The Mystery of Gigantic Rogue Waves: Scientists Uncover Key Cause
Researchers from the University of Melbourne have discovered in Antarctica’s southernmost waters that wind plays a significant role in the formation of massive rogue waves,…
Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is a vast, icy landmass encircled by the Southern Ocean. Covering approximately 14 million square kilometers, it is the fifth-largest continent and nearly twice the size of Australia. Characterized by extreme cold, wind, and dryness, it is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent. Antarctica is covered almost entirely by an ice sheet that contains about 90% of the world’s fresh water ice and significantly influences global climate and sea levels. This continent has no permanent human inhabitants, but it hosts a number of seasonal research stations operated by various countries, where scientists study the environment and conduct experiments that can only be performed in such extreme conditions. Research focuses on glaciology, meteorology, climate change, astronomy, and biology. Antarctica is unique because it is governed by an international agreement known as the Antarctic Treaty, which was established in 1959 to reserve the continent for peaceful scientific exploration and to protect its environment from significant human impact. This treaty prohibits military activities, mineral mining, and enforces environmental protection measures.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne have discovered in Antarctica’s southernmost waters that wind plays a significant role in the formation of massive rogue waves,…
Researchers have discovered that the meltwater from Antarctic ice shelves, exacerbated by climate change, is contributing to a complex network of ocean currents that influence…
Warm water flowing beneath can cause ice to melt in ways not currently accounted for in models. Scientists have identified a concerning new mechanism for…
A 2023 study documented unprecedented cold spells in Antarctica, contrasting sharply with global heat records and underscoring the complexity of climate patterns. Although 2023 was…
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have used artificial intelligence to map the distribution of slush on Antarctic ice shelves, discovering that it accounts for…
A study using a whaler’s forgotten aerial photos from 1937 shows East Antarctica’s ice has been stable and even grown, despite some early signs of…
Satellite data provides the first evidence of warm ocean water intrusion beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier. For the first time, visible evidence has been captured showing…
The future of Atlantic circulation will hinge on the balance between Greenland’s diminishing ice flux and its rising freshwater runoff. A great armada entered the…
Antarctic sea ice reached record lows in 2023, with studies indicating that climate change significantly increased the likelihood of this event. The potential long-term reduction…
The activity of an ice stream has caused the Ross Ice Shelf to suddenly displace. In Antarctica, massive glaciers are constantly shifting. Ice streams, which…
Iceberg A-83, approximately the size of Portland, Oregon, detached from Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf in late May 2024, an event recorded by Landsat 9. A…
University of Hawaiʻi scientists discovered key reproductive behaviors of giant Antarctic sea spiders, providing new insights into their development and the broader marine ecosystem. This…
Satellite radar data shows substantial seawater intrusion beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, causing ice to rise and fall. Using high-resolution satellite radar data, a team of…
An Antarctic expedition has found that increased temperatures from climate change are causing ponds that weaken ice. A team of scientists who installed instruments on…
Researchers conducting a detailed chemical analysis of ancient Antarctic ice have discovered that the current rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is 10 times…
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current has accelerated before, and recent findings confirm it’s happening again. It carries more than 100 times as much water as all…
Ocean sediment cores reveal climate-related fluctuations in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in past epochs. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current significantly influences the global overturning circulation, the…
Researchers have discovered the missing piece of the puzzle behind a rare opening in the sea ice around Antarctica, that occurred during the winters of…