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SPECIAL FEATURE: NEW WALL MAP OF ANTARCTICA ENCLOSED
T H E P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E N E W Z E A L A N D A N TA R C T I C S O C I E T Y
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019
RRP $15.95
AURORA
AUSTRALIS ON
CAMERA
- capturing the beauty of the
southern lights
Drilling through the
Ross Ice Shelf
Micro-organisms
in the volcanic
vents of Erebus
What’s causing
sea level rise?
The mapping of
Antarctica
Join the
04
NEW ZEALAND
ANTARCTIC SOCIETY
today!
9 770003 532006
antarcticsociety.org.nz
Vol 38, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019
In Brief
antarcticsociety.org.nz Antarctic Treaty turns 60!
On 1 December 1959, the Antarctic
Treaty was signed in Washington
is published by the New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc. DC by twelve countries, including
ISSN 0003-5327 New Zealand, ensuring that
Antarctica “shall continue forever to be used exclusively
EDITOR: Nicholas O’Flaherty
Publisher, The Antarctic Report for peaceful purposes”. The agreement specifically
email: nicholaso@camino.co.nz promoted the freedom of scientific research and laid
EDITORIAL SUPPORT: Peter Barrett, Shirley Russ, Bill Nye, the foundation for the extensive international science
Stuart Grayson cooperation that exists today.
MEMBERSHIP: Anyone can join the NZAS! If you have an
interest in Antarctica, and want to help preserve its fragile
New wall map of Antarctica
Bedrock Elevation Ice Velocity
180°
180°
160°E
160°E
160°W
160°W
180˚
Aerial radar surveys over many years have revealed the thickness By using satellite data, scientists can track the velocity of the ice
of the ice sheet and topography of the bedrock hidden beneath, as it moves slowly from the central ice domes and gains speed
140°E
towards the coast, especially for glaciers and floating ice shelves.
140°E
much of it located below sea level. In fact, the deepest point is
140°W
140°W
environment, contact us at: membership@antarcticsociety.
the Bentley Subglacial Trench at 2555m below sea level. The Understanding the speed and direction of the ice increases our
highest peak on the continent is the Vinson Massif (4892m) in knowledge of ice behaviour under climate stress, and improves
120°E the Ellsworth Mountains. However, the most intriguing is the 160˚E
160˚W projections of future sea level rise. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is
so named because it is largely east of 0° longitude, the Greenwich 120°E
Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountain Range, which rises to a height
120°W of 2768m above sea level, yet lies buried Meridian, with the West Antarctic Ice Sheet lying 120°W
beneath more than 1km of ice below Dome A west of that longitude line
(4091m) on the Polar Plateau.
100°E 100°E
BENTLEY SUB- 100°W 100°W
GLACIAL TRENCH 60˚S EAST ANTARCTIC WEST ANTARCTIC
-2555m
ICE SHEET ICE SHEET
GAMBURTSEV
SUBGLACIAL VINSON MASSIF
4892m 80°W 80°W
80°E MOUNTAINS 80°E
2768m
80°S 80°S
60°W 140˚W
60°W
60°E 140˚E 60°E
org.nz.
70°S 70°S
40°W
40°W
40°E
- enclosed with this edition
40°E
20°W
20°W
20°E
20°E
0° 0°
3300 1000 300 0 -1000 -3000 -4000 -4700 -6300 m 0 10 30 500 1000
m/year
Scale: 1:47 000 000 Scale: 1:47 000 000
0 500 km 0 500 km
70˚S
120˚W
120˚E
SCHOOLS: NZAS welcomes membership from schools; for
To commemorate the 60th
80˚S
more information on the benefits of school membership
100˚W
100˚E
contact: schools@antarcticsociety.org.nz.
90˚S
anniversary of the Antarctic
1. SAN MARTIN (ARGENTINA)
2. ROTHERA (UK)
3. VERNADSKY (UKRAINE)
4. PALMER (USA)
5. YELCHO (CHILE)
6. MELCHIOR (ARGENTINA)
7. BROWN (ARGENTINA)
8. GABRIEL GONZALEZ VIDELA (CHILE)
9. MATIENZO (ARGENTINA)
10. PRIMAVERA (ARGENTINA)
11. JOHANN GREGOR MENDEL (CZECH REPUBLIC)
80˚W
80˚E
12. MARAMBIO (ARGENTINA)
13. O’HIGGINS (CHILE)
14. ESPERANZA (ARGENTINA)
15. PETREL (ARGENTINA)
16. DECEPCION (ARGENTINA)
17. GABRIEL DE CASTILLA (SPAIN)
2 18. DR. GUILLERMO MANN (CHILE)
19. JUAN CARLOS I (SPAIN)
20. ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI (BULGARIA)
1 21. CAMARA (ARGENTINA)
22. PEDRO VICENTE MALDONADO (ECUADOR)
23. ARTURO PRAT ANTARCTIC NAVAL BASE (CHILE)
80˚S 24. LUIS RISOPATRON (CHILE)
ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP: Please contact:
25. GREAT WALL (CHINA)
3 26. PROFESSOR JULIO ESCUDERO (CHILE)
4 27. PRESIDENT EDUARDO FREI (CHILE)
Treaty, the NZ Antarctic Society,
28. BELLINGSHAUSEN (RUSSIA)
5 29. ARTIGAS (URUGUAY)
6 30. KING SEJONG (REPUBLIC OF KOREA)
7-8 31. CARLINI (ARGENTINA)
32. ARCTOWSKI (POLAND)
33. MACHU PICCHU (PERU)
9 10 16-17 34. COMANDANTE FERRAZ (BRAZIL)
11
12 18-24
13
14 25-34
15
60˚W
60˚E
editor@antarcticsociety.org.nz
70˚S
Antarctic Circumpolar Current
in partnership with Land
Represents dense, super-cold
water sinking to the ocean floor’
Polar Front (PF) Sea Ice Extent: Sept (1981-2010)
Subantarctic Front (SAF) Sea Ice Extent: Feb (1981-2010)
Scale: 1:85 000 000 Scale: 1:85 000 000
180°
180°
0 1500 km South Island (NZ) Chatham 0 1500 km
160°E
160°E
160°W
Islands (NZ)
160°W
Tasmania (AU)
Auckland Islands (NZ)
140°E
140°E
140°W
140°W
Campbell Island (NZ)
Macquarie Island (AU) South
ern
Oc
e an 40˚W
120°E 40˚E
120°E
120°W 120°W
INDEXER: Mike Wing
100°E 100°W
100°E 100°W
60˚S
80°E 80°W 80°E 80°W
Heard Island (AU) 80°S 80°S
McDonald Islands (AU) CHILE
Information New Zealand, has
ARGENTINA
Kerguelen
Islands (FR)
70°S 70°S
Sea Ice Extent
60°W
Southern Ocean
Falkland Islands 60°W
So (UK)
60°E ut 60°E
Crozet Islands (FR) he
20˚W
rn
20˚E
O cea 60°S In the Southern Ocean, cold dense waters from Antarctica sink Antarctic sea ice expands and retreats each year over a vast 60°S
Marion Island (SA) n South Georgia
Prince Edward
(UK) and oxygenate the deep ocean, burying carbon dioxide. The area of the Southern Ocean, covering up to 19 million km2, larger
Island (SA) world’s largest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current than the continent itself. The annual process creates one of the
40°W
40°W
40°E
Bouvet Island (NO)
(ACC), flows uninterrupted around Antarctica. About one third largest, most dynamic ecosystems on Earth, which has a major
50°S 50°S
of the water transported in the ACC is in the Subantarctic Front, influence on the rest of the global climate system. Sea ice reflects
20°E
20°W
20°E
20°W
which also marks its northern boundary. Further south, another 0˚ solar radiation, and modifies exchanges between ocean and
0° third is transported in the Polar Front which separates the atmosphere. As it melts, the ice releases organic matter which 0°
upwelling waters from the sinking polar waters further south. fosters phytoplankton blooms.
