SCAR Restructure Will national organisations support participation of several representatives with a range of necessary expertise? Will all scientific interests be represented? Working Group on Geosciences

Antarctic Neotectonics. Climate and environmental change Observatory Geophysics Subglacial Lakes Subice geology Antarctic basement geology Permafrost and surficial processes Geological and geophysical data exchange and management Environmental impacts of marine acoustic technology Antarctic continental margin evolution Major Issues in Geology and Geophysics

International Projects ANDRILL - Antarctic Drilling initiative Reports of Groups of Specialists Aeromagnetic Digital Map of Antarctica (ADMAP) Age, Growth and Evolution of Antarctica (AGEANT) Antarctic Neotectonics (ANTEC) Subglacial Antarctic Lake Exploration Group of Specialists (SALE) Antarctic Ice Margin Evolution (ANTIME) Antarctic Stratigraphy Project (ANTOSTRAT)

Environmental Impacts of marine acoustic technology Workshop held in Cambridge in September 2001 Participation and written contributions from 17 scientist with expertise in Antarctic biology, marine mammals and acoustics, and geophysics/marine acoustics. Report prepared and is being reviewed by four external reviewers prominent in the field of research and representing NGOs.

Environmental Impacts of marine acoustic technology 1. The evidence available does not justify a ban on seismic surveys or scientific echo sounders in Antarctic waters 2. Surveys should be examined on a case by case basis 3. Mitigation strategies should be used to reduce the risk to Antarctic wildlife from high power, low frequency sources 4. Acoustic releases and similar low power, occasional source were not considered a threat to wildlife

Mitigation Strategies Use of the minimum source level Use of soft starts (increase power gradually) Design line lay outs to avoid restricting animals ability to a avoid the source Equipment should be shut down if marine mammals are observed within a distance of the vessel defined by the source power, directionality and propagation characteristics Surveys should be planned to minimise repeated surveying of areas by high risk equipment in consecutive years Minimise impacts in known sensitive areas and times

Berlin Workshop Predominantly supportive reaction from leading experts Recognition that Antarctica has received a very low level of exposure to marine, anthropogenic noise Support for suggested mitigation strategies and more research

Conferences X International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES)Potsdam, September 2003 Funding application to support student travel from countries with limited resources XI ISAES (2007)- Offer from USA to host the meeting accepted International Geological Congress Firenze, 2004 IDEA Project