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Palmer Station Archives - 2015

Summertime Happenings

Members of the Fraser science group travel onboard the Hot Tamale zodiac
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan
Members of the Fraser science group travel onboard the “Hot Tamale” zodiac. The Fraser group frequents several penguin and other Antarctic bird colonies to monitor population growth and reproductive habits.
Palmer Station sous chef Sarah Swan’s papier-mâché Mount Erebus looms large above a model McMurdo Station.
Photo Credit: Mike Smith
Palmer Station sous chef Sarah Swan's papier-mâché Mount Erebus looms large above a model McMurdo Station. Swan’s exhibition was part of the 2015 Palmer Station Amateur Science Fair.
A pod of orcas use modified spy-hopping behavior to break holes in ice as part of an attempt to hunt a crabeater seal.
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan
A pod of orcas use modified spy-hopping behavior to break holes in ice as part of an attempt to hunt a crabeater seal.

The summer season is well underway at Palmer Station and science groups have been keeping busy. Boating operations have commenced with the retreat of the sea ice from Arthur Harbor, which means the Ducklow, Schofield, and Fraser science groups have been out on the water as often as weather permits, collecting samples and making observations of the surrounding bird populations. The Waller group is continuing their research into the effects of temperature change on sea corals. More recently, the Gao team has arrived on station and successfully installed their instrument platform, which will take measurements of atmospheric iron in the West Antarctic Peninsula. In the coming weeks, the station will begin the outreach component of its mission, playing host to several cruise ships and private yachts that will send passengers onshore to tour the station and learn about the work that takes place here.

It hasn’t been all work and no play, however. In late November, the station staff and crew of the research vessel Laurence M. Gould joined forces to present the 2015 Palmer Station Amateur Science Fair. Featured exhibits included a demonstration of how to power a CODAR ocean monitoring station with an electrochemical battery made from lemons (it would only take 498,000 of them). There was also a very informative and educational simulation of Mount Erebus erupting when tectonic forces cause baking soda and vinegar to combine. A few days later, the station came together for a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner. Our chefs pulled out all the stops and, with volunteer assistance from several community members, prepared a feast fit for royalty. With three styles of turkey, more side dishes than could fit on a plate and an endless procession of desserts, everyone left the galley happy and full.

Finally, the station was treated to a rare sighting of an orca pod in Hero Inlet. From our perch on the pier, we witnessed the agility and intelligence of these creatures as the drama unfolded before us. Fifty yards away, a lone crabeater seal shuffled around restlessly on a large but increasingly unstable slab of fast ice. The seal had attracted the attention of the orcas, perhaps a dozen in total, and the orcas were keenly focused on their prey. We were lucky to be able to watch the orca’s coordinated hunting efforts. This included spy-hopping, a tactic in which an orca swims toward the water’s surface and treads water with its head in the air so it can observe prey on land. Next, they swam toward the ice in tight formation, diving at the last second and kicking their tails to create a wave that might knock the seal into the water. This didn’t work, so instead they adapted their spy-hopping maneuvers and began to punch holes in the ice where it was thin, hoping to emerge from underneath the seal. The station crew divided into Team Seal and Team Whale as we watched the drama unfold. In the end the seal managed to avoid becoming a meal, and we’re still catching our breath after witnessing what many veterans on station are calling one of the most exciting moments they’ve experienced on the ice.


A New Summer Crew

Spotlights pierce the darkness
Photo Credit: Jeffery Keller
Spotlights pierce the darkness as the research vessel Laurence M. Gould navigates through an the ice-filled Drake Passage at night.
The summer crew holds up score cards for the captain as the research vessel Laurence M. Gould busts through ice.
Photo Credit: Krista Tyburski
The summer crew holds up score cards for the captain as the research vessel Laurence M. Gould busts through ice.
With the ice thick enough to walk across, nearby Amsler Island offers some unmatched views of Palmer Station.
Photo Credit: Adam Rivers
With the ice thick enough to walk across, nearby Amsler Island offers some unmatched views of Palmer Station.

