Activities of the summer operation of the 51st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-51) in 2009-2010

• Main Authors: Yoichi Motoyoshi, Yutaka Katsuta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2011
• Subjects: Geography (General); G1-922; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Austral; Dronning Maud Land; Syowa Station; Dome Fuji; Riiser-Larsen; Zhongshan; Darnley; Zhongshan Station; Cape Darnley; Amundsen Bay; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15094/00009606; https://doaj.org/article/83ff4156ab5e4344bd044c3d1f93fd0a

This report outlines the activities of the 51st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-51) during the 2009-2010 austral summer. JARE-51 consisted of 85 personnel comprising 28 wintering and 34 summer members, and 23 observers. JARE-51 marked the commission of a newly launched icebreaker, the R/V Shirase, on her maiden voyage to the Antarctic. The Shirase left Tokyo on 10 November 2009 and arrived at the ice edge on 15 December. The first helicopter flight to Syowa Station from Shirase was performed on 18 December. The Shirase then headed to Crown Bay in order to transport the meteorite team to join the Sr Rondane Mountains project team, which had arrived in advance via the Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROMLAN). After completing this mission, Shirase returned to Syowa Station. After 2042 rammings through the thick sea ice, Shirase finally anchored at Syowa Station on 10 January 2010 and unloaded cargo to resupply the station. During the summer operation, a variety of scientific observations were conducted, including unmanned magnetometer network observations, ecological observations in Antarctic lakes, and GPS and gravity observations. Several buildings and facilities were constructed and maintained at Syowa Station as part of logistical activities. The major field activities of JARE-51 were the Sr Rondane Mountains project and the inland Dome-Fuji traverse. Both projects were successfully completed. The Shirase left Syowa Station on 13 February 2010 with the summer party of JARE-51 and the wintering team of JARE-50 on board. On the way to Sydney, observations were made at Mt. Riiser-Larsen in Amundsen Bay and at Cape Darnley, and the vessel visited China's Zhongshan Station. On March 17, Shirase arrived in Sydney Harbour, finally arriving in Tokyo on April 9.