With the aim of estimating the proportion of Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in pack ice over summer, an Australian fixed-wing aerial survey programme, based in east Antarctica, was conducted in the austral summers of 2007/2008, 2008/09 and 2009/10 (See Kelly et al. 2010; SC/62/IA8). The first season (2007/08) comprised of three 'test' flights. As such, there were no real 'survey' data collected during these three flights, but video and digital stills data have been included in the dataset supplied. The surveys (2008/09 and 2009/10) covered two general regions: Vincennes Bay (66 degrees 24'S 110 degrees 18'E) which was surveyed multiple times across both seasons and within the 2009/10 season, and north and east of the Shackleton Ice Shelf and into the eastern section of the Davis Sea, which was surveyed once (2009/10). The primary focus was on Antarctic minke whales, however sightings of other species were also collected (killer whale, Southern right whale, penguins and seals). The survey was conducted in a CASA 212:400 aircraft at an altitude was 228m (750ft) and survey speed was 204 km/hr (110 knots). The survey was conducted as independent double-platform: the front and back observers were isolated visually and audibly. The aircraft was also fitted with a number of digital still, video and infrared cameras. Data Available 1. Sighting data set A .csv file of animal sightings. Two files, one for each survey season, has been supplied. The observers field of view was between 30 degrees and 60 degrees declination (approximately) from the horizon, corresponding to an on the ground area width of 264 metres each side of the aircraft. Protocol was followed as for traditional line transect surveys for marine mammals, with observers searching ahead of the aircraft in a 'D' pattern. The recorded observations consisted of cue counting (where possible) and the angle of declination when the animals were abeam to the observer (using a Suunto inclinometer). Cues were not recorded after the animals had moved past abeam. The angle of declination of groups was measured at the centre of the group. Perpendicular distance out to animals was calculated using angle of declination and flying height (but no correction for curvature of the earth or aircraft drift angle was applied). Other information recorded included species, group size (minimum, maximum and best estimate), cue type, number of animals at surface when perpendicular, direction of travel and any behavioural features of the animal(s). Please note that no formal sighting data was collected for the January 2008 test flights. 2. Effort data set A .csv file of survey effort and environmental conditions. Two files, one for each survey season, has been supplied. The flight leader recorded environmental covariates (ice coverage (to the nearest 10%), glare, Beaufort sea state, and cloud cover, etc) at regular intervals, or when conditions changed. 3. Still images The data includes jpeg files of images. A still camera was mounted vertically in the base of the aircraft to cover the trackline (10 megapixel Nikon D200 with 35mm lens); camera was situated behind a Perspex window. In addition in the final survey year (2009/10) two Nikon D300 cameras (12 megapixel with 50mm lens) were mounted at the side windows obliquely at an angle of 45 degrees (please note side-camera was used only during final season of survey, Dec 2009-Feb 2010). Focus set to infinity, and image settings given to account for high-light, high-contrast environments. GPS/altitude data was embedded in each images EXIF information. Still image coverage underneath the aircraft was uninterrupted along the trackline with a shutter-release of around 1 photograph per second and a swath width of around 157 m. Similarly the oblique mounted cameras had a coverage over 450 m each side of the trackline (i.e., configured to be approximately the same as the human observers). 4. Video cameras A number of streampix video files. Two high definition video cameras (Prosilica GC1350C GigE with 5mm F1.4 lens) were also fitted to the aircraft. Streampix is propriety software. 5. Infrared A number of .mov files recorded from an Infra-red camera (FLIR Photon 320 with 9mm lens) mounted in the base of the aircraft. Infrared camera was situated behind an infrared window. 6. Telemetry A number of text files (.txt) containing aircraft telemetry (yaw/roll etc) and gps. The telemetry is not that reliable, nor does it go anywhere close to covering all flights conducted (see below), but included for completeness. 7. Flight data 'dat' files dumped from the aircraft flight recorder containing flight data, including geographical position, velocity and altitude. These are ascii files. 8. GPS data In addition to flight and telemetry data, we've also included two post-processed GPS data files (two .csv files, one for each survey season). These files contain GPS data from a number of sources; this was to help buffer against GPS drop-outs. Therefore, this data is much more complete than the telemetry and flight data, and has been corrected for any time syncing issues. 9. "Season_overview_2010.xls" This Excel spreadsheet file contains details on each transect, effort and other sighting information. It accompanies the .csv files for the 2009/10 season as an overview. (A similar summary does not exist for 2008/09 season.)

