an ews bu lletin new zealand antarctic society

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A N EWS BU LLETIN
published quarterly by the
NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY
MAN HAS HIS USES!
A hole made by marine biologists saves this Weddell seal a lot of trouble.
KJ_!5'i —Official U.S. Navy photograph.
■
Vol. 3, No. 12 DECEMBER, 1964
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, SEP. 1962.
fie l
(Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin")
Vol. 3, No. 12 DECEMBER, 1964
Editor:
L. B. Quartermain, M.A., 1 Ariki Road, Wellington, E.2, New Zealand.
Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to:
Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, N.Z.
BASES AND MEN week, from December 4. The part-'
comprised: Dr. B. G. Ballard
Readers may be interested in the
(Pres. Nat. Research Council, Can
following summary of the Antarctic ada), Mr. E. Martindale (U.K.), Mr.
"divides of the "Treaty Nations". R. E. Radford (Dept. Tech. Co-onera-
ases north of 60°S. have not been
tion, U.K.), Mr. K. A. Quagraine
]Mumbcr of Winter Science, Ghana), Mr. R. D. Amar-
Bases Personnel ashingham (Dept. of Chemistry,
Argentina - 5 89 MGaelna.y sNiaa)t,i vMe r.C oEn. seMr.v aNniccyh,o lUso.Kn. ),( DMir.r-.
NZ:US _.,.. 1 2:11
E. D. A. Davis (Asst. Sec. B.C.S.C),
(Hallett Station)
and Dr. Hamilton.
Belgium ... 1 14
Australia ._ 3 62 Accompanying the party were the
Chile ..._ .._.. ...... 4 39 following New Zealanders: the Hon.
France — — .-_ 1 20 B. E. Talboys, M.P. (N.Z. Minister of
Japan — — _- 1 Science), Mr. J. T. Andrews (Chair
(inopera man Nat. Research Advisory Coun
tive) cil), Mr. L. A. Atkinson (Chairman,
New Zealand ... 1 13 State Services Commission) and Mr.
Norway ._ 1 G. C. Fortune (Dept. of External
(not occu Affairs).
pied)
South Africa - 1 13
U.S.A ... 4 274
United Kingdom 98 ARE YOU SAVING UP FOR THAT
U.S.S.R — ...... 4 87 TOURIST TRIP TO THE
ANTARCTIC?
Total of occupied bases: 32. Dr. P. G. Law is one of those who
Total wintering personnel: 722. believe that the Antarctic has real
possibilities as a tourist resort. He
believes that the dream of a tourist
SCIENTISTS GOING SOUTH
liner bound on a holiday tour "out
At the conclusion of the meeting of of this world" may become a reality
the British Commonwealth Scientific sooner than most people think.
Committee at Massey University of
But if you are thinking of going,
Manawatu in late November, and a
New Zealand tour, a small party of read on —
the visiting scientists visited Ant "If such a trip were advertised as
arctica at the invitation of Dr. W. M. sufficiently exclusive," Dr. Law is
Hamilton, Director-General of the reported as saying, "one would ex
N.Z. Department of Scientific and perience no great difficulty in attract
Industrial Research, and by courtesy ing a number of patrons at a cost of
of Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy, U.S.N. about 510,000 (£4,500) each for a
The visitors will be accommodated three weeks' stay in Antarctica."
at Scott Base for approximately a Shall we put your name down?
A N T A R C T I C December, 1964
NEW ZEALAND FIELD PARTIES
BEGIN SEASON'S WORK
Of the ten specific projects in areas ranging from Northern
Victoria Land to the South Pole, which comprise the field work
objectives ot this summer's New Zealand Antarctic Research
Programme, all but four were being vigorously implemented by
mid-November.
As this issue of Antarctic goes to
CROZIER TRIP OFF
press New Zealand's summer pro
gramme of field work is well under .As Dr. Ewan Young is unable to
way and the change-over of person go south this year, the proposed skua-
nel at Scott Base has been com study at Cape Crozier will not even
pleted. tuate. B. Cope, who was to have been
Dr. Young's assistant, will now par
Not all of the men listed will be
ticipate in the Balleny Islands expedi
spending the whole summer in the tion.
field. A few arc engaged in special
projects of short duration.
