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The altitude dependent variability of ozone in the polar stratosphere is regularly observed by balloon-borne ozonesonde observations at Neumayer Station (70°S) in the Antarctic and at Koldewey Station (79°N) in the Arctic. The reasons for observed seasonal and interannual variability and long-term changes are discussed. Differences between the hemispheres are identified and discussed in light of differing dynamical and chemical conditions. Since the mid- 1980s, rapid chemical ozone loss has been recorded in the lower Antarctic stratosphere during the spring season. Using coordinated ozone soundings in some Arctic winters, similar chemical ozone loss rates have been detected related to periods of low temperatures. The currently observed cooling trend of the stratosphere, potentially caused by the increase of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, may further strengthen chemical ozone removal in the Arctic. However, the role of internal climate oscillations in observed temperature trends is still uncertain. First results of a 10000 year integration of a low order climate model indicate significant internal climate variability. on decadal time scales, that may alter the effect of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the polar stratosphere.

A large-scale force budget was applied using a combination of remote-sensing and field data from Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. In the grounded area, more than 95 % of ice flow is balanced by basal friction. In a partly floating section near the grounding-line area, on average lateral drag provides 38% of resistance to flow. Measurement uncertainties were propagated through the calculation of forces. The accuracies of strain rates derived from satellite data (Landsat thematic mapper) were found adequate to calculate meaningful force-balance terms. For the floating section, where lateral forces contribute to controlling flow, the main contribution to errors in the force budget is uncertainty in the rate factor for the flow law of ice. For grounded sections, the uncertainty in ice thickness, as measured by ground-penetrating radar, contributes more or less equally to errors in the force budget as does that in the rate factor.

Background: To gain knowledge about psychological issues in space, data have been collected from groups in isolated and confined settings on Earth. This study examines the possibility of generalizing psychological findings across such environments. HYPOTHESIS: Psychological reactions among personnel in different Antarctic environments show similar time patterns. Antarctic personnel differ in personality from submariners to crews confined in hyperbaric chambers to military recruits. METHOD: Psychological reactions were evaluated by the Revised Antarctic Questionnaire. The Personality Characteristic Inventory was used to measure personality. RESULTS: Personnel stationed on a ship (n = 19) showed high coping during the whole mission, whereas personnel on land bases (n = 18) showed a marked decline around the third quarter. Reduced coping in the land-based groups was associated with stress from interpersonal relationships. Compared with submariners (n = 54) and hyperbaric chamber crews (n = 20), Antarctic personnel scored lower on competitiveness and higher on achievement striving. CONCLUSIONS: Similarities in physical, individual and group characteristics should be considered before extrapolating psychological findings across settings.

The future development of stratospheric ozone layer depends on the concentration of chlorine and bromine containing species. The stratosphere is also expected to be affected by future enhanced concentrations of greenhouse gases. These result in a cooling of the winter polar stratosphere and to more stable polar vortices which leads to enhanced chemical depletion and reduced transport of ozone into high latitudes. One of the driving forces behind the interest in stratospheric ozone is the impact of ozone on solar UV-B radiation. In this study UV scenarios have been constructed based on ozone predictions from the chemistry-climate model runs carried out by GISS, UKMO and DLR. Since cloudiness, albedo and terrain height are also important factors, climatological values of these quantities are taken into account in the UV calculations. Relative to 1979–92 conditions, for the 2010–2020 time period the GISS model results indicate a springtime enhancement of erythemal UV doses of up to 90% in the 60–90 °N region and an enhancement of 100% in the 60–90 °S region. The corresponding maximum increases in the annual Northern Hemispheric UV doses are estimated to be 14% in 2010–20, and 2% in 2040–50. In the Southern Hemisphere 40% enhancement is expected during 2010–20 and 27% during 2040–50.

Ice samples from Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, were analyzed for 14CO2 and 14CO by accelerator mass spectrometry. Only a small amount (∼2%) of in situ produced radiocarbon was detected. The calibrated radiocarbon ages, corrected for in situ produced 14C, are in fair agreement with age estimates obtained from stratigraphical methods added to a gas inclusion model. The ages of the entrapped air range from recent to ca. 1200 AD.

