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  • During the ADBEX III voyage, many samples were taken of the sea ice and snow. These samples were analysed to determine water density, with the results recorded in a physical note book that is archived at the Australian Antarctic Division. Logbook(s): - Glaciology ADBEX III Water Density Results - Glaciology ADBEX III Oxygen Isotope Sample Record

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 1119 See the link below for public details on this project. A marked bend in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain supposedly resulted from a recent major reorganization of the plate-mantle system there 50 million years ago. Although alternative mantle-driven and plate-shifting hypotheses have been proposed, no contemporaneous circum-Pacific plate events have been identified. We report reconstructions for Australia and Antarctica that reveal a major plate reorganization between 50 and 53 million years ago. Revised Pacific Ocean sea-floor reconstructions suggest that subduction of the Pacific-Izanagi spreading ridge and subsequent Marianas/Tonga-Kermadec subduction initiation may have been the ultimate causes of these events. Thus, these plate reconstructions solve long-standing continental fit problems and improve constraints on the motion between East and West Antarctica and global plate circuit closure.

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 545 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstract of the referenced paper: Blood was collected for haematological, red cell enzyme and red cell metabolic intermediate studies from 20 Southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina. Mean haematological values were: haemoglobin (Hb) 22.4 plus or minus 1.4 g/dl, packed cell volume (PCV) 54.2 plus or minus 3.8%, mean cell volume (MCV) 213 plus or minus 5 fl and red cell count (RCC) 2.5 x 10 to power 12 / l. Red cell morphology was unremarkable. Most of the red cell enzymes showed low activity in comparison with human red cells. Haemoglobin electrophoresis showed a typical pinniped pattern, ie two major components. Total leucocyte counts, platelet counts, and coagulation studies were within expected mammalian limits. Eosinophil counts varied from 0.5 x 10 to power 9 / l (5%-49%), and there was a very wide variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rates, from 3 to 60mm/h.

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 668 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstracts of some of the referenced papers: Body shrinkage may be one of the strategies that Antarctic krill use to cope with food scarcity, particularly during winter. Despite their demonstrated ability to shrink, there are only very limited data to determine how commonly shrinkage occurs in the wild. It has been previously shown that laboratory-shrunk krill tend to conserve the shape of the eye. This study examined whether the relationship between the eye diameter and body length could be used to detect whether krill had been shrinking. By tracking individuals over time and examining specimens sampled as groups, it was demonstrated that fed and starved krill are distinguishable by the relationship between the eye diameter and body length. The eye diameter of well-fed krill continued to increase as overall length increased. This created a distinction between fed and starved krill, while no separation was detected in terms of the body length to weight relationship. Eye growth of krill re-commenced with re-growth of krill following shrinkage although there was some time lag. It would take approximately 2 moult cycles of shrinkage at modest rates to significantly change the eye diameter to body length relationship between normal and shrunk krill. If krill starve for a prolonged period in the wild, and hence shrink, the eye diameter to body length relationship should be able to indicate this. This would be particularly noticeable at the end of winter. A series of experiments was carried out to examine the relationship between feeding, moulting, and fluoride content in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). Starvation increased the intermolt period in krill, but had no effect on the fluoride concentration of the moults produced. Addition of excess fluoride to the sea water had no direct effect on the intermoult period, the moult weight, or moult size. Additions of 6 micrograms per litre and 10 micrograms per litre fluoride raised the fluoride concentrations of the moults produced and the whole animals. The whole body fluoride content varied cyclically during the moult cycle, reaching a peak 6 days following ecdysis. Fluoride loss at ecdysis could largely be explained by the amount of this ion shed in the moult.

