Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2005-06: VUWAE 50

LOGISTICS REPORT K049 NZ – ITASE: Holocene Climate Variability along the Victoria Land Coast 2005-06

LOGISTICS REPORT

K049 NZ – ITASE: Holocene Climate Variability along the Victoria Land Coast

Antarctica New Zealand 2005/06

*AIMS

Seven key locations were identified for the NZ ITASE (International Transantarctic Scientific Expedition) programme. The analyses on the ice core from the first site, Victoria Lower Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, have been completed. During the 2003/04 field season we carried out a detailed reconnaissance of sites 2 and 3: Evans Piedmont Glacier (EPG) and Mt Erebus Saddle (MES) and determined the most suitable locations of the ice core recovery. During the 2004/05 field season we recovered to intermediate length ice cores (180m and 200m, respectively) from these locations and conduct further in-situ measurements, such as borehole temperature and light penetration characteristics, snow density and stratigraphy and its geographical variability. Furthermore, we installed a weather station and mass balance devices at EPG and cased the borehole at MES for future measurements. During the 2005/06 field season we re-visited VLG and EPG to conduct GPS measurements of the submerge velocity devices and to sample shallow snow pits. Furthermore, we retrieved the meteorological data and carried out maintenance work on the automatic weather station at EPG. Lastly we deployed 6m snow stakes at the high accumulation site at Mt Erebus Saddle.

The NZ ITASE programme has five objectives:
1. ITASE-Objective The focus of the New Zealand ITASE group is to provide information from the climate sensitive, low altitude, coastal sites. This will capture the climate signature of the troposphere, which represents a regional account on the Ross Sea climate. The ice core data are expected to provide a record of air temperature, snow accumulation, precipitation source, atmospheric circulation strength, storm frequency, sea ice variation, ocean productivity, and anthropogenic influences. The results will help to decide whether the Ross Sea region is currently cooling or warming with a longer-term prospective, taking low frequency climate variability (100 to 1000 year cycles) into account. Furthermore, proposed tele-connections such as the Amundsen Low-ENSO correlation [Bertler et al. 2004; Meyerson et al. 2002] or the Southern Hemisphere Annual Mode [Thompson and Solomon 2002] can be further constrained.
2. Latitudinal Gradient Project Objective The project is expected to contribute substantially to the Latitudinal Gradient Project, as it can provide a history of temperature, humidity, sea ice cover, precipitation source, atmospheric circulation, and ocean productivity along the Victoria Coast for the last 200 to 10,000 years. Furthermore, the timing and velocity of the Ross Ice Shelf retreat some 9 to 5ka years ago is still discussed controversially [Hall and Denton 2000; Steig et al. 1998; Steig et al. 2000].
3. ANDRILL Objective The ice core locations 2 and 3 (Evans Piedmont Glacier and Mt. Erebus Saddle) are in the vicinity of planned ANDRILL coring locations (Granite Harbour and Windless Bight). The ice core records will provide a high resolution climate dataset, which serves as a reference for the younger part of marine record recovered through ANDRILL.
4. Longer-Term Mass Balance Objective During the 1999/2000 season mass balance measurement devices (submergence velocity method [Hamilton and Whillans 2000; Hamilton et al. 1998]) have been deployed at Victoria Lower Glacier. The device has since been revisited during season 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. The measurements show that the glacier has a slightly negative mass balance, losing around 12cm thickness per year. A continuation of the measurements will allow monitoring changes in the ablation intensity of the McMurdo Dry Valleys.
5. The Antarctic – New Zealand Connection Objective New Zealand's future economic and social development, environmental sustainability, and infrastructural planning critically relies upon the accurate assessment of the impact of "global warming" in our sector of the planet. Future climate change is a result of both natural variability and anthropogenic influence. A joint programme between IGNS, University of Maine, Victoria University is investigating ice core records from New Zealand (Tasman Glacier and Mt. Ruapehu ice field). The comparison between our NZ and Antarctic ice core records will provide much needed data for the development of realistic regional climate models to predict NZ climate in the 21 th Century [Mullan et al. 2001].

*PERSONNEL

Name Designation Organisation Departed Chch Returned Chch
Nancy Bertler PI Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University 24 Nov 05 06 Dec 05
Alex Pyne Engineer Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University 16 Nov 05 (K001) 06 Dec 05
Mark Morrison Field Safety Antarctica New Zealand NA NA

*PLANNING

*PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIELD

FIELD TRANSPORT

  • Vehicles

    N.A.