LINCOLN SCIENTISTS
The first group of new men left
Christchurch by air for McMurdo on A two-man field party from
October 15. Adrian Hayter, the leader Lincoln College left Scott Base
for 1955, had taken over from Russell on November 23. At Cape Choco
Rawle on October 8. The first relief late and Lake Alph the soil
team comprised A. L. Burrows, scientists, P. Stevens and J. Wil
senior technical officer; C. Hough, liams, will investigate processes of
fitter mechanic; B. B. Dorrington, soil formation on a sequence of dif
fitter electrician; D. J. Haycock, ferent moraines. This project is
cook, and R. Wright, storcman". With related to similar work Stevens has
these winter-party men travelled C. been doing at the Franz Josef Glacier.
H. Zwaaneveld of the D.S.I.R. who The party was flown the 35 miles
went south to inspect the all-sky from Scott Base to Cape Chocolate
cameras installed last year at Scott and was to bc shifted in about 10
Base and Byrd Station. days' time to Lake Alph, 25 miles
farther south. At each ot these places
INTO THE FIELD they will trek over an area of about
40 square miles.
The first field party of the summer
season left Scott Base on October 24.
CHANGES
Vulcanologist Dr. A. Ewart was
taken by a dog sledge 30 miles to A few changes have been made in
Cape Royds, and two soil scientists, the summer programme outlined in
Dr. G. Claridge and I. Campbell, were our last issue.
flown to Cape Hallett.
The full Victoria University team
Dr. Ewart is studying lava flow was not placed in the field till Nov
in the McMurdo area to make com ember 24. University students cannot
parisons with the origins of some ignore examinations even when the
New Zealand volcanic areas. Antarctic sirens call.
The soil scientists were to spend H. J. Cranfield, one of three bro
about two weeks at Cape Hallett and thers who have played a prominent
were helped by Scott Base field part in New Zealand's Antarctic
assistant David Lowe, in making activities, is checking the penguin
short man-hauling sledge trips in the population at Hallett for the Dom
inion Museum.
December, 1964
PARTY LEADER CRIPPLED In order to maintain the team at
four-man strength, I. B. McDonald
Bad luck has quickly befallen the of the wintering party, a very experi
Northern Geological and Survey enced mountaineer, will temporarily
party. The team was flown on Nov join the Northern Party. The other
ember 22 for 150 miles from Scott members of this party are Dr. P. F.
Base to Carapace Nunatak (76* 50' Ballance, Dr. W. A. Watters and Dr.
J. A. Townrow, a botanist from Tas
S., 159° 3' E.) on the plateau above
the head of the Mackay Glacier. The mania.
same day a message received at Ant As well as studying the conglomer
arctic Division headquarters in ate referred to above, the geologists
Wellington said: will examine its relationship to rocks
"Project 2 report Warren simple above and below. Some of the sand
break left leg no other injuries at wiching rocks contain thin seams of
Carapace Nunatak Others with him poor quality coal with abundant leaf
and tree-trunk fossils. Carbonaceous
position comfortable tent pitched
over Warren. Helicopter left now beds with leaf impressions are also
1415 hours with doctor and McDon present in the Mount Fleming area.
ald to replace Warren." Dr. Townrow will collect specimens
This was within an hour of tr»t for subsequent detailed laboratory
accident. And at 5.30 a.m. next day study.
Warren, accompanied by Zwaanc-
veld arrived at Christchurch airport, GEOLOGISTS' RANGE
and was admitted to Christchurch
Public Hospital. His leg was frac Le Couteur's party was due to get
tured above the ankle when he fell into the field in early December. On
a few feet. As weather conditions November 26 it was reported that
hampered radio contact, the party Ford was preparing the party's equip
got in touch with Scott Base by ment and that Le Couteur and Lucy
using morse. had placed a dump for the party at
82° 35' S., 156° 20' E.
Guyon Warren is employed by the
Geological Survey D.S.I.R. at Christ
church. As a member of the New EMPEROR ROOKERY
Zealand component of the Trans- FOUND
Antarctic Expedition, he was in the
first New Zealand party to winter in John Cranfield reported from Hal
the Antarctic. In February, 1957, with lett on November 9 that a Bishop
Gunn and Heine he climbed Mt.
Museum entomologist and a New
[armsworth, the first major peak to Zealand biologist, with the co-opera
be scaled on the actual Antarctic tion of U.S. Army helicopter crews,
Continent. He spent a short period had found a previously unknown
when he was one of the two geolo Emperor penguin rookery and six
new Adelie penguin rookeries in th'
gunisdtse r iLnt .-tChder . TF..A .RE.. BNrooortkhee rinn 1P9a5r7ty- vicinity of Cape Hallett.
