Category: Antarctica

10 July, 2024

Construction teams have completed significant stages of the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme and joined the over-wintering staff for the first time as the 2023/24 summer season ended.  The improvements, led by BAM and technical advisors Ramboll will transform future science and operations at Rothera, the UK’s largest polar research station in Antarctica.

Read more on Modernisation milestones achieved in Antarctica

4 July, 2024

For the first time, researchers, including from British Antarctic Survey, have combined unique geological samples with sophisticated modelling to provide surprising insights into when and where today’s East and West …

Read more on The dawn of the Antarctic ice sheets

25 June, 2024

Warm water that seeps underneath can melt ice in way not yet included in models A new and worrying way that large ice sheets can melt has been characterised by …

Read more on New tipping point discovered beneath the Antarctic ice sheet

21 June, 2024

Today (21 June) marks the longest night in Antarctica and a very special Midwinter’s Day with 47 people or ‘winterers’ living and working at British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) three winter …

Read more on Celebrating Midwinter in Antarctica 2024

21 May, 2024

New iceberg, the size of the Isle of Wight, is expected to be called A-83 ANTARCTICA – 21 May. A large iceberg (380 km²), about the size of the Isle …

Read more on Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica calves new iceberg

20 May, 2024

Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have found that the record-low levels of sea ice around Antarctica in 2023 were extremely unlikely to happen without the influence of climate …

Read more on Record low Antarctic sea ice ‘extremely unlikely’ without climate change

16 May, 2024

The 2023/4 Antarctic field season has wound up and the last of the summer teams are aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough and heading for home. This season not only …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic field season wraps up

25 April, 2024

Record low levels of Antarctic sea-ice in late 2023 resulted in breeding failures in a fifth of the continent’s emperor penguin colonies, according to a new study from British Antarctic …

Read more on Emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica suffer as sea-ice diminishes

19 April, 2024 Emma Pearce

Understanding what is going on inside an ice shelf is important for many reasons. But mostly, it allows us to better understand their contribution to sea level rise, and to …

Read more on BLOG: Looking into the world’s most studied ice shelf

16 April, 2024

Scientists are a step closer to being able to predict when large icebergs will calve in Antarctica.  A team of glaciologists will present their new results at the European Geoscience …

Read more on Scientists one step closer to predicting iceberg calving

19 March, 2024

Chefs, plumbers and electricians wanted to work in Antarctica. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for new recruits to work at its research stations in Antarctica. Skilled carpenters, chefs, electricians, …

Read more on Are these the COOLEST jobs in the world? Probably.

11 March, 2024

SOUTH GEORGIA. Update, March 2024 – Penguins on the sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia have tested positive for Avian flu. This is the first time the virus has been detected …

Read more on Penguins test positive for Avian Flu on South Georgia

4 March, 2024

As part of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP), the runway at Rothera research station has successfully been resurfaced by construction company BAM and the design completed by Ramboll. The station is a major hub for international science in Antarctica, and this significant achievement is a pivotal moment for BAS and the UK’s future polar research capabilities.

Read more on Antarctic Runway is upgraded to support UK hub for polar science

27 February, 2024

A new study, involving researchers from British Antarctic Survey, has found that significant thinning and retreat of the vast Thwaites Glacier began in the 1940s. Accelerating ice loss has been …

Read more on Significant glacial retreat in West Antarctica began in 1940s

23 February, 2024

The final field season of the ambitious, international effort to understand Antarctica’s giant Thwaites Glacier is complete. Teams of scientists and support staff with the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) …

Read more on Final Thwaites Glacier field season wraps up

21 February, 2024

Engineers Tania Alvarez and Jose Valverde have celebrated their engagement at one of the world’s southmost locations,  British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic peninsula.

