Halley Bay Research Articles

Emperor of the Ice by Nicola Davies

Reviewed by: Emperor of the Ice by Nicola Davies Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Davies, Nicola Emperor of the Ice; illus. by Catherine Rayner. Candlewick, 2023 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536228397 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 5-9 yrs As winter sets in Antarctica, the emperor penguins begin their trip to the solidly frozen ice of Halley Bay, where they will find a mate and safely raise their chicks. Young readers may be somewhat familiar with the generalities: dad takes care of the baby, mom goes off to hunt, and baby is a cute ball of fluff. Davies, however, brings in details that give a sharper picture of the penguins’ experience in this harsh climate; ice, for example, must be “low enough to leap up onto from the ocean . . . smooth enough to walk over and slide on, and . . . last through early winter into early summer—just long enough to raise a chick!” The focus on the penguin family garners a fair amount of readerly investment, so when the ending pages give some scant information on climate change, the direness of the threat is felt if not totally explained. The mixed media art has the dappled textures of watercolors and the richness of pastels, and it wisely avoids anthropomorphizing the (admittedly cute) animals, instead highlighting their regal forms and the serene setting. A bittersweet note ends the book: Halley Bay is now too warm to be a safe breeding ground, but the penguins have continued to adapt and find places for their families further north. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Emperors on thin ice: three years of breeding failure at Halley Bay

AbstractSatellite imagery is used to show that the world's second largest emperor penguin colony, at Halley Bay, has suffered three years of almost total breeding failure. Although, like all emperor colonies, there has been large inter-annual variability in the breeding success at this site, the prolonged period of failure is unprecedented in the historical record. The observed events followed the early breakup of the fast ice in the ice creeks that the birds habitually used for breeding. The initial breakup was associated with a particularly stormy period in September 2015, which corresponded with the strongest El Niño in over 60 years, strong winds, and a record low sea-ice year locally. Conditions have not recovered in the two years since. Meanwhile, during the same three-year period, the nearby Dawson-Lambton colony, 55 km to the south, has seen a more than tenfold increase in penguin numbers. The authors associate this with immigration from the birds previously breeding at Halley Bay. Studying this ‘tale of two cities’ provides valuable information relevant to modelling penguin movement under future climate change scenarios.

The effect of geomagnetic activity changes on the ionospheric critical frequencies (foF2) at magnetic conjugate points

In this work, we investigate the possible effects of geomagnetic activity on the ionospheric critical frequencies (foF2) in geomagnetic conjugate points. For this purpose, hourly foF2 data measured for the year 1976 from the ionosonde stations Akita, St. John's and Resolute Bay in the Northern hemisphere and their corresponding magnetic conjugate ionosonde stations Brisbane, Halley Bay and Scott Base in the Southern hemisphere are examined. Planetary geomagnetic activity “3h-Kp” indices are used as a geomagnetic activity indicator. foF2 data in the magnetic conjugate points (MCP) are investigated by using a superposed epoch analysis method. This analysis is done depending on the response of foF2 to geomagnetic activity variations in MCP based on geomagnetic stormy days around equinoxes (March 21, September 23) and solstices (June 21, December 21), and the results obtained from these MCP are compared. From these results, it is found that foF2 values in magnetic conjugate pairs give similar reactions to geomagnetic activity variations simultaneously, although this relationship differs according to the seasons and magnetic latitudes of the stations.

