AMLR 2003 Weekly Report No. 1

13 January 2003

 

1. The Russian R/V Yuzhmorgeologiya departed Punta Arenas, Chile at 2355 on 9 January 2003 in route to the U.S. AMLR study area in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Good weather was experienced during the transit and landfall was made at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island at 1600, 12 January.

 

2. Provisions, mail and personnel (R. Holt, SW Fisheries Science Center; D. Krause, SWFSC) were transferred to the Cape Shirreff field camp. Operations were successful although conditions were marginal.

 

3. Ship transited to Admiralty Bay, King George Island and anchored in Ezcurra Inlet. Excellent weather conditions were experienced. The acoustic system was calibrated and provisions, mail and personnel (W. Trivelpiece, SWFSC, and I. Saxer) were transferred to the Copacabana field camp without incident.

 

4. Tomorrow (14 January) The ship will begin a survey of bio-oceanographic conditions in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands. The survey area consists of four strata. Planned order of coverage will be the South Area (Bransfield Strait), followed by the West Area (north of Livingston and King George Islands), followed by the Elephant Island Area, followed by the Joinville Island Area.

 

5. Numerous icebergs, particularly in the shelf areas surrounding the islands, will require adjustments to planned transects and station positions.

 

4. Scientific party aboard includes:

R. Hewitt, SWFSC, chief scientist

A. Dizon, SWFSC, acoustics

V. Loeb, Moss Landing Marine Labs, zooplankton

A. Jenkins,SWFSC, small boats, zooplankton

R. Rowley, Moss Landing Marine Labs, small boats, zooplankton

N. Gong, UCSC, zooplankton

M. Force, SWFSC, zooplankton

S. Wilson, VIMS, zooplankton

C. Ware, Sea Grant, zooplankton

J. Reum, UCSC, zooplankton

M. Prowse, South Africa, oceanography, ET support

D. Needham, South Africa, oceanography, ET support

C. Hewes, SIO, phytoplankton

J. Lipsky, SWFSC, lipid extractions and scat analysis

J. Santora, CUNY, bird and marine mamal obs.

S. Mitra, CUNY, bird and marine mamal obs.

 

R. Hewitt sends