Undetected Melting Threat: Scientists Discover New Antarctic Tipping Point
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…
British Antarctic Survey News
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and a leading environmental research center focused on the United Kingdom’s scientific activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Established in 1962 as the successor to the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, BAS conducts interdisciplinary research in the polar regions, covering geological, atmospheric, and biological sciences. Its research stations in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands serve as bases for year-round scientific study and monitoring, contributing significantly to global issues like climate change. BAS researchers study the Antarctic’s impact on the world’s climate system, biodiversity, and ocean ecosystems. Their findings are critical for international climate negotiations and conservation efforts, enhancing understanding of rising sea levels and melting polar ice.
Once-in-a-2000-Year Event: Study Explains Unprecedented Antarctic Ice Loss Equivalent to 10x the Size of the UK
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…
“We’ve Lost Control” – West Antarctic Ice Sheet’s Unavoidable Meltdown
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet’s melting rate is projected to rise significantly this century, irrespective of fossil fuel cutbacks. While the future looks challenging, reducing…
Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica Speeds Up After Calving of Giant Iceberg
Following the calving of the A-81 iceberg at the end of January 2023, the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica is moving faster than before. It…
Space’s Silent Threat: Scientists Shed New Light on “Killer Electrons”
High-energy ‘relativistic’ electrons, often called “killer” electrons, are a major source of radiation damage to satellites so understanding their patterns of activity is crucial. Solar…
Antarctic Sea Ice Crisis: Emperor Penguin Colonies Suffer Catastrophic Breeding Failure
Emperor penguin colonies experienced unprecedented breeding failure in a region of Antarctica where there was total sea ice loss in 2022. The discovery supports predictions…
Scientists Have Mapped the Ground Beneath Antarctica’s Most Vulnerable Glacier for the First Time
For the first time, a team including an expert from Swansea has charted the ground beneath Antarctica’s most at-risk glacier, providing vital insights into its…
Chilling Secrets: Rocks Beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet Reveal Surprising Past
Researchers from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet had been thinner in the past and had regrown, suggesting that…
Climate Change Is Threatening “Sea Butterflies” Life Cycle – And It Could Upend the Entire Southern Ocean Ecosystem
Researchers investigating the life cycles of pteropods in the Southern Ocean have discovered varying degrees of susceptibility to oceanic changes among different species. Approximately one-fourth…
Doomsday Glacier Is “In Trouble” – Surprising Results From Underwater Robot Close-Up View of Melting
New data from an international expedition and underwater robot Icefin beneath the remote Thwaites Glacier, nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier, in Antarctica. It is one of…
Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica Calves Massive Iceberg As Big as Greater London
An enormous iceberg measuring 600 miles² (1550 km²), almost the size of Greater London, has broken off the 500-foot (150-meter) thick Brunt Ice Shelf. It…
Biologists Uncover New Information About Earth’s First Animals
Life in the poles provides insights into the first animals on Earth. According to a recent study, the amazing survival techniques of polar marine creatures…
Elevating the Risk of Satellite Collision: Climate Change To Increase Lifetime of Space Debris
The reduced atmosphere in the upper atmosphere will increase satellites’ risk of collision with space pollution. According to a recent study from the British Antarctic…
“Jaw-Dropping” New Clues to Future Ice Sheet Change From Ancient Ice Age Valleys
Deep valleys buried under the seafloor of the North Sea record how the ancient ice sheets that used to cover the UK and Europe expelled…
Doomsday Glacier “Holding On by Its Fingernails” – Spine-Chilling Retreat Could Raise Sea Levels by 10 Feet
Faster in the Past: New seafloor images – the highest resolution of any taken off the West Antarctic Ice Sheet – upend understanding of Thwaites…
Antarctic Glaciers Are Melting Away at the Fastest Rate in 5,500 Years
A study finds that two major glaciers in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) are losing ice at the fastest rate for at least 5,500…
New Link Demonstrated Between Greenhouse Gasses and Sea Level Rise
A new study provides the first evidence that rising greenhouse gases have a long-term warming effect on the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica. Scientists from…
Spectacular Ice Age Landscapes Beneath the North Sea Revealed by 3D Seismic “MRI” Scans
Spectacular ice age landscapes beneath the North Sea have been discovered using 3D seismic reflection technology. Similar to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) the images reveal…