT Raymond C. Smith, ICESS, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA. Personnel on station: Karen W. Patterson On October 1, 1998, BP-032-O arrived on station. Daily mid-day ice observations began October 7th. Initial efforts were focused on ideas for combining BP-016-O and BP-032-O zodiac operations onto one platform. Initial consensus between the two groups is that there is too much equipment to combine the two operations onto a single zodiac safely at this time. BP-032-O operations were modified to fit on a smaller existing platform so that BP-028-O can have the ROZE platform when Langdon Quetin and Dan Martin arrive in mid-November. Many thanks go out to ASA and all personnel on station who helped get the platform and mounts modified and assembled in a timely matter. The eagerness and willingness to help from all personnel on station has been wonderful and greatly appreciated. The zodiac platform was assembled and put in the water October 20, 1998. On October 21st, we had a break in the weather and were able to collect optics (PRR/PUV) and CTD data at both stations B and E with BP-016-O. They collected water samples for chlorophyll, particulate light absorption and dissolved organic light absorption analysis at both stations for us. Chlorophyll sampling at Bonaparte and Gamage Points began October 21st as well and sampling twice weekly via foot travel when zodiac operations are not possible. Since October 21st, weather has not permitted zodiac sampling operations. Rob Edwards is continuing to collect weekly chlorophyll samples from the seawater intake for us. Currently, lab 2 is completely setup except for the fluorometer. I have not used this particular type of fluorometer before and do not want to rush through calibration and risk doing it improperly. I will be requesting the assistance of John Powell and/or Rob Edwards in the fluorometer setup process. Efforts are currently being asserted towards resolving problems with software upgrades and modifications and making data quality control checks on data collected so far to identify and resolve any possible data quality issues. The most urgent data quality issue regards data collected with the Perkin Elmer Lambda 6 spectrophotometer. John Powell and I are working to identify and resolve sources of instability in the Lambda 6 spectrophotometer. GO-052-O GPS CONTINUOUS OPERATION REFERENCE STATION. J. Mullins, U.S. Geological Survey The station science technician has monitored the system. During the month GPS data was collected continuously, converted daily to a RINEX format, compressed, and transmitted to the US Geological Survey in Reston, VA. GO-091-O GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION. R. Butler, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) The station science technician has operated the system. Global seismic events were recorded throughout the month. The vacuum chambers surronding the seismometers were reevacuated. All operations during the month were normal. AO-106-O STUDIES OF LIGHTNING-INDUCED ELECTRON PRECIPITATION OF THE IONOSPHERE. U. Inan, Stanford University The station science technician has monitored the system. The Stanford receiver records very low frequency (VLF) radio waves for studying ionospheric and magnetospheric natural phenomena. The cause of data dropouts on a digital narrowband recording system was found and the system was repaired. A Beta format VCR used to record continuous broadband VLF signals will be sent out for repair. OO-204-O MEASUREMENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC O2 IN RELATION TO THE GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE. Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Air samples are collected on a semi-weekly basis by the station physician. The samples are return shipped to Scripps for analysis of O2 and CO2 content. The goal of the program is to resolve seasonal and interannual variations in atmospheric O2 (detected through changes in O2/N2 ratio) which can aid in the determination of rates of marine biological productivity and ocean mixing and aid in the separation of the global sink for anthropogenic CO2 into terrestrial and oceanic components. The program involves air sampling at a network of sites in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Palmer Station is especially well situated to resolve signals due to carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean. OO-254-O CHLORINE-AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA. R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and Technology 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. OO-264-O COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA\CMDL WORLDWIDE FLASK SAMPLING NETWORK. James T. Peterson, Environmental Research Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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. This data will be used to determine how the rate of change of these parameters affects climate, particularly by including them in climate model studies. OO-275-O UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM. C. Sanderson, Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements Laboratory The station science technician has operated the system. One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was maintained. 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. OO-283-P ANTARCTIC AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS. Charles Stearns, University of Wisconsin The station science technician monitors the system. Automated Weather Station (AWS) transmissions were monitored from Bonaparte Point, Hugo Island, and RACER Rock using the TeraScan system. A failed temperature sensor was replaced at Bonaparte Point. TO-312-O TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institute of Oceanography The station science technician has operated the system. Throughout the month, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP, NOAA and SeaWiFS satellite pass telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 20-22 passes per day. NOAA and DMSP telemetry was archived for BP-032-O when the LTER grid was clear. Software systems for collecting and analyzing SeaWiFS imagery were partially debugged and refined. This SeaWiFS software package was then used to support the UV Research Cruise LMG98-9 by collecting and passing on to them images indicating chlorophyll concentrations. Some bugs in the system remain, and the vendor is being consulted to work through them. TO-513-O UV MONITORING NETWORK. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments, Inc. The station science technician has operated the system. Throughout the month, raw irradiance data scans were collected daily and transmitted to BSI, and preliminary irradiances and spectral integrals were produced in support of several science projects. Scheduled absolute calibration scans were performed, and the system is operating normally. A software upgrade was installed. ========================== Laboratory Services Palmer Station, Antarctica 64.77 South, 64.07 West United States Antarctic Program -------------------------- LABMAN@palmer.usap.nsf.gov INMARSAT voice: 011-874-336-857-710 fax: 011-874-336-857-712 ==========================