ASA/AESOPS/JGOFS NEWS & INFO
THE NEW YEAR NEWSLETTER
I have included several topics in this Newsletter which I hope
will be of interest to all of you. Following the Vessel Report
are items concerning future cruises and other subjects that
ASA is working on in support of the Southern Ocean AESOPS/JGOFS
Project.
VESSEL REPORT-
The Research Vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer departed the "Ice Pier"
at McMurdo Station, Antarctica on January 13, 1997 at 0000 local time
to begin the Process Study II Cruise. The Chief Scientist for this
cruise will be Dr. John Marra from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
The cruise will end at McMurdo on February 11, 1997.
The vessel daily situation report, submitted by ASA's Marine
Project Coordinator follows. Janet Barnes will be the MPC for this
cruise.
R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER DAILY SITUATION REPORT
GMT DATE: 14-15 Jan 97
GMT TIME: 1800 0000 0600 1200
POSITION:
LAT: 76 30.0'S 76 30.5'S 76 30.0'S 76 30.1'S
LONG: 169 02.8'E 169 02.2'E 169 58.0'E 172 00.4'E
WEATHER:
TEMPERATURE (C): +0.35 +2.38 -1.4 -5.4
AIR PRESSURE (MB): 996.8 986.9 988.1 989.7
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%): 66.9 60.25 77.1 88.1
WIND SPEED (KN): 18 10.49 14-16 22.01
WIND DIRECTION (DEG): 260 358.6 140 148.9
SEA SURFACE TEMP (C): N.D.
SALINITY (PPM): N.D.
VISIBILITY (NM): 10 unrestr 10 6-8
CLOUDS (%): 50/S.C./Cu 60/S.C. 100/S.C. 100/S.C.
SEA STATE: 3 3-4 4 4-5
SEA ICE:
ICE TOTAL (TENTHS): polynya polynya polynya polynya
NEW & GREY ICE:
GREY-WHITE:
THIN ICE (30-60):
MED ICE (60-120):
THICK ICE (120-200):
OLD ICE 2 Yr. Plus:
SNOW DEPTH (CM):
ICE PRESSURE:
ENGINES/PITCH: on station 2/50% on station on station
PME on line 2 thrusters 2 M/E idle,
900RPM, on line, 2 ME bow & stern
2 thrusters declutched thrusters
FUEL ON BOARD (@ 0000): 363,600
REMARKS: At 0000 this morning the NBP began over the side activities
(OTS) at Station E, 76 30'S and 172 E with an MLML bottle cast. This
area was also filled many ice bergs, bergie bits and growlers wind and
water carved into all shapes and sizes. The green water (from the
plankton blooms), the white bergs and the brilliant blue ice made for
great picture taking for us first timers as well as some of the old
timers! We occupied this station until 1700 with a busy OTS schedule:
0100 CTD-9 (0-bottom), 0300 MLML bottle cast, 0500 ring net, 0600 MLML
bottle cast, 0800 trace metal rosette, 1030 MLML bottle cast, 1200 CTD-10
(0-250m), and at 1500 we Mochnessed our way towards station Z (76 30'S
and 174E).
Station Z was a short one with the following OTS activities: 1900 trace
metal rosette, CTD 11 (0-bottom), 2130 Mochness tow, and a 2330 ring net
tow. We then left for Station "O" (76 30'S and 176E).
At 2016 radio communications were established with MACOPS on 11553.0.
Position and weather were reported. No messages from either end.
The scientists are very excited about the diversity and amount of the
plankton. As we move east, we appear to be witnessing the decline of the
large plankton bloom identified by the ROAVERRS group.
REGARDS,
Janet Barnes
MPC/NBP97-1
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
SHIPPING-
For those of you who will be on Process III (March 31- May 12)
the date that your cargo must be in Port Hueneme is February 14, 1997.
This is the date which will allow shipment via surface vessel to
New Zealand. The date for commercial air shipping, which is
a great deal more expensive is March 1, 1997.
Please remember to identify your science cargo with
the S-number, NBP cruise #, i.e. NBP 97-3, and Scientist's
name.
AIR TRAVEL-
Those participants on Process III should be getting their
travel request worksheets into the ASA Travel Office.
New Zealand continues to enjoy a busy tourist season and
in order to allow ASA travel to book your flights per your
requests, it helps to makes these reservations early.
MEDICAL CLEARANCES-
Keep in mind that each scientist that works in the US Antarctic
Program must pass an extensive physical/dental exam. Please
make sure this is in order for each participant in your group.
Medical/Dental Clearances are good for one calendar year.
JGOFS PLANNING MEETING-
The next large JGOFS Planning Conference will be held in
Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, on February 3-5. There will
be approximately 50 scientists in attendance, including
members of NSF, ASA, U.S. JGOFS PLANNING OFFICE, SCRIPPS,
and UNIV. OF WASHINGTON.
We will be discussing the last two NATHANIEL B. PALMER
cruises and the four cruises for the ROGER REVELLE.
ASA PERSONNEL-
I am pleased to announce that Ms. Rhonda Kelly has
been appointed to the position of Science Cruise Coordinator.
She has been with ASA for two years sailing aboard the
NATHANIEL B. PALMER. She is presently scheduled to sail
on the JGOFS Process Study III cruise.
OTHER AREAS WE ARE WORKING ON-
ASA will be assisting SCRIPPS and the ROGER REVELLE with
four JGOFS cruises. This support will include shipping, ticketing,
and procurement of consumable lab supplies.
I will be working with SCRIPPS in the coming months to bring
this all together.
STORAGE-
There will be nearly five months between the end of Process III
and Process IV. During this time the NBP will be busy with the
DOVETAIL Project, Shipyard Maintenance, and transits from New
Zealand to Chile. All of you need to consider how best to handle
your science gear during this time frame. ASA is in discussions
now with the DOVETAIL Project to determine their lab and hold-space
requirements. There is storage space in Christchurch and I will
need your estimates as soon as possible.
Please send any questions, comments, or suggestions to me here
in Denver. And best wishes for the NEW YEAR!
Regards,
Jon Alberts