Antarctic sea ice in dramatic decline since 2014

When it comes to sea ice, the focus is often on the decline in the Arctic. But a new scientific report shows that the Antarctic sea ice has shrunk massively since 2014. In fact, the "average annual extent means Antarctica lost as much sea…
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The Last Great Exploration Campaign on Earth

In this post, we're inviting you to discover a research initiative that isn't directly about Antarctica. It's the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA). Launched in 2013, AORA is a cooperative effort between the European Union, Canada and…
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Beyond EPICA

The European Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice Core project started officially on 1st June. Its aim is to to drill for ice up to 1.5 million years old. This will give scientists unparalleled information on the history of Earth's climate. In turn, this…

5th June: World Environment Day – the air we breathe

Australia's Antarctic Program posted this video to mark World Environment Day 2019. Scientists in Antarctica are investigating how far Earth's atmosphere can clean itself. A vital question about the air we all breathe. Watch the video…

Video: sneaking up on sleeping whales

Take a look at this news report that captures the challenges of trying to tag sleeping whales, so scientists can understand how to better protect them. It's not easy to sneak up on a whale! But this is a serious endeavour as the interviewees…
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West Antarctic ice sheet thinning dramatically

Scientists have known for some time that the West Antarctic ice sheet is thinning. But new research from the University of Leeds, UK, and based on European Space Agency satellite data has revealed that the ice loss is much greater and faster…
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Penguin poop – biodiversity friend or foe?

Penguin poop makes a good home for other living organisms, says new research in the Antarctic. Millions of invertebrates have been found thriving on piles of penguin droppings. But will this rich source of nutrients allow invasive species to…

Belgica 121 – a happy team and a successful expedition

Over the last few months, we've brought you news of the Belgica 121 expedition, a research project to study biodiversity in the Southern Ocean using a sail boat to ensure it had a very low environmental impact. The expedition is over now but…
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Emperor penguin colony collapses

Emperor penguins are iconic birds of Antarctica. Yet, a major colony at Halley Bay has failed to breed for the last three years, possibly due to a decline in the sea ice in the Weddell Sea. https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/catastrophic-breeding-failure-at-one-of-worlds-largest-emperor-penguin-colonies/ Photo:…
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Life at one of the world’s remotest places

We've recently come across this video from 2018, which gives a fascinating glimpse into the lives of scientists at the Franco-Italian Concordia station situated on the Antarctic Plateau. Concordia is the one of the most isolated places on Earth.…