Underwater video samples were obtained from the Deep Underwater Camera II (DUCII) system. Data are in mpeg video format. Samples were named by: 1. CEAMARC site (e.g. 16) 2. Instrument (e.g. camera = CAM) 3. Sequence of deployments through the survey overall (e.g. first deployment = 01; second deployment = 02) e.g. 09CAM05 is the fifth camera deployment of the survey overall, and was at CEAMARC site 09. Post-cruise analyses: 15 second logging of seabed geology and biology (species, class, order, whatever is significant for the habitat) directly into GNAV software for overlay into a GIS.

A spreadsheet detailing the filenames of the best left and/or right photos of blue whales photographed and individually identified during the Antarctic blue whale voyage 2013. The 'best' photos are also included as jpegs. See http://www.marinemammals.gov.au/sorp/antarctic-blue-whale-project for further detail regarding the Antarctic blue whale voyage.

Geoscience Australia and the Australian Antarctic Division conducted a benthic community survey using underwater still photographs on the shelf around the Mertz Glacier region. The purpose of the work was to collect high resolution still photographs of the seafloor across the shelf to address three main objectives: 1. to investigate benthic community composition in the area previously covered by the Mertz Glacier tongue and to the east, an area previously covered by fast ice 2. to investigate benthic community composition (or lack thereof) in areas of known iceberg scours 3. to investigate the lateral extent of cold water coral communities in canyons along the shelf break. Benthic photos were captured using a Canon EOS 20D SLR 8 megapixel stills camera fitted with a Canon EF 35mm f1.4 L USM lens in a 2500m rated flat port anodised aluminium housing. Two Canon 580EX Speedlight strobes were housed in 6000m rated stainless steel housings with hemispherical acrylic domes. The camera and strobes were powered with a 28V 2.5Ah cyclone SLA battery pack fitted in the camera housing and connected using Brantner Wetconn series underwater connectors. The results were obtained with 100 ASA and a flash compensation value of +2/3 of a stop. The focus was set manually to 7m and the image was typically exposed at f2.8 and a shutter speed of 1/60 sec. The interval between photos was set to 10 or 15 seconds. The camera was fitted to either the CTD frame or the beam trawl frame and lowered to approximately 4-5 m from the bottom. Two laser pointers, set 50 cm apart, were used for scale. The camera was deployed at 93 stations, 7 using the beam trawl frame and 86 using the CTD frame. The stations were named by: 1. Camera deployment frame (e.g. CTD or beam trawl, BT) 2. Frame sequence number (e.g. CTD53) 3. Instrument (e.g. camera = CAM) 4. Sequence of camera deployments through the survey overall (e.g. first deployment = CAM01, second deployment = CAM02 etc). For example, BT5_CAM16 is the sixteenth camera deployment of the survey overall, and was the fifth deployment using the beam trawl frame. From the 93 stations, there were 75 successful camera deployments. There were no photos captured at 9 stations. This was due to the camera or strobes malfunctioning, the camera being too far from the bottom, or the camera or strobes being in the mud at the bottom. The photos at a further 9 stations are considered poor due to the camera being out of focus, the camera being a little too far from the bottom or because very few photos were captured of the bottom. The benthic photo will be used to document the fauna and communities associated with representative habitats in the study area. The post-cruise analysis of the benthic photos will involve recording seabed geology and biology (class or order, and whatever is significant for the habitat) for each image