Read more on Love on Ice: Engineers’ Antarctic Engagement Sparks Warmth

14 February, 2024

Communities of microorganisms at the bottom of polar lakes evolved independently from other regions, influenced by the particular geological, biological and climate history of their regions. The unique character of …

Read more on DNA reveals unique microorganisms evolved at poles

3 February, 2024

A team have arrived at Rothera Research Station, ready to start testing the new Windracers ULTRA autonomous drone in Antarctica. If successful, the new drone platform could represent a major …

Read more on Pilotless plane test crew arrives in Antarctica

30 January, 2024

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will build a new unique science facility at its UK Cambridge headquarters, enabling scientists to understand how organisms that live in cold polar environments evolved …

Read more on New science facility to unveil mysteries of animal life in Antarctica

24 January, 2024

Scientists from British Antarctic Survey have discovered four previously unknown emperor penguin breeding sites. Changing sea ice conditions along Antarctica’s coastline have forced several emperor colonies to move in search …

Read more on Four new emperor penguin colonies found by satellite

23 January, 2024

A team of scientists are embarking on an ambitious 30-day scientific expedition on board RRS Sir David Attenborough to investigate how carbon dioxide moves and transforms in the Southern Ocean. …

Read more on New research mission on board polar ship set to unlock Southern Ocean’s carbon secrets

20 January, 2024

Researchers from British Antarctic Survey (BAS)  have carried out aerial surveys of the remote volcanic Zavodovski Island in the sub-Antarctic to count the largest penguin colony in the world.   …

Read more on Scientists count penguins on remote sub-Antarctic island

16 January, 2024

Scientists at British Antarctic Survey are using satellite images to track the colossal iceberg A23a. This new animation shows the recent trajectory of the A23a iceberg as it moves north …

Read more on New animation shows track of giant A23a iceberg

9 January, 2024

Congratulations to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff who have been awarded a Polar Medal in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List for their contributions to improving our understanding of Antarctica …

Read more on BAS staff awarded the Polar Medal 2024

8 January, 2024

Halley Research Station, Antarctica – A team of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is gearing up for an expedition to the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica to unravel …

Read more on Team embarks on mission to investigate iceberg calving

22 December, 2023

Scientists, including from British Antarctic Survey, have used octopus DNA to discover that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) likely collapsed during the Last Interglacial period around 120,000 years ago …

Read more on Octopus DNA solves mystery of ice sheet’s past

21 December, 2023

Colleagues at British Antarctic Survey’s five research stations and on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough are currently preparing for a unique festive season in Antarctica, with nearly 24 hours …

Read more on Celebrating the festive season in Antarctica

6 December, 2023

The Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition celebrates the power of photography in capturing scientific phenomena happening all around us, and the role great images play in making science accessible to …

Read more on Antarctic photo nominated in competition

4 December, 2023

ANTARCTICA: Scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg, the largest iceberg in the world. New video footage shows the enormous iceberg, …

Read more on RRS Sir David Attenborough samples A23a iceberg during climate science mission

27 November, 2023

Construction has begun in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) with specialists arriving at Rothera Research Station to progress several projects to secure the future of polar operations and …

Read more on Construction first for British Antarctic Survey as specialist team fit-out new building over the Antarctic winter

23 November, 2023

Researchers are using a new AI tool to detect icebergs in the Southern Ocean. This is the first step towards scientists being able to track the complete life cycle of …

Read more on Using AI to track icebergs

20 November, 2023

Last month, October 2023, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on Bird Island, South Georgia in the brown skua populations. Since then, a number of other cases of symptomatic …

Read more on Additional cases of Avian Flu confirmed on South Georgia

20 November, 2023

A team of international researchers set sail on the RRS Sir David Attenborough today (20 November) to answer some of the big questions about how Antarctic ecosystems and sea ice …

Read more on First Antarctic research mission on polar ship

17 November, 2023

This November British Antarctic Survey joins with the polar community to celebrate the contribution of LGBTQIA+ people in polar research and operations to mark Polar Pride Day and LGBTQIA STEM …

Read more on Celebrating Polar Pride 2023

15 November, 2023

Since Antarctica has no indigenous human populations to give names to landmarks, the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee provides advice on place-naming in the British Antarctic Territory, adhering to international principles …

Read more on New Antarctic place names announced

8 November, 2023

A research mission to Antarctica will study the effects of global warming on the West Antarctic ice sheet. The mission is part of an international research programme, which includes researchers …

Read more on Team heads for Antarctica to study global warming effects

31 October, 2023

Polar science could reach new heights as researchers prepare to test the new Windracers ULTRA autonomous drone in Antarctica this season. A new, state-of-the-art autonomous drone capable of carrying a …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey unveils pilotless plane for testing in Antarctica

