Departure of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition（JARE 53）.

 Summary of the JARE 53

1.  Expedition leader, Deputy leader

Expedition leader: Prof. Hisao Yamagishi, National Institute of Polar Research Division for Research and Education
Deputy leader: Kenji Ishizawa, National Institute of Polar Research, Center for Antarctic Programs.

2.  Composition of Expedition Team

The team is comprised of a total of 64 members: 33 members for the summer party, and 31 members for the over - wintering party. A separate party comprised of five summer members will conduct research in the Sør Rondane Mountains. Three summer members will be on board the Umitakamaru research vessel.
In addition, 26 observers (out of which 10 will be on board the Umitakamaru) will accompany the expedition team.

3.  Schedule

- Observation from the icebreaker Shirase and around Syowa Station (tentative)
1.  Summer party (33 people): November 25, 2011 – March 19, 2012
2.  Over - wintering party (31 people): November 25, 2011 – March 20, 2012

- Field observation in Sør Rondane Mountains (tentative)
1.  Summer party (5 people): November 10, 2011 – February 25, 2012

- Marine observation aboard the Umitakamaru research vessel (tentative)
1.  Summer party (3 people): December 23, 2011 – February 5, 2012

4.  Implementation Plans of the JARE 53

2011 is the second year for carrying out major research under the Ⅷth Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition observation plan decided in November 2009 by Headquarters　of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions. The following research items will be conducted: Expedition research project (i.e., Exploring Global Warming from Antarctica), Ordinary research project, Exploratory research project, as well as basic observations (including routine and monitoring observations).