Aurora Australis Voyage 2 (ONICE) 1997-98 Underway Data

Published: 1999-12-16

This dataset contains the underway (meteorology, thermosalinograph, fluorometer and bathymetry) data collected during the Aurora Australis Voyage 2 1997-98. This voyage visited Casey, Mawson and Davis as well as conducting a seal survey. Underway data are available online via the Australian Antarctic Division Data Centre (or via the Related URL section). For further information, see the Voyage Leader's Report or the Marine Science Support Data Quality Report via the Related URL section. The listed scientific objectives from the voyage leader's report were: 1) Undertake Antarctic Pack-Ice Seals Project using the ship and helicopters as observation and data collection platforms. 2) Support approved bird observations. 3) Support approved iceberg observations. General comments and evaluation: The acquisition of the RADARSAT images onboard proved to be quite straightforward and useful, although it was disappointing that the vessel was not in the area of the images at the time of the respective satellite pass. Despite the inability to penetrate the band of oce off casey and the damage to the rudder mechanism, causing the vessel to remain at a very long fly-off distance from Mawson, the voyage achieved most of the goals set. The main downside was that the voyage returned to Hobart six days behind schedule. Of most concern about the voyage, was the uncertainty as to the extent of the damage to the rudder mechanism. This resulted, as mentioned above, the vessel not proceeding any closer to Mawson once the problem was detected, but probably more seriously it was unknown as to how much time would be required to rectify the problem, on return to Australia. This created a heavy workload for the Division in both looking for alternate shipping arrangements and advising expeditioners on revised sailing details.