The Laurence M. Gould had made no station port calls since July. Then, in October, the humming of its engines and bright exterior lights marked the arrival of the austral summer crew.

The trip from Punta Arenas to Palmer Station was relatively calm across the Drake Passage for us “Summer Folk,” but, being in the Antarctic, there’s always a twist. We ran across sea ice in the Drake well before we reached 60 degrees south latitude. No big deal for the experienced crew of the LMG, as we continued to encounter ice, eventually breaking through slabs up to four feet thick as we approached Palmer Station.

During the southbound voyage to the station, we had two researchers aboard from U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) who worked during the night and through unexpected snow to take infrared and laser mapping LiDAR images of the buildings at Palmer.

After a brief but successful turnover week, the ship headed north for a short stopover in Punta Arenas. Loaded up with grantees, the ship sailed south again, arriving first at a field camp on the northern peninsula, Cape Sherriff to trawl for coral samples. After a successful run, the ship returned to Palmer Station, where the excitement for the upcoming science season started to grow.

Baby corals are the rage at Palmer this early season. We moved buckets upon buckets of corals and water from the LMG to the station aquarium so the research group headed up by Rhian Waller can study how the warming ocean affects how coral grows.

Not only did the baby corals arrive, other science projects are getting underway. The Paznukhov research group dug a lifetime’s worth of snow so they could install an antenna behind the station. It will receive signals from Ukraine’s Vernadsky station to study troposphere-ionosphere interaction via atmospheric gravity waves.

In addition, the scientists studying long-term ecology around the station are arriving as well. The Fraser, Ducklow, and Schofield groups all arrived safely and started setting up their respective labs.

The adorable waddle of the season’s first Adélie penguin gave everyone on station a boost. We, the 2015-2016 researchers and summer support crew of Palmer Station, are looking forward to having a very productive year.


Backyard Camping

Emily Longano stands next to the massive snow drifts that completely block the boardwalks surrounding the aquarium
Photo Credit: Emily Longano
Emily Longano stands next to the massive snow drifts that completely block the boardwalks surrounding the aquarium. After several days filled with hours of shoveling, the boardwalks were finally cleared.
A small tent city was set up for a weekend camping trip on Amsler Island
Photo Credit: Ryan Andres
A small tent city was set up for a weekend camping trip on Amsler Island. A handful of Palmer residents braved the cold to trek across the sea ice for a chilly evening of camping.
Looking out across the sea ice covered ocean from the top of the glacier.
Photo Credit: Chuck Holloway
Looking out across the sea ice covered ocean from the top of the glacier. Months after its arrival, the sea ice continues to extend as far as the eye can see.

With September coming to an end we approach the conclusion of the winter season. Even though we began the austral spring, Antarctica continued to remind us of the harsh nature of the continent. This month was filled with erratic weather, including large snow storms with high winds immediately followed by rain and near-freezing temperatures. Snow on some areas of the boardwalks drifted well above our heads, an overwhelming sight for those assigned to shovel those sections of the boardwalk.

On this side of the continent, U.S. Antarctic Program participants destined for Palmer or research vessels must travel through Santiago, Chile to the port at Punta Arenas. It was worrisome to hear of a large earthquake rattling the area that many of us will soon be traveling through on our way home. At the station, we did not experience any aftereffects from the tremor. Some residents expected the earthquake to strengthen wave activity and partially break up the sea ice, but it remained intact and unaffected. The tide gauge, which continually measures ocean height and other variables, also showed no significant change. Any increase in wave height or strength was likely dampened by the thick blanket of sea ice.