Real-time detection of airborne fluorescent bioparticles in Antarctica

Abstract. We demonstrate, for the first time, continuous real-time observations of airborne bio-fluorescent aerosols recorded at the British Antarctic Survey's Halley VI Research Station, located on the Brunt Ice Shelf close to the Weddell Sea coast (lat 75°34′59′′ S, long 26°10′0′′ W) during Antarctic summer, 2015. As part of the NERC MAC (Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds) aircraft aerosol cloud interaction project, observations with a real-time ultraviolet-light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) spectrometer were conducted to quantify airborne biological containing particle concentrations along with dust particles as a function of wind speed and direction over a 3-week period. Significant, intermittent enhancements of both non- and bio-fluorescent particles were observed to varying degrees in very specific wind directions and during strong wind events. Analysis of the particle UV-induced emission spectra, particle sizes and shapes recorded during these events suggest the majority of particles were likely a subset of dust with weak fluorescence emission responses. A minor fraction, however, were likely primary biological particles that were very strongly fluorescent, with a subset identified as likely being pollen based on comparison with laboratory data obtained using the same instrument. A strong correlation of bio-fluorescent particles with wind speed was observed in some, but not all, periods. Interestingly, the fraction of fluorescent particles to total particle concentration also increased significantly with wind speed during these events. The enhancement in concentrations of these particles could be interpreted as due to resuspension from the local ice surface but more likely due to emissions from distal sources within Antarctica as well as intercontinental transport. Likely distal sources identified by back trajectory analyses and dispersion modelling were the coastal ice margin zones in Halley Bay consisting of bird colonies with likely associated high bacterial activity together with contributions from exposed ice margin bacterial colonies but also long-range transport from the southern coasts of Argentina and Chile. Dispersion modelling also demonstrated emissions from shipping lanes, and therefore marine anthropogenic sources cannot be ruled out. Average total concentrations of total fluorescent aerosols were found to be 1.9 ± 2.6 L−1 over a 3-week period crossing over from November into December, but peak concentrations during intermittent enhancement events could be up to several tens per litre. While this short pilot study is not intended to be generally representative of Antarctic aerosol, it demonstrates the usefulness of the UV-LIF measurement technique for quantification of airborne bioaerosol concentrations and to understand their dispersion. The potential importance for microbial colonisation of Antarctica is highlighted.

Antarctic Halacaridae (Acari), new records, these species characteristics and an updated list of species

AbstractFour halacarid species:Agaue agauoides,Agaue parva,Bradyagaue drygalskii, andHalacarus minorhave been extracted from bottom samples taken in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, another four,Colobocerasides auster,Halacarus arnaudi,Lohmannella fukushimai, andL. gaussi, from Kapp Norvegia, Atka and Halley Bay, Weddell Sea. Most of these species are widespread around Antarctica and adjacent islands. Diagnostic characters are outlined. An annotated list presents 66 halacarid species reported from south of the Antarctic Polar Front.

Effect of ozone decline on night airglow intensity of Na 5893 Å at Nagpur (23oN, 72.5oE), India and Halley Bay (76oS, 27oW)

A critical analysis has been made on the long-term yearly and seasonal variation of ozone concentration at Nagpur (23oN, 72.5oE), India and Halley Bay (76oS, 27oW), a British Antarctic Survey Station. The effect of O3 depletion on night airglow emission of Na 5893 A line at Nagpur and Halley Bay has been studied. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Na 5893 A line has also been affected due to the depletion of O3 concentration. The yearly variations and seasonal variations of intensity of Na 5893 A line for the above two stations have been shown and compared. It has been observed that the rate of decrease of intensity of Na 5893 A line is comparatively more at Halley Bay due to dramatic decrease of Antarctic O3 concentration than that at Nagpur.

Yearly variation and annual cycle of total column ozone over New Delhi (29°N, 77°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), British Antarctic Survey Station and its effect on night airglow intensity of OH(8, 3) for the period 1979–2005

A critical analysis made on the long-term monthly, seasonal, yearly variation and annual cycle of total column ozone (TCO) concentration at New Delhi (29°N, 77°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), a British Antarctic Service Station reveals more decline in yearly mean ozone concentration at Halley Bay than at New Delhi from 1979 to 2005. The nature of variations of monthly mean TCO during the months of August and September was the most identical with that of yearly mean ozone values at New Delhi and Halley Bay, respectively, for the same period. Annual cycles of TCO over these stations are completely different for the above period. The effect of O3 depletion on night airglow emission of OH(8, 3) line at New Delhi and Halley Bay has been studied. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of OH(8, 3) has also been affected due to the depletion of O3 concentration. The yearly variations and annual cycle of intensities of OH(8, 3) line for the above two stations are depicted and compared. It has been shown that the rate of decrease of intensity of OH(8, 3) line was comparatively more at Halley Bay due to dramatic decrease of Antarctic O3 concentration.

Long-term ozone decline and its effect on night airglow intensity of Li 6708 Å at Varanasi (25°N, 83°E) and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W)

A critical analysis has been made on the long-term yearly and seasonal variations of ozone concentration at Varanasi (25°N, 83°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), a British Antarctic Service Station. The effect of O 3 depletion on night airglow emission of Li 6708 A line at Varanasi and Halley Bay has been studied. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Li 6708 A line has also been affected due to the depletion of O 3 concentration. The yearly variations and seasonal variations of intensities of Li 6708 A line for the above two stations are shown and compared. It has been shown that the rate of decrease of intensity of Li 6708 A line was comparatively more at Halley Bay due to dramatic decrease of Antarctic O 3 concentration.

