Issue 21: 2011
The Australian Antarctic Magazine seeks to inform the Australian and international Antarctic community about the activities of the Australian Antarctic program. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government. The Australian Antarctic Magazine is produced twice a year in hard copy and made available online. All text and images published in the magazine are copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise stated. Editorial enquiries, including requests to reproduce material, or contributions, should be addressed to the Editor at magazine@aad.gov.au.
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New Director looks forward to Antarctic future
New Australian Antarctic Division Director, Dr Tony Fleming, reflects on the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, his family links to heroic era explorers, and his plans for his future at the Division.
What did the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and the subsequent British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition discover and achieve, and what is their relevance to our modern Antarctic program?
Spinning an icy yarn in Antarctica
Intrepid spinner, Marion Wheatland, knitted a replica of Mawson's balaclava using wool she spun at Mawson's Huts Historic Site earlier this year, to raise money for the Mawson's Huts Foundation.
Cape Denison Post Office established
100 years on, Douglas Mawson's wish to establish a Post Office at Cape Denison has been fulfilled.
A new concept of how ocean ecosystems work suggests that greater numbers of large marine animals could increase ocean productivity.
Journal focuses on Antarctic sea ice research
The results from Australia’s major Antarctic sea ice research program conducted during the International Polar Year (2007–2009), were published in a special issue of Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography in May.
Model simulations investigate Totten thinning
A model of the ocean circulation beneath and around the Totten Glacier is being developed to investigate why it is one of the fastest-thinning glaciers in East Antarctica.
Australian Antarctic Science Season 2011-12
Find out about the science being conducted in Antarctica this summer.
Surveying dugong responses to extreme weather events
Scientists expect dugongs off the urban Queensland coast will struggle to find food, after extensive tracts of their seagrass habitat were degraded or destroyed by severe flooding and Tropical Cyclone Yasi in the first two months of 2011.
Conserving Thailand's cetaceans
The first detailed study of cetaceans in Trat Province, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, will provide critical information on their abundance, distribution, and management and conservation needs.
Scientists are studying the inshore dolphins in the Kikori River Delta of Papua New Guinea for conservation and management purposes.
The tiny Micronesian island of Palau will conduct its first dedicated investigation into the status of the region's cetaceans.
Subantarctic islands in the spotlight
Subantarctic researchers from around the world met in Hobart in August for a two-day forum on the subantarctic region. At the forum, Australian Antarctic Division scientists described the range of possible outcomes from the current Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project.
Getting around - plant dispersal in the subantarctic
Plants take advantage of things that move - water, wind and animals - to travel long distances from the southern hemisphere continents to the subantarctic.
Subantarctic bull kelp suggests ice age was icier
Genetic patterns in subantarctic southern bull kelp suggest that Antarctic sea ice extent during the last ice age may have been much greater than currently estimated.
Preventing a marine invasion in the subantarctic
As the climate warms and visitors to the Antarctic and subantarctic increase, the threat of an invasion by marine species, carried to the region on resupply vessels and tourist ships is increasing. But there are ways we can prevent such invasions.
Career in krill offers scientific thrills
Antarctic Medal winner and science program leader, Dr Steve Nicol, joined the Australian Antarctic Division 24 years ago and began shaking up the biology program almost immediately. On the eve of his retirement he reflects on a career that has helped the Division become a leader in Antarctic krill research, conservation and management.
Leading Antarctic marine biologist, Dr Steve Nicol, and a Master of Australia's Antarctic research and resupply vessel, Captain Murray Doyle, have been awarded the 2011 Antarctic Medal.
Icy resting place for Australian Antarctic pioneer
The man known as ‘Mr Antarctica’, Dr Phil Law, has been laid to rest on a rocky outcrop near Mawson station in Antarctica.
Environmental scientist receives inaugural Phillip Law medal
The inaugural Phillip Law Medal has been awarded to Australian Antarctic Division scientist Dr Martin Riddle.
Biscoe Hut: preserving Australia's Antarctic heritage
A project to restore and preserve one of the earliest relics of ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) history is underway at Mawson station.
Vale Dr Jon Stephenson, 1930-2011
Dr Jon Stephenson had a long and adventurous career of distinguished service to science, exploration, and education.
Engineering award for Davis station
A new super-insulated building at Australia’s Davis station has won an Engineers Australia Award for Excellence.
Station leaders for 2012 and some new Antarctic reading.
Meteorological observer Kerry Steinberner took this issue's stunning photograph of a wind-blown ice sculpture.
Photo: Jenny Feast
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Senior Meteorology Observer Jenny Feast took this photo at the end of a clear, still October day, after exploring Breid Basin and Long and Tryne fjords, near Davis. Jenny works as a weather observer for the Bureau of Meteorology in Western Australia and this is her first trip to Antarctica. The photo was taken on a Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon EF 24-105 lens at 35mm, ISO 100, f/4.0 , shutter 1/60sec.
