R/V AA > R/V Aurora Australis
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Locations of sampling sites for ASAC project 40 on voyage 7 of the Aurora Australis in the 2001/2002 season. The dataset also contains information on chlorophyll, carotenoids, coccolithophorids and species identification and counts. The voyage acronym was LOSS. There are 203 observations in the collection. These data are available via the biodiversity database. The taxa represented in this collection are (species names at time of data collection, 2001-2002): Acanthoica quattrospina Calcidiscus leptoporus Coronosphaera mediterranea Emiliania huxleyi Gephyrocapsa oceanica Pentalamina corona Syracosphaera pulchra Tetraparma pelagica Triparma columacea subsp. alata Triparma laevis subsp. ramispina Triparma strigata Umbellosphaera tenuis
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This dataset contains vertical profiles of particles in the upper water column (60 m depth) at six sites. A laser optical plankton counter (LOPC) was deployed through a hole in the sea ice, or from the stern of the Aurora Australis, and lowered to 60 m, logging as it was lowered. The LOPC records particles in the size range 100 um to 20 mm, though the small aperture (7 cm x 7 cm) means that the largest particles are probably only sampled rarely. For each site, the data are presented as normalised biomass for a series of equivalent spherical diameters (ESD). ESD is based on measurements of length and width of animals likely to be sampled via the LOPC (i.e. animals that are sampled at the same time with a traditional plankton net). The data were collected on the SIPEX II voyage of the Aurora Australis, from 14/9/2012 to 16/11/2012. Sites were all located in first year pack ice; the ship would nudge up to a floe and then samples of ice, zooplankton, etc. were collected directly by working on the floe. The LOPC was either deployed through a large hole in the pack ice, or it was deployed off the stern of the AA. Method of deployment did not really have an impact on the data collected, it was more a logistical decision based on conditions.
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We checked each site by taking ice cores and observing the algae biomass to determine the likelihood of krill living under the sea ice in each location. We also used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) with cameras attached to observe the abundance of krill under the sea ice. If krill were present we used on the sea ice floe a zooplankton pump, called MASMA, according to Meyer et al. 2009, whereas at the edge of the floe column a custom-built fish pump system was used to collect krill near the surface. The Aqualife Biostream BP40 fish pump was capable of pumping up to 1300 litres per minute without harming animals that pass through the pump. For much of the voyage it was operated from the ctd room and at this increased suction head it ran at about 500 litres per minute. Krill were caught at ice stations 2, 6, 7 and 8. The Krill Sample-Overview.xls file contains information regarding how many krill were caught at each ice stations, who was involved and related information. The SIPEX II Krill Voyage Report.docx contains information about the various issues that were encountered during the voyage. It also contains information from the Bottom Krill experiment, which has its own dataset and metadata record. It is duplicated in both datasets. The larvae were used for a growth experiment using the IGR method and after length measurements frozen for carbon, nitrogen, lipids, stomach and gut content analysis. The total and carapace length were determined of juveniles as well as their digestive gland size. Animals were than dissected and tissues frozen at -80C for further analysis (see above). These condition parameters will be discussed in relation to physical and biological environmental parameters of the ice floe (e.g. sea ice thickness, snow coverage, under ice topography and biomass). When this data is analysed, the dataset will be updated to include analysed versions of the data listed in the Krill Sample-Overview.xls file. Also included in the dataset are technical documents and manuals pertaining to the fish pump that was used. Meyer B et al. 2009. Limnol Oceanogr 54:1595-1614
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We collected surface seawater samples using trace clean 1L Nalgene bottles on the end of a long bamboo pole. We will analyse these samples for trace elements. Iron is the element of highest interest to our group. We will determine dissolved iron and total dissolvable iron concentrations. Samples collected from 7 sites: Sites 1, 2, 3, 4 were a transect perpendicular to the edge of the iceberg to try and determine if there is a iron concentration gradient relative to the iceberg. Sites 4, 5, 6 were along the edge of the iceberg to determine if there is any spatial variability along the iceberg edge. Site 7 was away from the iceberg to determine what the iron concentration is in the surrounding waters not influenced by the iceberg.
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This record contains the source, gridded data used to produce the maps described in the metadata record with the ID "SIPEX_II_NAME". See the provided URL. The UK Met Office's Numerical Atmospheric-dispersion Modelling Environment (NAME) is used to model a wide range of atmospheric dispersion events. These data were collected during the SIPEX II voyage of the Aurora Australis, 2012. The use of NAME and the NWP met data was provided by the UK Met Office for free for research purposes. The analysed wind fields used for the running of NAME are calculated using the Met Office's Unified Model (UM). These are calculated by incorporating all observational site data at six hourly intervals into a forecasting system +/- 3 hours of the observation time. This is continuously repeated to produce a 3D analysis of the state of the atmosphere defined by meteorological variables. It is these variables that are incorporated into NAME and are used to calculate wind vectors, particle position, etc. The global resolution for these fields is 25 km. Model Descriptor Inert particles released for two hours each day between 01:00 - 03:00. The lat/lon for the ship was taken at 02:00 every day. The particles were tracked backwards in time for ten days. The NAME output grid comprised of 267 by 165 boxes of 0.5652 degrees longitude and 0.375 degrees latitude. The lat/lon minimum was 60.0,-85.0 and the max was 210,-23. The plots show the daily particle densities in g s m-3 per grid box for the whole of the back run. There are four different types of plots showing surface influence (0-100m), whole troposphere influence (0-16000m) and below the avg boundary layer (BL). The BL heights have also been plotted at the time of release for each of the backruns.
