Activities of the wintering party of the 17th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1976-1977

Twenty-nine members of the wintering party occupied Showa Station from Feb. 1, 1976 to Jan. 31, 1977, and conducted the preparation and observations in accordance with the first year program of research projects for the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS). At Showa Station, in addition to the observation of aurora, geomagnetism, ionosphere, meteorology, seismology, marine morphology, ocean tide, and medical science, the major research program covered the preparation of many observation apparatuses for upper atmosphere physics, as well as the construction of satellite tracking and telemetry facilities, the reception of telemetry signals from scientific satellites, and the launching of seven (five in winter) sounding rockets and one large balloon. Mizuho Station was improved for upper atmospheric observations, in relation to the IMS program, by the installation of a 16-kVA generator and the construction of one observation hut in May 1976, which was occupied by four members in rotation who made observations of upper atmosphere physics, glaciology, and meteorology from May 14, 1976, to Jan. 26, 1977.