by Fishgate@sanap | Jun 21, 2019 | Antarctica, Current Event, Gough Island, Important Dates, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, SANAE, SANAP
Mid-Winter is celebrated right across Antarctica by all the nations & stations. It is the 0ldest tradition in Antarctica and refers to the Winter Solstice (or hibernal solstice). It occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. Its opposite is the summer solstice.
The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (usually 20 or 21 June). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term sometimes refers to the day on which it occurs. Other names are “midwinter”, the “extreme of winter” (Dongzhi), or the “shortest day”.
So, for Antarctic Expeditioners / Overwinterers the worst is over with regards to dark (lack of light and sunlight).
Happy Mid- Winter to all – share this email far and wide.
From all of us
Jasmine Arnold
Office Administrator to The Ship’s Operations Manager | Directorate: Southern Oceans & Antarctic Support | Office address: East Pier, Waterfront | Direct no: 021 405 9485 | Switchboard: 021 405 9400
Mid-winter Event Pretoria, South Africa – organised by Carol Jacobs :
by Fishgate@sanap | May 7, 2019 | Announcement, Important Dates, News, SA Agulhas II
Time on the island is rapidly running out for all passengers returning to Cape Town, this includes everyone except the 76th Marion Island Overwintering Team. The take-over scientists are wrapping up field work and packing containers for back-loading started at this research station.
The first containers were transported to the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II. Watch the video below to see how a container is transported by helicopter.
These last few days are bitter sweet on the island. The 75th overwintering team returning to Cape Town have to say goodbye to the place they called home for 13 months. A place that was at first maybe something to get used to, and now a very special memory that will last a lifetime. For many this might be the last time they get to visit this pristine island in the Southern Ocean, but for the 76th overwintering team the departure of the vessel is something to look forward to, as they will be able to unpack their personals in their own rooms and settling in, preparing for the year ahead.
The vessel is expected to depart from Marion Island on the 9th of May and the expected time of arrival at East Pier, Cape Town Harbour, is 16 May 2019. The longer return voyage will be used toward oceanographic research on transects between the Prince Edward Islands and Cape Town.
Bon Voyage, see you soon!
https://www.facebook.com/UltimateAviationsa/videos/408739073050873/
Photo Credit: Daniela Monsanto (PhD Candidate, University of Johannesburg)
Video Credit: Ultimate Aviation Group
Anché Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 07 May 2019
by Fishgate@sanap | May 3, 2019 | Announcement, Important Dates, SANAP, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
Date: 29 – 30 July 2020
“Come and discuss the challenges facing the sub-Antarctic in a changing world and share ideas for the future”.
Sessions include:
- climate
- conservation
- biosecurity
- geoscience
- tourism
- fishing
- heritage
- connectivity
- management challenges.
Website: Click here.
Follow subant2020 on Twitter!
by Fishgate@sanap | May 2, 2019 | Announcement, Important Dates, News
The information below was sent through by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Secretariat. .
Preparations are well underway for the 2020 SCAR meetings and Open Science Conference to be held in Hobart, Australia in July-August 2020. The COMNAP Annual General Meeting will run concurrently with SCAR and the organisers are working to schedule events to encourage participation across the two groups. The OSC theme ‘Antarctic Science: Global Connections’ highlights the scientific connections between Antarctica and the global system and collaboration in our Antarctic science community.
The Local Organising Committee are working closely with the SCAR and COMNAP Secretariats on meeting preparations including an excellent program of conference and side events. Planning for SCAR COMNAP 2020 includes efforts to minimise waste, encourage sustainable resource management and to foster participation inclusion and diversity.
The first pre-conference circular is now available and outlines some key pieces of information about SCAR COMNAP 2020. This includes the conference structure and indicative dates for abstract submission and registration.
The International Science Organising Committee has also developed a draft list of sessions based on input from the SCAR community – it is available for comment on the SCAR COMNAP 2020 website. Comments, suggested changes, proposals for additional sessions and suggestions for sessions to be merged together should be made to info@scar.org by 28 June 2019.
For more information, please check the SCAR COMNAP 2020 website or contact the SCAR COMNAP 2020 Project Manager, Rhonda Bartley at the Australian Antarctic Division – email: SCARCOMNAP2020@aad.gov.au
We look forward to seeing you all in Hobart next year!
Kind regards,
The SCAR Secretariat
by Fishgate@sanap | Mar 31, 2019 | Announcement, Antarctica, Important Dates, News, Research, Science
SCAR Event Announcement
XIII International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences
The abstract submission deadline for the XIII International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences has been extended to 21 April 2019.
Please go to the event website (click here) for more information.
by Fishgate@sanap | Mar 25, 2019 | Antarctica, Important Dates, SANAE, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
Interested in the South African Research and Supply Vessel, the S.A. Agulhas II 2019 Voyage Schedule?
Click here.