Months after its onset, the sea ice continues to cover the landscape surrounding Palmer. The ice, though limiting to local boating operations, provides wonderful recreation opportunities. One group of residents took advantage of the ice for an overnight camping trip on Amsler Island, the location of the Old Palmer base. The Palmer backyard, a rocky area behind the station, has tent platforms scattered throughout the area, though not clumped close enough together for an ideal large group camping trip. A handful of Palmer residents have been trying to plan such a trip for a while, and were hoping to go to one of the neighboring islands but were waiting for open water. However, with no sign of the ice breaking up anytime soon, the group trekked across the sea ice, equipped with snowshoes and hauling sleds, to the nearby island for a frigid evening of camping.

In the upcoming month, the winter staff, including myself, will depart, and the summer crew will begin their season at Palmer Station. As we sail north to pursue our future endeavors, we will remember the fond memories of an exciting season at Palmer Station.


Every (Nacreous) Cloud has an Iridescent Lining

Nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, linger above the glacier
Photo Credit: Cynthia Spence
Nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, linger above the glacier on an early August morning.
The vibrantly colored lenticular cloud, dubbed The Spaceship, complemented the nacreous clouds above the glacier
Photo Credit: Cynthia Spence
The vibrantly colored lenticular cloud, dubbed “The Spaceship,” complemented the nacreous clouds above the glacier. While the nacreous clouds were short lived, this cloud hung in the sky for most of the morning.
A few station residents boated to Hermit Island for a day of weekend skiing during a brief period of open water.
Photo Credit: Chuck Holloway
A few station residents boated to Hermit Island for a day of weekend skiing during a brief period of open water.
Lance Roth (standing) and Kris Perry film scenes for Palmer’s espionage-themed submission to the 48-Hour Film Festival.
Photo Credit: Kris Perry
Lance Roth (standing) and Kris Perry film scenes for Palmer’s espionage-themed submission to the 48-Hour Film Festival.

The month of August began with a spectacular sight in the sky. In the mid-morning hours, beautiful nacreous clouds formed over the glacier behind the station. Nacreous clouds, also known as polar stratospheric clouds, have a characteristic wavy, iridescent appearance. Unlike many other Antarctic stations, we are not able to observe the aurora australis due to Palmer’s northern geographic location. However, the magical appearances of these clouds was equally gorgeous and a visual treat after months of pure white surroundings. The nacreous clouds were joined by a large lenticular cloud, dubbed “The Spaceship,” which lingered in the sky for several hours after the nacreous clouds were no longer visible.

August also began with an Antarctic tradition, the 48-Hour Film Festival. Each station has 48 hours to create a film that includes certain props and catch phrases. The films are then viewed by all participating stations who vote to determine which station will be crowned the winner. Unfortunately, the Palmer submission did not rank in any of the categories this year, but submissions from the two other U.S. stations did.

At the end of July, we were excited for the opportunity to walk on the sea ice for our winter-over photo. Shortly after that photo, the sea ice broke up following a number of days with extremely high winds. Wind speeds during that time peaked at 78 knots (90 miles per hour), the highest we experienced this season. After over a month of watching the sea ice slowly grow thicker and expand to the horizon, it was completely gone in a matter of a few days. The icebergs that were once locked on the ice flipped and were also swept away with the winds. On the bright side, residents of station had the opportunity for boating, an activity that has not been available for several months.

The sea ice has since returned to the surrounding area, but our surroundings are changing notably as we progress further from the heart of winter.

We started to see the return of wildlife to the Palmer area. Several sheathbills have been spotted lurking around the boardwalks, as well as a single seal on the sea ice, a moderate distance from station. While we have only seen the one seal, there is evidence of others around. There are tracks all around town, in the backyard and even on up on the glacier. A few tracks in the backyard were stained with blood indicating the seal is preparing to give birth and is likely searching for an ideal location. We hope to see newborn seal cubs in the area before the season is over.