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE
Ross Island Citations
Ever since humans have been going to Antarctica, they have needed shelter from Since the time of Scott and Shackleton, Ross Island has been a popular starting Basemap: Land Information New Zealand. Ross Sea Region Antarctic Base Map. https:// Rocks: Burton-Johnson, A., Black, M., Fretwell, P. T., and Kaluza-Gilbert, J.: An automated
the elements, and bases from which to explore and conduct research. The first point for expeditions into the interior of Antarctica. Today it is the location of New tiles.maps.linz.io/antarctic_basemap/WMTSCapabilities.xml methodology for differentiating rock from snow, clouds and sea in Antarctica from
Modern Traverse: Indicative routes taken each summer by
were cramped by today’s standards and provided only rudimentary protection Cape Bird Zealand’s Scott Base and the United States McMurdo Station. Landsat 8 imagery: a new rock outcrop map and area estimation for the entire Antarctic
supply convoys of tracked vehicles, to scientific research COMNAP: Data provided by individual COMNAP member National Antarctic Programs.
stations on the polar plateau.
from the cold. ROSS SEA https://www.comnap.aq/SitePages/Home.aspx
continent, The Cryosphere, 10, 1665-1677, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1665-2016, 2016.
The very first base used for wintering over on the continent consisted of Labels:
Cape RAMP2: Liu, H., K. C. Jezek, B. Li, and Z. Zhao. 2015. Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project - SCAR Secretariat (1992, updated 2014 and 2017). Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica,
Historical Route: The first three overland expeditions to prefabricated huts of Norwegian spruce, installed at Cape Adare. Ten men from Mt. Bird
1800 Tennyson
Digital Elevation Model, Version 2. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.
reach the South Pole, 1911-1958. Borchgrevink’s British Antarctic (Southern Cross) Expedition spent the winter Wood Point
National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center. doi: http://dx.doi. - Land Information New Zealand (LINZ): David Harrowfield, Antarctic Visitor Center,
published a new wall map of
there in 1899. LEWIS
BAY org/10.5067/8JKNEW6BFRVD. [01-05-2019] International Antarctic Center, Christchurch, New Zealand Antarctic Programme and the
Science station In 1903 the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition constructed Omond House, WOHLSCHLAG International Centre for Antarctic Information and Research.
a stone building, on Laurie Island in the South Orkneys. In 1904 it became part BAY Cape REMA 8m: Howat, I. M., Porter, C., Smith, B. E., Noh, M.-J., and Morin, P.: The Reference
MCMURDO SOUND
Crozier
of Orcadas Base, still operated by the Argentine government today, the longest Elevation Model of Antarctica, The Cryosphere, 13, 665-674, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc- Acknowledgemets for REMA DEM
Elevations shown in metres continuously manned scientific research station in Antarctica. Mt. Terra
MT. TERROR
3262
13-665-2019, 2019. - Geospatial support for this work provided by the Polar Geospatial Center under NSF-
Nova
Scale 1:10 000 000
MT. EREBUS 2130
ETOPO1: Amante, C. and B.W. Eakins, 2009. ETOPO1 1 Arc-Minute Global Relief Model: OPP awards 1043681 and 1559691.
The International Geophysical Year 1957-58 provided the impetus for the D
3794
SS ISLAN Procedures, Data Sources and Analysis. NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC- - DEMs provided by the Polar Geospatial Center under NSF-OPP awards 1043681,
Projection: Ross Sea Polar Stereographic 2000 establishment of many other permanent scientific stations, including New
24. National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA. doi:10.7289/V5C8276M [01-05-2019] 1559691, and 1542736.
O
Zealand’s Scott Base and the United States McMurdo Station. Cape Royds
- DEMs provided by the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and the Polar
R
Today there are more than 40 permanent stations manned all year, with a Median Sea Ice Extents: Fetterer, F., K. Knowles, W. Meier, M. Savoie, and A. K.
0 500 km 1000 km Geospatial Center under NSF-OPP awards 1543501, 1810976, 1542736, 1559691, 1043681,
number of others operated in summer. They are almost all located around the Cape Evans WINDLESS BIGHT
Windnagel. 2016, updated daily. Sea Ice Index, Version 2. [Indicate subset used].
1541332, 0753663, 1548562, 1238993 and NASA award NNX10AN61G. Computer time
edge of the continent, or on offshore islands, though three permanent stations Boulder, Colorado USA. NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center. doi: http://dx.doi.
New Zealand Antarctic Society
org/10.7265/N5736NV7. [Feb 2019] provided through a Blue Waters Innovation Initiative. DEMs produced using data from
are located on the high polar plateau. These are the US Amundsen-Scott South
Scott Base, operated by Antarctica New Zealand, with Mt. Erebus in the DigitalGlobe, Inc.
Pole Station, the Russian Vostok Station, and the French-Italian Concordia EREBUS BAY
background. Ice Flow Directions: Mouginot, J., B. Scheuchl, and E. Rignot. 2017. MEaSUREs Antarctic
Station. In addition, the Chinese Kunlun Station and Japanese Dome Fuji Station Photo credit: Anthony Powell, Antarctica NZ Boundaries for IPY 2007-2009 from Satellite Radar, Version 2. [Indicate subset used]. Additonal Continental Vectors: Made with Natural Earth
are visited by scientists in summer to install and maintain monitoring equipment. ROSS ICE SHELF Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active
SCOTT BASE Archive Center. doi: https://doi.org/10.5067/AXE4121732AD. [Date Accessed].
