Issue 11: Spring 2006
Australia on the world stage
Australian Government Antarctic Division Director, Tony Press, reflects on the Division's contributions to international Antarctic science, policy and operations.
Antarctic science and logistics conference
Australia hosted the world event of Antarctic science and logistics in 2006.
Looking to ice layers for climate secrets
Scientists are studying the mesosphere, 50-92 km up, for early climate change signals.
New Airlink aircraft selected (scroll to the bottom of the page)
Australia has chartered an Airbus A319 to fly from Hobart to Antarctica.
Listening for whales
Remote listening devices are helping scientists eaves drop on whales in the Southern Ocean.
Ozone depletion may leave hole in phytoplankton growth
Research suggests the growth of phytoplankton is reduced by 56% when ozone drops below 300 Dobson Units – with serious implications for marine ecosystems.
Krill school takes shape
The shape of Antarctic krill may affect where they swim in a school.
Seasonal changes in the effects of UV radiation on marine microbes
The effects of damaging ultraviolet light on microscopic marine organisms changes with changing ozone concentrations.
Crude ideas
Could Antarctica become the last frontier for the insatiable oil industry?
Penguins and oceanographers work together
Penguins are helping oceanographers construct a picture of the structure and location of ocean fronts near Macquarie Island.
Measuring sea ice thickness
International efforts are underway to better measure and monitor sea ice thickness in Antarctica.
Aliens in Antarctica
A new Alien Invertebrate Collection Kit will help scientists track any introduction of non-native species to Antarctica.
Spotlight on the Subantarctic
The first International Forum on the Subantarctic canvassed topics from conservation to exploitation.
Managing fuel spills in Antarctica
A 'permeable reactive barrier' is being trialled in the clean up of a diesel spill at Casey.
Protists in marine ice
Microscopic marine plants and animals have been found in ice cores drilled from the Amery Ice Shelf.
Two new Antarctic stations
New Zealand and the United Kingdom have unveiled their latest plans for portable Antarctic stations.
Reconnecting science and art
Science and art complement each other.
Surveying Sector 58
Early results from the latest marine science voyage to determine krill distribution and abundance are out.
A year of discovery awaits
The International Polar Year (2007-08) heralds a new era in our understanding of the polar regions and their impact on the Earth's climate, ecosystems and societies.
New dietary facts from faeces
DNA analysis of faeces is a non-invasive method for studying the diets of seals and penguins.
Working towards seabird safe longlining
Methods to reduced seabird bycatch in pelagic longline tuna and billfish fisheries are being trialled.
A new science programme
The new Environmental Protection and Change programme aims to understand how the biodiversity of Antarctica responds to human-induced environmental change and to develop techniques to remediate past environmental impacts.
Sea levels rise as Antarctic snow falls short
Snowfall in Antarctica has changed little in the past 50 years, despite changes in climate. For the full research paper (Science313:827-831, August 2006) visit http://www.sciencemag.org
The future of Antarctic environmental protection
The annual meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection considered environmental challenges facing Antarctica in the future.
Mercy dash for Australian patrol ship
The Australian Customs and Fisheries patrol ship, Oceanic Viking, diverted from its patrol of the Southern Ocean to respond to a medical emergency.
Treading lightly on the ice
Delegates at the 2006 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting discussed ways to minimise the human footprint on Antarctica.
New marine mammal research centre for Hobart
A new Australian Centre for Applied Marine Mammal Science aims to improve the management and conservation of Australia's whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs.
Hawker Island – protected for petrels
This small, rocky island below the Antarctic Circle has been designated as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area.
Looking to Australia's Antarctic future
What does the future hold for the Australian Antarctic programme?
Twenty-five years of conservation
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources celebrated its 25th annual meeting with a range of new conservation measures.
The inauguration of Law-Racovita station
In the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty, Australia opened the doors of Law Base to Romania.
In brief
Awards, exhibitions, books, our new Antarctic Station Leaders for 2006-07 and more.
Freeze frame
Renae Baker of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology photographed these rarely seen 'polar stratospheric' or 'nacreous' (mother-of-pearl) clouds over Mawson.
Australian Antarctic Magazine 11 Spring 2006 [low res 4.7 MB]