Of Ice and Penguin Sushi

Several large icebergs locked in the thick sea ice in Arthur Harbor
Photo Credit: Chuck Holloway
Several large icebergs locked in the thick sea ice in Arthur Harbor.
Penguin-shaped sushi, along with various traditionally shaped sushi rolls, were served at the formal Midwinter/Fourth of July celebration.
Photo Credit: Kris Perry
Penguin-shaped sushi, along with various traditionally shaped sushi rolls, were served at the formal Midwinter/Fourth of July celebration.
The 2015 Palmer Station winter crew poses on the sea ice for the traditional winter-over photo.
Photo Credit: Cynthia Spence
The 2015 Palmer Station winter crew poses on the sea ice for the traditional winter-over photo.

The month began with a combined Midwinter dinner and Fourth of July celebration. Serving as the official Midwinter meal, the dinner closely followed the earlier, unofficial Solstice barbeque at the end of June. There were many delicious treats, but one of the crowd favorites was penguin sushi, named for the roll’s shape, not its contents!

Ice around the station has been in a near constant state of change. Following the departure of the Laurence M. Gould research vessel in late June, the nearby Hero Inlet and Arthur Harbor became densely packed with icebergs. Then high winds blew them out to sea, temporarily returning the area to a state of open water. Shortly after the icebergs departed, temperatures dropped and the local sea ice began to develop rapidly. Over the course of the month, the sea ice grew thicker and expanded out to the horizon. Currently, the ice extends as far as the eye can see. We’re eagerly waiting to see if seals will arrive to give birth on the fresh ice, a sight that has been observed in previous years.

For a rare moment in Palmer Station history, the sea ice was temporarily opened to recreation. After extensive measurements and safety evaluations, two short flag lines were erected out over the ice. Initial measurements of the ice showed it was up to three feet thick in places, far beyond the 6-inch minimum required for safe foot travel. It gave the winter crew the wonderful opportunity to take our winter-over photo on the frozen sea, with ice-locked icebergs in the background. Unfortunately, due to high winds the following day, the sea ice was again closed for recreation.

This month was a relatively quiet one due to the absence of science groups. Members of each department have been taking advantage of this time to work on projects to prepare for the upcoming summer season. In addition, the weekly science lecture slot has temporarily morphed into a weekly travelogue. Station residents shared stories of hiking the Appalachian Trail, biking across New Zealand and kayaking the Inside Passage. As we push through the final weeks of the winter season, many of us are eagerly preparing for our own post-season travels, and the talks have been an inspiration for the adventures to come.


The Last Ship of the Season

Fur seals lounge on the boardwalk leading to the seawater pumphouse
Photo Credit: Cynthia Spence
The research vessel LAURENCE M. GOULD camps out just outside the dense iceberg obstacle course inside Hero Inlet. The various icebergs delayed the vessel from reaching port for several days.
An early afternoon sunset vibrantly paints the sky over Arthur Harbour.
Photo Credit: Ryan Andres
An early afternoon sunset vibrantly paints the sky over Arthur Harbour.
Excited residents wait in line during the Winter Solstice barbeque.
Photo Credit: Ryan Andres
Excited residents wait in line during the Winter Solstice barbeque. Station cook, Mike Hiller, slow cooked the various meats for hours prior to the dinner.

As June wrapped up, the Palmer winter science season came to an end. For the majority of the month, the only remaining science project on station was Kristin O’Brien’s team of fish researchers. Earlier in the month, a few members of the project conducted one final fishing trip before wrapping up their extremely busy and productive field season. In the week leading up to the trip, the winds blew various large icebergs into Hero Inlet. Due to this thick maze of icebergs, the research vessel Laurence M. Gould was unable to reach port for several days, leaving many to wonder when the icebergs would eventually depart. Then, for a brief moment, the winds pushed the icebergs out of the inlet, allowing the Gould to tie up, retrieve members of the fish team, and leave the following day for their final fishing trip.

One of the scientists on the fishing trip was Antarctic veteran Lisa Crockett. For the final lecture of the science season, people at the station had the opportunity to hear her talk about early Antarctic exploration. Her father worked with Admiral Byrd and went on a geological expedition with the Antarctic trailblazer Larry Gould. The Gould expedition was one of the final, if not the final, exploratory Antarctic traverses using only sled dogs and skis. Now decades later, Lisa is working on the research vessel named after her father’s adventurous expedition leader.