This data set is the airborne scanning LiDAR of a suite of different instruments deployed during the Sea Ice Physics and Ecosystems eXperiment (SIPEX) in 2007. Surveys have been flown over sea ice between 110-130 degrees E as part of the Australian Antarctic science project 2901. Public Summary for project 2901 This research will contribute to a large multi-disciplinary study of the physics and biology of the Antarctic sea ice zone in early Spring 2007. The physical characteristics of the sea ice will be directly measured using satellite-tracked drifting buoys, ice core analysis and drilled measurements, with detailed measurements of snow cover thickness and properties. Aircraft-based instrumentation will be used to expand our survey area beyond the ship's track and for remote sampling. The data collected will provide valuable ground-truthing for existing and future satellite missions and improve our understanding of the role of sea ice in the climate system. Project objectives: (i) to quantify the spatial variability in sea ice and snow cover properties over scales of metres to hundreds of kilometres in the region of 110-130 degrees E, in order to improve the accuracy of sea ice thickness estimates from satellite altimetry and polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. (ii) To determine the drift characteristics, and internal stress, of sea ice in the region 110-130 degrees E. (iii) To investigate the relationships between the physical sea ice environment and the structure of Southern Ocean ecosystems (joint with AAS Proposal 2767).

A Lambert Glacier - Amery Ice Shelf series of airborne (Squirrel helicopter and Twin Otter fixed wing) RES and surface elevation profiles were conducted over two summer seasons; 1988/89 and 1989/90. Altogether nearly 10,000 km of various flight paths were undertaken, operating out of Mawson (67.60 S, 62.88 E), Davis (68.58 S, 77.97 E), Dovers (70.22 S, 65.87 E) or Beaver Lake (70.80 S, 68.18 E). More information can be found at the BEDMAP website. The fields in this dataset are: mission_id (unique mission identifier) latitude (decimal degrees) longitude (decimal degrees) ice_thickness (m) surface_elevation (m) water_column_thickness (m) bed_elevation (m)

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 378 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstract of the referenced paper: Observations on five groups of crabeater seals were conducted between 29 October and 17 November 1985 in the Antarctic pack ice near 66 degrees S 50 degrees E, off Enderby Land. The pups studied were born in the last half of October. Two of them increased in weight at a rate of approximately 4.2kg per day. The lactation period was 2-3 weeks and thus is one of the breifest among pinnipeds. Pups decreased in weight after weaning. The only pup visited after it left the natal floe must have been feeding, as it had only lost 2kg in a 10-day period during which it moved 13 km. Molt of lanugo appeared to be influenced by more a pups weight than by whether or not it was weaned.

Ocean circulation beneath ice shelves and associated rates of melting and freezing are influenced strongly by water column thickness and depth. The shape of the cavity beneath the Amery Ice Shelf is important for our understanding of ice shelf stability and freshwater input to the ocean and their dependence on climate. New seismic surveys of the centre region of the Amery Ice Shelf and ice-draft data taken at the grounding line has provided a considerable amount of new water-column thickness and bathymetry data. The data is adjusted in the unknown region south of 71 degrees 35 minutes S by comparing the complex error between simulated tides against in situ GPS observations. A finite element, hydrodynamic ocean tide model is used to simulate the 4 major constituents (S2, M2, K1 and O1). The new data differs from a previous bathymetry map in a number of places. Significantly, there is channel that leads from the Prydz bay depression into the deepest part of the AIS cavity in the south through a series of depressions. This technique has particular application when the water column beneath ice shelves is inaccessible and in situ GPS data is available.

The current distribution of Adelie penguin breeding colonies in the AAT is being mapped through a series of 'occupancy' surveys. A GIS of potential Adelie penguin breeding habitat was developed to structure the overall search effort. Information about the GIS is given in Southwell et al. (2009) and in the related metadata record 'Sites of potential habitat for breeding Adelie penguins in East Antarctica' with Entry ID AAS_4088_Adelie_Potential_Habitats. The AAT coastline was broken into groups and subgroups which were surveyed when logistics allowed. All sites of potential habitat in each section were searched and a record of whether breeding penguins were present or absent was made. Most surveys were undertaken during the Adelie penguin breeding season when breeding penguins would have been present; any surveys outside the breeding season made observations of the presence or absence of guano. Most surveys have been undertaken from aircraft (both helicopters and fixed wing), but some have been done from the ground. Maps of potential breeding habitat in the groups and subgroups were produced from the GIS to use in the field surveys. The data recorded for each search campaign included the latitude and longitude of the centroid of each site that was searched, the data of search, the observer(s), and the state of occupancy (present or absent). These data were incorporated into the occupancy surveys undertaken as part of AAS project 4088. See the metadata record for that project to access the data (at the provided URL).

