Whalers leave Japan for Antarctic Nov 20, 2009
The fleet begins whaling in mid-December, and alternates each year mainly between Australian Antarctic waters and the Ross Sea, according to its official reports to the International Whaling Commission. The federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, said the Government was deeply disappointed by the departure. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Algae and pollen grains provide evidence of remarkably warm period in Antarctica's history Oct 1, 2009
The presence of freshwater algae in the sediments suggests to researchers that an increase in meltwater and perhaps also in rainfall produced ponds and lakes adjacent to the Ross Sea during this warm period, which would obviously have resulted in some reduction in sea ice. These findings most likely reflect a poleward shift of the jet stream in the Southern Hemisphere, which would have pushed warmer water toward the pole and allowed a few dinoflagellate species to flourish under such ice-free... (EurekAlert!)
Scientists warn on Antarctic fishing Sep 26, 2009
A group of 30 scientists criticised draft council approval for Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea. If it is true as the report states, over and over, that very little is known about the life history and movements of the species, this in itself is enough to render any sustainability certification process entirely inappropriate,'' the scientists said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
John Malkovich faces "Disgrace" Sep 19, 2009
"), spat gobs of imitation-grape-flavored goo on the dirty tile floor and occasionally smoked cigarette ends in their cupped hands while the aged Middle Eastern gentleman behind the counter pointedly ignored them. Andrew O'Hehir Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 11:29 EDT Eco-pirates of the Antarctic Image from "At the Edge of the World" A bizarre and breathtaking high-seas adventure set in the remote, spectacular Ross Sea off Antarctica, is the summer season's most surprising and thought-provoking... (Salon)
Eco-pirates of the Antarctic Sep 1, 2009
A bizarre and breathtaking high-seas adventure set in the remote, spectacular Ross Sea off Antarctica, is the summer season's most surprising and thought-provoking documentary. Following a ragtag group of activists as they pursue the Japanese whaling fleet through some of the planet's most dangerous waters, Dan Stone's doc makes an intriguing companion piece to Louie Psihoyos' acclaimed (but little-seen) which uncovers Japan's secretive dolphin slaughter. (Salon)
Raw Glimpse At Origins Of Sushi Aug 28, 2009
The documentary, directed by New Yorker Dan Stone, shows how a poorly funded volunteer group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, does battle with well-equipped Japanese whaling ships that continue to kill the mammals in the Antarctic Ross Sea despite an international ban enacted in 1986. The Japanese use a loophole in the agreement that allows killing whales in the name of science. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Elephant seals adapted fast to climate change Aug 4, 2009
De Bruyn's study follows on the heels of the discovery, a few years ago, of a large amount of elephant seal hair, skin and even mummies on Antarctica's Victoria Land Coast, which borders the Ross Sea. Today, the region is barren and covered with ice year-round. (MSNBC -- Technology)
New rules for safe shipping may save the whales Jul 18, 2009
Following the last fire in 2007, New Zealand's then conservation minister, Chris Carter, said he was concerned about the potential for the Nisshin Maru to spill 1000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the pristine Ross Sea. The IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee met in London this week to approve a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Antarctic Treaty area (below 60 degrees South) by July 2011, because of the harm it could cause. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Seals quickly respond to gain and loss of habitat under climate change Jul 10, 2009
An international research team, including post-doctorate Dr Mark de Bruyn and collaborators from the US, South Africa and Italy, led by Professor Rus Hoelzel from the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, found that when the Antarctic ice sheets of the Ross Sea Embayment retreated in the Holocene period 8,000 years ago, elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, adopted the emergent habitat and established a new population which flourished ... " This habitat was released after... (EurekAlert!)
Ask AP: Antarctic time zones, John Demjanjuk May 15, 2009
Three U.S. bases McMurdo Station on the Ross Sea coast, Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and Scott-Amundsen Base at the South Pole operate on New Zealand time. That's convenient because transportation links are with Christchurch air base on New Zealand's South Island, the closest connection to the rest of the world. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Crime)
Biggest losers: NZ rejects our 'fat' frigates May 3, 2009
An ice protection belt, installed so the ships can be used in the Ross Sea, would sit below the waterline when extra weight was added for operational equipment and repairs. It was critical that the ice belt sat on the waterline, especially as a build-up of ice on the ships would add extra weight, a Defence Ministry official said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Antarctic Ice Showing Growth? Apr 18, 2009
Australia Antarctic Division glaciology program head Ian Allison said sea ice losses in west Antarctica over the past 30 years had been more than offset by increases in the Ross Sea region, just one sector of east Antarctica. "Sea ice conditions have remained stable in Antarctica generally," Allison said. (Fox News)
Forget your troubles Mar 19, 2009
Feel-like-I-should-see: "At the Edge of the World." In the Ross Sea off Antarctica, a team of audacious environmentalists spends months chasing down illegal whale hunting ships disguised as research vessels. When they locate one they risk their lives trying to stop it by launching stink bombs, fouling the whaler's propeller, and finally ramming the ship, until a confrontation with Japanese whalers nearly ends in death. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Sea Shepherd evidence 'could be sent to Japan' Feb 22, 2009
Ships collided and objects were thrown between the vessels as the anti-whaling group tried to disrupt the Japanese fleet's operations in the Ross Sea. The Japanese Government-owned fleet's president, Kazuo Yamamura, said the clashes posed a test of whether Australia and the Netherlands, which registers the Steve Irwin, would allow the high seas to be a lawless zone, or impose international agreements. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
NIU geologist helps Google Feb 11, 2009
He was among the NIU participants in the international Antarctic Geological Drilling (ANDRILL) Program, which during two drilling seasons retrieved long cores of sedimentary rocks from below the bed of the Ross Sea. Those cores are helping scientists unravel the past climate record in the Antarctic. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
Beyond Words Feb 8, 2009
Above, emperor penguins on McMurdo Sound sea ice, Ross Sea, 1999. Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Ships Collide In Antarctic Whaling Clash Feb 7, 2009
In this photo released by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research, workers measure a captured mike whale on the deck of Japanese factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, as Sea Shepherd's ship, the M/Y Steve Irwin, partly seen on left top, follows from behind in the Ross Sea, off Antarctica, early Friday, Feb. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd Conservation). (CBS News)
Protesters', whalers' ships collide Feb 7, 2009
Adam Lau / Sea Shepherd Conservation Society via APSea Shepherd's ship, the M/Y Steve Irwin, collides with the stern of a Japanese harpoon whaling ship in the Ross Sea off Antarctica on Friday. . (MSNBC -- International)
