PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP MARCH 2000 Bill Baker, Station Science Leader NEWS FROM THE LAB Rob Edwards, Supervisor, Laboratory Operations The month of March saw a large turnover in deployed science groups at Palmer Station. The arrival of the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD (LMG) at the beginning of the month brought seven members of BO-022-O (McClintock), including a Teacher Experiencing Antarctica participant. Their chemical ecology project has both extensive diving and laboratory components; a general summary of their work is included below. This brought the total number of researchers on station up to 15, and filled up all the science facilities, including labs, aquarium, the dive locker and the new field gear rooms. At the end of the month, all the remaining Palmer LTER researchers concluded their season and departed aboard the R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER (NBP). After a successful season they appeared ready and happy to be exchanged with three Marine researchers off the NBP who are awaiting the next cruise of the LMG. A number of facilities projects were completed on station this month. The seawater intakes had been problematic all summer. Repairs were effected on one of the main 6" lines to bring it back on line, as well as setting up and testing two backup lines. To the relief of olfactory senses throughout station, the field gear addition to the boathouse was completed, including washer/dryer, benches, and clothes racks. Major remodeling efforts this winter will concentrate on the upper floor of GWR. A variety of new lab equipment has been installed and upgraded over this past summer, including Spectrometers, an HPLC, a SpeedVac, and an ultracentrifuge. Weather in March exhibited the multifarious conditions that might be expected for the summer to winter transition. The early part of the month was dominated by high winds, with averages frequently above 20 knots, and also brought the warmest temperature of the season, 9.5C. A period of calm, stable weather mid-month was abruptly ended by the first significant snowstorm of the season, and by the end of the month temperatures went as low as -5.6C with averages significantly below zero and on again/off again snow cover. Although the amount of precipitation was similar to last month, there was quite a bit more sunshine, with seven partly cloudy and two clear days. The winds and precipitation hampered boating activities; even so researchers were able to complete all their necessary fieldwork. Calving of the Marr Ice Piedmont was very active, with a fair amount of brash ice and glacial silt in nearshore waters. Around the 12th there was a major input of glacial silt such that visibility decreased to less than a meter overnight. Of note are the local time changes, by the time you read this Palmer will be on the same time as the Eastern U.S. Many of the local wildlife populations declined through the month, as most seabird chicks fledged and adults left the breeding colonies. Notable exceptions are the Giant Petrels and the South Polar Skuas whose chicks are well along, but appear to be in no hurry to leave. Fur seals and elephant seals, though still common, were not as abundant. The summer phytoplankton bloom appeared to be dwindling, and as the water cleared forests of red and brown macroalgae were apparent in the inter- and sub-tidal areas. The following projects conducted research at Palmer Station: BP-016-0 LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (PHYTOPLANKTON COMPONENT). Maria Vernet, Principal Investigator, Scripps Instituteof Oceanography. Personnel on Station: Karie Sines and Meghan Duffy Combined sampling with BP-032 at Palmer inshore stations B and E continued through the month of March. Weather permitted five complete sampling days occuring on 03, 06, 13, 16, and 19 March. On 13 March large amounts of glacial flour were observed and sampled in the vicinity of Station B. On 09 and 10 March stations E and then B were sampled separately due to high winds. All of the core LTER measurements continued with HPLC samples being frozen for analysis in San Diego. March 20th packing started for the end of the 99-00LTER season. On 27 March the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer arrived at station, frozen cargo was transferred the next day, and we headed for Punta Arenas. BO-022-O Chemical Ecology of Shallow-water marine macroalgae and invertebrates on the Antarctic Peninsula. Chuck Amsler, Jim McClintock and Bill Baker, Co-PI's. Personnel on Station: Chuck Amsler, Bill Baker, Bruce Furrow, Joanna Hubbard (TEA), Katrin Iken, Andy Mahon, Jim McClintock. Upon arrival in early March, our group commenced scuba diving for purposes of collections and observations. Cooperative weather combined with an enthusiastic diving team led to an outstanding collection by mid-month, pressing freezer space. Collected samples were cataloged with as detailed information as possible; many species were known by one or more of our team members. Vouchers (herbarium, where appropriate, and preserved) were prepared for future taxonomic analysis. Underwater photodocumentation has begun within the last week. Extractions and bioassays were initiated shortly after the first collections were frozen. The major emphasis of the group shifted roughly mid-month to these activities. As the month closed, two bioassays were online, including a sea star feeding deterrence assay and an amphipod feeding preference assay, to analyze extracts from approximately 40 marine organisms, primarily algae. With the departure of Jim McClintock on the Nathaniel B. Palmer, many samples for which extracts were on hand were sent North to free freezer space for new collections. Two web sites are being supplied with progress from our efforts (http://WOW.uab.edu and http://tea.rice.edu/tea_hubbardfrontpage.html). BP-O28 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED SYSTEM (PREY COMPONENT). Robin M. Ross and Langdon B. Quetin, Principal Investigators, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara. Personnel on station: Andrew Altieri and Laurel Coe We continued running the standard acoustic transects, stations A E and F J, and supplementing with krill searches until March 19. The standard transects were run once a week and the krill searches every day (weather permitting). We found very few krill schools during the transects and searches, and those we did see were small and not very dense. We saw whales on March 13, 18, and 19, but they did not appear to be feeding, nor did krill searches in the area show more than a few small krill schools. The February/March krill beaching event observed in past seasons did not occur while we were on station. The processing of krill egg production samples from the January 2000 LTER cruise was finished on March 11. Our zodiac/platform was pulled from the water on March 20 and we spent the last week packing and doing inventory to close out the 1999/2000 Palmer Season. The Nathaniel B. Palmer arrives March 27 and we will depart March 28. We would like to thank Station Chief Scientist Dr. Bill Fraser and the Palmer Station ASA staff for all