Long-term ozone trend and its effect on night airglow intensity of Li 6708 Å at Ahmedabad (23°N, 72.5°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), British Antarctic Service Station

A critical analysis has been made of the long-term yearly and seasonal variations of ozone concentration at Ahmedabad (23°N, 72.5°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), a British Antarctic Service Station. The effect of O3 depletion on night airglow emission of Li 6708 A line at Ahmedabad and Halley Bay has been studied. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Li 6708 A line has also been affected due to the depletion of O3 concentration. The nature of yearly variation and seasonal variation of intensity of Li 6708 A line for the above two stations have been shown and compared. It has been shown that the rate of decrease of intensity of Li 6708 A line was comparatively higher at Halley Bay due to dramatic decrease of Antarctic O3 concentration.

A three-dimensional model study of methanesulphonic acid to non sea salt sulphate ratio at mid and high-southern latitudes

Abstract. The Antarctic and sub-Antarctic methanesulphonic acid (MSA) to non sea salt sulphate (nssSO4) ratio is simulated with the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Atmospheric General Circulation Model including an atmospheric sulphur chemistry module. Spatial variations of the MSA/nssSO4 ratio in different regions have been suggested to be mostly dependent on temperature or sulphur source contributions. Its past variations in ice cores have been interpreted as related to the DMS precursor source location. Our model results are compared with available field measurements in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. This suggests that the MSA/nssSO4 ratio in the extra-tropical south hemisphere is mostly dependent on the relative importance of various DMS oxidation pathways. In order to evaluate the effect of a rapid conversion of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) into MSA, not implemented in the model, the MSA+DMSO to nssSO4 ratio is also discussed. Using this modified ratio, the model mostly captures the seasonal variations of MSA/nssSO4 at mid and high-southern latitudes. In addition, the model qualitatively reproduces the bell shaped meridional variations of the ratio, which is highly dependent on the adopted relative reaction rates for the DMS+OH addition and abstraction pathways, and on the assumed reaction products of the MSIA+OH reaction. MSA/nssSO4 ratio in Antarctic snow is fairly well reproduced except at the most inland sites characterized with very low snow accumulation rates. Our results also suggest that atmospheric chemistry plays an important role in the observed decrease of the ratio in snow between coastal regions and central Antarctica. The still insufficient understanding of the DMS oxidation scheme limits our ability to model the MSA/nssSO4 ratio. Specifically, reaction products of the MSIA+OH reaction should be better quantified, and the impact of a fast DMSO conversion to MSA in spring to fall over Antarctica should be evaluated. A better understanding of BrO source processes is needed in order to include DMS + BrO chemistry in global models. Completing the observations of DMS, BrO and MSA at Halley Bay with DMSO measurements would better constrain the role of BrO in DMS oxidation. Direct measurements of MSA and nssSO4 dry deposition velocities on Antarctic snow would improve our ability to model MSA and nssSO4 in ice cores.

Description of a new subspecies Diastylis enigmatica rossensis (Crustacea: Peracarida: Cumacea) from the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Diastylis enigmatica rossensis n. ssp. is described and illustrated on the basis of new specimens from the Antarctic shelf in the Ross Sea. The material was collected off the Victoria Land coast during the 19th Antarctic expedition of the Italian research vessel Italica in 2004. Diastylis enigmatica Ledoyer, 1993 was first obtained during the EPOS 3 campaign at Halley Bay in the Weddell Sea. A redescription based on further material from the Weddell Sea was published by Petrescu and Wittmann (Zool Med Leiden 77:557–630, 2003), which shows several differences to the newly collected material from the Ross Sea. The most obvious differences from Diastylis enigmatica rossensis n. ssp. to Diastylis enigmatica enigmatica Ledoyer, 2003 are the absence of four spines on the merus of the second pereiopod, a lower number of setae on the uropodal endopod, a gap between spines on the peduncle article 1 of antenna 1, and a higher number of articles in both flagella of antenna 1.

Ozone decline and its effect on night airglow intensity of Na 5893 Å at Dumdum (22.5°N, 88.5°E) and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W)

The paper presents the effect of O3 depletion on night airglow emission of Na 5893 A line at Dumdum (22.5°N, 88.5°E), India and Halley Bay (76°S, 27°W), a British Antarctic service station. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Na 5893 A line will also be affected due to the depletion of O3 concentration. The nature of yearly variation and seasonal variation of the intensity of Na 5893 A line for the above two stations are shown and compared. It is shown that the rate of decrease of intensity of Na 5893 A line is comparatively more at Halley Bay due to the dramatic decrease of Antarctic O3 concentration. A possible explanation for this dramatic decrease of Antarctic O3 concentration is also mentioned.