58, and was keen to return to com The Emperor rookery is computed
to contain 11,600 chicks. It is situated
plete his study of the geology of the
under Ca^e Roget, which is at the
northern end of Moubray Bay in
fm^mmKmSM
Victoria Land, about 20 miles from
Hallett Station.
rock formation at the Nunataks,
where fossil plants and fresh-water At the Coulman Island Emperor
crustaceans covering a geological penguin rookery, the count showed
sequence from 150 to 300 million 21,000 chicks. One of the new Adelie
years have been found. Their inten rookeries, on Foyn Island, the largest
tion is to man-haul their two sledges of the Possession Islands, contained
the 20 miles to the Allan Nunatak approximately 60,000 penguins. The
before being air-lifted to Mount previously known rookery on the
Fleming, 75 miles on the way back to Possession Islands contained approxi
Scott Base. mately 300,000 birds.
December, 1964
FOSSIL PUZZLE When this shift is made, Mansergh
Antarctic history has links with will be replaced by David Lowe.
the geological work to be done by a Since ihe party will be in the field
field party that left Scott Base on until next year, at a spot about half
November 12. way between Scott Base and the
When both Scott and Shackleton South Pole, some Christmas "cheer"
were sledging up the Beardmore is packed with their supplies as well
Glacier they gathered rock speci as a six-inch Christmas tree.
mens containing coral-like fossils.
Such rock samples were found on
ALL-SKY CAMERAS
sledges at the tent where Scott's
party died, and accompanying notes BEING CHECKED
explained where the rocks were col New Zealand-built "all-sky cam
lected. eras" are being checked after their
The fossils have been dated to bc first winter in the Antarctic. They
about 600,000,000 years old—the were designed at the Physics and
oldest ever found in Antarctica.
Engincring Laboratory of the
Called "archaeocyathids", these fos
D.S.I.R., Graccfield. (See "Antarctic",
sils are also known in the Soviet
March, 1964, p. 384.)
Union and Australia.
illiiwmSfflB Apart from the prototype, built at
the laboratory, they have been manu
factured by a Wellington electrical
lar fossils in a limestone formation
on part of the Holyoake Range, north engineering company. Five of these
cameras are being used at Antarctic
of the Nimrod Glacier.
stations — one at Scott Base, another
Laird was unable to obtain com at Byrd Station, and one at each of
plete information on the rock forma the Australian stations — Mawson,
tion, so he is now leading a four-man Wilkes, and Davis.
party in the area. The party were
flown by U.S. VX6 Squadron aircraft In Antarctica these cameras photo
to a site near the Nimrod Glacier, graph the aurora from March through
400 miles south of Scott Base. to about September. As well as giv
During the next two and a half ing information on upper atmosphere
months in the field they will use happenings all-sky photographs help
motor toboggan-drawn sledges to tell the type and quantity of radia
cover an area of about 2,000 square tion being received by the earth.
miles. Other members of the party, The Antarctic climate has caused
Dave Massam, John Chappell and the film movement to jam and the
Graham Mansergh, will assist in skywards transparent dome to fog
working out where the fossilised over. In counteracting these prob
limestone fits in, in relation to other lems slight modifications have been
rocks of the area. made to the cameras at Byrd Station
The party also will study a series and Scott Base by Mr. Zwaaneveld,
of lower lying rocks in which are an officer of the P.E.L.
low quality coal seams, and they will Because of the Antarctic's low
geologically map the whole area. humidity the film curls. More power
This work will bc made possible has been fed to the spool that winds
by observinu the exposed face of the the film onwards and pressure plates
5,000 ft. high Cambrian Bluff, at the have been added to press the film
southern end of the Holyoake Ran^e, flat against the lens base. To prevent
that has been eroded by the Nimrod condensation in the transparent
Glacier. dome Mr. Zwaaneveld has added a
After six and a half weeks the moisture collecting trap to the
party will be airlifted across the 15- camera units. Warm air on a closed
mile-wide Nimrod Glacier to gain a circuit is blown through the dome,
knowledge of the geological struc but now before entering the dome
ture on both sides of the glacier and it passes through a metal box at out
plot the extent to which the fossilised side temperature where any con
limestone continues south. densation occurs.
December, 1964
THE SCIENCE LABORATORY AT SCOTT BASE.
Photo: Guy Mannering.
