Buenos días! Our collecting expedition in Phildes Bay on King George Island, which began on February 12th, 2002, concluded successfully on February 17th. The weather was very unpredictable; it would be sunny in the morning, but strong winds would blow by midday, and sometimes it would even snow in the afternoon. Underwater collecting by diving was tough, but being exposed to the cold wind on land after the collecting was over was truly awful.

The organisms collected include fish belonging to the Notohtenidae family. Trematomus newnesi) and the glyptos (which I introduced last time) Glyptnotus antarcticus There were about 15 different species, including the ones mentioned above. The collected organisms were kept in tanks set up on land, and the water was changed daily to keep it clean. People from Frey Station also came and went, eager to catch a glimpse of the polar aquatic life that they don't usually see, turning it into a small aquarium.

Now, the collected specimens must be transported to Japan. To transport polar organisms, ice is needed to maintain a low water temperature. However, this year, there is absolutely no snow or ice around this base. So, with the cooperation of Frey Base, we traveled to a glacier about 4 kilometers away from the base and obtained ice there. With this, we are finally ready for transport.

The journey from King George Island to Tokyo takes approximately four days, including connecting flights. Along the way, we will check the condition of the organisms in Santiago, Chile, and add more ice before sending them to Japan. By the time you read this report, the organisms will still be in transit, and we will still be in Chile. We hope that the collected specimens will arrive safely in Japan and that we will be able to introduce them to you.

Well, that's all for now. Adios!!

Photo above: Just before diving
Photo below: Heading to the glacier with a container

[Tokyo Sea Life Park @ King George Island]

◎ Answers to questions about Antarctica

Continuing from last time, I will answer your questions about Antarctica.

Q5 - Do you experience any physiological changes in your body when you live in Antarctica? Like an abnormally increased appetite or increased sleepiness?

A5—There are no noticeable physiological changes, but I seem to feel hungrier than usual. Is it because it's cold and my body is demanding calories to maintain its body temperature? Also, although it's not a physiological change, Antarctica is isolated from the continent and there are few people, so there are no viruses like influenza, and it is an almost sterile environment, making it difficult to catch a cold.

Q6 - What kind of natural environment did Antarctica originally have?

A6—In ancient times, Antarctica was not in its current location. According to the German geophysicist Wegener's theory of continental drift, hundreds of millions of years ago, the continents of the world, including present-day Antarctica, were all part of a single landmass called Pangaea. Later, the continents separated to form the landmasses we see today. The discovery of fern fossils dating back approximately 100 million years on the Antarctic Peninsula suggests that there were once abundant forests with heavy rainfall.

Q7 -- Antarctica is a continent, right? So, was there originally soil there? If so, what kind of soil was it?

A7—Most of Antarctica is covered in thick ice all year round, so the soil and rocks are never exposed. However, King George Island, where we are, is one of the warmer parts of Antarctica, so the soil is exposed during the summer. There is very little vegetation, so the soil is very poor. When the temperature rises, it can get quite muddy. You can also find many huge rocks and stones with sharp shapes.

Q8: Does Antarctica have everything—sunny, rainy, cloudy, thunderstorms, snow, and so on?

A8—Even in Antarctica, there is sunshine, rain, clouds, and snow. In fact, it is raining today (February 11th). King George Island, where we are located, is on the "outskirts" of Antarctica and is one of the warmer places in the region. It is currently summer in Antarctica. On warm days, the temperature can rise to around 5°C. However, even in summer, if the weather turns bad, the rain can quickly turn into snow. However, we do not know if there are thunderstorms. At least we have never experienced one. In terms of weather, Antarctica is a very windy place.

Q9 -- Please tell me about the stars that can be seen in Antarctica.

A9—You can see the famous Southern Cross. Right next to it, you can see the False Cross. I'm not an expert on stars, so I don't know the details, but apparently you can also see constellations called Chameleon and Octans. Our stay coincides with Antarctic summer, and it's close to the midnight sun, so unfortunately, we can't see many stars.

Q10 - Please tell me about the aurora borealis.

A10 -- I hear that the aurora can be seen in Antarctica, but unfortunately, we have never seen it. It seems that it is not visible at very high latitudes. I think the range in which the aurora can be seen is probably around 60 to 70 degrees south latitude.

*For those who want to learn more about the natural environment of Antarctica, we recommend this book: "The Natural History of Antarctica" by Sanford A. Moss, published by Dobutsu-sha, 3,000 yen (excluding tax).

[Tokyo Sea Life Park @ King George Island]

(February 22, 2002)

◎Previous "Antarctic Reports" (Added March 1, 2002)
[1] Just before departure - I'm going to collect specimens and conduct research in the Antarctic Circle (February 1, 2002)
[2] The Eve of the Antarctic Trip - From Narita to Santiago, and then arrival in Punta Arenas (February 8, 2002)
[3] Arrival in Antarctica! -- From Punta Arenas to King George Island (February 15, 2002)
[4] Collection completed ── Ready for shipping! (February 22, 2002)
[5] Final Episode - Collected Specimens Arrive Safely (March 1, 2002)