Polish Polar Research

Basing on isolated vertebrae, fossil fishes of the order Gadiformes have been first discovered in sediments of the La Meseta Formation (upper Eocene — ?lower Oligocene) on Seymour (Marambio) Island, West Antarctica. This is one of the oldest and the only locality with the Gadiformes skeletal remains in the Southern Hemisphere. Other poorly preserved centra have been determined as Teleostei (order incertae sedis).

Whale bones from the upper Eocene — ?lower Oligocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour (Marambio) Island, West Antarctica, are assigned to the Archaeoceti. They most probably belong to an undetermined genus of the family Basilosauridae Cope. 1867; subfamily Dorudontinae Barnes and Mitchel. 1978.

Landforms of aeolian origin from western Sörkapp Land, Spitsbergen, are described. Development of aeolian hillocks, sand banks and drifts as well as of aeolian covers on marine beaches and permafrost hillocks is discussed in connection with conditions of transport and deposition. Horizons of fossil organic matter found in some forms prove their persistence.

Methods and results of mass movement measurements on mountain slopes in northwestern Wedel Jarlsberg Land are presented in connection with morphoclimatic zones. Debris movement was investigated using fishing nets while movement of solifluction tonques was studied with series of nails. Marks and lines crosswise the investigated forms were also painted. Creeping of stone belts was measured with a use of tree-nails. Observations of these measuring points after twelve months show usability of employed methods for a record of mass movements.

In surface horizons of Gelic Regosols. Gelic Gleysols and Gelic Cambisols from 5 sites in Kaffiöyra. 26 taxa of blue-green algae have been determined. Species of the genera Gleocapsa, Schizothrix, Tolypothrix and Calothix were the most common. In Gelic Regosols blue-green algae formed during the last 100 years the 0.5 cm thick horizon A, containing 8.6% of humus.

Botanic investigations were carried through on the Calypsostranda strandflat, southern coast of Bellsund. Among flora communities 35 moss species were distinguished. Connections between moss habitats and ecologic conditions were studied.

Preliminary results of hydrological investigations carried through at southern shore of Bellsund are presented. Negative meltwater budget of the permafrost was noted for summer 1986. Temperature and total mineralization of waters are varied in space. Temperature of outflowing meltwaters is related to air temperature. Diurnal rhythm of temperature has been distinguished in springs.

Geological investigations of the 3rd Polish Geodynamic Expedition to West Antarctica, 1987—1988, covered the following topics: sedimentological and mesostructural studies of the Trinity Peninsula Group (?Carboniferous — Triassic) at Hope Bay, Cape Legoupil and Andvord Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, and at South Bay. Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands); late Mesozoic plant-bearing terrestrial sediments at Hope Bay; Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Group, Andean-type plutons and systems of acidic and basic dykes (Upper Cretaceous and ?Tertiary) at Trinity Peninsula and around Gerlache Strait (Arctowski Peninsula, Anvers and Brabant islands); basalts and hyaloclastites within Tertiary glacigenic successions of King George Island; volcanic succession of the Deception Island caldera.

This report describes aims and preliminary results of geological fieldwork carried out by a joint Argentine-Polish party on Seymour (Marambio) and Cockburn islands. Antarctic Peninsula, during austral summer of 1987 88. Seymour Island exposes chiefly shallow-marine, fossiliferous siliciclastic sediments that form an upper, 2000 m thick part in the Mesozoic-Tertiary backarc basin-infill of the Antarctic Peninsula. The fieldwork centered on paleontology and sedimentology of the La Meseta Formation (upper Eocene- ?lower Oligocene), although some observations of older deposits were carried out also. Clupeoid fishes were discovered in the La Meseta Formation. This is the first record of such fish fossils on the Antarctic continent.