Activities of the summer party of the 32nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1990-1991

• Main Author: Susumu Kokubun
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 1993
• Subjects: Geography (General); G1-922; Antarctic; Syowa Station; Breid Bay; Antarc*; Antarctica; Icebreaker; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15094/00008823; https://doaj.org/article/16994d3a07f146baa0dcfa907fca8dc8

The 32nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-32) consisted of 55 members including 31 in the wintering party at Syowa Station, 8 in the wintering party at Asuka Station and 16 in summer party. In addition, 2 glaciologists from Belgium jointed the summer party. The icebreaker SHIRASE, loaded with about 950t of cargo, left Tokyo for Antarctica via Fremantle, Western Australia on November 14,1990. The ship reached Lutzow-Holm Bay at a distance of about 50 miles from Syowa Station on December 17. After sending 9 members and cargo for the Polar Patrol Balloon Experiment and for construction to the Station, the ship left for Breid Bay. At Breid Bay 105t of cargo for Asuka Station was unloaded by helicopter and surface vehicles during December 21-27. The SHIRASE reached Syowa Station on January 6,1991. The unloading of 790t of cargo by helicopters and surface vehicles was completed by January 22. After the completion of construction and field work in the Syowa Station area, the SHIRASE left Syowa Station on February 7. The ship arrived again at Breid Bay behind schedule due to severe sea-ice conditions. The field party for the Sφr Rondane Mountains survey was picked up on March 2. The members of the summer party and JARE-31 wintering party returned to Narita Airport via Sydney on March 28. The SHIRASE returned to Tokyo on April 13. The following scientific activities were carried out during the summer operations of JARE-32 : a) geological, geomorphological, geodetic and glaciological surveys in the Sφr Rondane Mountains region, b) biological and oceanographical observations and gravity measurements in the Syowa Station area and at Breid Bay, c) meteorological, oceanographic, geomagnetic and ionospheric observations and gravity measurements on board the SHIRASE, d) two balloon flights for observations of magnetic field, electric field and auroral X-rays.