While personnel are flown in to these high altitude stations, it is more cost MCMURDO
(NZ)
Science station
effective to resupply the stations ‘overland’. Essential fuel, food and equipment (US) Supporting partners:
are towed each summer by convoys of tracked vehicles, traversing the great Scale 1:800 000 The NZ Antarctic Society supports
distances from the coast up into the interior of the continent. A boom is the protection of the Antarctic
Projection: Ross Sea Polar Stereographic 2000
mounted onto the front of the lead vehicle, which contains a ground penetrating environment. For information
radar capable of detecting dangerous crevasses up ahead. about joining, contact maps@
0 20 km antarcticsociety.org.nz
PO Box 90 325, Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand Antarctica reflecting the very
email: editor@antarcticsociety.org.nz latest data sets, which is enclosed in this edition of
DESIGN: Hot Lobster Design Antarctic magazine. The map and magazine will be sent
email: lauren@hotlobster.co.nz
PRINTED BY: Fuzed
to every school in the country. More information on the
map making process can be found on page 30.
PATRON OF THE NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY
Emeritus Professor Peter Barrett FRSNZ, FGS (Hon),
PM, NZAM, 2008 Sign your school up to NZAS
LIFE MEMBERS membership for 2020
Current Life Members, by year elected:
Schools can join the NZ
1. Robin Ormerod (1996)
2. Randal Heke NZAM (2003)
Antarctic Society, and
3. Margaret Bradshaw PM (2006) receive educational
4. Colin Monteath QSM (2014) resources tailored for Credit: Ted Scambos, CIRES, University of Colorado
5. John Parsloe (2014) both primary and secondary school levels. In 2020,
6. Graeme Claridge PM (2015)
schools will receive educational posters on penguins and
7. David Harrowfield NZAM (2016)
8. Robert Park (2016)
ice sheets, obtain access to the rich online resources of
9. Alec McFerran (2017) the Society’s 50 years of publications, as well as receive
10. Frank Graveson PM (2017) two double issues of the magazine through the year, and
11. Mike Wing PM (2017) the ability to attend events and hear from scientists in
12. Lester Chaplow (2019)
the main centres. More information on page 45.
13. Max Quinn (2019)
PM: Polar Medal
NZAM: New Zealand Antarctic Medal Save the dates! - 2020 NZAS National
ELECTED OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY Conference in Christchurch
National President: Linda Kestle
North Island Vice-President: Nicholas O'Flaherty Next year, on 23-25 Sept 2020, the NZ Antarctic
South Island Vice-President: Bill Nye Society is planning a national conference in
National Secretary: Stuart Grayson Christchurch, with a range of keynote international
BRANCH CHAIRS and national
Auckland: Ken Livingston, Robyn Denize
Canterbury: Shirley Russ, John Rogers
speakers. Themes
Wellington: Georgia Grant, Christoph Kraus under consideration:
The New Zealand Antarctic Society is a Registered
Exploration of the Icy
Charity CC27118. Continent, Film Making
and Photography in
Antarctica, the Legacy
and Future of Scott Base, Science Research for the
21st Century, and Engaging the Next Generation. We
welcome feedback on speakers, sponsorship and topics,
please contact: conference@antarcticsociety.org.nz
Cover photo: “Beautiful Night” by Hunter Davis, taken at the South Pole, Winter 2017
Auroral curtains shimmer in the sky above Mt Erebus and Mt Terror, with Jupiter at centre; the view from Scott Base, Ross Island;
photo: Jonny Harrison, 2019 Winter Station Manager
Contents
Aurora australis on camera - capturing the beauty of
2 the southern lights
6 10 14
Drilling through the Ross Ice Shelf Charismatic megafauna of Micro-organisms in the volcanic
to the dark ocean cavity beneath Antarctica - the toothfish hunters vents of Erebus – a key to life on
of the Ross Sea other planets?
18 20 24
Unlocking clues from ancient Mapping biodiversity in a changing Deciphering messages from
fossils to predict future climate Antarctica supercooled water at the front of
change the ice shelf
26 30 32
Resolving and predicting future The mapping of Antarctica Marking humanity’s footprint –
sea level rise place names in Antarctic
9 Busy summer ahead for NZ Defence Force on the ice; 13 Redeveloping Scott Base for the future; 16 Antarctica New Zealand’s
new CEO; 23 Virtual Reality allows immersive access in Antarctica; 23 Accessing Antarctic history online; 28 What’s causing
sea level rise? 34 Inspiring the next generation of explorers 36 NZAS Member Profile 39 Interacting with Antarctic scientists 40
NZ Antarctic Society supports ‘Our Place in Antarctica’ 40 Loss of two prominent Kiwi ‘Antarcticans’ 41 Remembering the Mt
Erebus disaster, 40 years on 41 The Mt Erebus Disaster Oral History Project 42 50 years: NZ women scientists in Antarctica 43
Action-packed year for NZ Antarctic Society 43 NZAS honours two new life members 44 BOOK REVIEW: “Fifteen Million Years in
Antarctica” 44 Buy an Antarctic gift 45 Become an NZAS member
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 1
Aurora australis on camera
- capturing the beauty of the
southern lights
“solar particles interact with
oxygen and nitrogen molecules,
making them glow
”
Corona of aurora australis, observed at the South Pole, 2019; photo: Benjamin Eberhardt, IceCube Neutrino Observatory, NSF
Solar Storm and Earth’s Magnetosphere; Credit: NASA
Beneath Earth’s crust, liquid iron flows within the outer core
generating electric currents. As the planet rotates, this energy creates
a dynamo effect, extending a huge magnetic field thousands of
kilometres out into space. It’s called the magnetosphere – an energy
shield that protects our atmosphere from harsh cosmic radiation,
allowing life to flourish on Earth.
At the same time, 150 million kilometres away, charged particles
stream out from the surface of the Sun in a relentless barrage of
matter called the solar wind. Travelling at 400km per second, it
slams into Earth’s magnetosphere, blowing it out into a teardrop
shape. At the Poles, the near vertical magnetic lines bring these
energised solar particles into the upper atmosphere.