  • This dataset contains acoustic recordings from Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR) sonobuoys that were deployed from 30 January – 23 March 2021 during the TEMPO voyage. 251 sonobuoys were deployed yielding 460 hours of acoustic recordings. Three models of sonobuoys were used during the voyage: AN/SSQ-53F sonobuoy from SonobuoyTechSystems, USA (made in 2011; identifiable by tall black housing); Q53F sonobuoys from Ultra Electronics Australia (made in 2011 for Australian Defence; identifiable by tall silver housing); SDSQ955 (HIDAR) sonobuoys from Ultra Electronics UK (re-lifed in 2018; identifiable from small silver housing); During TEMPO, recordings were made by deploying above sonobuoys in DIFAR (standard) mode while the ship was underway (Gedamke and Robinson 2010, Miller et al. 2015). During transit, listening stations were conducted every 30 nmi in water depths greater than 200 m when Beaufort sea state was less than 7. Sonobuoys were occasionally deployed with spacing less than 30 nmi in an attempt to more precisely determine spatial extent and vocal characteristics of calls that were believed to be coming from animals relatively close to the ship’s track. During marine science stations, sonobuoys were deployed approximately 2-4 nmi prior to stopping in order to attempt to monitor them for the full six-eight hour duration of their operational life or the duration of the station. The sampling regime was chosen for compatibility with previous surveys, and to balance spatial resolution with the finite number of sonobuoys available for this study. Instrumentation, software, and data collection At each listening station, a sonobuoy was deployed with the hydrophone set to a depth near 140 m. Sonobuoys transmitted underwater acoustic signals from the hydrophone and directional sensors back to the ship via a VHF radio transmitter. Radio signals from the sonobuoy were received using an omnidirectional VHF antenna (PCTel Inc. MFB1443; 3 dB gain tuned to 144 MHz centre frequency) and a Yagi antenna (Broadband Propagation Pty Ltd, Sydney Australia) mounted on the aft handrail of the flying bridge. The antennas were each connected to a WiNRADiO G39WSBe sonobuoy receiver via low-loss LMR400 coaxial cable via a cavity filter with 1 MHz passband centered on 144 MHz. The radio reception range on the Yagi antenna was similar to previous Antarctic voyages, and was adequate for monitoring and localisation typically out to a range of 10-12 nmi, provided that the direction to the sonobuoy was close (i.e. within around 30o) to the main axis of the antenna. The radio reception on the omnidirectional antenna typically provided 5-10 nmi of omnidirectional reception from sonobuoys. At transit speed (8-11 knots), the Yagi antenna provided about 75 minutes of acoustic recording time per sonobuoy. Using both antennas together were able obtain radio reception for up to six hours (i.e. the maximum life of a 955 sonobuoy) when sonobuoys were deployed within 5 nmi of a marine science station. Received signals were digitised via the instrument inputs of a Fireface UFX sound board (RME Fireface; RME Inc.). Digitised signals were recorded on a personal computer as 48 kHz 24-bit WAV audio files using the software program PAMGuard (Gillespie et al. 2008). Data from both the Yagi and Omnidirectional antenna were recorded simultaneously as WAV audio channels 0 (left) and 1 (right). Each recorded WAV file therefore contains a substantial amount of duplication since both antennas and receivers were usually receiving the same signals from the same sonobuoy. Directional calibration The magnetic compass in each sonobuoy was not calibrated/validated upon deployment because the ship did not generate enough noise. Intensity calibration Intensity calibration and values followed those described in Rankin et al (2019). Sonobuoy deployment metadata The PAMGuard DIFAR Module (Miller et al. 2016) was used to record the sonobuoy deployment metadata such as location, sonobuoy deployment number, and audio channel in the HydrophoneStreamers table of the PAMGuard database (IN2021_V01_Difar-2021-01-22.sqlite3). A written sonobuoy deployment log (SonobuoyLog.pdf) was also kept during the voyage, and this includes additional notes and additional information not included in the PAMGuard Database such as sonobuoy type, and sonobuoy end-time. Real-time monitoring and analysis: Aural and visual monitoring of audio and spectrograms from each sonobuoy was conducted using PAMGuard for at least 5 minutes after deployment only to validate that the sonobuoy was working correctly. Additional information about sonobuoys is contained in the file: Sonobuoy data collection during the TEMPO voyage - 2021-01-15.pdf References Greene, C.R.J. et al., 2004. Directional frequency and recording ( DIFAR ) sensors in seafloor recorders to locate calling bowhead whales during their fall migration. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 116(2), pp.799–813. Miller, B.S. et al., 2016. Software for real-time localization of baleen whale calls using directional sonobuoys: A case study on Antarctic blue whales. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 139(3), p.EL83-EL89. Available at: http://scitation.aip.org/content/asa/journal/jasa/139/3/10.1121/1.4943627. Miller, B.S. et al., 2015. Validating the reliability of passive acoustic localisation: a novel method for encountering rare and remote Antarctic blue whales. Endangered Species Research, 26(3), pp.257–269. Available at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v26/n3/p257-269/. Rankin, S., Miller, B., Crance, J., Sakai, T., and Keating, J. L. (2019). “Sonobuoy Acoustic Data Collection during Cetacean Surveys,” NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS, SWFSC614, 1–36.