BIOLOGISTS BUSY SCOUTS
Biologists from the University of The three Queen's Scouts to work
Canterbury are working for the in the Antarctic this summer, D. 0.
fourth consecutive year in the Mc Crerar, W. W. Janssen and B. K. Ser
Murdo area. Dr. B. Stonehouse and vice, are lo go South on H.M.N.Z.S.
technician I. Harkess went south on "Endeavour" scheduled to leave New
November 1 and were replaced after Zealand on December 6 on her first
University exams by I. Spellerberg, voyage of the 1964-65 season. All
J. Hay and G. Yeates. M. S. R. Smith, three boys are 17 years of age and
a Ph.D. student who wintered at were carefully chosen from a very
Scott Base in 1963 will be seal- large number of qualified applicants,
marking for a short period. Most a dozen of whom were interviewed
attention will be given to further in Wellington for the final selection.
observation of Adelie penguins and
to measures for penguin and seal
conservation.
"Four more males have joined the
New Zealand Antarctic Research
BURSARY STUDENTS Programme force at Scott Base,"
reports John Murphy, the P.R.O.
Hay and Yeates are the first stud They are the four sons of Virgo and
ents to be assisted under the fund Podge, born on November 16. They
established by the Canterbury are the first dogs to be born since
Branch of the New Zealand Antarc about June and arc progressing well
tic Society. under the care of surveyor Bill Lucy.
December, 1964
New Zealand Expedition to the
Balleny and Ross Sea Islands
A more determined attempt is to be made this summer to
examine in some detail the Balleny Islands, on which several brief
landings were made last season.
The "assault" will be made by 14 assistant, both experienced alpinists
New Zealanders with the assistance with considerable Antarctic experi
of the U.S.S. "Glacier", the U.S. ence, will be landed at selected spots
Navy's most powerful icebreaker, for periods of up to 24 hours.
during January, February and early The U.S. authorities plan to map
March next year. The exact time the islands with trimetrogon aerial
table had not been finalised at time
of going to press, but in general ^hoto^raphv and asked New Zealand
to provide a surveyor to obtain
terms the plan is to spend about a
pround control astro-fix stations.
fortnight at the Ballenys, and shorter
Eight terrestrial and marine biolo
periods at Cape Adare, Robertson gists from thc United States an*'
Bay, the Possession Islands, Mou- tralia will also take part in mC
bIsrlaayn dB aayn,d CBoeualmufaonrt IIssllaanndd,. Franklin expedition.
NEW ZEALAND TEAM ROSS SEA ISLANDS
The part" will be led by Elliott W. At the other islands a shorter
Dawson of the Oceanographic Insti programme of offshore biological
tute. With him in the Marine Biology stations, shore collecting of biologi
and Oceanography group will be J. C. cal and geological samples and in
McDougall, J. G. Gibbs and two tech most cases astro-fix and survey will
nicians, one of whom will also be the be attempted. During the crossings
expedition photographer. Other scien from site to site biological stations
tists will be the magneticians N. will be made as required and in
Roberts and D. G. Innes, geologist most cases the proton magnetometer
B. C. Waterhouse, and two terrestrial will be streamed. Special attention
will be given to the submarine ridge
biologists. The surveyor will be an
experienced man who has wintered which is believed to link the Balleny
at Scott Base, M. R. J. Ford, and he region with Macquarie Island by way
will have a capable assistant. of the Hjort Seamount. It is hoped
to cross the ridge completely each
THE BALLENY ISLANDS time about 30 miles apart from
11 • oceanographic work around about 1,500 to 2,000 fathoms on each
side. Similar work, to thc extent that
.alleny Islands will include con time allows, will be done along the
tinuous echo-sounding both inshore North Macquarie Ridge linking Mac
and offshore and dredging and trawl
quarie Island and New Zealand.
ing at selected stations. A running
survey will be made along both An extensive programme of Nuclear
sides of the island chain. A magneto Sampling is planned, two-gallon pre
meter will be streamed at all times cipitation samples being collected at
when the ship is under way. Shore all islands and other places of special
biological and geological collecting interest, as well as at every five de
will be carried out at all points grees of latitude between the Balleny
where landings can be effected, using Islands and New Zealand whenever
helicopters or landing craft. Astro- precipitation occurs. Ship to shore
fixes and survey for ground control party communications will be by
of trimetrogon photography are rc- field-sledge radio sets for two-way
nuired, and the surveyor and his voice and WT communications.
December, 1964
LANDING ON THE BALLENYS
U.S. helicopter lands New Zealand scientists on spit between Sabrina
Island and the Monolith, March 1964.
Photo: Guy Mannering.
CARRY ON, SAILOR! It reads: "And thou, son of man,
take thee a sharp knife, take thee
A Biblical message crackled be
a barber's razor and cause it to pass
tween Navy Office in Wellington and
Scott Base — and all over a sailor's upon thine head and upon thy
beard."
beard.