When the icebergs ultimately cleared out of the inlet, the Gould returned with a special group of visitors. People at the station were excited to welcome members of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization for Science (AIMS) project to Palmer for a brief site visit. The team toured the station and met with members of each department to better understand how things operate. For many members of the project crew, it was their first visit to Palmer Station. In addition to the project crew, the quick visit from the Gould brought with it our final batch of fresh produce, known here on the ice as “freshies,” much to the excitement of the wintering staff.

As the month came to a close, the station inhabitants celebrated the Winter Solstice with a festive barbeque. We prepared to say goodbye to the many friends we had made over the past few months and reflected on a spectacular first half of the season.

The crew departed on the final cruise of the season, along with members of the O’Brien team. Unfortunately for those aboard the Gould, the seas did not cooperate, and their voyage across the formidable Drake Passage was met with vicious winds and high seas.

When the Gould made its final departure, eighteen of us remained on the pier watching as the vessel disappeared into the darkness, and we began our four-month period of isolation.


Wildlife visits Palmer Station

Fur seals lounge on the boardwalk leading to the seawater pumphouse
Photo Credit: Amanda Biederman
Fur seals lounge on the boardwalk leading to the seawater pumphouse.
A curious sheathbill inspects a bucket outside of the aquarium room.
Photo Credit: Steven Lee
A curious sheathbill inspects a bucket outside of the aquarium room. The sheathbill was one of the five Antarctic species recorded during Global Big Day.
Close up view of a few of the icefish living in one of the Palmer aquarium tanks
Photo Credit: Emily Longano
Close up view of a few of the icefish living in one of the Palmer aquarium tanks.

One of the many perks of being at Palmer Station is the abundance of local wildlife. May was a particularly active month for wildlife around station.

Residents awoke early one morning to a bizarre rumbling noise echoing throughout the hallways of the BIO building. Glimpsing outside proved useless since this time of year it does not get light until almost 11 am. When daylight returned, we were stunned to find the loud noise was the collective moos of a local pod of seals that had moved in overnight. It is not uncommon for a seal or two to wander onto the pier or hang out on station for a few hours. This instance was different as almost 2 dozen seals staked claim to portions of the boardwalk. The pod of seals remained for a handful of days, mooing loudly and flopping around the boardwalk, before finally returning to the ocean.

Palmer Station took part in a special event this month, Global Big Day, a global birding event run by Cornell University. Volunteers from station recorded observations of the different Antarctic species around station and the surrounding islands. In addition to observations at Palmer Station, more than 100 countries tallied over half of all known bird species! Efforts at Palmer Station, led by science support staff Adina Scott and Emily Longano, added 5 species to the global tally. These observations were the only ones recorded on the continent.

In addition to the birds and seals around station, we continue to house various species of icefish, a translucent white blooded fish, in the aquariums. The fish team, led by Kristin O’Brien, continues their hard work studying the mysterious creatures. The science group recently hosted an alternative science lecture in the form of an aquarium/lab open house. Each member of the group described their work and gave live demonstrations. One highlight of the evening was a side by side dissection of a white blooded ice fish and red blooded coriicep to illustrate the unique translucent properties of the icefish. Their team looks forward to one more fishing trip before they depart Palmer on the final boat of the winter season.


Research ramps up for the winter at Palmer Station

Members of Kristin O'Brien's team pot fishing in Dallman Bay
Photo Credit: Lisa Crockett
Members of Kristin O'Brien's team pot fishing in Dallman Bay. The team is hoping to collect various species of icefish for their research.
Kris Perry, head of Palmer Station waste management, hikes up the nearby glacier carrying the Google Trekker backpack
Photo Credit: Adina Scott
Kris Perry, head of Palmer Station waste management, hikes up the nearby glacier carrying the Google Trekker backpack.
A full moon sets over the research vessel LAURENCE M. GOULD as the ship approaches Palmer Station
Photo Credit: Julian Race
A full moon sets over the research vessel LAURENCE M. GOULD as the ship approaches Palmer Station. The ship is returning to station after a four day fishing trip.

