What Are We Doing Here? (A Refresher)

    Our research team travels all the way to Antarctica every year to monitor the levels of pollution at major research stations. You can read a summary of the work we are doing and the reasons behind it here.

    Carefully Selected Seafloor Sites

    Before we can collect sediment samples from the land and seafloor, we first need to identify the sites' locations. The sampling sites for the seafloor are based on the history of the area. In McMurdo Sound, we will be collecting seafloor sediment samples from three key sites: Winter Quarters Bay, the sewage outfall and at a control site where there has not been a strong history of pollution.

    Map of sampling sites in McMurdo Sound
    This map illustrates where we will collect seafloor sediment. The three dots at each location represent different depths. A marks Winter Quarters Bay, D marks the sewage outfall and E marks the control site. Map created by Andrew Klein.

    Winter Quarters Bay: A Polluted Past

    People have visited Ross Island and the area near McMurdo Station for over a hundred years. In 1955 McMurdo Station was established as a camp for the International Geophysical Year (IGY). IGY hosted scientific research and collaboration between scientists from across the globe. Since 1955, McMurdo Station has grown and now has over 100 buildings and structures. Along with that growth has come waste, some of which has been deposited in Winter Quarters Bay.

    Winter Quarters Bay
    Winter Quarters Bay was once a pollution site and now is used as a harbor for cargo ships.

    Winter Quarters Bay (WQB) sits between Hut Point and McMurdo Station. Before 1980, waste from the station went out directly into the bay. When the bay was frozen, waste was dumped out onto the sea ice. For four years in 1970, the sea ice failed to break away in the summer and waste accumulated. A significant portion of waste froze and remained on the shore, becoming a source of pollution as it later melted and was released into the water.

    Oil Barrel in McMurdo Sound
    One of many old, empty oil barrels that sit on the floor of McMurdo Sound. Photo by Rob Robbins.

    The sediment in WQB is highly polluted. It contains high concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polychlorinated Terphenyls (PCTs), and other pollutants. Luckily the contamination in WQB is isolated from the rest of McMurdo Sound. Contamination drops off away from the bay and it is considered the most well-defined sediment contamination in the world (Chiang, et al.,).

    Sewage Outflow

    We will also be collecting sediment from an area near the sewage outfall of the Waste Water Treatment Plant which overlooks McMurdo Sound. Up until 2003, sewage from the station flowed directly into McMurdo Sound. This affected the fauna in the location, although some organisms like polychaete worms could still tolerate the conditions.

    Sewage Pipe in McMurdo Sound
    Sewage that once flowed into McMurdo Sound. Photo by Rob Robbins.

    A Flag Marks the Spot

    Before our research team can dive down to collect sediment from the sea floor, we first have to locate the sampling sites. Today we used a GPSA Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system used to track the location or position of objects on the Earth’s surface. to identify the sampling locations in Winter Quarters Bay, the sewage outflow and the control site. We marked the locations with flags and will later drill holes through the sea ice at these spots so divers can access the seafloor below.

    Marking flags
    Andrew Klein, at right, locates the sampling sites with the GPS while Terry Palmer, at left, and Michelle Brown (not pictured) drill holes in the location and mark them with flags.

    Although it was sunny outside, the wind was strong and the wind chill made it feel like -14 degrees Fahrenheit! Luckily we were wearing warm gear and were not too far from the warmth of our lab in McMurdo Station.

    Picture of the Day

    Today's picture of the day takes a closer look at the pollution in Winter Quarters Bay and the sewage outflow. How would pollution affect the environment? Write your response in the "Ask the Team" section of this page.

    To download the Ice POD PowerPoint Slide, click here: 7_icepod.pptx

    Ice Picture of the Day, day 7
    The Ice Picture of the Day shows pollution in McMurdo Sound.

    References:

    Chiang, Erick, Shih-Cheng Chang, and Arthur J. Brown. "Pollution abatement at McMurdo Station, Antarctica." The Seventh International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers, 1997.

    Date
    Location
    McMurdo Sound
    Weather Summary
    Sunny and windy
    Temperature
    5 degrees Fahrenheit
    Wind Speed
    15 knots
    Wind Chill
    -14 degrees Fahrenheit
    Documents
    Attachment Size
    7_icepod.pptx280.5 KB 280.5 KB

    Comments

    Theresa

    Does the waste that was released into the sea affect the sea life that lives there?

    Theresa

    How much pollution is there at major research stations?

    Theresa

    How much pollution is there at major research stations?

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Theresa,
    This is a great question! Yes, we believe the waste that is released into
    the sea affects the sea life. That is one of the things we are studying!
    For example, today we collected sediment samples from an area of McMurdo
    Sound that is not heavily polluted. Terry will look at the organisms in
    this sample and see how many there are, and what kinds of organisms there
    are. He will compare these samples with those that are in polluted sites to
    see if the pollution has affected the types and number of organisms. Steve
    will look at the tissues of organisms in healthy and contaminated areas to
    see if there are pollutants in their tissues.

    Ayla

    Hi!I'm in Mrs. Hoffman's class. This is my answer to your question about pollution. I think pollution affects the environment because it could make it hard for plants and animals to live there.
    From,
    Ayla

    Nick

    Have you ever has an accident and fallen through or have an object fall through the ice?

    Michelle Brown

    status: 1Hi Nick,
    No, I have not fallen through the ice or had an object fall through--we are
    very careful here! I imagine there have been some close calls with objects
    falling down the dive holes, but everyone is very careful where they are
    near them not to trip into them or drop anything. In fact, we have to put
    flags up around the holes to warn people.