by Ria Olivier | Mar 23, 2023 | Commemorative Days, International Days, Marion Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
Message from the Metkassies (Meteorological Technicians) currently on Marion Island.
Happy World Meteorological Day from the Metkassies on the 79th Marion Island overwintering team.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has been running a Meteorological station at Marion Island since 1950s.
As meteorological technicians, we preform monthly conformance and verification of the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) instruments.
This is normally done on a monthly basis to verify, check and maintain the weather station to ensure that the required standards of the South African Weather Service (SAWS) are met. In South Africa, SAWS is the voice for weather and climate forecasting and also a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Happy Meteorological Day from the Metkassies on the 79th Marion Island overwintering team.
Senior Metkassie: T. Sikhwari
Assistants Metkassies: T. Tshitavhe and S. Faltein
Read more about the Marion met station here
Text: Thendo Sikhwari, Senior Meteorological Technician, M79
Edited: Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 23 March 2023
by Ria Olivier | Mar 9, 2023 | Announcement, Gough Island, Jobs, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Stations, Team member
Join the 69th Gough Island Overwintering Team!
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is looking for suitable candidates to join the 2023/2024 Gough Island team.
The team will depart (on the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II) to Gough Island in September 2023 and return in October 2024.
Positions to be filled:
- Communications/Electronics Engineer
- Diesel Mechanic
- Electrician
- Medical Orderly
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 March 2023
Click on the link below to view the positions to be filled.
SANAP JOBS
Read more about Gough Island!
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 09 March 2023
by Ria Olivier | Mar 8, 2023 | Commemorative Days, International Days, Marion Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic, Team member, Women in Science
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we came in contact with Tanganedzani “Tanga” Tshitavhe. She is an Assistant Meteorological Technician, for the South African Weather Service (SAWS), on the sub-Antarctic Marion Island.
This is a strong woman, with passion for her work and the sub-Antarctic environment. She also has a great sense of humour.
This is her message for all women out there:
“Today we celebrate the resilience, strength, grace, and beauty of women all around the world. On this day, let’s remember the importance of equity, work towards creating a more inclusive world, and honour the contributions and achievements of women”.
I mentioned she has a great sense of humour:
Today we are having a clear sky (sunshine) on Marion Island and as the Weather-Lady, here is a Sun pun.
Question:
Why is the Sun not very heavy to carry?
Answer:
Because it is very light
Wishing you all a happy International Women’s Day day filled with joy and laughter.
Text and photos supplied by: Tanganedzani Tshitavhe (Marion79)
Edited: Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (Data, Products and Society Node), 08 March 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Feb 27, 2023 | Announcement, Gough Island, News, Newsletters>Gough Island Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Stations, Team member, Team Photo
The 68th Gough Island Overwintering Team has published their first newsletter – The Bunting – January 2023 (Issue 1).
In this edition:
- Letter from the team leader
- Words from the G68 Bunting editorial team
- Meet the G68 team
- Birder’s Stories
- Life in the Base (birthday celebration)
- Farewell to Sandile (Medical Orderly of G67 who had to stay behind until a new medic is sent to Gough)
- Weather Stats (October, November, December 2022)
- To end the newsletter; a poem about an Albatross chick.
Click here to download/view the newsletter!
Birthdays celebrated by G68 so far:
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (Data, Products & Society Node), 27 February 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Feb 6, 2023 | Announcement, Jobs, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, Prince Edward Islands, SANAP, Stations, sub-Antarctic
Join the 80th Marion Island Overwintering Team!
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is looking for suitable candidates to join the 2023/2024 Marion Island team.
The team will depart (on the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II) to the sub-Antarctic Marion Island in April 2023 and return in May 2024.
Positions to be filled:
- Communications Engineer/Technician
- Electrical Engineer/Technician
- Diesel Mechanic
- Medical Orderly
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 February 2023
Click on the link below to view the positions to be filled.
Marion Island JOBS
Read more about Marion Island
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 06 February 2023
by Ria Olivier | Jan 28, 2023 | Announcement, Marion Island, Newsletters>Marion Island Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAP, sub-Antarctic
October and November were two enormously busy months. The elephant seals’ breeding season came to an abrupt end and immediately shifted to the moulting season. Brown skua nests and small chicks have started to appear widespread across the island. Flowers are in full bloom from the coast to the midlands; and the new Wandering Albatross breeding pairs have suddenly made their appearance on the Marion plains, while the past year’s Wanderer-juveniles have almost all fledged by now. The team is in high spirits as we approach the festive season and we are enjoying sunnier days. The wind speeds, however, have kept their ‘Roaring Forties’ name, respectably high. Enjoy this edition of The Wanderer! – Elsa van Ginkel
In this Issue – download Newsletter here
- A word from the editors
- Meet the Astrophysicist and the SAWS team
- Fashionable Field Gear
- Marion’s Marvelous Birds
- Memorable Shots!
- Battle of The Bulls
- A Job to ‘Killer Whale’
- Island Life
- Celebrations
- Circle of Life – Round Island for the Readers
- What have the team been up to in October and November?
- Memorable shots
