The Ross Sea Drift of the "Aurora" in 1915-1916

Wordie, J. M.

doi:10.2307/1780489

Cited by 15 publications

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“…Using these data within the context of a comprehensive sea ice dynamics study, she found that the general drift of the sea ice pack in the western Weddell Sea was driven equally by lowfrequency atmospheric and oceanic motions. The wintertime drift of the Aurora along the Victoria Land Coast [Wordie, 1921] suggests that similar conditions may exist in the Ross Sea. Moreover, the katabatic wind forcing of Terra Nova Bay is likely to set up strong local wind-forced ocean currents that are not accounted for by the polynya models used in this study.…”

Section: Error Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wintertime drift of the Aurora along the Victoria Land Coast [Wordie, 1921] suggests that similar conditions may exist in the Ross Sea. Moreover, the katabatic wind forcing of Terra Nova Bay is likely to set up strong local wind-forced ocean currents that are not accounted for by the polynya models used in this study.…”

Section: Polynya Environmental Dependenciesmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Wintertime dynamics of the Terra Nova Bay polynya

Woert¹

1999

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. Three variants of a one-dimensional coastal polynya model, forced by data from a nearby automatic weather station, are used to examine wintertime ice concentration fluctuations in a coastal polynya at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. It has long been believed that the Terra Nova Bay polynya opens in response to strong offshore katabatic wind forcing. This study shows that the sensible and longwave heat fluxes share equally in controlling polynya extent fluctuations, and together, these two terms in the energy budget can explain up to --•50% of the observed variance in open water fraction. Moreover, this study shows that the wind speed becomes important to the polynya dynamics through amplification of the longwave flux. Finally, this study suggests that local katabatic winds at Terra Nova Bay combined with regional ice conditions set up by winds blowing across the Ross Ice Shelf control the fluctuations in Terra Nova Bay polynya extent. IntroductionPolynyas are recurring regions of either partially or totally ice free ocean occurring within the pack ice at times when the air temperature is below the freezing point of seawater.

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Section: Error Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Polynya Environmental Dependenciesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Wintertime dynamics of the Terra Nova Bay polynya

Woert¹

1999

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…The likely answer to this apparent paradox lies in sea ice movement. The drift of the 'Aurora' in 1915 to 1916 (Wordie 1921) and more recently buoys deployed on floes in 1986 to 1988 (Moritz 1988(Jeffries et al 2001b, Jeffries & Kozlenko 2002 showed that ice formed in the Ross Sea inner pack ice is rapidly advected northward. For example, buoys deployed from the RV 'Nathaniel B. Palmer' between 75 and 76°S and 178°E and 178°W in May 1998 moved northnorthwestward at a mean speed of 0.16 m s -1 (13.8 km d , the floes that we sampled at 72°S on 14 May and 3 June, respectively, for example, were probably located 2.5 to 3°of latitude further south in mid-February, when the ice cover began to expand after the summer minimum (Fig.…”

Section: Large-scale Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of sea ice microbial communities during autumn ice formation in the Ross Sea

Garrison

Jeffries²,

Gibson³

et al. 2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Sea ice communities were sampled across the Ross Sea in the austral autumn. The biota in first-year pack ice was assessed by measuring chlorophyll a (chl a), phaeopigments, total particulate carbon and nitrogen (POC and PON, respectively) and collecting samples for identification by microscopy. Physical and chemical parameters were also measured to characterize the environment. Chl a concentrations in ice ranged from 0 to 96.9 µg l -1 in discrete samples and from 0.02 to 20.9 mg m -2 for values integrated throughout floes. Maximum values were similar to those observed in first-year pack ice at other Antarctic locations. Chl a concentrations varied with ice structure and with latitude. POC:chl a and C:N ratios (molar) were high, possibly indicating detritus accumulations. The higher chl a levels north of approximately 72°S were apparently a result of ice forming in the south early in the season with subsequent advection to the north. These dynamics would result in older ice in the mid-or northern pack ice zone that was maintained in a favorable light and temperature regime during the seasonal progression of formation and drift. Chlorophyll levels were low in surface-layer communities. High chlorophyll concentrations were associated with internal communities. Bottom-layer algal populations, while present, did not reach the levels of high biomass reported for autumn blooms in some land-fast ice regions. Apparent nutrient and CO 2 depletion were correlated with biomass parameters but accounted qualitatively for only a fraction of the biomass accumulation measured. Overall, autumn ice-associated production in the Ross Sea may be lower than expected because of the ice drift dynamics, apparently low production in the near-surface layers of first year ice flows, and the absence of rich bottom-layer assemblages.

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“…A blizzard on 3 August blew down and damaged the Stevenson screen, breaking the minimum thermometer. Sea temperatures were recorded periodically (Stenhouse 1915–1916; Wordie 1921: 223).…”

Section: Drift Of Auroramentioning

confidence: 99%

‘For the sake of science and country’: the Ross Sea party 1914–1917

Harrowfield¹

2014

Polar Record

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In December 1913 Sir Ernest Shackleton released a prospectus and announced The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. His goal was to undertake the first crossing of Antarctica from the Weddell Sea via the polar plateau to McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea. The journey had already been attempted by Wilhelm Filchner whose shipDeutschland, had become beset in the Weddell Sea ice for nine months in 1912. Shackleton aimed ‘to make all possible scientific observations on [the Trans-Antarctic] journey; to carry on similar work by parties operating from the two bases on the Weddell and Ross Seas [and] to carry on scientific work, and travel unknown portions of the coastline, by the two ships of the expedition’(Shackleton 1913: 3). WithEndurancea continental crossing party of six led by Shackleton would begin from the Weddell Sea and a supporting depot laying party led byNimrodveteran Lieutenant Aeneas L.A. Mackintosh RNR, with the auxiliary barquentineAurorabased in McMurdo Sound. Unbeknown to each party, both experienced problems beyond their control.Endurancewas holed and sank in the Weddell Sea andAuroralocked in ice, although damaged, reached New Zealand. Here the ship was repaired and then undertook a relief expedition with Shackleton as a passenger, to McMurdo Sound. In spite of these major setbacks each party conducted valuable scientific observations.When Shackleton published his bookSouth(Shackleton 1919) on the expedition, compiled with New Zealand journalist and friend Edward Saunders, with exception of accounts on the Ross Sea party sledging and drift of the shipAurora, no recognition was given to work undertaken by the four Ross Sea party scientists and an assistant. Later publications have focused on the depot-laying, while books on Antarctic science have largely overlooked the science undertaken.The purpose of this paper is to make this better known, and to give credit to the four scientists involved. The science conducted although primarily concerned with meteorological observations, also covers limited glaciological observations including the ablation of lake ice, solution of glacier ice in salt water, tidal recordings, collection of zoological and other specimens, along with the use of improvised equipment to undertake observations. The science achieved was secondary to the field work. The Ross Sea party science was done however, under conditions not normally conducive for such field work with health issues a major contributing factor. A lack of funding, equipment, personality problems, concern forAuroraand crew, uncertainty of Shackleton's Antarctic crossing and their own relief, led to depression, sleeplessness and insomnia.

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The Ross Sea Drift of the "Aurora" in 1915-1916

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Wintertime dynamics of the Terra Nova Bay polynya

Wintertime dynamics of the Terra Nova Bay polynya

Development of sea ice microbial communities during autumn ice formation in the Ross Sea

‘For the sake of science and country’: the Ross Sea party 1914–1917

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