The hirsute matelot was 22-year-
old Leading Cook B. D. George,
proud possessor of what a naval SEARCH AND RESCUE
spokesman described as "a mon
strous red beard". Inspector L. D. Bridge of Police
Headquarters, Wellington, made his
Preparing to return to civilisation seventh visit to the Antarctic when
after the winter, he signalled his
he spent some weeks at McMurdo
parent "ship", the landbound Navy in October assisting in the training
Office:
of the U.S. team there under Antarc
"Request permission to continue tic conditions. As Captain Bridge, he
shaving. Discontinued June, 1962.' was Leader at Scott Base durfrg the
He thus complied with an R.N.Z.N. 1960-61 summer. With him as in
ordinance that, to prevent sailors structors on the present course are
merely missing a shave for several W. Bevan, R. Scott, A. Cookson, J.
days or weeks, they get permission Ede and P. Bielski. The course is
to begin growing beards and, if needs organised by the Federated Moun
be, again to start shaving. tain Clubs of New Zealand in co
The Navy Office signalled back: operation with the Antarctic Divi-
"See Ezekiel chapter 5, verse 1."
December, 1964
KEEPING WATCH ON THE Lewis and Hetherington have re
turned to New Zealand after their
BEACON SATELLITE year at Scott Base, but the recording
is being carried on by G. Jones of
The launching from the Vanden- the 1965 Scientific team at Scott
Base.
berg Air Base of Polar Ionospheric
Beacon Satellite S-66, referred to in While the observations require the
"Antarctic", Vol. 3, No. 9 (March attention of a qualified scientist and
issue), was unexpectedly delayed and a skilled technician, the data record
the satellite did not actually go into ed is forwarded to top-level physi
orbit until October 10. cists and mathematicians whose task
it is to draw conclusions from the
At Second Crater, 1,000 yards from data recorded.
the Auroral Radar station on Arrival
At the Second Crater wanigan a
Heights on the Hut Point peninsula record is made also of the small
Ive miles from Scott Base, George
pulsations in strength and direction
-ewis, assisted by technician Tom of the earth's magnetic field.
Hetherington, had his instrumenta
tion ready, and a trial run during
three orbits of the satellite produced H.M.N.Z.S. ENDEAVOUR
data which was transmitted to Dr.
New Zealand's Antarctic tanker
J. E. Titheridge of Auckland for
"Endeavour" will make two cruises
confirmation that all was in order.
to McMurdo as well as an oceano
The satellite is orbiting the earth graphic cruise in sub-Antarctic
at an angle of 80° with respect to waters this summer.
the equator, at a height of 890 to She is due to leave Lyttelton on
1,105 km. Once during each orbit it December 6 and to rendezvous with
comes over 80° S. latitude and is the U.S.S. "Mills" at sea in 60° S.
above the horizon to an observer at between December 10 and 12. Arriv
Second Crater. As the satellite's ing at McMurdo on December 20 she
period of revolution is 104.8 minutes, will unload and leave again on the
there are approximately 14 orbits per 26th, arriving at Lyttelton on Janu
day. ary 5.
The oceanographic cruise will ex
MESSAGE RECEIVED tend from January 11 to February 5.
Work will be concentrated on the
The continuous signals which it margins of the Campbell Plateau.
transmits, passing through the iono
"Endeavour" is scheduled to leave
sphere before being recorded at the
Lyttelton again for the Antarctic on
receiving stations at Auckland, Well
February 12 and to reach McMurdo
ington, Invercargill, Campbell Island on February 20. Leaving the Antarc
and Second Crater, provide informa
tic again on the 24th she is to rendez
tion on ionospheric density and on
vous again with the "Mills" about
any irregularities in the ionosphere. the 28th, and arrive at Lyttelton on
Part of the programme is the record
March 4.
ing of the slow, regular fading which
is known as Faraday Rotation. Oceanographic work will be car
ried out on the two supply voyages.
Signals arc sent out on frequencies A magnetometer will be towed along
of 20, 40 and 41 mc. and these are selected meridians.
recorded on revolving drums by
"Endeavour" is commanded by
three separate receivers. The record
Commander P. R. H. Silk.
ing is, of course, automatic, but thc
Scott Base observers visit the wani-
gan receiving-station approximately SUMMER PARTY
every second day to ensure that the J. M. Lee will serve as Radio Oper
instruments arc functioning cor ator at Scott Base while Ted Gawn
rectly and to make any necessary has a week or two in New Zealand
adjustments, as well as to make the before returning lo the Base for his
periodical change of record roll. third Antarctic winter.