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 2960 See the link below for public details on this project Public The ocean's thermohaline circulation (THC) plays a fundamental role in global climate, transporting heat poleward and regulating the uptake of anthropogenic CO2. Multiple steady-states in the THC have been identified in the North Atlantic, including an "off" state where no deep water is formed, yet little is known regarding the possibility for multiple equilibria of the Southern Ocean THC. This study aims to (1) examine hysteresis behaviour and possible multiple equilibria of the Southern Ocean THC, and (2) quantify the role of the Southern Ocean THC by examining the difference between "on" and "off" states in various water-masses. Project objectives: The overarching goal of the proposed study is to explore the possibility of multiple steady-states of the Southern Ocean (SO) thermohaline circulation (THC) and to explore their role in the global climate system. Multiple steady-states in the ocean's THC have been identified in the Northern Hemisphere [e.g., Marotzke, 2000; Rahmstorf, 2002]. While substantial climate variability and change can be inferred from palaeoclimate data for the Southern Hemisphere, our understanding of the underlying physics of SO THC variability and the associated climate dynamics remains limited. It is also unclear how the Southern Ocean THC will change in the future. This study aims to: 1. Examine the hysteresis behaviour of the Southern Ocean thermohaline circulation in relation to surface freshwater forcing, both for AABW and AAIW, 2. Explore the possibility for multiple steady-states in the Southern Ocean THC, 3. Estimate how the present-day Southern Ocean THC may be changing in relation to this hysteresis diagram, and how this relates to global climate, and 4. Quantify the role of the present-day Southern Ocean THC by examining the difference between "on" and "off" states. Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report: Progress against objectives: Progress on this Antarctic Sciences project during 2008/2009 can be summarised as below. Each of the four main aims have been touched upon during the past 12 months, although the most significant progress has been against items 1, 3, and 4 as listed in Section 1.1 above. The existence of teleconnections of Southern Ocean freshwater anomalies to the North Atlantic THC was investigated, primarily in the context of past climates (Trevena, Sijp and England, 2008a). We found that a Southern Ocean freshwater pulse of comparable magnitude to meltwater pulse 1A, shuts down, instead of strengthens, NADW in a glacial climate simulation. Unlike a modern-day simulation, the glacial experiment is associated with a more fragile North Atlantic thermohaline circulation, whereby freshwater anomalies that propagate into the North Atlantic are able to dominate the bipolar density see-saw. The possibility for large-scale collapse and/or multiple steady-states in the Southern Ocean THC was also investigated using a coupled climate model of intermediate complexity. Also investigated was the impact of a slowdown of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) on regional Southern Hemisphere climate. This involved the gradual addition of meltwater anomalies to strategic locations of the Southern Ocean, then removal of these anomalies to explore whether the regional thermohaline circulation (THC) exhibits saddle-node instabilities (bifurcation points) as have been commonly found for the North Atlantic. We found that no stable AABW "off" state could persist, regardless of the freshwater anomaly imposed. We did, however, identify a significant impact on regional climate during the transient slow down of AABW (Trevena, Sijp and England, 2008b). In particular, during peak FW forcing, Antarctic surface sea and air temperatures decrease by a maximum of 2.5 degs C and 2.2 degs-C respectively. This is of a similar magnitude to the corresponding response in the North Atlantic. Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report: Progress against objectives: Progress on this Antarctic Sciences project during 2009/2010 can be summarised as below. Each of the four main aims have been touched upon during the past 12 months, although the most significant progress has been against items 2 and 4 as listed in Section 1.1 above. A large set of experiments were configured and analysed to examine Southern Ocean THC states in the global climate system. Specifically we conducted experiments using the Canadian University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (the 'UVic' model) wherein the model is perturbed in some way to explore the possibility for multiple steady-states in the Southern Ocean THC. Where multiple steady states were obtained, the difference between "on" and "off" states was examined to quantify the role of the Southern Ocean THC in global climate. Three papers were published in the 2009/2010 period that were produced using support from this Antarctic Research project:- Sijp, W. P., M. H. England, and J.R. Toggweiler, 2009: Effect of ocean gateway changes under greenhouse warmth, J. Climate, 22, 6639-6652. In this study Southern Ocean gateway changes and the THC were examined under a suite of atmospheric CO2 levels, spanning pre-industrial (280 ppm) up to values relevant to the Eocene (1500 ppm). A markedly stronger gateway response is found under elevated CO2 levels, suggesting past work has underestimated the effects of gateway changes at the Oligocene-Eocene boundary. Sen Gupta, A., A. Santoso, A.S. Taschetto, C.C. Ummenhofer, J. Trevena and M.H. England, 2009: Projected changes to the Southern Hemisphere ocean and sea-ice in the IPCC AR4 climate models, J. Climate, 22, 3047-3078. In this study simulations of the Southern Ocean THC, water-masses, and mixed layer depth were examined and compared across a series of IPCC-class global climate models, under both present-day and climate change scenarios. Sijp, W. P. and M. H. England, 2009: The control of polar haloclines by along-isopycnal diffusion in climate models, J. Climate, 22, 486-498. In this study the ocean THC was shown to be sensitive to along-isopycnal diffusion rates in global climate models. This potentially impacts on past studies wherein multiple equilibria were obtained at unrealistic values of this mixing parameter.