Sometimes the solar wind can become more violent when plasma
is ejected into space or when sunspots occur. These cause the
magnetosphere to compress even further, allowing solar particles to
penetrate closer to the surface of the Earth at polar latitudes. When
that happens, the particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen
2
Herbert Ponting and telephoto apparatus, Antarctica 1911;
photo: Alexander Turnbull Library
molecules in the atmosphere, making them glow. Around the Poles,
an auroral oval forms. In the northern hemisphere, this phenomenon
is known as aurora borealis, and when it appears in southern polar
latitudes, it is called aurora australis.
“The potential harm to astronauts is one reason the International
Space Station doesn’t orbit over the Poles,” says Professor Craig
Rodger, Head of Otago University’s Physics Department, and leader
of their Space Physics research group. “While the ISS makes a
complete circuit of the Earth every 90 minutes, it turns at around 50°
latitude in both hemispheres 32 times per day, away from the polar
regions and the solar wind which creates the aurora. Consequently,
the astronauts avoid travelling through these higher radiation areas.”
For human societies living in both hemispheres, the green shimmering
curtains of aurora have been the subject of myths and legends
for millennia. For Maori, who saw these glowing lights on the
southern horizon, the ‘Tahunui-a-rangi’ were reflections in the sky of
campfires of ancestors who had sailed to the land of ice.
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 3
Study with world-leading Antarctic researchers at Victoria University of Wellington Find out more about our research and study options at www.victoria.ac.nz/science
In the 20th the southern lights overhead.
Century,
Station leader at Scott Base this winter, Jonny
aurora
Harrison, has been an avid photographer of
continued
aurora australis. With two consecutive Antarctic
to attract
winters under his belt, Jonny has produced a
wonder and
stunning collection of memorable images.
curiosity,
while scientists “Photographing the aurora has been one of
began to make the pleasures of the long cold polar night,
strides in our though being outside for too long in the frigid
understanding of the temperatures can be dangerous, so care is
phenomenon. In 1910, needed,” he says. The coldest temperature he’s
astrophysicist Carl Stormer travelled to northern endured while photographing aurora was -60°C
Norway to photograph aurora from various with wind chill.
locations. By using triangulation, he became one Dr Ian Griffin, Director of the Otago Museum,
of the first to accurately measure the altitude and has been photographing the aurora from Dunedin
latitude of the aurora observed in the sky. for some years. He’s also seen aurora from
Robert Falcon Scott also included auroral research onboard NASA’s SOFIA aircraft (Stratospheric
among the raft of scientific activities in his ill- Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) which flies
fated Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica in south from New Zealand each year. That inspired
1910-12. However, expedition photographer him to organise two commercial flights over the
Herbert Ponting was ill prepared to capture aurora Southern Ocean to view the aurora from the air.
on camera. In fact, his glass plates struggled “It’s not just pretty pictures, there is some really
to produce images of aurora at all, even with interesting science in this as well,” Ian says. “It’s
five minute exposures. Consequently, written like taking a CAT scan, you can see structure and
observations and sketches had to suffice. we geotag the imagery.”
Camera technology has made huge advances “Aurora’s ethereal lights remind us that Earth is
since then, and today personnel wintering over in part of nature on a cosmic scale,” he says.
Antarctica capture glorious images and videos of By Delwyn Dickey
Curtains of aurora observed at Scott Base, 2019; photo: Jonny Harrison, Antarctica NZ
“ Tahunui-a-rangi -
reflections in the sky of
campfires of ancestors
who had sailed south to
the land of ice
”
5
The Ross Ice Shelf Programme camp at 80.65 S and 174.5 E in December of 2017. The bright orange tent in the background housed the hot water drilling system
through most of the operation. Setting up inside the tent allowed the drillers and scientists to work around-the-clock and in any weather; photo: Christina Hulbe
Drilling through the Ross
happens next in West Antarctica—ice, ocean,
atmosphere, marine ecosystems, they are all part
of an interconnected system. Here in coastal
Ice Shelf to the dark Otago we think a lot about sea level rise as one
of the major consequences of climate change.
ocean cavity beneath
Antarctic ice is massive source of potential sea
level rise and West Antarctica is a leading source
of uncertainly in the sea level rise projection.
Climate change is one of the greatest scientific
and social challenges facing the world today “Shelf
We know that the Ross Ice
will respond to climate
and University of Otago researchers are at the
forefront of the global scientific response. change, but we’re not sure
Polar regions have long been likened to the canary how fast it will happen or if
in the coalmine, giving early warning of problems
to come. But they do more than respond, they are the largest impacts can still
major actors in how climate change plays out.
Professor Christina Hulbe, Dean of University of
be avoided.
Questions about the rate and timing of change are
”
Otago’s School of Surveying, leads a team who challenging because many of the processes are not
have been investigating one of the regions thought well understood or well represented in computer
likely to change first, trying to work out how models. This is partly because of the continent’s
vulnerable West Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf is to a remoteness and partly due to the short span of
warming climate. A floating extension of the ice scientific exploration there.
sheet, the ice shelf is where water that has been
“Everywhere we work, we find something new.
locked away as snow and ice returns to the sea.
It might be a new (usually shorter) time scale for
When the ice shelf changes, everything else does
change, a new facet to a process we thought we
too.
understood, or a new process we had not fully
“Geologic records of past climate conditions show recognised before.
us that when carbon dioxide levels were as high
“For example, where we have been working in the
as they are today, there was less ice in the Ross
central region of the ice shelf, when we actually
Sea region, less polar ice overall, and sea level was
drilled through the ice rather than just imaging it
higher. We should expect this to happen due to
from the surface, we found ice in the deepest part
human-induced climate change as well.
of the shelf that was quite different from what we
“There are plenty of reasons to care about what expected. When we cored the seabed sediments,
6
The hot water drilling system, set up “outside” for the first of two boreholes
drilled through the ice shelf in 2017. The borehole was used to install an ice-fixed
oceanographic mooring for continuous measurement of water temperature and
salinity. Here, the geophysics team is installing a cable with seismometers;
photo: Christina Hulbe
The muddy sea bed in the dark ocean cavity beneath the Ross Ice
Shelf, depth: 741m. At Site 2, the ice shelf was 367m thick, and the
water column beneath was another 428m; the drilling rig on top
was situated 46m above sea level; photo: Craig Stevens, NIWA
we found a really subtle record that requires us to These two locations won’t answer all of the
use some very sophisticated, new methods to get questions but they are a large stride in the right
at the details of its story.” direction. Says Hulbe, “We are on the right
track. We know what we should be studying
This explains some of Hulbe’s enthusiasm for
and we have, in New Zealand, the capability
interdisciplinary research. No single scientific
to do the work.” And now, as the current Ross
discipline, no one way of looking at such a
Ice Shelf programme heads into its final season
complicated system, is going to find the answers
of fieldwork, the new MBIE-funded Antarctic
that society needs. “I use mathematical models to
Science Platform will carry the effort forward.
test ideas about glaciological processes. To do that
really well, I need to learn to look at the system “We want to ask and answer questions that
in new ways. My own sense of what’s important challenge and excite us as scientists but we want
might limit the ways I use the data. Something I to be of service to society as well. Climate change
think is ordinary might actually be extraordinary is global but it’s local too. It matters right here at
from somebody else’s point of view.” home that we keep making progress. The scientific
community has to all work on this together.”
