Search

Two small antarctic diatoms, usually missed by traditional collection methods, have been studied in light and electron microscopes. Porosira dichotomica has been transferred to Thalassiosira since its valve structure and process pattern agree better with that genus. T. dichotomica is unusual in that some lines of areola walls are extended, sail-like, out from the valve, supporting Kozlova's original drawings. T. ambigua, the smaller of the two, has many similarities in structure with T. dichotomica, but has granules on the margin, lacks the sail-like structures on the valve, and has minor differences in processes and areola size. Bands stay together in T. ambigua and show more fine structure than many species in the genus.

The increment in informationCareful geological investigations started at a few places in Antarctica after World War II, but gained momentum and became systematic only when the International Geophysical Year started, and when SCAR and its Working Group on Geology were established just 25 years ago. Although geology was not initially part of the IGY programme, it soon became one of the thriving sciences in Antarctica.The growth of Antarctic geosciences can be shown in many ways, for example by the expansion of the Symposium volumes from the first one in 1963, containing 76 papers, to the latest one in August 1982, with 191 papers.The investigations have largely had the character of regional reconnaissance surveys, and the observations have mostly been published as general descriptions with maps at the scale of 1:1 million or smaller. Only one Antarctic nation has a systematic mapping programme of larger scales (1:500,000). In a few cases, such as in areas around some larger stations, more detailed work has been going on, in some cases also related to mineral occurrences. A few programmes are under way that have aspects of being resource-oriented: investigations of the Dufek Massif, a layered intrusion similar to the Cr-, Pt- and Ni-rich Bushfeld complex in South Africa, and sampling of manganese nodules during marine geological surveys. Airborne radiometric surveys and also some marine seismic surveys conducted by national oil companies or by resource-oriented state agencies belong to this category.

The prediction of the motions of a tabular iceberg in a seaway is a problem which cannot be solved with a simple approach. The main difficulty lies in the size and mass of the iceberg, which produce frequency-dependent hydrodynamical effects as it moves in the water. Specifically, any solution must take into account both the added inertia and the generation of surface waves caused by the motions of the berg. Early attempts at modelling, which did not include these terms, could not accurately predict the complicated response behaviour seen in field data. In this paper we discuss some modifications to a two-dimensional simulation of floating bodies in waves, which must be applied when the motions and the hydro-dynamical pressures beneath tabular icebergs are required.

Pannaria austro-orcadensis Ovst., sp.nov., from the northern maritime Antarctic, is characterized by its purple-brown lobulate thallus, brown apothecia smooth spores and no secondary products. It grows on moist gravelly soil and bryophytes.

The heave, tilt, and strain responses of three Antarctic tabular icebergs to ocean waves were measured during a 1980–1981 cruise of HMS Endurance to the South Atlantic. The three icebergs, located near the South Sandwich and South Orkney islands, were instrumented with accelerometers, tiltmeters, and wire strainmeters, while a Waverider buoy was used to record the ocean wave field. The thickness of the icebergs was surveyed by a helicopter-borne radio echo sounder. The heave response occurred mainly at the swell period but with outbreaks of bobbing which lasted for a few cycles at a resonant period (about 40 s), which agreed well with the predictions of a numerical finite element model. The roll response occurred mainly at a long resonant period (40–50 s), which again agreed well with the model, but there was also a significant response at ocean wave periods (5–20 s), which exceeded predictions. The strain response had a component at very long periods, which is unexplained by theory, while the surface strain at ocean wave periods agreed with the simple analytical model of Goodman et al. (1980). Using this model it is possible to predict a wave height and period that will cause breakup of the icebergs, and we conclude that swell-induced breakup is likely to occur during major storms in the open southern ocean.

This paper presents an example of the use of patent statistics as a technology indicator in one industry. The first part deals with the problem of interpretation. Through examination of several other partial technology indicators, it is concluded that at least in this industry, patent statistics provide a reliable indicator, not only for the timing of inventions, but for the timing of innovations and diffusion as well. The reason is that the intervals between the stages in the innovation process are very short. This contradicts evidence from many other industries, and it is therefore emphasized that generalizations are unwarranted. The second part of this paper deals with the possible causes of technological change in Norwegian whaling. The methodology is inspired by J. Schmookler's work. Thus, the patents are correlated with other indicators of economic development in the industry. But while Schmookler's view is that the patent activity is determined by social demand and economic growth, the conclusions for the Norwegian whaling industry point in the opposite direction: the technological transformation that took place during the 1920s and early 1930s was forced upon the firms in their efforts to cut costs, which was achieved by rationalizing production and catching methods in line with a downward price trend for whale oil.

The cold hardiness of four species was studied in respect of supercooling ability, cryoprotective substances, chill-coma temperatures and survival under anaerobiosis. The effects of low temperature acclimation and starvation on cold hardiness were examined experimentally. (2) Mean supercooling points of field animals ranged from -6.1° to -28.8°C during Jan-Mar 1980. In Nanorchestes antarcticus (Strandtmann) and Alaskozetes antarcticus (Michael), a bimodal distribution of individual supercooling points occurred with the low group (LG) consisting of animals without gut nucleators. In Stereotydeus villosus (Trouessart) and Gamasellus racovitzai (Trouessart) only a high group (HG) was present in the supercooling-point distributions. (3) In all species, except the predatory G. racovitzai, starvation combined with low temperature exposure for various time periods lowered the mean supercooling point. This was associated with increased concentrations of glycerol in the body fluid. Glucose, ribitol and mannitol together with straight chain hydrocarbons were also detected in the extracts by GLC techniques. (4) Chill-coma temperatures varied from -4.5° to -8.0°C. (5) Under anoxia at 0°C, survival of A. antarcticus was greater than that of G. racovitzai, with the later nymphal stages being slightly more resistant than adults.