23 October, 2023

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet will continue to increase its rate of melting over the rest of the century, no matter how much we reduce fossil fuel use, according to …

Read more on Increased West Antarctic Ice Sheet melting ‘unavoidable’

18 October, 2023

More than 200 scientists, including several from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), from 19 countries have released the first comprehensive assessment of trends in Southern Ocean ecosystems, in a report written …

Read more on Sea change: new blueprint for Southern Ocean

17 October, 2023

Congratulations to our Estates and Facilities Team who have won the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management’s (IFWM) Impact Awards 2023 under the “Team of the Year: Public Sector” category.   …

Read more on Estates and Facilities Team win prestigious award

26 September, 2023

New measurements of how the boundary between onshore glacier and floating ice shelf glides back-and- forth could help predict melting The grounding line of the southern Ronne Ice Shelf in …

Read more on Antarctica’s glacial border moves for miles with the tide

25 September, 2023

British Antarctic Survey scientists are called up for their expertise this season, in a series of documentaries on radio and television. Secrets of our Universe with Tim Peake, Channel 5 …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey on Radio & TV this Autumn

21 September, 2023

The melting of the supergiant iceberg A-68 had a huge impact on the ocean around South Georgia, in sub-Antarctica, and significantly changed the Southern Ocean’s temperature and saltiness, with potentially …

Read more on Supergiant iceberg makes surrounding ocean surface colder and less salty

13 September, 2023

ANTARCTICA – Following the calving of the A-81 iceberg at the end of January 2023, the Brunt Ice Shelf is moving faster than before. It is currently moving approximately 4 …

Read more on Brunt Ice Shelf speeds up after calving of giant iceberg

30 August, 2023 Emily Newton

Dr Robbie Mallett is a sea ice scientist, currently over-wintering at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica as part of an eight-month research campaign for the NERC DEFIANT project. Robbie explains the …

Read more on Feeling the heat in Antarctica: the urgency of sea ice research

24 August, 2023

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 that over 90% of emperor …

Read more on Loss of sea ice causes catastrophic breeding failure for emperor penguins

18 August, 2023

Today, hundreds of international scientists are sounding a clarion call for urgent expansion of Southern Ocean research in the emerging climate crisis. 300 scientists from 25 nations have been meeting …

Read more on Urgent call for more Southern Ocean research

11 August, 2023 Emily Rowlands

Where is all the ocean plastic? Eight million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year but only a small fraction of this (maybe even as low as 1%!) can …

Read more on A Southern Ocean plastic puzzle – where is all the ocean plastic?

8 August, 2023

Extreme events in Antarctica such as ocean heatwaves and ice loss will almost certainly become more common and more severe, researchers say. With drastic action now needed to limit global …

Read more on New Antarctic extremes ‘virtually certain’ as world warms

3 August, 2023

Winter sea ice in the Antarctic is at a historic low, and scientists are working to understand why an area of ice the size of Greenland is missing. Scientists from …

Read more on The mystery of the missing Antarctic sea ice

6 July, 2023 Thomas Boagey

British Antarctic Survey aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and decarbonise our polar research stations by 2030.  A key part of this project is to end the reliance on conventional …

Read more on Life on a subantarctic island: installing a new renewable energy system at Bird Island Research Station

30 June, 2023

An international team of researchers has sequenced the genomes of 24 Antarctic fish species to investigate how they survive the extreme cold. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, …

Read more on Fish survival in the extreme cold

27 June, 2023

Researchers have discovered a flesh-eating fish is in major decline – by looking at the stomach content of some of the world’s largest bird, albatrosses. The Patagonian Lamprey, Geotria macrostoma, …

Read more on Bird diet sampling helps uncover the lives of living fossils

21 June, 2023

Today (21 June) marks the longest night in Antarctica and around 40 people will be celebrating Midwinter in British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) three winter stations: Rothera Research Station on the …

Read more on Celebrating Midwinter in Antarctica

12 June, 2023

Antarctic Bottom Water is the coldest, densest water mass on the planet and plays a pivotal role in regulating the ocean’s ability to store heat and capture carbon. In a …

Read more on Deep ocean waters in Antarctica are shrinking and warming

8 June, 2023

Dramatic changes in the Polar Regions are reflected in a new edition map of Antarctica and the Arctic produced by cartographers at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The flagship printed …