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Instrument description: Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) was measured at five minute intervals. GEM was collected and analysed on two parallel gold traps. While GEM was collected on one gold trap, the mercury on the other traps was simultaneously being thermally desorbed and detected by a cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometer. The Tekran was calibrated approximately every 24 - 48 hours using an internal Hg permeation source. The internal calibration source was checked prior to shipping the instrument to Australia using an external Hg source. The internal calibration source will be verified upon return of the instrument. Instrument Setup: This instrument was sampling from a weather protected inlet positioned ~3 m off the front port side of the Monkey Deck of the Aurora Australis, directly above the bridge. The 35m heated Teflon sample line end and filter is contained within the "Ned Kelly", a large (~30 cm diameter) stainless steel can which protects against rain, snow, sea spray and major impacts. This sample line ran 25m down to the Tekran instrument which was located in a the Met-Lab. Ar (99.999% purity) was fed into the MetLab via quarter inch Teflon tubing from the oxygen store on the Monkey deck. A 2D R.M. Young (model 5305-AQ) anemometer was also deployed at the same elevation on the aft side of the sample inlet. The anemometer was oriented with zero degrees pointed directly forward of the ship. Mean Wind speed and direction were captured using Campbell Scientific CR1000 datalogger at five-minute intervals. The files included in this dataset are the raw outputs from the Tekran 2537. They include headers, though not always at the top of the file, because headers are only written when the instrument is started or after recalibration. Also included are scanned log books containing meteorological observations, maintenance notes, and when adjustments were made to the sample line (which alters anemometer data).
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This dataset contains data resulting from the measurement of brine samples extracted from the sea-ice during the 2012 SIPEX 2 (Sea Ice Physics and Ecosystems Experiment) marine science voyage. The Brine was collected from partially drilled holes in the ice using suction. In some of these cases the brine analysed came from holes which correspond to permeability measurements. In these cases a core number is associated with the brine data which will correspond to the core number in the permeability data set found in the master core list Excel file. The purpose of this data set was to act as a first step to quantify the effect that extra cellular carbon may have on the physical properties of brine and sea ice. At least 1 litre of brine was collected from each partial hole for analysis. The total sample was split for the following analyses. Viscosity of the brine was measured before and after filtering out any biological components that may have been in solution or otherwise in order to assess whether or not extracellular carbon has an effect on fluid flow in sea ice. What was not used for viscosity measurements was used for chlorophyll, extra-cellular carbon and bacterial analysis to gain a sense of the level and type of biology and biological compounds in the brine to then be compared to the measured physical properties. The biological analysis will be carried out at the university of Tasmania by Sarah Ugalde. On many of these samples the complex permittivity of the brine was also measured and the data can be found in the Relative_Permitivity_of_Brine folder with each sample corresponding in core number. For info on the permittivity measurements please see the metadata in that folder.