Winter season is in full swing here at Palmer Station, but you wouldn’t believe it by looking out the window. After weeks of snow accumulation, two days of heavy rain melted all of the snow, foiling plans for after-work skiing and turning the boardwalks into ice skating rinks.

The month began in full force with the arrival of four science groups to station. Prior to the arrival of the research vessel Laurence M. Gould, station was bustling with activity to prepare for the arrival of the researchers.

One of the main projects was building a mysterious dome in the Palmer Station “backyard.” Many of us marveled at the odd feature as it began to take shape. The protective dome is for the ELF (extremely low frequency) antenna project. This antenna was installed to complement the current VLF (very low frequency) antenna. The goal of this project is to gain deeper understanding of how lightning affects the Earth’s inner radiation belt.

We were excited to see the Google Trekker backpack walking around the “streets” of the station this past month. As part of a project to understand human impacts on Palmer Station and the surrounding areas, Andrew Klein is leading a team to collect soil and marine sediment samples. Their project included mapping the station, the backyard, and the nearby glacier for Google maps. Many folks were hoping to sneak into view of the camera as they were recording.

In addition to the scientists, we welcomed several species of fish to the Palmer aquariums. Most of these fish were varieties of icefish, a translucent fish without red blood cells. Kristin O’Brien and her crew have been coming down to Palmer Station for many years to learn more about these unique fish. Their team will be on station until late June and will conduct several fishing trips on the Gould to collect specimens.

On April 22 at 11 a.m., Palmer Station stopped for a moment to observe Earth Day. It can be easy to get caught up in the extremely busy work schedule and forget that we are working in the most pristine and beautiful place on the planet. In that moment, we all reflected on the beauty of our surroundings and appreciated the fact that we have been blessed with the opportunity to study and work on this amazing continent.  


Winter crew arrives at Palmer Station

The end has arrived at Palmer Station – the end of the summer field season. March is a month spent wrapping up all the little things on station that need to be cleaned and closed up before the winter.

People stand on shore near buildings.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
The Palmer Station winter-over crew bids farewell to the research vessel LAURENCE M. GOULD (not pictured).
Elephant Seals
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
Elephant seals molt near Palmer Station.
Two birds on a rocky area.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
A giant petrel adult, left, attends to its growing chick.

After finishing a science cruise in search of crabs believed to be invading the continental shelf around the Antarctic Peninsula, the research vessel Laurence M. Gould returned to Palmer for a short port call before heading north. When the ship departed, it left with a majority of the summer science groups and also a few construction staff.

While on site, the construction crew set up several towers, both at Palmer and on nearby islands. The towers will be used for new weather stations to broaden the range for monitoring local weather. This is especially important for science groups that need to conduct research farther away from station. Travel is usually restricted to a two-mile radius around Palmer Station unless conditions are ideal. The weather stations should allow more flexibility.

Shortly after the Gould left Palmer, the last cruise ship of the season arrived and then departed just a few hours later. Cruise ships carrying fewer than 200 passengers are allowed to bring visitors ashore to the station. Such a visit will typically involve a majority of station support staff and grantees.

Once on shore, the visitors get a tour of the station, a quick visit to the station store, and a meet and greet in the Palmer common area. Over the course of the visit, they will learn about the station’s history and get the chance to meet scientists. Usually the last visit takes place in February. However, this port call occurred just days before the Gould returned with the winter-over crew.

This twice-a-year turnover between summer and winter seasons involves everyone on site.

During a quick seven-day port call, the Gould transferred enough food and fuel for the coming winter. Fresh food is stored for almost immediate consumption. New staff members are trained in the jobs they will soon be taking over. Approximately 65,000 gallons of fuel was transferred to the station’s bulk fuel tanks.