Read more on New map reflects ice loss and name changes

1 June, 2023 by Louise Sime, Rachel Cavanagh, Jane Francis, Oliver Marsh, Geraint Tarling, Rosie Williams

Read more on Antarctic tipping points

31 May, 2023

The ground beneath Antarctica’s most vulnerable glacier has been mapped for the first time, helping scientists to better understand how it is being affected by climate change. Analysis of the …

Read more on Ground beneath Thwaites Glacier mapped for first time

19 May, 2023 Connie Pang

Connie Pang is a Senior Structural Engineer at Ramboll and travelled to Antarctica this year to work as the Site Supervisor for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme. Here she looks …

Read more on Life as a structural engineer in Antarctica

13 May, 2023

Scientists are tracking a group of young black-browed albatross, who have begun their first epic journeys across the Southern Ocean. In April 2023, 26 young black-browed albatross on Bird Island …

Read more on Scientists track the epic flight of fledged albatross

12 May, 2023

Modernising Antarctic Infrastructure for Future Generations of Polar Scientists Specialist construction teams are travelling home to the UK after five months of work in Antarctica to modernise British Antarctic Survey …

Read more on Update on construction season in Antarctica

11 May, 2023

The 2022/23 Antarctic field season has ended, marking the conclusion of another successful year of scientific exploration in one of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. This field season, …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey completes Antarctic field season

9 May, 2023 Emily Neville

This weekend, BAS staff in Antarctica and on board RRS Sir David Attenborough celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III. On the RRS Sir David Attenborough RRS Sir David Attenborough spent the …

Read more on BAS celebrates the Coronation

9 May, 2023

A tiny flightless midge which has colonised Antarctica’s Signy Island is driving fundamental changes to the island’s soil ecosystem. Research by experts at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in collaboration …

Read more on Invading insects transforming Antarctic soils

25 April, 2023 Michael Dunn

No, it’s not a Penguin joke! This World Penguin Day (25 April 2023) we spoke to some of our resident experts, Mike Dunn and Peter Fretwell, to find out more …

Read more on How many penguins are in Antarctica?

13 April, 2023

Scientists Dr Peter Davis (British Antarctic Survey) and Dr Britney Schmidt (Cornell University) have been named in the 2023 TIME100 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the …

Read more on Scientists named on TIME100 list for Antarctic research

5 April, 2023 Alysa Fisher

Alysa Hulbert, is an Information Officer at British Antarctic Survey. She spent several months last year working in Antarctica, which coincided with the Jewish festival of Passover or Pesach פֶּסַח. …

Read more on Polar Passover

3 April, 2023

A new scientific and operational support facility at Rothera Research Station for British Antarctic Survey has been made weathertight, with the cladding complete and an  operations tower installed.

Read more on Exterior complete for new Antarctic science and operations facility

14 March, 2023 Christopher Robert Lloyd

Christopher Robert Lloyd, Associate Project Manager at Ramboll is currently working at Rothera Research Station on the construction of the Discovery Building for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In …

Read more on Here we go again…

20 February, 2023 Emily Newton

Martin Bell, Halley Vehicles Engineering Manager, reflects on the work of the Vehicles team as the Halley Research Station closes for winter. This award-winning and innovative research station provides scientists …

Read more on Season’s end: preparing Halley VI for the winter

1 February, 2023 Kathleen Maclean

Simeon Anastasov, Principal Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants, is currently working at Rothera Research Station providing site supervision as part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In this blog …

Read more on First journey to Rothera

23 January, 2023

ANTARCTICA – 23 January 2023. A huge iceberg (1550 km²), almost the size of Greater London, has broken off the 150m thick Brunt Ice Shelf. It calved after cracks that …

Read more on Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica calves giant iceberg 

20 January, 2023

Scientists have discovered a new emperor penguin colony in Antarctica using satellite mapping technology. This new colony makes a total of 62 known emperor penguin colonies around the coastline of …

Read more on New emperor penguin colony discovered

22 December, 2022

Colleagues and collaborators from across the globe will celebrate the festive season together at British Antarctic Survey’s five research stations in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic, along with festivities onboard the …

Read more on Celebrating the Festive Season in Antarctica

2 December, 2022

The next phase of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme (AIMP) is set to begin with a 6-month construction season at Rothera Research Station. The station is the UK’s largest Antarctic research and operations hub that supports leading researchers in frontier science in the region. 

