Antarctica's last sunset for the year

Last sunset before 24-hour daylight begins. Photo / Brett Grant

Kiwi scientists have captured on camera the last sunset of the year over Antarctica, as the continent moves into 24-hour daylight.

NIWA marine physics technician Brett Grant captured this shot at McMurdo Sound where NIWA and Otago University scientists have set up camp to investigate why Antarctic sea ice is not shrinking at the same rate as Arctic sea ice.

Blocks of ice removed as part of melting a hole through the sea ice form an arty sculptured against of the last Antarctic sunsets of the year. Photo / Brett Grant

The camp, comprising eight converted shipping containers, has been towed from Scott Base and provides everything needed to undertake a range of scientific experiments.

NIWA marine physicist Dr Craig Stevens and Otago University's Dr Patricia Langhorne are researching the possibility that the answer lies in the production of super-cooled seawater beneath the giant Antarctic ice shelves that make up 40 per cent of the Antarctic coastline.

From inside one of two science containers, they are melting holes through the sea ice to take oceanographic measurements.

This tripod holds an oceanographic mooring with 16 instruments attached to it at various depths in the ocean below with the lowest being about 375m deep. Photo / Brett Grant

Heated water is used to melt out blocks of ice through cut-outs in the floor containers which enables access to the ocean while being sheltered from the weather.

An oceanographic mooring is stationed about 100m from the camp with 16 instruments attached at various depths in the ocean below.

They provide background data to aid the experiment.

Four people are based at the camp for the next few weeks, with support provided by three other visiting team members from Scott Base from time to time.

The final sunset marks the coming of summer to the frozen continent, but it will still be far from summer as we know it.

Between December and February, temperatures are generally close to freezing around the coast, and slightly above 0C in the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula.

NIWA's Dr Craig Stevens at the starting phase of melting a hole through the sea ice, to undertake oceanographic measurements. Photo / Brett Grant

During winter, monthly mean temperatures at coastal stations are between -10C and -30C, but temperatures may briefly rise towards freezing when winter storms bring warm air towards the Antarctic coast.