Q1, an organochlorine component with the molecular formula C(9)H(3)Cl(7)N(2) and of unknown origin was recently identified in seal blubber samples from the Namibian coast (southwest of Africa) and the Antarctic. In these samples, Q1 was more abundant than PCBs and on the level of DDT residues. Furthermore, Q1 was more abundant in seals from the Antarctic than the Arctic. To prove this assumption, gas chromatography-electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS), which is sensitive and selective for Q1, allowed for screening of traces of Q1 even in samples with particularly high levels of other organochlorine contaminants. Q1 was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from a skua liver sample. A 1:1 mixture with trans-nonachlor in electron-capture detectors (ECDs) was used to determine the relative response factor with ECNI-MS. The ECNI-MS response of Q1 turned out to be 4.5 times higher than that of trans-nonachlor in an ECD. With GC/ECNI-MS in the selected ion-monitoring mode, four Antarctic and four Arctic air samples were investigated for the presence of Q1. In the Antarctic air samples, Q1 levels ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 fg/m(3). In Arctic air samples, however, Q1 was below the detection limit (<0.06 fg/m(3) or 60 ag/m(3)). We also report on high Q1 levels in selected human milk samples (12-230 microg/kg lipid) and, therefore, suggested that the unknown Q1 is an environmental compound whose origin and distribution should be investigated in detail. Our data confirm that Q1 is a bioaccumulative natural organochlorine product. Detection of a highly chlorinated natural organochlorine compound in air and human milk is novel.

This article focuses on three emerging law of the sea issues for states cooperating in management of the Antarctic and its maritime area. The first of these is no newcomer: How to regulate the dramatic increase in illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Southern Ocean? The second question, according to the letter of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, awaits the countries claiming sovereignty over portions of territory in the Antarctic 10 years from the entry into force of the Convention for each of them. The question here is what to do with the requirement contained in that Convention relating to the submission of information on the outer limit of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission on the Continental Shelf? Finally, there is a third tricky question: Who is competent to regulate, and accordingly to ban, mineral activities in the Southern Ocean seabed? Is it the International Seabed Authority as the global body, or the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties through their regional cooperation? This question may well never be put on the policy agenda for any global forum; but it may well be posed at any time and by any third party, whether in the UN General Assembly or, more likely, in the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority.

EN NORSK FELTZOOLOG OG POLAR-PIONER 17 år gammel drar snekkerlærlingen JOHAN KOREN ut fra hjembyen i Fredrikstad i 1897 som deltager i historiens første overvintringekspedisjon i Antarktis, Belgica-ekspedisjonen. Styrmann om bord er en landsmann, den unge Roald Amundsen. I likhet med ham, blir Koren snart kjent og omtalt som en av tidenes dristigste oppdagelsesreisende, med Antarktis og Arktis som virkefelt. Men for Koren blir berømmelsen ikke varig. Bare 39 år gammel dør han i spanskesyken, alene på et hospital i Vladivostok. Og med tiden går det slik at han blir "Gutten Norge glemte" - slik tittelen lød på en senere guttebok, inspirert av hans begivenhetsrike og dramatiske liv. Blant feltzoologer regnes han imidlertid den dag i dag som en pionerskikkelse, og rundt om i verdens zoologiske museer finnes tusenvis av vitnesbyrd om hans innsats for vitenskapen som samler av fugle- og dyrearter. Forfatteren, historikeren og biologen STEINAR WIKAN bygger denne beretningen på Johan Korens delvis bevarte dagbøker, samtlige brev, dokumenter og presseomtaler, erindringsbøker og - ikke minst - samtaler med en gammel mann i det fjerneste Sibir som kjente Koren.

Abstract Commercial sealing in the 18th and 19th centuries had a major impact on the Antarctic and subantarctic fur seal populations (Arctocephalus gazella and A. tropicalis) in the Southern Ocean. The intensive and unrestricted nature of the industry ensured substantial reductions in population sizes and resulted in both species becoming locally extinct at some sites. However, both species are continuing to recover, through the recolonization of islands across their former range and increasing population size. This study investigated the extent and pattern of genetic variation in each species to examine the hypothesis that higher levels of historic sealing in A. gazella have resulted in a greater loss of genetic variability and population structure compared with A. tropicalis. A 316-bp section of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced and revealed nucleotide diversities of 3.2% and 4.8% for A. gazella and A. tropicalis, respectively. There was no geographical distribution of lineages observed within either species, although the respective ΦST values of 0.074 and 0.19 were significantly greater than zero. These data indicate low levels of population structure in A. gazella and relatively high levels in A. tropicalis. Additional samples screened with restriction endonucleases were incorporated, and the distribution of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence haplotypes were examined to identify the main source populations of newly recolonized islands. For A. tropicalis, the data suggest that Macquarie Island and Iles Crozet were probably recolonized by females from Marion Island, and to a lesser extent Ile Amsterdam. Although there was less population structure within A. gazella, there were two geographical regions identified: a western region containing the populations of South Georgia and Bouvet?ya, which were the probable sources for populations at Marion, the South Shetland and Heard Islands; and an eastern region containing the panmictic populations of Iles Kerguelen and Macquarie Island. The latter region may be a result of a pronounced founder effect, or represent a remnant population that survived sealing at Iles Kerguelen.