That approach characterises the NZARI-funded
By Professor Christina Hulbe
programme Hulbe leads, aimed at understanding
Dean of the School of Surveying, University of Otago
of the Vulnerability of the Ross Ice Shelf in a
Warming World. The team includes colleagues in
Geology, Marine Science and Physics at Otago,
and from Victoria, Canterbury and Auckland
Universities, NIWA and GNS Science, as well as
international partners. With the logistics support
of Antarctica New Zealand, they are using a
diverse range of technologies and methods to
investigate processes and process interactions at
two remote locations, hundreds of km away from
Scott Base. The research is coordinated around
boreholes drilled through the ice shelf, using a
hot-water system built at Victoria. “What we
want to do is assemble one holistic understanding
of the interconnected system. We want to know
The 1100km traverse route from Scott Base across the Ross Ice shelf to the Kamb Ice Stream on
what conditions are like today and what they were Siple Coast. Map made using Quantarctica data distribution, Norwegian Polar Research Institute.
like in the past so that we can improve and test Map surface elevation data from: Bamber, J. L., Gomez-Dans, J. L., and Griggs, J. A.: A new 1
km digital elevation model of the Antarctic derived from combined satellite radar and laser data
the models.” – Part 1: Data and methods, The Cryosphere, 3, 101–111, doi:10.5194/tc-3-101-2009, 2009.
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 7
Inspiring environmental change With a Bachelor of Environmental Planning you can make a positive change to the world while building a rewarding career. Whatever it is that inspires you, we have a programme to suit. Make your positive change now. Ashleigh Ngow, Tauranga Bachelor of Environmental Planning Apply now and create your positive change waikato.ac.nz
Busy summer ahead for
NZ Defence Force on the ice
RNZAF C-130 Hercules at Phoenix Airfield, McMurdo, 2019; photo: NZ Defence Force
This summer will once again be a busy season for belonging to
the New Zealand Defence Force in Antarctica. the New York
Between September and March, up to 220 Air National
personnel work at Scott Base, across at the nearby Guard.
United States National Science Foundation’s The biggest
McMurdo Station, and the Pegasus Ice runway. In challenge
addition, military personnel manage the terminal working in
operations for Antarctica at Christchurch airport. the southern
Defence Force staff undertake a wide variety continent is
of roles while on deployment on ‘Operation the changeable
Antarctica’, currently New Zealand’s largest and extreme
tri-service operational mission. These include weather, with
unloading from a cargo ship a full year’s worth of some inventive
supplies for Scott Base, McMurdo Station and the solutions
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Fifty New needed to
Zealand Army drivers and logistics experts unload avoid danger to
more than 500 containers holding about 5000 personnel’s health or damage to the Defence Force
tonnes of food and equipment. assets.
At Scott Base, 10 Defence personnel are seconded The NZDF has operated in Antarctica since 1956
to fill positions such as Communications when HMNZS Endeavour sailed from Wellington
Operators, Plant Operators and Cargo Handlers, with the New Zealand-led Ross Dependency
while a team of 20 Army light engineers will party of the Trans Antarctic Expedition and the
undertake valuable building projects for the International Geophysical Year team. In January
United States Antarctic Programme 1957 with the support of the Army engineers,
This summer, pilots and crew from the Royal Scott Base was built. Every year since then, the
New Zealand Air Force’s No. 40 Squadron NZDF has deployed personnel and assets to the
are scheduled to make 12 flights to the frozen remote region.
continent, in C-130 Hercules and Boeing B757 From 2022, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s
aircraft, carrying cargo and passengers. Primarily newest tanker, HMNZS Aotearoa, will be
the flights support the US Antarctic Program and travelling to the frozen continent with fuel
Antarctica New Zealand, but there are also flights and cargo supplies for the region. The NZDF
into Terra Nova Bay in support of the Italian contribution to Antarctic research is expected to
and Korean programmes. Air Force maintainers expand as new capabilities come on stream in the
also help to support not only those aircraft at coming years.
McMurdo, but also the LC-130 Hercules fleet By Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 9Charismatic megafauna of Antarctica -
the toothfish hunters of the Ross Sea
Antarctic seals, whales, and seabirds hold a particular fascination for human visitors to the Deep South.
The ‘charismatic megafauna’ of Antarctica inspire a range of emotions from curiosity to awe. But, most
importantly, these iconic species may hold the key to protecting the last great wilderness.
One thing all the charismatic megafauna of Antarctica have in common is that their true home is
the ocean. The Antarctic continent itself is too cold and barren to support anything bigger than tiny
invertebrates and slow-growing, miniscule plant life. The vast numbers of seabirds and seals that
congregate each summer along the Antarctic coastline all make their living at sea. Some whale species
such as humpback whales and blue whales travel thousands of kilometres to the Southern Ocean to take
advantage of its extravagant productivity during the summer months. Others, such as killer whales and
minke whales, follow the receding sea ice to access rich stocks of fish and other prey. Some, such as
Weddell seals, live inside the ice year-round.
New Zealand’s sector of the Antarctic is home to the world’s largest Marine Protected Area
(MPA), the Ross Sea region MPA. Established in 2017 by CCAMLR, the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the MPA was designed to protect the
Ross Sea region from the impacts of fishing for Antarctic toothfish. Toothfish are large and
valuable fish prized by chefs and gourmets worldwide. Humans are of course not the only
ones that appreciate the creamy, rich flesh of the toothfish: Toothfish is hunted by Weddell
seals, sperm whales, and a particular kind of killer whale known as ‘Type C’ that is
especially common in the Ross Sea.
“ As toothfish predators, Weddell
seals and Type-C killer whales are
among the species that might be
most directly affected by the
removal of toothfish from the
ecosystem through fishing.
”
It was this concern that was one of the major drivers for the Ross Sea
region MPA, and prompted the designation of Weddell seals and Type-C killer
whales as focal species for the MPA. The scientific study of these toothfish hunters – their
abundance, foraging habits, distribution, reproductive success, and migratory habits – allows us to assess
whether the MPA is achieving its aims. By virtue of their position in the food web, top predators such
as seals, whales, and penguins integrate the cumulative effects of everything that happens at lower levels.