This project aims to assess the vulnerability of and risks to habitats in Australian fisheries in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) of the Southern Ocean to impacts by different demersal gears - trawl, longline and traps. The project which is a collaborative initiative between the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), industry and research partners, and substantially funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, was developed in order to resolve outstanding questions relating to the potential impacts and sustainability of demersal fishing practices in the AFZ at Heard Island and the McDonald Islands (HIMI). It will also help resolve similar outstanding questions for other fisheries in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in which Australian industry participates and provide technology for use in other fisheries to address similar questions. The proposed project will assess the degree to which demersal gears interact with and possibly damage benthic habitats. It will also assess the degree to which these habitats might be damaged within the AFZ in the HIMI region. The project is not intended to estimate rates of recovery of benthic habitats following damage by demersal gears. However, information from the literature on rates of recovery of different benthic species and habitats will be used to assess the risks of long-term sustainability of these habitats. Objectives To develop deep sea camera technologies that can be easily deployed during fishing operations, to facilitate widespread observations of demersal fishing activities (trawl, longline and trap) and their interactions with benthic environments. To assess the vulnerability of benthic communities in Sub-Antarctic (Australian AFZ) and high latitude areas of the Southern Ocean (Australian EEZ) to demersal fishing using trawls, long-lines or traps, using video and still camera technologies. To assess the risk of demersal fishing to long-term sustainability of benthic communities in these areas, based on the assessment of vulnerability and information from the literature on potential recovery of benthic species and habitats. To recommend mitigation strategies by avoidance or gear modification, where identified to be needed, and practical guidelines to minimise fishing impacts on benthic communities. Field work: Field work for this project is well advanced. Sampling of benthic habitats was conducted off East Antarctica from the AA in the summer season of 2009/10. Sampling yielded biological samples and camera footage over a number of sites spread across a large section of the East Antarctic coast and across a range of benthic habitats, however sampling was limited by the extent of ice and number of ship days (10) allocated (the project was originally planned for 16 ship days and later in the summer, when ice was predicted to be less extensive). The camera units are currently deployed on commercial vessels fishing the sub-Antarctic. The close of the 2010 commercial fishing season in September 2010 will mark the conclusion of field activities for this project.

Taken from the report: This document describes the results of the use of the APPLS (Aerial Photography Pyrometer LiDAR System) during underway science (sea ice) on the way to Davis, and later at Davis during resupply 2010/2011 (November 16 to 20, 2010). This document is primarily for Science Technical Support use. Portions of the report can be used to provide information on the results obtained to other parts of AAD. Some of this aerial photography has also been conducted in support of various AAS projects: AAS 3012 (ASAC_3012) AAS 3113 (ASAC_3113) AAS 2205 (ASAC_2205) AAS 2425 (ASAC_2425) AAS 3154 (ASAC_3154) AAS 3189 (ASAC_3189) A short list of the work carried out: - 3012, 3113 This activity involved long duration over water/sea ice flights for the purposes of "Investigation of physical and biological processes in the Antarctic sea ice zone during spring using in-situ, aircraft and underwater observations". This activity was scheduled for prior to Davis, over pack ice far from shore. Two science specific flights were made, and one opportunistic (sea ice reconnaissance), for a total of 5 hours 19 minutes of data collection for dedicated science - 2205 Priority 1 - Adelie Penguin Census Survey on the Islands in the Davis vicinity This task was a repeat of aerial census of Adelie penguins, conducted in 2009/2010 with coordinated ground counts of specific islands/colonies on Gardner, Magnetic, Lugg and Turner Islands. The ground counts were performed at the same time as the aerial survey, to compare aerial versus ground counts. Personnel from the CEMP Penguin Monitoring Program (Colin Southwell, Barbara Wienecke) performed ground counts coordinated with the flying on two days. The Flight lines were initially done on 2010/11/18 in bright sunlight, and then repeated on 2010/11/20 during overcast weather to compare the different image quality due to lack of shadows cast by the penguins. Priority 2 - Aerial photographic survey of the Svenner Group Islands Flights over Adelie Penguin colonies were performed at 750m, using 150mm lens, and then only over the islands known to host Adelie colonies. Flying time total = 5 hours, 51 minutes - 2425 This task was to survey the Woop Woop Skiway, over an area of 320 square kilometres. Due to time constraints, only every 2nd line was flown after consultation with AAD Air-operations (Steve Daw and Matt Filipowski). Flying time total = 4 hours 25 minutes - 3154 This task was to capture an aerial photograph of a Hawker Island Giant Petrel colony, being monitored by nest cameras. A run was conducted on 2010/11/19 in bright sunlight and also repeated on 2010/11/20 in flat light. Flying time total = 22 minutes - 3189 This task was to survey potential sites, in the Vestfold Hills near Davis, for a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring installation. Flying time total = 29 minutes

