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Polar lows over the subantarctic waters SIMMONDS, Prof. Ian Australia (or home country)

The subantarctic region is frequently subject to violent small storms which often arrive with little warning. The most extreme of these are referred to as 'polar lows', and are accompanied by very strong surface winds. They present serious hazards to shipping and are difficult to forecast.

Measuring westward recirculation in the subpolar gyre of the southeastern Indian Ocean: A US-Australian collaborative experiment RINTOUL, Dr Stephen (Steve) Marine Science

The ocean circulation along the continental margin of Antarctica remains poorly known, primarily due to the lack of long-term measurements of ocean currents over the continental slope.

Southern Ocean Calcareous Zooplankton Response to Ocean Acidification ROBERTS, Dr Donna Marine Science

The overall objective is to characterise the response of Southern Ocean calcareous zooplankton to ocean acidification resulting from anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Simulated increases in anthropogenic CO2 suggest a reduction in the calcification rates of calcareous organisms.

Testing a Kerguelen Plateau hotspot trace hypothesis QUILTY, Prof. Patrick (Pat) Australia (or home country)

McDonald Island is the southern end of a line of submerged islands (seamounts) evenly spaced, similar to the Hawaiian chain. Here, the earth's crust is stationary so the hypothesis is that the source of lava is moving.

Understanding the tolerance of Antarctic mosses to climate change ROBINSON, Prof. Sharon Clark Peninsula ASPA, Australia (or home country), Casey, NE Bailey Peninsula ASPA, Windmill Islands

Ozone depletion above Antarctica has caused large increases in springtime UVB radiation (UVBR) and recovery of the ozone layer is not expected until 2060. We have shown that increased UVBR is likely to have more negative effects on the endemic moss, Schistidium antarctici…

A new method for characterisation of Antarctic microbial communities BREADMORE, A/Prof. Michael Australia (or home country)

This project aims to develop a new method, high resolution capillary electrophoresis - single strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) for the analysis of ribosomal RNA.

An observatory of coastal sea ice and environment HEIL, Dr Petra Auster Rookery, Davis, Mawson, Vestfold Hills

Antarctic fast ice is a crucial climate component, and of critical importance to the survival of higher predators and to shipping and (intra-continental fixed-wing) aircraft operations. Neither its base state nor its variability are well documented.

Large scale air-borne sea ice thickness measurements LIESER, Dr Jan Casey

This project will measure the sea ice thickness off East Antarctica, over spatial scales up to hundreds of kilometers. Sea ice is a likely sensitive indicator of climate variations and change. No large scale sea ice thickness measurements exist in the Antarctic.

The role of iron as a micro-nutrient to the Antarctic sea-ice zone algal community TRULL, Dr Thomas (Tom) Casey, Australia (or home country)

This project will assess the importance of the trace micro-nutrient element iron to Antarctic sea-ice algal communities during the International Polar Year (2007-2009).

Aurora Basin North Ice Core Drilling 08/09: Past and Present Climate CURRAN, Dr Mark Casey, Australia (or home country)

An ice core drilling expedition is proposed for Aurora Basin, between Law Dome and Dome C. This will provide a climate record in excess of 2000 years and will be used to compare coastal and inland Antarctic records.

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