Changes in the ecosystem, such as annual variation in marine productivity or long-term changes in the
availability of prey, are transmitted via the food web and appear as measurable parameters, such as the
number of breeding penguins or how many seal pups and whale calves are born each year. We just need a
way of decoding the signal.
While long-term data sets exist for selected areas and subpopulations (such as the Weddell seals of Erebus
Bay or the Adélie penguins of the Southern Ross Sea), our understanding of charismatic megafauna at the
scale of the Ross Sea region is still rudimentary. We do not know how many Type C killer whales live in
the Ross Sea region, or where they go to have their calves. For that matter, we do not know with any
10certainty how many Weddell seals there are, due
to their inconvenient habit of spending part of
each day beneath the surface of the ice.
To advance our understanding, we need to study
species not where it is most convenient or apparent
to us, but in a manner that reflects their life cycle
priorities and on scales, in both time and space,
that are truly representative. For seals, whales,
Weddell seals beneath a hole in the sea ice;
and penguins, this means developing technological photo: B. King, Boxfish Research
solutions for studying them in their true home,
the Southern Ocean. Two promising solutions are Adelie penguins swimming;
photo: B. King, Boxfish Research
the development of high-performance remotely
operated vehicles (ROV), such as the Boxfish ROV
we used on our 2018-19 expedition to McMurdo
Sound; and utilisation of recent technological
advances in remote sensing from stationary
cameras, unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs), and
satellites.
Another consideration is that killer whales,
who are properly considered the largest member
of the dolphin family and have the enormous
brains to prove it, perceive the world primarily
through sound, not vision, as we do. Just as a Killer whales underwater;
dog’s reality is different from ours and shaped photo: R. Eisert, University of Canterbury/@TPAonIce
by its phenomenal sense of smell, toothed
whales including dolphins, killer whales, and
sperm whales use echolocation to ‘see’ the world
around them. One theory for why toothed
whales have such large brains is to provide the
extra processing power required to analyse
exceedingly complex acoustic signals. The Top
Predator Antarctic Research Programme (TPA)
has established passive acoustic monitoring of
Type-C killer whales in the Ross Sea to gain a
better understanding of their ecology and social
structure.
The iconic inhabitants of the Great White South
have fascinated multiple generations of scientists,
explorers, and enthusiastic citizens, many of
whom caught the ‘Antarctic bug’ from an inspiring
teacher or public speaker. The value of flagship
species such as whales, seals, and penguins is
immense, not just for scientific research, but also
for raising awareness for marine conservation and
for promoting the responsible stewardship of one
of the last wild places on Earth.
By Regina Eisert, University of Canterbury/ @TPAonIce
Acknowledgement: The author gratefully acknowledges funding from MPI, UNEP, and
from the Pew Charitable Trusts, in-kind support from Boxfish Research Ltd., as well as
excellent logistics support provided by Antarctica New Zealand. All images were taken in
accordance with permits issued by the DOC and MFAT.
Killer whale among the sea ice, McMurdo Sound; Map showing the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area in relation to NZ and Antarctica;
photo: R. Eisert, University of Canterbury/@TPAonIce. credit: R. Eisert, University of Canterbury/@TPAonIce.DISCOVER, EXPLORE
AND ENGAGE BETTER
WITH OUR WORLD
Studying science at AUT will help you
develop the skills to build a rewarding
career, undertake scientific research MEET SOME OF OUR
and contribute to a sustainable future. STUDENTS
With 13 undergraduate majors and
pathways to postgraduate study, AUT
offers the opportunities and support to
grow in the field.
Just point your phone camera here!
Study with nationally
and internationally
recognised lecturers
Our science students
aut.ac.nz/science have access to the latest
technology and labsRedeveloping Scott Base for the future
Since Scott Base’s establishment in 1957, with architects, civil and structural engineers,
New Zealand has had a continuous presence and building services consultants to develop the
in Antarctica. The base has had numerous optimal solution for the new base. The concept
upgrades and redevelopments, with the last major and preliminary design produced a preferred
infrastructure investment occurring in the mid- solution that replaces the current 12 separate
1990s. The current facility is reaching the end of buildings, with three large interconnected
its functional life and safety risks are escalating. buildings and a separate helicopter hangar.
We have to mitigate increasing points of failure at
The building furthest up the hill contains dining
Scott Base as the buildings, materials and systems
and welfare spaces, in addition to accommodation
are deteriorating with age.
to support up to 100 people. The middle
As part of Budget 2019, Antarctica New Zealand building will house science support facilities and
received funding for the next phase of the Scott management offices, while the building closest
Base Redevelopment project. This allows us to to the Ross Sea will be for engineering, cargo,
complete a developed and detailed design, procure and storage. The hangar has capacity for two
a main contractor, and finalise the project’s helicopters and other functions to support science.
Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation.
The project has a number of unique design,
The seven-person project team has been working logistical and construction challenges.
Extensive snow modelling showed that elevating
the base on stilts allows wind to pass under the
buildings, providing the most effective solution to
reduce the impact of snow drifts.
Logistically, a singular resupply ship per year
means that all cargo must be meticulously planned
and optimised. The current Scott Base will be
removed from Antarctica and brought back to
New Zealand.
The environment also makes building in
Antarctica difficult. The short summer
construction window, and the relatively
constrained site - due to the location of the
existing base, and prevalence of the Ross Sea - add
to the complexity. And all of this while minimising
the disruption to science and general operations
makes the project that much more challenging!
The developed and detailed design are due for
completion in 2021, when we’ll present the
Government with a final proposal for funding.
This exciting project will produce a new
Scott Base that will provide a fit for purpose,
environmentally sustainable, functional and
efficient research base which will support our
science programme in Antarctica for decades to
come.
If you have any further questions, please contact
Antarctica NZ at sbrproject@antarcticanz.govt.nz
(left) Three views of the proposed design for the future Scott Base; images: Antarctica NZ / Jasmax
/ Hugh Broughton Architects
13Micro-organisms in the volcanic vents of
Erebus – a key to life on
other planets?
“
We are looking for
bacteria that are accessing
new sources of energy,
using methods only
theoretically possible.