  • Aircraft Operations

    All aircraft operations were performed professionally. We are also particular grateful for the reliable and experienced support of HNO.

  • Ship Operations

    N.A.

*EVENT DIARY

Date Main Activities and Location Other Comments
24/11/05 Arrival at Scott Base
25/11/05 AFT re-fresher for Bertler
25/11/05 Bad weather prohibits input to Mt Erebus Saddle (MES) for deployment of mass balance snow stakes
28/11/05 Bertler, Pyne, Morrison deploy to Evans Piedmont Glacier (EPG) with HNO (1shuttle). Field camp set-u and initiation of GPS mass balance measurement
29/11/05 Sampling of multiple, 1m deep snow pits for high resolution analysis updating the record derived from EPG deep core in 2004. Investigation of snow pits for geographical variability in snow stratigraphy. Continuation of GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices. Data retrieval from automatic weather station. The weather station was raised 30cm but remained at the original sites. General maintenance and repair of three sensors (pressure, wind direction and wind speed) were carried out.
30/11/05 Completion of snow pits sampling for high resolution analysis. Investigation of snow pits for geographical variability in snow stratigraphy. Completion of GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices. Completion of maintenance work on automatic weather station.
01/12/05 Bertler, Pyne, Morrison deploy to Victoria Lower Glacier (VLG), with HNO (1shuttle). Field camp set-up. Ski to Staeffler Ridge to set-up GPS base station. Initiate base station and rover GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices at VLG I.
02/12/05 Initiation of rover GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices at VLG II. Sampling of multiple, 1m deep snow pits at VLG I for high resolution analysis updating the record derived from VLG 180m deep core in 2002. Investigation of snow pits for geographical variability in snow stratigraphy. Continuation of base station and rover GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices.
03/12/05 Check on base station at Staeffler Ridge, base station and rover GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices, and high resolution snow pit sampling. Completion of measurements at VLG II and retrieval of submergence velocity device.
04/12/05 Completion of base station and rover GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices. Dissembling and retrieval of base station.
05/12/05 Bertler, Pyne, Morrison return to Scott Base with HNO (1shuttle)
Bertler, Pyne, Morrison deploy for 1.5 hours to MES for installation of 6m snow stakes.

*ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS OR HAZARDS

N.A.

FIELD EQUIPMENT

New Macpac Dome Tents

The new macpac tents represent a good, light-weight alternative to polar tents in warm, calm conditions for short field deployments. The tent is easy and fast to pitch and is spacious for two people. However, the tent is like the Olympus model very temperature sensitive. As seen in Fig.2 during our field deployment, the temperature in the Olympus tent changed by as much as 12°C within a couple of hours, while air temperature only showed moderate changes and remained below 0°C. These fluctuations, caused by solar heating or cooling during cloudy periods impact on the sleep quality as a sleeping person will be either too cold or too warm over the course of the night. Moreover, the outer cover of the tent is of light quality and only suitable for calm conditions to moderate winds (<30knots). In addition, the lack of snow flaps prevented secure pitching.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

  • Suitability and effectiveness of the radio equipment

    A high gain aerial was required at EPG and MES locations. We noted the radio batteries were more difficult to charge than in previous years. While all batteries were charged in the comfort of HFC before heading into the field, even unused batteries discharged within 24hours in moderate temperatures.

    Moreover, the solar panel charger for the radio batteries has two disadvantages: The batteries are cold during the charging process and in moderate winds the solar panel cannot be securely anchored to e.g. a tent. We suggest providing a black plastic box with clear lid to store the batteries and charger during charging. In sunny conditions solar heating will significantly rise battery temperature and hence charging capacity. A simple and inexpensive thermistor mechanism could be used prevent overheating through regulating air circulation within the box. A couple karabiners glued to the solar panel will assist greatly in charging batteries in windy locations.

  • Reception/transmission conditions and suitability of radio schedule timing

    As last year, we noted that communications at EPG on channel 3 and 5 were poorer than the previous season at a very similar location when a hand held without high gain aerial was reliable.

