Blog 7 February 2009

The studies are mainly biological, and have to do with the variability of Antarctica's terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Both are unique. The marine ecosystem contains a biodiversity and biomass that are only exceeded by areas with coral reefs. It has survived for the past 20 to 30 million years in very constant temperatures (between around -2 and +1 degrees Celsius). The temperature of the water to the west of the Antarctic peninsula (to a depth of approximately 50 metres) is now starting for the first time to warm up. That will have a considerable influence on the living organisms here. After all, each tenth of a degree rise makes percentages of difference to them.

Biodiversity on land is much more limited. There are only a few species here. But they are used to surviving in temperatures that can vary by more than 80 degrees Celsius. So even the simplest organisms have to be extremely adaptable.

I cannot summarise every single study in this blog, but I hope you will have the opportunity to read more about them through the links I've included. Here at the Bonner Laboratory, the main aim is to collect all data as efficiently as possible and pass it on to the scientists so that the best possible use can be made of the information. It is, after all, very difficult to obtain. BAS employs its own scientists and divers, some of whom are stationed on Antarctica for stints of up to two and a half years. So that means that during the Arctic winter scientists are also supplied with information to support their studies, ensuring that the results are more accurate. I was struck by the fact that 60% of the people working here at the Bonner Laboratory are women. So the stereotype image of rugged men with beards festooned with icicles is far from the truth.

Another element that appealed to me as chair of UNSGAB is the way they monitor the ecological impact of human presence on Antarctica, and in particular the effluent from Rothera's sewage system. With the new waste water purification unit, the water released into the bay has to meet much stricter environmental requirements than, for example, those contained in the EU bathing water directive, so it is very clean. All waste is collected and incinerated, and whatever remains (even the ash!) is taken away by boat at the end of the summer season. No alien object may remain here.

We also visited the divers in their shelter, which comes complete with a bath (the only one on Antarctica, but it can save the lives of divers suffering from hypothermia) and a decompression chamber. The visit ended with a tour of the storage tanks for living organisms, and a diving demonstration which enabled us to see real-time footage of the seabed, and the unbelievable numbers of living creatures to be found there.

Unfortunately, there are no Dutch researchers on Rothera at the moment, but we hope to see the experiments they are involved in tomorrow (weather permitting). All I can say is that Arctic research is highly international, and that the Dutch contribution has a very good reputation. We heard that on many different occasions, from many different people (from meteorologists to biologists). And that was gratifying.

This afternoon, we are preparing for our field visit, with overnight stay. If conditions are good, we will have the opportunity along the way to descend into a crevasse, to experience the ice from very close quarters. Till tomorrow!

Willem-Alexander