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ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND NEWS
Welcome to the final Science Update for 2020! We hope you have found these newsletters to be interesting and useful. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed items over the past year - please continue to let us know about your exciting news, publications and activities!
SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND
On behalf of the Antarctica New Zealand team in the Christchurch office, our colleagues at Scott Base, and members of the Antarctic Science Platform, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support throughout what has certainly been an unusual year!
The Scott Base summer and winter crew 2020 / 2021. Photo: Jamie McGaw.
Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we're proud of the way we've supported Antarctic science over the past year. The Scott Base team is doing a fantastic job of maintaining a suite of long-term monitoring programmes, as well as supporting a logistics traverse that will see essential equipment staged at the Kamb Ice Stream in preparation for next season's activities. Our budget bid to redevelop Scott Base has been submitted, and we are grateful for the time and energy that many of you have put into developing the next edition of New Zealand's Antarctic research hub.
From all the team at Antarctica New Zealand, Meri Kirihimete! We hope you enjoy a well-deserved break, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with you in 2021.
2021 ANTARCTIC SCIENCE CONFERENCE
Register now!
Get your registration sorted for the joint New Zealand Antarctic Science and NZ Snow and Ice Research Group Conference! Visit the conference website to access the registration portal and to get up to speed with the latest information. Please note that due to popular demand, additional workshops have also been scheduled for Friday 12th February.
LOGISTICS SUPPORT FOR 2021 FUNDING BIDS
A reminder to please contact Antarctica New Zealand's Science Programme Advisor, Dr Esme Robinson if you are considering applying for Marsden, MBIE Endeavour Smart Idea or Research Programmes that will require logistics support from Antarctica New Zealand.
2021 ANTARCTIC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications for Antarctica New Zealand's 2021 postgraduate scholarship round will open on 9th February 2021. Find more information and updates here.
ANTARCTIC SCIENCE PLATFORM
For the latest Platform updates, please click here. And click here to explore the Platform's newly redesigned website!
Cold Call
The inaugural issue of Cold Call, our newsletter sharing policy-relevant Antarctic science updates, has been published. If you want to receive the latest hot topics from the coldest places around three to four times a year, subscribe here. You can read our first issue here.
Siple Coast Traverse Update
Antarctica New Zealand’s logistics traverse team transporting drill rods, fuel, generators and camp supplies in preparation for the 2021/22 season has travelled ~1300 km across the Ross Ice Shelf and arrived at the Kamb Ice Stream. They are currently shifting staged fuel and cargo to next year’s drilling location. Once completed, the team will conduct some science objectives and check existing installations on the return journey to Scott Base. The team is due back early in the new year after having spent a unique white Christmas on the ice.
All set to depart! From left to right: Johno Leitch, Rob Teasdale, Kimbra Hughes, Cole Rasmussen, Blake McDavitt, James Horan. Photo: Jamie McGaw.
Ka pai Caroline
Antarctic Science Platform Manager, Caroline Pratt, has received an esteemed career accolade. Caroline has become the first New Zealand-based Research Manager to be made a Fellow of the Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS). She was officially recognised at an awards ceremony during the annual ARMS conference at the end of November. Read more here.
SCOTT BASE REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Antarctica New Zealand’s biggest project ever will see the existing base, built in the early 1980s and made up of 12 separate buildings, replaced by three large interconnected buildings.
Design
The project team has completed the Developed Design phase of the project and entered into the Detailed Design phase. Here, the interiors come to life and the finer aspects of the buildings are confirmed (such as materials and colours) and suppliers are identified. Detailed Design is anticipated to run through to 2022.
Proposed siting and layout of the redeveloped Scott Base on Ross Island. Image supplied by Jasmax Hugh Broughton Architects.
Science during construction
Antarctica New Zealand is committed to continuing science during the construction period of the redevelopment, and work is underway to plan for a temporary base which will accommodate staff, scientists, and the construction workers. Concept design for the temporary base will begin in 2021 and a number of stakeholders will be consulted to ensure it will meet the needs of the science community.
Monitoring the environmental impact of the redevelopment
Protecting the Antarctic environment is a key objective of the project, and Antarctica New Zealand has prepared a draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation which assesses the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed Scott Base Redevelopment and replacement of the Ross Island Wind Energy network. This document will be presented to the Antarctic Treaty Parties and available for public viewing in February 2021.
Ace the Base Exhibit at the International Antarctic Centre
Ace the Base is a new exhibit about the redevelopment which gives children a go at building their own Scott Base using DUPLO. Kids, and their families, are encouraged to build their own base and then take a photo of it in ‘Antarctica’ using the photo wall at the Centre. An Antarctic prize is up for grabs every month.
For more information on the Scott Base Redevelopment, please visit: www.scottbaseredevelopment.govt.nz
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ANTARCTICA IN THE NEWS
Kiwis set off on major traverse across Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf – Six New Zealanders are on an almighty traverse in Antarctica, towing 100 tonnes of material across the Ross Ice Shelf. It's one of just a handful of Antarctic operations approved this season because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. "Out where they're going, there's not a whole lot of stimulus," engineering solutions manager Jonathan Leitch told 1 NEWS. "It's a big flat white nothing, you're basically in your own little bubble, where you can see the horizon of flatness." See the full story here.
