Activities of the Summer Party of the 35th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1993-1994

Abstract

The 35th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-35) consisted of forty wintering members and sixteen summer members plus three foreign scientists from the U.S.A. and Australia. The icebreaker SHIRASE left Tokyo on November 14,1993,and arrived at the pack ice edge near Lutzow-Holm Bay on December 17. Due to unusually severe sea ice conditions, continuous icebreaking began at this point, and continued until finally the icebreaker SHIRASE was stalled 10 nautical miles away from Syowa Station. At this point, the expedition stores were transferred to Syowa Station by helicopter airlift and snow vehicle through sea ice route. These operations transported more than 96% of the total expedition baggage. Under these circumstances, logistic operations such as construction and replacement of buildings and facilities did not progress on schedule. Observations on geology, geography, geodesy, biology and others were also not completed. However, after the ship left the pack ice in Lutzow-Holm Bay and along the Prince Olav Coast, the observations of physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology and earth sciences were made according to the program. The icebreaker arrived at Sydney on March 21,1994. Expedition members and the wintering party of JARE-34 returned to Japan in March 28.