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Distribution and abundance of zooplankton, krill and fish were observed on the K-axis transect using deployments of RMT1+8 net. Towing speed of the RMT1+8 were approximately 2 knots. All krill, fish and squid in the catch were sorted, identified to species and counted. The density at each station were determined from the counts per calibrated flow-meter readings attached to the net. Morphometric measures were taken and, for larger taxa. List of files K-Axis Morph combined_for data centre.xlsx: Morphological data for all krill and zooplankton captured in RMT-8 net haul. RMT data entry_v1_for data centre.xlsx: Trawl data. RMT8 filtered volume_for data centre.xlsx: Filtered volume for each haul. Map_all.tif: Map showing all trawl stations. Map_RMTR.tif: Map showing only regular trawl stations. Map_RMTT.tif: Mapn showing only target trawl stations. K-Axis description This dataset includes biological data from “K-Axis voyage, 2016 and “Voyage 3, 2015”. [Data from K-Axis voyage, 2016] Distribution and abundance of zooplankton, krill and fish were observed on the K-axis transect using deployments of RMT1+8 net. Towing speed of the RMT1+8 were approximately 2 knots. All krill, fish and squid in the catch were sorted, identified to species and counted. The density at each station were determined from the counts per calibrated flow-meter readings attached to the net. Morphometric measures were taken and, for larger taxa. -List of files- K-Axis Morph combined_for data centre.xlsx: Morphological data for all krill and zooplankton captured in RMT-8 net haul. Map_all.tif Map_RMTR.tif Map_RMTT.tif RMT data entry_v1_for data centre.xlsx: Trawl data. RMT8 filtered volume_for data centre.xlsx: Filtered volume for each haul. [Data from Voyage 3, 2015] The Australian Antarctic research and resupply vessel, RV Aurora Australis, was directed to undertake an opportunistic marine science survey for 17 days during 21 February to 10 March 2015 using ship time that became available due to unexpectedly favourable ice conditions for Mawson station resupply. The purpose of this opportunistic Marine Science work was to assess: 1. The spatial variability, particularly along the shelf break, of the prey field for penguins, flying seabirds and marine mammals in East Antarctica. 2. The small scale variability of prey in key foraging locations near to land-based colonies of penguins and flying seabirds in East Antarctica. 3. Feasibility and potential of utilising annual station resupply voyages as a cost effective means to undertake monitoring and research to better understand the ecosystem in the region. The survey completed 5 acoustic box surveys including a total of 53 RMT target and routine trawls, 6 demersal trawls, 131 phytoplankton samples from underway sampling, and 214 hourly observations of predators. These activities were successfully supervised remotely. -List of files- emm-15-22.pdf: Prelminary report of the voyage to CCAMLR WG-EMM Figure_V3_all_euphausiids.pdf: Map of Euphausiid abundance distribution. Figure_V3_Clione_antarctica.pdf: Map of Clione antarctica abundance distribution. Figure_V3_crystal_krill.pdf: Map of Euphausia crystallorophias abundance distribution. Figure_V3_frigida.pdf: Map of Euphausia frigida abundance distribution. Figure_V3_larval_fish_abundances.pdf: Map of fish larvae abundance distribution. Figure_V3_superba.pdf: Map of Antarctic krill abundance distribution. Figure_V3_tmacrura.pdf: Map of Thysanoessa macrura abundance distribution. V3_final_for data centre.xlsx: Trawl station data and density data of each taxa caught. Voyage 3 Marine Science Program Final.docx: Voyage report.
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These are phytoplankton pigment datasets collected on the BROKE voyage of the Aurora Australis during the 1995-1996 summer season. The readme file in the data download states: Data supplied by Dr Simon Wright. Details phytoplankton pigment data from BROKE. "BROKEPIGDBase.xls Contains 5 worksheets. 'Notes' repeats the information presented here. 'Key' describes the column headings, chemical names. 'Raw_Data' is the exact spreadsheet receieved from Dr Wright. 'Standard_sample_source' contains all the phyto-chemical data as taken from the CTD programme. 'Non_standard_sample_source' contains phyto-chemical data that seems to have been collected opportunistically, to test some assumptions. The details of the locations of the opportunistic samples are detailed in the column 'Sample_source'. Note- it is unsure whether the numbers in the CTD column describe the Station Number. This has to be verified. Converted into a MS Access database- 'BROKE_phytoplankton.mdb' by Natalie Kelly. This database contains 3 tables. One is a description of the column names, chemical etc. The other two contain both the Standard and Non-Standard Sample source phytochemical data. Natalie Kelly 19 November 2005"
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A list of taxa and observations of phytoplankton collected from the SAZ Sense voyage of the Aurora Australis - voyage 3 of the 2006-2007 season. These data are available via the biodiversity database. The collection contains 26 taxa and 562 observations. More information about SAZ SENSE: The overall objective is to characterise Southern Ocean marine ecosystems, their influence on carbon dioxide exchange with the atmosphere and the deep ocean, and their sensitivity to past and future global change including climate warming, ocean stratification, and ocean acidification from anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In particular we plan to take advantage of naturally-occurring, persistent, zonal variations in Southern Ocean primary production and biomass in the Australian Sector to investigate the effects of iron addition from natural sources, and CO2 addition from anthropogenic sources, on Southern Ocean plankton communities of differing initial structure and composition. SAZ-SENSE is a study of the sensitivity of Sub-Antarctic Zone waters to global change. A 32-day oceanographic voyage onboard Australia's ice-breaker Aurora Australis was undertaken in mid-summer (Jan 17 - Feb. 20) 2007 to examine microbial ecosystem structure and biogeochemical processes in SAZ waters west and east of Tasmania, and also in the Polar Frontal Zone south of the SAZ. The voyage brought together research teams from Australasia, Europe, and North America, and was led by the ACE CRC, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, and the Australian Antarctic Division. The overall goal is to understand the controls on Sub-Antarctic Zone productivity and carbon cycling, and to assess their sensitivity to climate change. The strategy is to compare low productivity waters west of Tasmania (areas with little phytoplankton) with higher productivity waters to the east, with a focus on the role of iron as a limiting micro-nutrient. The study also seeks to examine the effect of rising CO2 levels on phytoplankton - both via regional intercomparisons and incubation experiments.