Polar tropospheric ozone depletion events observed in the International Geophysical Year of 1958

Abstract. The Royal Society expedition to Antarctica established a base at Halley Bay, in support of the International Geophysical Year of 1957–1958. Surface ozone was measured during 1958 only, using a prototype Brewer-Mast sonde. The envelope of maximum ozone was an annual cycle from 10 ppbv in January to 22 ppbv in August. These values are 35% less at the start of the year and 15% less at the end than modern values from Neumayer, also a coastal site. This may reflect a general increase in surface ozone since 1958 and differences in summer at the less windy site of Halley, or it may reflect ozone loss on the inlet together with long-term conditioning. There were short periods in September when ozone values decreased rapidly to near-zero, and some in August when ozone values were rapidly halved. Such ozone-loss episodes, catalysed by bromine compounds, became well-known in the Artic in the 1980s, and were observed more recently in the Antarctic. In 1958, very small ozone values were recorded for a week in midwinter during clear weather with light winds. The absence of similar midwinter reductions at Neumayer, or at Halley in the few measurements during 1987, means we must remain suspicious of these small values, but we can find no obvious reason to discount them. The dark reaction of ozone and seawater ice observed in the laboratory may be fast enough to explain them if the salinity and surface area of the ice is sufficiently amplified by frost flowers.

Species distribution within the free-living marine nematode genus Dichromadora in the Weddell Sea and adjacent areas

Abstract Studies of Antarctic, free-living, marine nematodes are mostly restricted to genus level. In the current study, the genus Dichromadora (Kreis, H.A., 1929. Capita Zoologica 2(7), 1–98) is analysed to species level. Dichromadora is one of the genera that are frequently present along the continental margin of the eastern Weddell Sea. Samples were retrieved from the 1000–2000 m depth line in the eastern Weddell Sea (Halley Bay, Vestkapp and Kapp Norvegia), South Sandwich Trench and the Drake Passage. Eight species are distinguished within the genus Dichromadora of which seven are new to science. Out of these seven species, five are described taxonomically: Dichromadora weddellensis sp. n. , Dichromadora southernis sp. n. , Dichromadora polarsternis sp. n., Dichromadora parva sp. n., and Dichromadora polaris sp. n. The two other species ( D. spec A, D. spec B) receive, as to the scarcety of available specimens, no scientific name. The distribution of the Dichromadora species from Antarctica are discussed in the context of deep-sea (1000–2000 m) observations in Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

Abundance, diversity, and community patterns of Isopoda (Crustacea) in the Weddell Sea and in the Bransfield Strait, Southern Ocean

Abundance, diversity, and distribution of suprabenthic Isopoda caught from a water layer between 0.27 to 0.60 m above the seafloor were analysed. The samples were taken during the ANT XV/3 cruise on RV Polarstern by means of an epibenthic sledge along two transects in the southern Weddell Sea (Vestkapp and Halley Bay) and another one east of King George Island. At each of these three bathymetric transects, five to six stations were sampled between 200 and 2000 m. In total, 4258 specimens of isopods were sampled at 14 stations standardized to 1000 m2 hauls. 114 species were identified from 49 genera and 23 higher taxa (families and suborders) of Isopoda. Most of them belonged to the suborder Asellota. Dominant families are Munnopsididae (Eurycopinae, Ilyarachninae), Joeropsidae, Munnidae, Paramunnidae, Ischnomesidae and Desmosomatidae. No striking differences were found between areas (Vestkapp, Halley Bay, Kapp Norvegia, and Bransfield Strait). Overall isopod abundances were highest at the shallowest station; species richness was slightly higher above 1000 m depth.

The relationship between variations of the atmospheric electric field in the southern polar region and thunderstorm activity

Observations of the atmospheric, near-surface vertical electric field component E z have been carried out at the Russian–Antarctic station, Vostok, since 1998 under the framework of a cooperative Russian–Australian project. Only data satisfying “fair weather” conditions are selected for the subsequent analyses. Behavior of E z field at Vostok station is compared with thunderstorm occurrence determined from a network of ELF magnetic field measurements in April 1998 and with simultaneous VLF emission measurements at Halley Bay (Antarctica). We find no correlation between the 5 min averages of E z and the lightning flashes intensity or between E z and VLF emissions, although significant correlation between E z and VLF emissions is observed in particular cases. The same statistical results have been obtained from a comparison of hourly averaged values. Moreover, even the mean diurnal variation of electric field derived for 10 fine weather days in April 1998 turned out to be inconsistent with the mean diurnal variation of the lightning flashes for the same days. Reasons of these inconsistencies are discussed.