It can feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to complete it all, but it always works out in the end. There was even time for people to form some last-minute bands for an open mic event in the station bar and lounge. The event was a great way to wrap up what tends to be one of the most stressful weeks of the season, and to let both the incoming and outgoing groups show off their talents.

For those leaving it was another great season at Palmer Station. For the winter crew it is just the start of what is looking to be a great winter.  


Palmer rocks out as the 2014-15 summer season begins to wrap up

Winter made its approach in February, which started and ended in a flurry of activity at Palmer Station. In the beginning of the month, the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) cruise was completed, and the end of the month found us wrapping up the station’s summer science activities.

Fur Seal
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
A fur seal on Torgersen Island.
Penguin feeds two smaller penguins.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
An Adélie penguin adult feeds two large chicks.
Iceberg
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
An iceberg near Palmer Station.

After cruising up and down the Antarctic Peninsula for the month of January, the research vessel Laurence M. Gould returned to Palmer station with the LTER scientists. Their time on station would be very limited, with much still to do. Cargo was loaded from station onto the ship, science equipment and samples from the cruise were packed away, and the last evening in port there was an open mic night.

While Palmer Station is too small to hold a music festival like McMurdo’s Icestock, there is still a pretty good talent pool available, making an open mic night a popular event here. Between the station residents and ship’s crew and scientists, we enjoyed more than three hours of music and stories, and it was a great way to close the LTER cruise.

The wildlife in the Palmer area was in flux during February. Many of the local penguin chicks began fledging early in the month, with the rest of the Adélie penguins taking off around the same time. Penguins are found more on outlying islands, with only a handful remaining near the nesting areas.

An abundance of fur seals arrived – more than 1,600 by the end of the month – but the number of whale sightings has gone down. There are still a large number of seabirds in the immediate area, and sheathbills continue to be seen all around station.

The number of cruise ship visits has dropped off, but many smaller yachts continue to make port calls at Palmer. One visit to station was by kayak from Port Lockroy, a distance of more than 16 miles. Only one more cruise ship is scheduled to visit before the end of summer.

The weather has been changing as well. February was a mix of wind, rain, snow and sun. Most of the snow tends to melt away at this time of year, but with nights starting to fall below freezing, soon it will be sticking around.

The end of the month was filled with the station science groups starting to wrap up their field season. Many of the days involved packing shipping crates and returning station equipment. Meanwhile, the Palmer Station winter crew has started its training back in the United States, getting ready to make the journey south.

The end of the summer keeps feeling closer.


Palmer LTER closes in on quarter-century of Antarctic ecosystem research

Besides being the start of a new year, January also marks the start of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) cruise.

Each year at the start of the month, the research vessel Laurence M Gould arrives at Palmer Station and spends a few short days here before embarking on a month-long cruise along the western edge of the Antarctic Peninsula. Part of the research involves collecting water samples from the same locations year after year, enabling scientists to create a historical record of the changes underway in one of the most rapidly warming areas on the planet.

Penguins swim through the water.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
An Adélie penguin with a satellite tag porpoises through the water. As one of the key species in the Antarctic marine food web, penguins are monitored and studied to understand how they will be affected by climate change.
Instrument sits on shore of snow-covered island.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
A high-frequency radar system is used by the CONVERGE project on the Joubin Islands to measure the speed and direction of ocean surface currents in near real time.
Leopard seal occupies a pier.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
A leopard seal finds a cozy spot to nap on Palmer Station's floating dock.

This season marks the 24th of these cruises. Much of the data collected by the LTER, both from the cruise and near the station, are available for use by the broader science community at the Palmer LTER website External Non-U.S. government site.

While the Gould was away during the LTER cruise, science was still in full swing at Palmer. Before departing, the ship left the remainder of a science team working on a project called CONVERGE on station. CONVERGE scientists are mapping surface currents using radar technology that will allow them to understand the linkages between physical ocean processes and the polar food web along the western edge of the Antarctic Peninsula.