Read more on New season begins for Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme

2 December, 2022

A new album transporting listeners on a journey to the Sun and inspired by ‘sounds’ captured in space and on the ground shows the magic created when science and the …

Read more on ‘Sounds’ of the sun inspire an extraordinary new album  

30 November, 2022

Global warming and ocean acidification are threatening marine organisms, such as corals, bryozoans, molluscs, sea urchins or crustaceans, that build their skeletons and shells with calcium carbonate (chalk) according to …

Read more on Warming and acidification threatens organisms

28 November, 2022

Over half of wandering albatrosses breeding on Bird Island, in the sub-Antarctic, encounter fishing vessels when feeding, putting them at risk of being accidentally caught or killed in fishing gear, …

Read more on Research shows ‘danger zones’ for wandering albatrosses

19 November, 2022 Livia Oldland

International Men’s Day is an annual celebration taking place on Saturday 19 November around some of the issues that specifically impact men and boys. The themes of the day centre …

Read more on International Men’s Day: Burnout in Cambridge and in the Polar Regions

18 November, 2022

Today (18 November) British Antarctic Survey (BAS) joins global celebrations to mark LGBTQIA+ STEM DAY and Polar Pride Day. Polar Pride is a celebration of the contribution of LGBTQIA+ people in polar research …

Read more on Celebrating Polar Pride Day 2022

3 November, 2022

Our Antarctic field season has begun, with a challenging and ambitious range of projects to be delivered at five British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research stations and across the wider continent. …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey’s 2022-2023 field season begins

2 November, 2022

The British Antarctic Survey and its partners are launching a drawing competition for schools, to inspire the next generation of polar engineers, scientists and explorers. School children between the ages …

Read more on Antarctica drawing competition launches

27 October, 2022 by Anna Jones, Ella Gilbert, Oliver Marsh

Read more on Winter warming in Antarctica

12 October, 2022

The amazing survival strategies of polar marine creatures might help to explain how the first animals on Earth could have evolved earlier than the oldest fossils suggest according to new …

Read more on Learning about the first animals from life at the poles

26 September, 2022 Martin Siegert

Professor Martin Siegert is a glaciologist at Imperial College London and co-director of the Grantham Institute. He’s co-Chair of the Diversity in Polar Science Initiative and Chair of the UK …

Read more on Blog: Socioeconomic diversity in Polar Science

18 July, 2022

This month (July 2022) a formal change in the leadership of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) takes place.    Elen Jones joins British Antarctic Survey as the new AIMP Programme Director …

Read more on Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme – change in leadership 

30 June, 2022 by John Turner, Thomas Bracegirdle

Read more on Antarctica and climate change

30 June, 2022 by Steve Colwell, Jonathan Shanklin

Read more on The Ozone Hole

30 June, 2022 by Dominic Hodgson

Read more on Antarctica’s hidden lakes

30 June, 2022 by Norman Ratcliffe, Jaume Forcada

Read more on Penguins and climate change

30 June, 2022 by Simeon Hill, Victoria Warwick-Evans, Geraint Tarling, Martin Collins, Sophie Fielding

Read more on Krill fishing and conservation in the Southern Ocean

30 June, 2022 by Susie Grant, Simeon Hill

Read more on Marine Protected Areas

30 June, 2022 by Gaelle Veyssiere

Read more on Sea ice at both poles

30 June, 2022 by John King, Ella Gilbert

Read more on Larsen C Ice Shelf

30 June, 2022 by Robert Larter

Read more on Sea-level rise

30 June, 2022 by Richard Phillips

Read more on Albatrosses

21 June, 2022

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff in the UK and across three Antarctic wintering stations observe the shortest, darkest day of the year on the frozen continent with a host of unique celebrations.

Read more on Midwinter Day 2022 in Antarctica

16 June, 2022

Two crucial glaciers in West Antarctica may be losing ice faster than they have over the last 5,000 years, according to a new study published this month (June 2022).

Read more on Antarctic glaciers’ ice loss “unprecedented”

14 June, 2022

Britain’s new polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, returns to the UK today (14 June) after completing its landmark maiden voyage to Antarctica. The ship departed the UK in …

Read more on Polar research ship returns to UK