Oocyte development and maturity classification of Gerlachea australis from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Gonad structure and oogenesis were studied in the bathydraconiid species Gerlachea australis, in order to determine whether reproduction represents any meaningful adaptation feature in this Antarctic species. All studied specimens came from Halley Bay, Weddell Sea. This species shows a cystovarian-type ovary, and the oocytes' developmental dynamics allow classification as a group synchronic ovary. The different events of oogenesis were grouped into seven stages, each one showing distinctive features. After the analyses of the frequency distributions of the oocytes in the different stages, three ovarian maturing stages were characterised. Spawning probably takes place during the austral summer and the eggs are released during a short period. The features of oogenesis and ovarian maturation in G. australis are similar to those described for other teleosts.

Large-scale geomagnetic effects of May 4, 1998

We study large-scale magnetospheric disturbances elicited by the May 4, 1998 high speed stream by modeling the Dst and studying records from 4 meridional magnetometer chains covering key local time sectors. The quasi-sequential episodes of B z < < 0 and high dynamic pressure (10–50 nPa) allow a clean separation of their respective geoeffects. Ring current evolution is followed by the kinetic model of Jordanova et al. (1998), which includes both charge exchange and Coulomb collisions of ring current ions H +, He + and O + drifting in a Volland-Stern convection electric field. The overall agreement with the temporal variation of the Dst is very good, but the strength of the great storm (min Dst = -280 nT) with its rapid main phase is not reproduced fully. A very asymmetric ring current forms near minimum Dst with maximum energy density located at dusk for all ion species. The data show evidence of (a) a great geomagnetic storm; (b) large enhancements of magnetopause currents; (c) substorm onsets, some of which were triggered; (d) a convection reversal boundary at relatively low latitudes (60–65°); and (e) what might be omega bands at morning local times associated with substorm recovery. An unprecedented measurement at Halley Bay station of an approximately 10% change in the ambient magnetic field strength is related to a sharp 5-fold increase in the dynamic pressure and to a large (≈50 nT) variation in IMF B z

Parasites of the Antarctic rattail Macrourus whitsoni (Regan, 1913) (Macrouridae, Gadiformes)

A total of 386 Macrourus whitsoni from Antarctic waters were examined for ecto- and endoparasites. Sixty-five M. whitsoni collected near Halley Bay (Weddell Sea) and 321 specimens from the continental slope off King George Island (South Shetland Islands) were studied for sphyriid copepods directly after being caught. A subsample of 25 specimens from the Weddell Sea and of 9 specimens from King George Island were studied for the presence of other metazoan parasites. Twenty-two species were found, including one myxozoan, six digeneans, one monogenean, three cestodes, seven nematodes, one acanthocephalan and three crustacean species/taxa. While Auerbachia monstrosa and Capillaria sp. are reported for the first time from around the Antarctic, the other parasites have been recorded earlier in the Southern Ocean. Many parasite species found have a wide zoogeographical range and a low host-specificity. The parasite fauna of M. whitsoni revealed several similarities with its congeners M. carinatus and M. holotrachys from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. This can be explained by a wide host range of many macrourid deep-sea parasites, together with an overlap in distribution patterns of their hosts. Other supporting factors are host migration and a close phylogenetic relationship between the hosts, which enable the parasites to infest all three macrourids. Eight new host and 14 new locality records are established.

Composition and distribution of suprabenthic fauna in the south-eastern Weddell Sea and off King George Island

Composition, abundance, and distribution of suprabenthos from a depth between 1 and 1.33 m above the seafloor were analysed. The samples were taken during ANT XV/3 with RV Polarstern in February and March 1998 by means of the supranet of an epibenthic sledge along two transects in the southern Weddell Sea (Vestkapp and Halley Bay) and one east of King George Island. At each of these three transects, five to six stations were taken in water depth between 200 and 2000 m. In total, 34 057 specimens were sampled at 16 stations, yielding 1 205 050 individuals for all stations standardized to 1000 m3 hauls. Of these, copepods were usually the most abundant group in the supranet (805 822 ind 1000 m−3. The suprabenthic fauna of the southwest of Vestkapp (Weddell Sea) transect was dominated by planktonic taxa in terms of individual numbers especially at the deeper stations (938–1983 m). At Halley Bay the total abundance of plankton was lower but its relative abundance (&gt; 80%) was also high, whilst off King George Island peracarid crustaceans were an important fraction.