High resolution digital aerial photography of Adelie penguin colonies, Davis Station, Heidemann Valley, and other various areas, LIDAR scanning of portions of the Vestfold Hills, Rauer Islands and sea ice in front of the Amery Ice Shelf, conducted from 2009/11/17 to 2009/11/23. Some of the aerial photography has been conducted in support of various AAS projects: AAS 3012 (ASAC_3012) AAS 2722 (ASAC_2722) AAS 1034 (ASAC_1034) AAS 3130 (ASAC_3130) A short list of the work carried out: - Long duration over water/sea ice flights for the purposes of "Investigation of physical and biological processes in the Antarctic sea ice zone during spring using in situ, aircraft and underwater observations". - Over-flights at 750m over specific islands in the Vestfold Hills and Rauer Islands known to hold Adelie colonies. - Transects of flights were performed over Davis station, at 500m altitude, taking photos and LIDAR measurements. - The evaluation of the APPLS equipment (camera, LIDAR, electronics, software) was performed and in parallel to the other tasks. - Production a digital elevation model of the Heidemann Bay Area. - Aerial photography / LIDAR of moss beds in the Vestfold Hills area. - The Marine Plain area, south east of Davis, was mapped using LIDAR and aerial imagery for the purposes of general Antarctic information. - The Vestfold Lakes, particularly Lake Druzby, Watts Lake, Lake Nicholson and Crooked Lake provide interesting aerial imagery. - The opportunity was taken to visit the plateau skiway (at 'Woop woop') and estimate the effort in opening the skiway later in the season. - Fly over and photograph the length of the resupply fuel hose from the AA to the shore. - The Russian 'Progress 1 and 2', and Chinese Zhong Shan stations were over flown and aerial imagery collected. Taken from the report: This document describes the results of the use of the APPLS (Aerial Photographic Pyrometer Laser System) at Davis during resupply 2009/2010 (November 17 to 24, 2009). This document is primarily for Science Technical Support use. Portions of the report can be used to provide information on the results obtained to other parts of AAD.

Heard Island Expedition, 16 November 1986 to 21 January 1987, report written by Rod Ledingham, Officer in Charge. Taken from the report: The 1986-87 expedition was the second in a series of three consecutive expeditions planned to conduct new scientific work and to check on changes since the early wintering years from 1948-1954 and more recent sporadic visits by various government and private expeditions. We were dropped off at Heard Island on the 14th November 1986 by the Nella Dan. The main thrust of this expedition was originally to have been geological but this was later expanded to cover biology and archaeology. Transport was provided by three Hughes 500 helicopters, old faithfuls VH-BAD piloted by John Robertson and VH-BAG piloted by Doug Crossan, and a new arrive from NZ, VH-HED flown by Phillip Turner, to provide speedy access to all areas of rock, either coastal or at high altitude on the mountain. Of particular interest to the geologists were the lavas of the January 1985 Big Ben eruption spotted by observers including Dick Williams, on the French vessel Marion Dufresne. Despite some initial doubts about the possibility of flying, or even holding, aircraft at Heard for any length of time, and numerous relatively minor problems with weather and wind blown volcanic sand, the operation went very well and a great deal of new ground was covered, including several flights to the summit of Big Ben and the discovery of a new active crater and the expedition lava flows on the south-western slopes at Cape Arkona. Two geologists accompanied the expedition, Jane Barling and Graeme Wheller. Geological mapping of the whole island was carried out by Jane where access was not too difficult or dangerous. Jane had previously worked on the samples brought back from Long Ridge and the summit by the Heard Island Expedition (private) on Anaconda II in 1983. The original map produced by Ainsworth in 1947 will be greatly improved when the material has been studied in more detail. The second geologist Graeme studied the relationships of the more recent lavas and attempted to get samples from the summit vent. The failure to do so was somewhat ameliorated by the finding of the new lava which it appears had emanated from the summit vent pipe and samples of summit rock were therefore available from 700m above Cape Arkona. Further information about the botanical and biological work is available in the report.

The Kerguelen Axis voyage was planned to collect data to enhance the realism of end-to-end ecosystem models being developed in the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, to investigate the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on Southern Ocean ecosystems in the Indian Sector (particularly in relation to factors affecting the northern distribution of Antarctic krill) and to contribute to assessment of the spatial relationship of mesopelagic mid-trophic level species, in particular zooplanktivores, to foraging strategies by marine mammals and birds on the Kerguelen Plateau. Nine projects were undertaken aboard the Aurora Australis. Each project had individual objectives and outputs, and there are metadata records for each data set collected. They were designed to be complementary in order that the whole data set and project analyses could be used to address the objectives of the Kerguelen Axis program. Observations will be contributed to the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and will facilitate the design of future ecosystem observing in the region.