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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2008-09: VUWAE 53

*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

*ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Information from this section helps us to assess the environmental (including cumulative) impacts and overall environmental performance of New Zealand's activities each year. This reporting is a requirement of the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act, which implements the internationally agreed Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty in New Zealand. The report also forms the basis for annual input into Antarctica New Zealand's environmental database, an electronic record of all New Zealand activities in the Ross Sea region since 1957.

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Please be as specific as possible. For locations occupied, provide the site or protected area name, and GPS coordinates or map references where appropriate. GPS coordinates should be given in degrees, minutes and decimal minutes (e.g. 78° 20.835′S 166° 33.541′E). Note that the geodetic reference used should be WGS84.

Two sub-sections are compulsory as they are relevant to all events. Sub-sections without asterisks need only be completed if relevant. Unnecessary sections should be deleted. Comments on any area of environmental management are welcome and can be added beneath the relevant table.

*Sites Visited (please complete a table for each site visited)
Site name Evans Piedmont Glacier
Site coordinates 76°43.5335′ S, 162° 35.2940′ E, 314m asl
Is this site in an ASMA or ASPA? If so, which one? McMurdo Dry Valleys ASMA
Dates occupied (from – to) 13 Nov 2008
Total time (days /hours) at site 3
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 9 person hours
Main activity undertaken Maintenance of automatic weather station and retrieval of recorded data; and mass balance measurement
Cumulative impacts observed None
Helo landing site coordinates if not established AND marked None
Site name Victoria Lower Glacier
Site coordinates 77°19′48.31″S, 162°31′55.29″E, 626.2 m asl
Is this site in an ASMA or ASPA? If so, which one? McMurdo Dry Valleys ASMA
Dates occupied (from – to) 13 Nov 2008
Total time (days /hours) at site 3 hours
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 9 person-hours
Main activity undertaken Mass balance measurements
Cumulative impacts observed None
Helo landing site coordinates if not established AND marked N.A.
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Site name Skinner Saddle
Site coordinates 80°55′54.66″S, 159°30′11.56″E, 917.5m asl
Is this site in an ASMA or ASPA? If so, which one? No
Dates occupied (from – to) 18 Nov 2008
Total time (days /hours) at site 6
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 4
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 24
Main activity undertaken Relocation and maintenance of automatic weather station and retrieval of recorded data
Cumulative impacts observed None
Helo landing site coordinates if not established AND marked N.A.
Site name Windless Bight
Site coordinates 78°03.273′S, 166°57.604′E
77°59.224′S, 166°59.673′E
77°56.201′S, 167°00.063′E
77°53.502′S, 166°00.053′E
77°51.324′S, 166°57.250′E
Is this site in an ASMA or ASPA? If so, which one? No
Dates occupied (from – to) 19 Nov 2008
Total time (days /hours) at site 10
Maximum number of people at site (your event) 3
Total person-days (or person-hours) at site 30 person-hours
Main activity undertaken Recovery of 5 shallow (~3m deep) firn cores
Cumulative impacts observed None
Helo landing site coordinates if not established AND marked N.A.
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Geological Material

Detail any collection of geological material (including meteorites, ventifacts, fossils or sub-fossils) or soil. For each sample (or group of samples) taken provide:
Location Specimen type Quantity (kg)
Site name Coordinates
Windless Bight 78°03.273′S 166°57.604′E Shallow firn core 10 kg
Windless Bight 77°59.224′S 166°59.673′E Shallow firn core 10 kg
Windless Bight 77°56.201′S 167°00.063′E Shallow firn core 10 kg
Windless Bight 77°53.502′S 166°00.053′E Shallow firn core 10 kg
Windless Bight 77°51.324′S 166°57.250′E Shallow firn core 10 kg

Equipment installed/left in field

List any equipment, markers, stakes or cairns installed in the field during your visit. Upon completion of your event there should be no trace of any equipment or markers, etc., unless permitted to do so. This should include the removal of any constructed stone cairns. If any equipment installed and/or remaining in the field, provide:
Type of equipment/marker installed Year of installatio n Location (name and coordinates) Number of items left in field Dimension (in metres: H, W, L) Removal status*
Automatic weather station 2007 Skinner Saddle, 80°55′54.66″S, 159°30′11.56″E 1 3m, 4m, 4m Ongoing Use
Automatic weather station 2004 Evans Piedmont Glacier 76°43.5335′ S, 162°35.2940′E 1 3m, 4m, 4m Ongoing Use
Mass balance device 2004 Evans Piedmont Glacier 76°43.5335′ S, 162°35.2940′E 1 20cm (∼12m below surface) × 3cm × 3cm Ongoing Use
Mass balance device 1999 Victoria Lower Glacier 77°19′48.31″S, 162°31′55.29″E 2 0.5m (∼12m below surface) × 3cm × 3cm Ongoing Use
If equipment has been left in the photograph of the installation(s): field please provide a justification and insert or append a photograph of the installation(s):
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Automatic Weather Station:
The meteorological data will be used to establish transfer functions between ice core proxies and atmospheric parameters. The AWS records temperature, wind direction and speed, humidity, snow accumulation, snow temperature, pressure, and solar radiation. Both sites have identical weather stations. The figure shows the set-up at Skinner Saddle
Mass Balance Device:
The mass balance data are used to establish the longer term mass balance of coastal ice masses in Antarctica. We measure the net loss or gain via submergence velocity measurements. We will remove as much of the device as possible once the base is buried too far below the surface to continue the measurements. Both sites have similar mass balance set-ups. The figure shows the set-up at Victoria Lower Glacier

*Bioprospecting activities

New Zealand is collecting data for discussions on bioprospecting in Antarctica at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. Here, we define bioprospecting as 'The search for chemical compounds and genetic materials from plants, animals and micro-organisms; the extraction and testing of those compounds and materials; and the research and commercial development of those that show activity.'

To your knowledge, does your science involve any bioprospecting activity? No

*Differences from original Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)

If the activities described above differ from the environmental impact assessment (usually a Preliminary Environmental Evaluation (PEE)) completed for this event (and any approved changes), or from the Environmental Authorisation issued to it, explain how and why they differed. If there were no differences, please specify 'None'.

'None'