This dataset comprises the actual video footage and audio recordings made during a number of experiments made as part of ASAC project 1148 (ASAC_1148). The primary objective was to measure the responses of Antarctic wildlife to various human disturbance stimuli. An excel spreadsheet of a catalogue of the video and audio tapes is available for download from the url given below. The video and audio tapes themselves are stored at the Australian Antarctic Division. For descriptions of (and access to) processed data see the metadata records with the following titles: Measuring the effects of human activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) Effects of helicopter operations on emperor penguin chicks Effects of helicopters on Southern Antarctic Fulmars Effects of helicopters on Antarctic wildlife Effects of human activity on Gentoo penguins on Macquarie Island Effects of human activity on King penguins on Macquarie Island Effects of human activity on Royal penguins on Macquarie Island Behavioural responses of Weddell seals to human activity. A copy of the full dataset of video and audio files, as well as another Excel spreadsheet catalogue is available for download from the provided URL. These data were digitised in 2021, and the excel spreadsheet created from the available files.

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 484 See the link below for public details on this project. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- Emperor penguins are the only birds that breed in the Antarctic winter. They feed mainly on fish and squid but also ingest krill. Changes in food availability due to oceanographic or climatic factors, or to the extent of sea ice (through the processes of global warming) will have a direct impact on the breeding success and population size of the penguins. By counting the number of males that incubate at mid-winter each year, we can monitor trends in their population size. Counts of fledglings in spring (November) tell us how successful the penguins bred. The download file contains an excel spreadsheet which presents a summary of known Emperor Penguin colonies in the area of the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT), and a file which details counts of male emperor penguins at the Taylor Glacier colony. A description of the column headings used in the spreadsheet is below. Colony: Colony name lat, long: latitude and longitude of colony discovered: date colony was discovered current est pop (BP): Current estimated population size in breeding pairs - current as at date the colony was last seen last seen: date the colony was last seen counting method: method used to count the breeding pairs in the colony comments: any applicable comments reference: references relating to the colony Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report: Public summary of the season progress: Population size of colonies fluctuates which is why long term monitoring studies are necessary to detect trends. At the emperor penguin colony at Taylor Glacier, monitored continuously since 1988, a slight downward trend is apparent but is not (yet?) statistically significant. The colony was visited three times: once in winter to obtain an estimate of the number of adults in the colony (roughly equivalent to the number of breeding pairs), and twice during the late chick rearing season to estimate breeding success. The count of adults in 2009 was the lowest on record. Reasons for this are still unknown.

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 1342 See the link below for public details on this project. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- This project involves field trialling of software written as part of ASAC project 1212 (2000-2001) to determine sea-ice thickness in real-time from ship-borne electromagnetic induction measurements. Computer simulation of ship- and helicopter-borne electromagnetic induction measurements over realistic sea-ice structures will also be performed in order to assess the suitability and cost-effectiveness of helicopter-mounted systems for future Antarctic sea-ice thickness measurements. Equipment used in this study were the IBEO PS100 infrared laser altimeter and the Geonics EM31 geophysical electromagnetic induction device. The fields in this dataset are: DAY is Julian day TIME is in seconds after midnight (UTC). LASER is the laser altitude above the snow/ice (metres). A zero reading indicates no return (open water). PITCH is pitch of the system in degrees. ROLL is roll of the system in degrees. COND-A is analogue conductivity from the EM31 (not used). PHASE-A is analogue in-phase response from the EM31 (not used). COND is the estimated depth to seawater (metres) from the EM31-ICE processing module. PHASE is the EM31 in-phase response (expressed as parts per thousand of the primary field). A value of 9.99 indicates the magnetic field was too large to be recorded. SITE LATITUDE LONGITUDE SNOW THICKNESS ICE THICKNESS FREEBOARD a is the electrode spacing. R is the measured resistance. Rho is the apparent conductivity (not true conductivity) = 2 aR. CONDUCTIVITY = 1/Rho.