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 2535 See the link below for public details on this project. Project 2535 'Variability and stability of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)' Metadata description (1) Model analysis of natural AABW variability:- We have assessed the interannual to multi-decadal variability of AABW in a global coupled climate model, focussing on variations in bottom water formation rates, T-S changes on AABW neutral surfaces, and the physical mechanisms controlling this variability. The global coupled climate model used is the CSIRO Mark 3 Coupled Climate Model, which incorporates sub-models of the ocean, atmosphere, sea-ice, and land-surface. The experiments were run over a global grid at approximate resolution of 1.9 degrees x 1.9 degrees x 18 levels in the atmosphere, and 1.875 degrees x 0.94 degrees x 31 levels in the ocean. Variables analysed include oceanic temperature, salinity and circulation on AABW density layers, sea-ice extent and thickness, atmospheric sealevel pressure, temperature, and winds. The model integration considered was run with steady CO2 levels for two hundred years in a quasi-steady state mode. Full details of the CSIRO Mark 3 Coupled Climate Model can be found in Gordon et al. (2002). Gordon, H.B., Rotstayn, L.D., McGregor J.L., Dix M.R., Kowalczyk E.A., O'Farrell S.P., 2002: The CSIRO Mk3 Climate System Model. CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research Technical Paper, No. 60. 130pp. (2) Model simulations of CO2-induced change in AABW: We also ran simulations of climate change within the Canadian University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model of Intermediate Complexity at a global longitude x latitude resolution of 3.6 degrees x 1.8 degrees. The model includes a primitive equation three-dimensional, 19 level ocean model, a sea-ice model, a simple land and river model and a two dimensional energy-moisture balance atmospheric model. A number of sensitivity experiments on ocean mixing parameters and the sea-ice model were conducted to optimise the Southern Hemisphere climatology for the control experiment. The control case (CTRL) was integrated for 3100 years starting from idealised initial conditions. Three climate change experiments were conducted, in which atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are changed to 450 ppm, 750 ppm and 1000 ppm from a pre-industrial level of 280 ppm, over different temporal regimes. Full model experiment descriptions appear in Bates, Sijp, and England (2005).

  • This indicator is no longer maintained, and is considered OBSOLETE. INDICATOR DEFINITION Measurements of sea surface temperature in the Southern Ocean. Measurements are averaged over latitude bands: 40-50 deg S, 50-60 deg S, 60 deg S-continent. TYPE OF INDICATOR There are three types of indicators used in this report: 1.Describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system; 2.Show the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system; 3.Determine RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system. This indicator is one of: CONDITION RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTION Australian and Antarctic climate and marine living resources are sensitive to the distribution of ocean temperature. Sea surface values are relatively easy to monitor, and therefore can be used as a relevant indicator of the state of the ocean environment. The information provided by long records of sea surface temperature is needed to detect changes in the Southern Ocean resulting from climate change; to test climate model predictions; to develop an understanding of links between the Ocean and climate variability in Australia; and for sustainable development of marine resources. DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM Spatial scale: Southern Ocean: 40 deg S to the Antarctic continent Frequency: Monthly averages over summer Measurement technique: Measurements of sea surface temperature from Antarctic supply ships. The best spatial coverage of sea surface temperature is provided by satellites, due to extensive cloud cover in the Southern Ocean and biases in the satellite measurement, in situ observations of sea surface temperature are necessary. RESEARCH ISSUES Sea surface temperature has not been previously used as a spatially averaged environmental indicator. Some experimentation with past data are required to define the most appropriate averaging strategy. New technologies like profiling Argo floats need to be exploited to provide better spatial and temporal coverage of temperature in the Southern Ocean. LINKS TO OTHER INDICATORS Sea ice extent and concentration Chlorophyll concentrations Sea surface salinity

  • Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 2315 See the link below for public details on this project. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- Project title: EFFECTS OF THE MODULATION OF THE SURFACE SHEAR STRESS BY THE WAVE FIELD IN A MODEL OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN This project will investigate the sensitivity of currents and tracer properties in a non-eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model to a formulation of the surface shear stress which takes account of surface air and water velocities induced by the ocean wave field. These velocities will be computed accurately from archived model wave fields and also parameterised from wind and current velocities. From the abstract of the reference paper: We present a basic analysis of the propagation of deep-water waves on curved trajectories. The key feature is that the amplitude of the wave varies transversely, and may in the generation of a short-crested of high amplitude. The properties of there waves are explored, and it is suggested that they are a model for extreme waves, which may violate the conditions under which the classical distribution of wave heights has been derived. In their full development, they are manifested a generic rouge waves. From the 2002/2003 season: The aim of this project was to investigate mode water formation south of Australia in an ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The grant monies were used to employ a numerical modeller (Dr Harun Rashid) who became familiar with the curvilinear grid version of the modular ocean model No. 1 (MOM1) model developed by Ross Murray, and then applied the model with high resolution (0.6 x 0.4 degree) in the region south-west of Tasmania, where recent observations obtained on Franklin cruise (Fr9801) to the west of the SR3 section, indicated that mode water was being formed. The model was found to be inadequate to the task of simulating the formation region, as also were the OCCAM simulations, which have been downloaded and compared with the MOM1 simulations. The reason for this negative conclusion was sought during the course of the project, and it was determined that in the OGCMs: (a) the westward advection south of Tasmania was too strong, and (b) the coefficients of lateral diffusion at deeper levels in the water column were too large. The cruise data, which were investigated by Paul Barker as part of his Ph.D. thesis, indicated that the region of water mass formation south-west of Tasmania, occurs over the depth range of the mode water and the intermediate water and through to the upper circumpolar deep water (300 - 1500 m). It was deduced that the formation mechanism involves the mixing of two source waters, one from the Tasman Sea, the other from the Southern Ocean, which combine to form Tasmanian Subantarctic Mode Water (TSAMW), Tasmanian Intermediate Water (TIW), and probably Tasmanian Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (TUCDW). The dynamical reason for the location of the water mass formation appears to be the existence of a saddlepoint in the streamflow (at which the mean horizontal velocity is zero) over the depth range (300 - 1500m), due to the gyral circulation of the South Australian Basin to the west and the retroflection of the Tasman Outflow to the east. In order to represent this physics, it is very important to simulate correctly the advection at each level in the water column This is not done by the OGCMs, but in the course of the project, the importance of advection on the position of the saddlepoint was demonstrated in a series of simulations using the transports obtained from a simple Sverdrup transport model. The modelled fields were then used to advect temperature and salinity at each level with lateral diffusion coefficients adjusted for the best match with the observed property fields. These 'best fit' lateral diffusion coefficients in the deeper levels were found to be much smaller than those used in the OGCMs. The mechanism outlined above is distinct from that in earlier work in which mode water formation was interpreted using Ekman rather then gyral dynamics, without attention being given to the deeper levels. A simple balance shows that the gyral current is of similar magnitude to the Ekman current in the surface layer, and below the surface layer the Ekman current is absent. Recently (December 2003) Ross Murray has indicated that the problem addressed in this 2002-2003 grant can be revisited, using a 20 year simulation he is obtaining with TPAC NCEP II forcing on a resolution of 1/8 degree. It is our intention to work with Ross in February 2004 to see if the problems detailed above can be overcome, so that the ocean physics in this important water mass formation region can be simulated.

  • The RAN Australian Hydrographic Service conducted hydrographic survey HI176 at Macquarie Island in December 1993. The main survey area was adjacent to the north-east coast between North Head and The Nuggets. Survey lines were also followed part way down the west coast of the island and in the vicinity of Judge and Clerk Islets and Bishop and Clerk Islets. The survey dataset, which includes metadata, was provided to the Australian Antarctic Data Centre by the Australian Hydrographic Office and is available for download from a Related URL in this metadata record. The survey was lead by LT A.J.Withers. The data are not suitable for navigation.