This will not only provide
us with an exciting new
foundation for the
limits of life on this
planet, but for life on
other planets
”
Fumarole on Mt Erebus; photo: Alasdair Turner
Helicopter on Tramway Ridge below the summit of Mt Erebus, southernmost Field work at a geothermal vent on Mt Erebus; in the distance, the mountains of the Royal Society Range
active volcano on Earth; photo: Craig Cary, University of Waikato on the far side of McMurdo Sound; photo: Craig Cary, University of Waikato
14A team from the University of Waikato and One of the collaborators on the project,
University of Canterbury, led by Professor Craig Slava Epstein from Northeastern University,
Cary, has received nearly $1million in a Marsden has developed culture chambers that can
research grant to study unique micro-organisms be stuck down the bore holes drilled by the
that live in the geothermal fumaroles of Mt team, so they can incubate the bacteria in
Erebus in Antarctica. situ.
The research will break new ground as they will “Most bacteria in the world have never been
be drilling to access deep subsurfaces near the cultured, so to culture bacteria from such
summit of the active volcano (3794m), which has a hard-to-reach place with such unusual
never been attempted before. chemistry is incredibly exciting,” says
This will make the fieldwork very challenging, as Professor Cary.
Professor Cary says, “no one knows how to drill “We are looking for bacteria that are
into the geothermal surface of this volcano. We’re accessing new sources of energy, using
developing technology so we can continually methods only theoretically possible. This
monitor and observe, using temperature sensors, will not only provide us with an exciting
but it is an unknown.” new foundation for the limits of life on this
planet, but for life on other planets.”
By drilling up to 10m into the sub-surface, the
team hope to gain access to micro-organisms This research will take place over four
that survive in the unique geochemistry on the seasons on Mt Erebus, beginning at the
mountain. end of this year. The first phase will be
an exploration or ‘shake-down’, in which
“You only have to go 10cm deep to start
researchers will test every tool, to see how it
discovering micro-organisms that aren’t found
works exploring the sub-surface plumbing
anywhere else in the world,” says Professor Cary.
they will ultimately have to drill through.
This project will build on previous research
The following seasons will be intense, with a
undertaken by Professor Cary and his team of
larger team travelling to the site, including a
Professor Ian McDonald and Dr Charles Lee,
telecommunications person who will create
initially funded by National Geographic then
a network on the mountain so the data can
subsequently by a Marsden Fund grant. Their
be monitored from anywhere in the world.
most recent papers indicated the need to go deeper
into the sub-surface, resulting in this new study. The team hopes to put in place a significant
outreach programme, so those in New
“As well as our previous research, the University
Zealand can see what is happening in real-
of Waikato has a rich history in working on
time.
the top of Mt Erebus. Emeritus
Professors Roy Daniel “This project is formidable, and a testament
and Hugh Morgan, to New Zealand’s willingness to support
who built the high-risk science in very difficult to get to
Thermophile places, with a hopefully big payoff. We’re
aiming to find some unusual bacteria doing
unusual things,” says Professor Cary.
The team’s possible findings could have
ramifications for basic science, but also a
Research Unit at the University, went up the mountain myriad of possible applications commercially
first to cultivate the micro-organisms found there,” says and in the search for life on other planets,
Professor Cary. due to the geochemistry involved.
As well as going deeper, this new study will involve the “We’re aiming to extend the boundaries
team growing the bacteria on site and at Scott Base, of understanding on how life can exist on
a task not usually undertaken, as the conditions the this planet, and thrive in these extreme
micro-organisms exist in are extremely difficult to environments,” says Professor Cary.
replicate. By Rosie Harris
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 15Antarctica New Zealand’s new CEO
(Left) Sarah Williamson, CEO, Antarctica NZ practice and ways of doing
(Below) Scott Base; photo: Anthony Powell, Antarctica NZ
things,” she says.
LOOKING AHEAD
“My vision is for Antarctica
New Zealand to continue
our gold standard logistics in
an environment that’s really
difficult; to communicate
what’s happening on a
continent that is a long way
away; and to make sure we
support the best science we can,
because that is so important in
a warming planet,” she says
The Scott Base Redevelopment
project is a vital part of this.
Sarah Williamson’s affinity with Antarctica began
In Budget 2019, the Government committed
the same way as it did for many of us, through the
$18.5 million for the next phase of the Scott
heroic tales of early explorers.
Base Redevelopment project. This funding will
“My mum is a Cantabrian, she introduced me to be utilised over the next two years to complete a
Scott’s journey and to some of the amazing early detailed design of the proposed new base. It also
Antarctic explorers. means the Redevelopment team can start working
“The hardships they went through, their strength with the construction industry on how best to
of character, what they sacrificed and the true deliver the preferred design.
grit they showed, that began the fascination with “This is a chance for us to take a set of buildings
Antarctica for me,” she says. that have been built-up over time, and put in place
Sarah took the helm at Antarctica New Zealand a great new facility that helps our world-leading
at the end of June, after 19 years with Air New scientists continue their vital research.
Zealand in a variety of roles, most recently as “The place they live in needs to be set up in a safe
Group General Manager Business Performance and environmentally sustainable way, in what is a
leading a range of operational, logistical and relatively hostile environment,” she says.
corporate areas.
C H R I S T C H U R C H ’ S R O L E I N A N TA R C T I C A
She lives in Ladbrooks with her husband and two
teenage daughters. “You appreciate how invested Christchurch is as a
gateway city, in making sure it is a great launching
Just six weeks into the role, she has attended the
pad for folks going down to Antarctica, through
Antarctic Science Conference in Christchurch,
Scott and Shackleton and expeditions past, it
announced the Scott Base Redevelopment project
really is part of the fabric of the city,” she says.
design with Minister Peters, attended the Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting and Committee for Her first trip to Antarctica is scheduled for
Environmental Protection meeting in Prague as November and she’s hoping to spend some time in
well as COMNAP in Bulgaria. the field with science events.
“I have quickly learnt that the polar communities “Everyone has said to me that you can’t describe what
are an amazing resource within themselves, they it feels like to be in Antarctica, so I’m really looking
actively and readily share information, best forward to experiencing it first hand,” she says.
16Unlocking clues from ancient fossils
to predict future climate change
“
Victoria University of
Understanding how the VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Wellington has a long OF WELLINGTON - 62
and proud history of Antarctic ice sheets and YEARS ON THE ICE
Antarctic research. Our
Antarctic climate have The University’s reputation
scientists have been on
responded to past periods of as a leading voice on
the ice every year since
climate change can be
1957 and the University’s warmer temperatures and largely attributed to the
Antarctic Research Centre
higher CO2 levels is critical Antarctic Research Centre’s
was established in 1972
dedication to understanding
to further strengthen and for figuring out how they the past, the present and
extend our research in
Antarctica. may respond to present the future impacts of the
climate, and its research
“Climate change is one
of the most important
issues facing humanity and
changes to the climate.