Antarctica – Lorde’s most rock ‘n’ roll moment! Despite two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards and two globally acclaimed albums, Lorde says visiting Antarctica was her ultimate rock ‘n’ roll moment! The Auckland-born singer flew to the frozen continent in 2019 and has recounted her experiences ahead of the release of her book, Going South – the proceeds of which will pay for at least one postgraduate Antarctic science scholarship. Lorde has been “obsessed” with Antarctica since she was a child and wanted to see the science being undertaken there, especially regarding climate change. Check out her only filmed interview this year, along with articles in Stuff, NZ Herald, and Newshub.
A truly white Christmas – Keep an eye out for several of our Scott Base crew who will feature in media over the Christmas weekend. They’ve all hand made secret Santa gifts to exchange tomorrow when they partake in the excellent fare prepared by our chefs. Kitty, our current Scott Base Services Supervisor and soon-to-be Winter Base Leader, spoke to RNZ listeners this morning. Listen here.
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NEW SCAR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
SCAR has recently announced the approval of three new, ambitious, collaborative scientific research programmes:
These large, overarching programmes are designed to address vital and wide-ranging scientific questions. Many New Zealand Antarctic scientists were involved in the development of the new programmes, and some are already members and on steering committees. As the programmes are still in their early stages, please visit SCAR's website and contact the co-chief officers of the new programmes if you would like to join.
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PUBLICATIONS
Congratulations to our Antarcticans on these recent publications!
Barnard, S., Van Goethem, M.W, de Scally, S.Z., Cowan, D.A., van Rensburg, P.J., Claassens, S., Makhalanyane, T.P. (2020). Increased temperatures alter viable microbial biomass, ammonia oxidizing bacteria and extracellular enzymatic activities in Antarctic soils. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 96 (5). https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiaa065
Bezuidt, O.K.I., Lebre, P.H., Pierneef, R., León-Sobrino, C., Adriaenssens, E.M., Cowan, D.A., Van de Peer, Y., Makhalanyane, T.P. (2020). Phages actively challenge niche communities in Antarctic soils. mSystems, 5 (3): e00234-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00234-20
Ortiz, M,, Bosch, J., Coclet, C., Johnson, J., Lebre, P.H., Salawu-Rotimi, A., Vikram, S., Makhalanyane, T.P., Cowan, D.A. (2020). Microbial nitrogen cycling in Antarctic soils. Microorganisms, 8 (9):1442. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091442
Verret, M., Dickinson, W., Lacelle, D., Fisher, D., Norton, K., Chorley, H., Levy, R., Naish, T. (2020). Cryostratigraphy of mid-Miocene permafrost at Friis Hills, McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102020000619
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A spectacular sun dog spotted from Scott Base. Photo: Jamie McGaw.
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OTHER NEWS
STATUS AND TRENDS OF SOUTHERN OCEAN ZOOPLANKTON
The SCAR Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Survey has produced a report on t he Status and Trends of Southern Ocean Zooplankton. Read more here.
EXTREME ENVIRONMENT DATASETS FOR THE THREE POLES
A new Earth System Science Data special issue on "Extreme environment datasets for the three poles" is looking for submissions. The editors are inviting experts to review and present existing and new datasets for the three poles region, to recognise these valuable datasets, and to promote their use in international and interdisciplinary studies of the three poles. Find out more here.
NEW ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENTS PORTAL LAUNCHED
The Antarctic Environments Portal was a New Zealand-led initiative to develop a portal to access high level summary information on Antarctic issues, based on the best available scientific knowledge. New Zealand was very pleased that SCAR took on the ownership of the portal and are very excited by the launch of the new look website.
We encourage scientists to ‘get involved’ by reviewing the ‘ content management plan’ which sets out what new summaries are planned. If you are interested in contributing to the portal, please have a look at the Guidelines for Authors and get in contact with the Portal Editor.
NEW PUBLICATION ON THE FUTURE OF KRILL
The SCAR Krill Action Group has published a new paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. The group has identified several research priorities that could advance the understanding of krill to improve the management of Antarctic krill fishery in the Southern Ocean. Read the full paper here.
ANTARCTIC OUTREACH KIT - WELLINGTON
The Extreme Cold Weather clothing as used by researchers and personnel in Antarctica is available for loan to Wellington-based folk who are interested in using it for school visits and outreach opportunities.
The clothing is stored at the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington. For more information, or to make a booking please contact Michelle.
SPECIAL ISSUE - 'POLAR BIOLOGY'
A special issue of Polar Biology on the subject 'Pathways and impacts of biotically-mediated marine and other stored nutrient transfer between polar ecosystems' is seeking submissions of both review articles and original papers on this topic.
Please get in contact with the editors if you are interested in contributing.
CRYOSPHERE SYMPOSIUM
An International Symposium on Ice, Snow, and Water in a Warming World, has been postponed and is now scheduled to take place in September 2021. Click here for further details.
IPICS OPEN SCIENCE CONFERENCE
The International Partnership in Ice Core Sciences (IPICS) third Open Science Conference titled "Ice Core Science at the three Poles", has been postponed and is now scheduled to be held in October 2021. More information can be found here.
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If you have any news, updates, great images, or recent publications that you would like to feature in the monthly update, please send them to our Science Team.
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