of their support in making this another successful season. BP-032-O LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (OPTICS COMPONENT). Raymond C. Smith, Principal Investigator, ICESS, University of California at Santa Barbara. Personnel on Station: Kirk Ireson and Natacha Bernier. Nice weather for the second half of the month greatly aided the collection of data comparing the PRR and the Satlantic HTSRB Natacha brought with her. For the month, a total of 27 PRR data sets were collected, including 18 simultaneously with the HTSRB. Two such comparisons were also conducted in conjunction with the BSI radiometer located at Palmer Station. Johan Booth (Sci. Tech.) has graciously provided preliminary data from this instrument for these times, so we may compare readings from all three instruments. A total of twelve stations were sampled with the CTD via zodiac, showing a trend throughout the month of surface waters at station B appearing fresher and colder, due probably to the increase in brash ice, and thus melting. Chlorophyll a concentrations greatly decreased with the onset of winter, as station E went from surface values of 3.9 to 0.2 (ug/L), and station B from 2.3 to 0.1 (ug/L). Weekly seawater intake chlorophyll samples will continue to be taken throughout the winter by the station lab ops. supervisor. There were no equipment problems, except for confirmation that the lab fluorometer used throughout the season is not Y2K compatible and will be fixed by next season. The end of season packing went smoothly. GO-052-P GPS CONTINUOUS OPERATION REFERENCE STATION. J. Mullins, U.S. Geological Survey The station science technician has monitored the system. During the month, GPS transmissions were collected continuously, converted daily to a RInEx format, compressed, and transmitted to the US Geological Survey in Reston, VA. A server outage in Reston delayed the transfer of a few files by several days. Roving Z-12 surveys were made of the glacier terminus and the VLF cable run in a continuing effort to characterize the seasonal melting of the glacier. Surveys were made of photo-identifiable ground control points on Humble, Litchfield, and Cormorant Islands, and on Biscoe Point. Static GPS surveys were performed on markers HUM2, BIS1 (twice), LIT1 (twice), DRE1, and CHR1. Approximately eight hours of data were lost on 28/29 March, when, despite the fact that it was clearly receiving data from the Z-12 and properly displaying it, GBSS stopped logging data. Limited disk space was a possible factor, but after space was freed up logging did not resume until the program was shut down and restarted. While GBSS was closed, the computer was rebooted to allow for the enabling of power management, which will automatically shut off the monitor during idle periods. GO-091-O GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION. R. Butler, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) The station science technician has monitored the system. Global seismic events were recorded throughout the month. All system operations 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 guy posts securing the antenna tower were replanted, and the guy ropes were adjusted to return the tower to vertical. The posts holding the antenna loops were also replanted. The ice pinnacle under the tower base was reduced in size with an ice axe to make the base more stable. The posts that hold the cable on its run down the glacier were replanted, and after the cable was excavated from the glacier's surface, it was rehung on the posts. 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 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. The RAMP computer clock was set back by one hour on 17 March, in anticipation of Palmer's return to standard time on the morning of 19 March. The attempt to use the menu option to change the time and date resulted in an error message and an exit to DOS. The DOS "time" command was then used to change the clock, and the 1RAMP program was restarted. OO-283-P ANTARCTIC AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS. Charles Stearns, University of Wisconsin The station science technician has monitored the local sites. Automated Weather Station (AWS) transmissions were monitored from Bonaparte Point, Hugo Island, and RACER Rock using the TeraScan system. The Bonaparte Point unit continued to send an invalid wind speed, presumably due to a CPU failure. TO-312-O TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institution of Oceanography The station science technician has operated the system. Throughout the month, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP and NOAA satellite pass telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 19-23 passes per day. Two to three encrypted SeaWiFS passes were also collected and archived each day. NOAA, DMSP, and encrypted SeaWiFS telemetry were archived for BP-032-O when the LTER grid was clear of clouds. 85 GHz SSM/I ice concentration images were produced for BP-032-O on a weekly basis. When clear skies made it worthwhile, at roughly five to seven day intervals, images showing the area north of the Larsen Ice Shelf were prepared and emailed to the PI of GO-096-O to allow him to track conditions prior to his cruise in May. Near the end of the month, ice conditions in the Gerlache Strait and the northern Weddell Sea were examined and passed verbally to the R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD, and an SSM/I ice image showing the edge of the Weddell pack ice was produced and emailed to the vessel. One of the three DDS3 tape drives used for pass archival began to exhibit sporadic write failures late in the month, and after several days it was unable to write a single pass. The installation of RIP version 2 on the Palmer network caused the SPARCstation to become unable to "see" the outside world, so a configuration file was changed to specify the default router manually. 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 Science. Absolute calibration scans were performed as scheduled. The annual site visit took place, and in addition to the standard instrumental calibrations and maintenance, several bugs were fixed and several engineering upgrades were performed. New cabling was installed for the GPS module and the auxiliary Eppley sensors. A new Eppley PSP was installed. A grounding cable was attached to the PMT housing, reducing the noise introduced by the PMT cooler on the detected signal. A longer focal length lens was installed below the collector. The azimuthal response of the system was mapped, and a modification was made to the collector to minimize the variations in the response. A new teflon diffuser was installed in the collector. The linearity of the HRAD was improved. On 26 March, the autoscheduler failed to start a data scan while the daily check values were being entered into the weekly report file; the skipped scan was initiated manually. A complete field of view survey of the natural horizon was completed; a survey of the manmade obstructions, predominantly antenna towers, remains to be done. With the return of sheathbills to Palmer Station, the WWW avian deterrent unit was activated for the winter.