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Huge lakes under glacier challenge ideas on sea level rise

Australian scientists have discovered huge lakes under the Totten glacier in East Antarctica. This new revelation is causing a rethink in how ice melt from Antarctica will raise sea levels. More research is needed to get a clear picture of how…
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EU-Polar net defines topics for EU polar research

If you've ever wondered why Europe is involved in polar research, the links below will give you some answers. Last year, 50 experts from 16 countries got together at a workshop in Spain to discuss which topics in polar research are relevant…

Meteorite hunting in Antarctica

Besides giving us important insights into the history and climate of planet Earth, Antarctica is a great place to look for meteorites which tell us about more about our solar system. A recent BBC story explains more, with some brilliant photos…

Diving with icebergs – Belgica 121 gets to work

The Belgica 121 research expedition is now at work exploring the life and geology of the Southern Ocean off Antarctica. We're proud to be following this remarkable project which is showing how research can be carried out with minimum disturbance…

Drones capture amazing images of blue whales

Blues whales are the biggest animal that has ever existed, yet they too are under threat. Australian scientists exploring how to manage the Southern Ocean to protect its wildlife have been using drones to help them understand more about these…
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Belgica 121 is on its way, sailing to Antarctica

"Marking the 121st anniversary since the first Antarctic expedition in human history, an international team of nine scientists embark on a journey to the frozen continent. Their choice of transport: a small sail boat." This is the synopsis…

Not quite so bad? New research on ice loss

The direst predictions of sea-level rise caused by melting Antarctic ice sheets may not come about, so says new research published in Nature. However, the impact of ice loss on the climate are still not fully understood and may even be worse…
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antarctic_krill_(Euphausia_superba).jpg
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New survey of Antarctic krill

Krill are tiny crustaceans found in huge quantities in the Southern Ocean. They are a vital food source at the base of the food chain, eaten by whales, penguins, seals and squid. Last year, we posted about an industry initiative to protect…
Source NASA https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-148
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Manhattan-sized cavity under Thwaites glacier

Satellite data from a NASA-led project has revealed a massive cavity under the Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica. The cavity covers an area about two-thirds the area of Manhattan and is 300 m tall. This discovery has surprised scientists who…

UK teams sets 2 km record for hot-water drilling

A UK team has drilled over 2152 metres down to the base of the West Antarctic ice sheet, setting a new record for hot-water drilling. Often scientists remove 'ice cores' to learn more about how our planet responded to climate change in the…