” collaborations with other
groups in this space,
including GNS Science and
there is a major role for the National Institute for
environmental scientists to provide evidence and Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), which
advice to decision makers. It is an urgent and are based in Wellington. A major area of interest
challenging area, but one in which it is not too to students and the public is improving predictions
late to make a huge difference,” says Professor of how Antarctic ice melt will contribute to
Tim Naish, who future sea level rise and how this will affect New
is an Zealand.
Tim Naish standing on top of Oliver Bluffs, just below
Naish Peaks, looking across the upper Beardmore Glacier;
photo: Richard Levy
Tim Naish (right)
and colleagues
investigate ancient glacial
sediments in the Beardmore Glacier at
the Cloudmaker; photos: Andy Newman
earth scientist, the former director of the
Antarctic Research Centre, and a lead author
for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change’s fifth assessment report.
18Drilling through sea ice in McMurdo Sound; photo: Dan Zwartz
One of the recent graduates from the Antarctic under current climate change will have wide
Research Centre is Dr Bella Duncan who began ranging implications for the planet. Therefore,
her journey at Victoria understanding how the Antarctic ice sheets and
University of Antarctic climate have responded to past periods
ork near Mt Discovery, McMur
ca n d
oing fi
eldw do So
und;
of warmer temperatures and higher CO2
D un pic
B ella B. D
u nca levels is critical for figuring out how they
n
may respond to present changes to the
climate.”
“It’s a privilege to be able to
work in an area contributing to
our understanding of climate
change.”
A N TA R C T I C F I E L D W O R K
Bella says visiting and conducting
research in Antarctica has been a
career highlight. “I vividly remember
picking up rocks containing leaf fossils
and understanding that the now icy, barren
landscape I was standing on had once been
Wellington covered in forests.”
studying for a Bachelor of “Being an Antarctic scientist can lead you
Science in Geology and Geography in 2007. After through a big range of emotions. There are days
her first year, she was hooked on earth science when researching the impacts of climate change
and went on to complete a Master of Science can make you feel pretty frustrated and down, but
and PhD and was given the opportunity to visit conversely there are also times of optimism, hope,
Antarctica as part of those studies. and the excitement of scientific discovery.”
She now works as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow The University offers a variety of unique
within the Antarctic Research Centre where she opportunities for students to study, and even visit
uses molecular fossils - the chemical remnants Antarctica, whilst working alongside the leaders
of once living plants and other organisms - to in Antarctic research in New Zealand. These
look at the climate in Antarctica during periods opportunities include investigating Antarctica
of warmer temperatures and higher atmospheric through the lens of geophysics, geology and
CO2 in the past. climatology, to computer modelling and data
“This is a pretty new area of research, and, in science. Our science also has direct applications to
particular, hasn’t been used much in Antarctica. decision making, policy, and law.
It’s so exciting to discover what our planet used to “I’d really encourage young people to take up the
be like. challenge of climate and environmental change
“Antarctica plays a key role in our global research to help shape a more resilient and
climate system, and what happens there sustainable future,” says Tim. By Lucy Dickie.
Vol 37, Nos. 3 & 4, 2019 19Left to right: Rebecca Jarvis, Len Gillman, Ashray Doshi, Barbara Bollard at Lake Fryxell, Taylor Valley; photo: Len Gillman Mapping biodiversity in a changing Antarctica Until comparatively recently, conservation Trips to Antarctica have become a regular feature scientists faced a dilemma - despite their on the AUT science research calendar, starting in commitment to preserving the environment, 2014 when the team flew UAVs in the McMurdo researching those environments left a detrimental Dry Valleys (Spaulding Pond and Taylor Valley). footprint. Dr Bollard and her team won a prestigious Conservation researcher Dr Barbara Bollard, NZARI grant in 2015 to develop methods for an Associate Professor at Auckland University operating UAVs for zero-impact research in rare of Technology (AUT), decided to explore the and extreme environments. The team was so potential of emerging technology in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. She had UAV in Taylor Valley; photo: Len Gillman experienced years of frustration trying to find ‘cloud free’ days over New Zealand to map conservation areas from space, so drones which flew below the clouds seemed a perfect solution. Fast forward seven years and Dr Bollard with AUT’s UAV team are now using drones to map the most extreme environments on the planet, in Antarctica. The group includes PhD and MSc students, as well as AUT Head of Science Professor Len Gillman and engineer Ashray Doshi. 20
successful that they were invited back for several giant mirror reflecting UV light back into space. If
seasons by Antarctica NZ to create ‘baseline’ it loses significant amounts of ice-cover, the planet
maps of vegetation in will be screwed”.
Botany Bay, and other
Operating in what is
Antarctic Specially
the driest, coldest and
Protected Areas (ASPAs)
windiest place on Earth
in the McMurdo Dry
has its challenges. Dr
Valleys. These three
Bollard says “due to the
dimensional maps with
impact of the freezing
sub-centimetre resolution
air on the UAV batteries,
are now being used for
I had to sew special
management planning.
thermal underwear for
Camping out in freezing them in the field, which
conditions, the team allowed them to keep
used a 2.5m-wide fixed- flying for extended
wing drone along with a periods!”
custom built multirotor,
Having hours of light
engineered by Ashray
that stretch around the
Doshi, to withstand the
clock mean extremely
extreme environmental
Location of the three large McMurdo Dry Valleys in relation to Ross Island; long days to meet tight
conditions, such as the credit: Land Information New Zealand
deadlines, and often the
freezing temperatures
scientists work through
and high winds. While there, they took thousands
the night. Time on the ice is always limited and
of images to make detailed maps of the
very little science can be done in the dark winter
environment, and in some locations were even
months.
able to map the human impact, right down to
individual footprints left by previous scientists. Today, many of the projects the team have
worked on have been turned into virtual reality
For mapping vegetation (mosses and lichens), the
(VR) experiences, giving insights into parameters
cameras had to be specially modified to capture
that would not have been otherwise noticed. Dr
different electro-magnetic signatures reflected
Bollard says that by being able to view areas in
from the unique plants and cyanobacterial mats.
3D, they can look at the relationship between
The resulting map provides baseline data where things grow and how they grow.
for follow-up surveys monitoring changes
More recently, the team have provided time and
to vegetation. It is also being used in the
expertise to map 3D models of the interior and
conservation of Antarctic landforms at risk from
exterior of historical huts for VR experiences, so
climate change.
soon the public will be able to experience some of
As Professor Gillman says, “Antarctica acts as a Antarctica’s human history.
Camp at Canada Glacier, Taylor Valley; photo: Len Gillman
21You can also read