A science writer and a science photographer where brought down as part of the team’s outreach. The group, in addition to its blog External Non-U.S. government site, also performed several video teleconferences, some of which have even been archived for future viewing.

Two more groups also arrived at the start of January. A team led by Grace Saba from Rutgers University and Brad Seibel at the University of Delaware are investigating the effects of climate change on krill, a tiny crustacean that is an important part of the polar food web. The other group, part of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research program, is studying the role whales play in the ecosystem.

The group studying krill is making full use of the Palmer aquarium, with several tanks full of the shrimp-like critters. The researchers also have several compressors set up to cool the water down and have shut off artificial lighting to simulate the outside environment as best they can.

The LTER team spent almost every day out collecting biopsy samples from more than 60 whales in under a month, all within a couple of miles of Palmer Station. In addition to a biopsy sample, the scientists shoot photographs to identify each whale in order to learn more about the migration habits of these large marine mammals. 

It was recently found out that while most of the humpback whales in the area go to the waters off Panama to give birth, one of the whales was tracked and spotted in American Samoa.

Cruise ships, yachts and naval vessels continued to visit station throughout January, including a visit from an Argentinian patrol vessel that works in conjunction with the Chilean patrol vessel that visited station in December.

The end of the LTER cruise in January doesn’t mean the end of science at Palmer Station. There’s more to come in February.  


CONVERGE project links ocean process with biological dynamics

Much like November, December at Palmer Station went by in a hurry. There wasn’t a lot of ship traffic, but rather just the day-to-day science and station operations that kept everyone busy.

The month started off with the arrival of the research vessel Laurence M Gould. The Gould did not stick around for long. Shortly after some new station personnel disembarked and cargo was unloaded, the ship left station to focus on science work off site.

The new station members were part of a few different science groups. A few were part of a team currently studying ocean acidification and its effects on a marine animal called a pteropod, and the remaining were members of the CONVERGE project team.

See previous article — Converging factors: New project to use radar array to determine how ocean currents affect food web.

Ship departs in fog.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
The GOULD departs Palmer Station in foggy weather.

The CONVERGE project involves an investigation around the Palmer Basin region to understand the link between physical ocean processes and the polar food web. The scientists employ a special costal radar system to monitor ocean surface currents, ocean gliders to sample water column properties, and echo-sounders to locate small crustaceans called krill.

The team is collaborating with the science groups involved with the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research program. The CONVERGE group hopes to use this multifaceted approach to get a better understanding of how climate might affect the local ecosystem.

One species that has been impacted by climate change along the northwestern Antarctic Peninsula is the Adélie penguin. Their numbers in the region have dropped more than 80 percent. It is thought that a big part of their demise is linked to the decline in the sea ice, which is an important component of the local ecosystem.

People pose for a group photo.
Photo Credit: Sean Bonnette
The Palmer Station crew poses for a group picture for the holidays.

Thanks to a streak of good weather, there were several ocean glider deployments, both from near the station and off the Gould. Ocean gliders can travel through the water column for weeks at a time collecting data the entire time they are deployed. They are able to collect much more information about the ocean, such as temperature and salinity, and cover a greater area than can be acquired from a ship.

After the final departure of the Gould, sea ice blew into the immediate Palmer Station area, which kept Zodiac boating operations to a minimum in the few weeks leading up to the holidays.

Much like in November, the holiday celebration in December involves the work of just about everyone on station. Decorations are hung, a Menorah and Christmas tree are both set up, and food is prepped. This all culminates in a feast celebrated before the last weekend of the month, followed by a White Elephant gift swap.

Most of the gifts are created on station rather than being bought. When viewed as a whole collection, the gifts show just how talented the Palmer community members truly are.

The summer science season here has reached its halfway point as 2014 comes to a close. That doesn’t mean it’s over by any means: Soon it will be time for the yearly LTER research cruise.