by Ria Olivier | Mar 23, 2023 | Commemorative Days, International Days, Marion Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, SANAP, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
Message from the Metkassies (Meteorological Technicians) currently on Marion Island.
Happy World Meteorological Day from the Metkassies on the 79th Marion Island overwintering team.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has been running a Meteorological station at Marion Island since 1950s.
As meteorological technicians, we preform monthly conformance and verification of the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) instruments.
This is normally done on a monthly basis to verify, check and maintain the weather station to ensure that the required standards of the South African Weather Service (SAWS) are met. In South Africa, SAWS is the voice for weather and climate forecasting and also a member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Happy Meteorological Day from the Metkassies on the 79th Marion Island overwintering team.
Senior Metkassie: T. Sikhwari
Assistants Metkassies: T. Tshitavhe and S. Faltein
Read more about the Marion met station here
Text: Thendo Sikhwari, Senior Meteorological Technician, M79
Edited: Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 23 March 2023
by Ria Olivier | Mar 8, 2023 | Commemorative Days, International Days, Marion Island, Meteorology, Overwintering Team, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic, Team member, Women in Science
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we came in contact with Tanganedzani “Tanga” Tshitavhe. She is an Assistant Meteorological Technician, for the South African Weather Service (SAWS), on the sub-Antarctic Marion Island.
This is a strong woman, with passion for her work and the sub-Antarctic environment. She also has a great sense of humour.
This is her message for all women out there:
“Today we celebrate the resilience, strength, grace, and beauty of women all around the world. On this day, let’s remember the importance of equity, work towards creating a more inclusive world, and honour the contributions and achievements of women”.
I mentioned she has a great sense of humour:
Today we are having a clear sky (sunshine) on Marion Island and as the Weather-Lady, here is a Sun pun.
Question:
Why is the Sun not very heavy to carry?
Answer:
Because it is very light
Wishing you all a happy International Women’s Day day filled with joy and laughter.
Text and photos supplied by: Tanganedzani Tshitavhe (Marion79)
Edited: Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (Data, Products and Society Node), 08 March 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Feb 6, 2023 | Announcement, Jobs, Marion Island, News, Overwintering Team, Prince Edward Islands, SANAP, Stations, sub-Antarctic
Join the 80th Marion Island Overwintering Team!
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is looking for suitable candidates to join the 2023/2024 Marion Island team.
The team will depart (on the research and supply vessel, S.A. Agulhas II) to the sub-Antarctic Marion Island in April 2023 and return in May 2024.
Positions to be filled:
- Communications Engineer/Technician
- Electrical Engineer/Technician
- Diesel Mechanic
- Medical Orderly
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 February 2023
Click on the link below to view the positions to be filled.
Marion Island JOBS
Read more about Marion Island
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), 06 February 2023
by Ria Olivier | Feb 2, 2023 | Commemorative Days, Current Event, Environment, International Days, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, News, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Islands, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
World Wetlands Day, is celebrated every year on 02 February. On this day, in 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar, Iran.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated to to “raise awareness and understanding of what wetlands are and how we can contribute towards restoring them through making conscious choices, becoming persuasive voices and taking bold actions” (read more here).
What is a wetland?
A wetland is defined as the land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the
surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil (1).
Why is wetland restoration so important? Listed below are a few benefits of wetland restoration:
- Enhanced biodiversity
- Improve water supply
- Store carbon
- Reduced impacts from flooding
- Improve livelihoods
- Enhance well–being
- Protection of agricultural resources (1; 2)
Is your role in wetland restoration important?
Yes! Our individual and collective actions have an impact (1).
What can you as individual do to help protect and preserve wetlands?
- Participate in programs that help protect and restore wetlands.
- Report illegal actions such as unauthorized wetland fill or dredging activities to government authorities
- Pick up litter and dispose in appropriate trash containers. Keep surface areas that wash into storm drains clean from pet waste, toxic chemicals, fertilizers and motor oil, which can eventually reach and impair our wetlands.
- Use native species when planting trees, shrubs and flowers to preserve the ecological balance of local wetlands.
- Avoid wetland when you are expanding your house.
- Use phosphate-free laundry and dishwasher detergents. Phosphates encourage algae growth, which can suffocate aquatic life.
- Use non-toxic products for household cleaning and lawn and garden care. Never spray lawn and garden chemicals outside on a windy day or on a day that it might rain and wash the chemicals into waterways.
- Enjoy the scenic and recreational opportunities wetlands offer, while preserving their integrity for future generations by minimizing the use of heavy equipment and staying in designated visitor areas where available (3).
Did you know that the South African Prince Edward Islands (Prince Edward Island and Marion Island) is declared as Wetland of International Importance?
The Prince Edward Islands was declared Wetland of International Importance: Ramsar Site No.1688, on 22 May 2007. The conservation and management of this site falls within the responsibility of the Directorate: Southern Oceans and Antarctic Support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Want to know about wetlands in South Africa?
Click on the posters to enlarge.
What’s been happening on Social Media
Sources:
1- https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/
2- https://www.dffe.gov.za/event/international/wetlandsday2013
3- https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/what-you-can-do-protect-coastal-wetlands
4- https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1688
5- https://alp.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/123456789/15327
6- https://blogs.sun.ac.za/antarcticlegacy/event/world-wetlands-day/
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 02 February 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Jan 28, 2023 | Announcement, Marion Island, Newsletters>Marion Island Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAP, sub-Antarctic
October and November were two enormously busy months. The elephant seals’ breeding season came to an abrupt end and immediately shifted to the moulting season. Brown skua nests and small chicks have started to appear widespread across the island. Flowers are in full bloom from the coast to the midlands; and the new Wandering Albatross breeding pairs have suddenly made their appearance on the Marion plains, while the past year’s Wanderer-juveniles have almost all fledged by now. The team is in high spirits as we approach the festive season and we are enjoying sunnier days. The wind speeds, however, have kept their ‘Roaring Forties’ name, respectably high. Enjoy this edition of The Wanderer! – Elsa van Ginkel
In this Issue – download Newsletter here
- A word from the editors
- Meet the Astrophysicist and the SAWS team
- Fashionable Field Gear
- Marion’s Marvelous Birds
- Memorable Shots!
- Battle of The Bulls
- A Job to ‘Killer Whale’
- Island Life
- Celebrations
- Circle of Life – Round Island for the Readers
- What have the team been up to in October and November?
- Memorable shots
by Ria Olivier | Jan 24, 2023 | Announcement, Jobs, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, Prince Edward Islands, sub-Antarctic
The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project, a partnership between the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and BirdLife South Africa, plans to eradicate invasive mice from Marion Island. The project is gaining increasing momentum as we work towards an eradication operation, currently envisaged for the austral winter of 2025. There remains a lot to do between now and then, and the project is seeking to recruit some key positions for the project. These provide an exciting opportunity to be part of the project team working towards restoring Marion Island and reclaiming it for its globally important seabirds.
Current Vacancies:
- Assistant Project Manager
- Administration and Finance Officer
- Prospect Researcher.
More details on these vacancies can be found here.
With detailed post descriptions found here.
Application deadline: 17 February 2023
Text: Robyn Adams, Communications Officer and Project Assistant (The Mouse-Free Marion Project)
Image: Wandering Albatrosses, Marion Island. Photo: Otto Whitehead – supplied and edited by MFM
Text Edited and Featured Image Design: Anche Louw, Digital Marketing and Communications Manager, SAPRI