  • Scott Base's general efficiency during radio schedule

    Radio communication was efficient, professional, and appreciated. The timing of the radio schedule convenient.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPAC

*Sites Visited (please fill in a box for each site visited)

Site name Evans Piedmont Glacier
Site location (coordinates/description) 76° 435335S; 162° 35.2940 E, 314m asl, glacier surface
Dates occupied 28 Nov 05 to 01 Dec 05
Total days (or hours) at site 4
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 12
Main activity undertaken High resolution snow pit sampling, maintenance and data retrieval of automatic weather station, GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices
Cumulative impacts observed Transitory and less than minor
Site name Victoria Lower Glacier I
Site location (coordinates/description) 77° 19.8053S; 162° 31.9252 E, 626m asl, glacier surface
Dates occupied 01 Dec 05 to 05 Dec 06
Total days (or hours) at site 5
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 15
Main activity undertaken High resolution snow pit sampling, GPS measurements for submergence velocity devices
Cumulative impacts observed Transitory and less than minor
Site name Victoria Lower Glacier II
Site location (coordinates/description) 77° 20.81846S; 162° 29.5371 E, 527m asl, glacier surface
Dates occupied 02 Dec 05 and 03 Dec 05
Total days (or hours) at site 6 hours
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 18 hours
Main activity undertaken Completion of GPS measurement for submergence velocity device. Complete retrieval of the device.
Cumulative impacts observed Transitory and less than minor

Site name Mt Erebus Saddle
Site location (coordinates/description) 77°30.90S; 167° 40.59 E, 1600m asl, glacier surface
Dates occupied 05 Dec 05
Total days (or hours) at site 1 hour
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 3 hours
Main activity undertaken Deployment of three 6m high snow stakes for mass balance measurement
Cumulative impacts observed Transitory and less than minor

Geological Material

Location (coordinates if available) 76° 435335S; 162° 35.2940 E, 314m asl
Specimen type Snow samples
Quantity (kg) 30 kg
Location (coordinates if available) 77° 19.8053S; 162° 31.9252 E, 626m asl
Specimen type Snow samples
Quantity (kg) 35 kg

ANTARCTIC SPECIALLY PROTECTED AND MANAGED AREAS

Note that all event leaders who hold permits for entry to an ASPA need to complete a Visit Report for each ASPA entered. Please contact Rebecca Roper-Gee, the Environmental Advisor for report forms.

  • New ASPA or ASMA designation to be considered:

    N.A.

CITED REFERENCES

Bertler, N. A. N., Barrett, P. J., Mayewski, P. A., Fogt, R. L, Kreutz, K. J., and Shulmeister, J., 2004, El Niño suppresses Antarctic warming: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 31.

Hall, B. L, and Denton, G. H, 2000, Extent and chronology of the Ross Sea ice sheet and the Wilson Piedmont Glacier along the Scott Coast at and since the Last Glacial Maximum: Geografiska Annaler, v. 82A, p. 337-363.

Hamilton, G. S., and Whillans, I. M., 2000, Point measurements of mass balance of Greenland Ice Sheet using precision vertical Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 105, p. 16,295-16,301.

Hamilton, G. S., Whillans, I. M., and Morgan, P. J., 1998, First point measurements of ice-sheet thickness change in Antarctica: Annals of Glaciology, v. 27, p. 125-129.

Meyerson, E. A., Mayewski, P. A, Kreutz, K. J., Meeker, L. D., Whitlow, S. I., and Twickler, M. S., 2002, The polar expression of ENSO and sea-ice variability as recorded in a South Pole ice core: Annals of Glaciology, v. 35, p. 430-436.

Mullan, B. A., Wratt, D. S., and Renwick, J. A., 2001, Transient model scenarios of climate change for New Zealand: Weather and Climate, v. 21, p. 3-34.

Steig, E. J., Hart, C. P., White, J. W. C., Cunningham, W. L., Davis, M. D., and Saltzman, E. S., 1998, Changes in climate, ocean and ice-sheet conditions in the Ross embayment, Antarctica, at 6ka: Annals of Glaciology, v. 27, p. 305-310.

Steig, E. J., Morse, D. L., Waddington, E. D., Stuiver, M., Grootes, P. M., Mayewski, P. A., Twickler, M. S., and Whitlow, S. I., 2000, Wisconsian and Holocene climate history from an ice core at Taylor Dome, Western Ross Embayment, Antarctica: Geografiska Annaler, v. 82A, p. 213-235.

Thompson, D. W. J., and Solomon, S., 2002, Interpretation of recent Southern Hemisphere climate change: Science, v. 296, p. 895-899.