Category: Antarctica

20 May, 2020

The completion marks the latest milestone for the £140m UK Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme commissioned by UKRI-NERC and undertaken by the British Antarctic Survey. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, dominated by …

Read more on Sub-Antarctic island celebrates Shackleton Day with New Wharf for the RRS Sir David Attenborough

18 May, 2020 Emily Neville

There is a lot that’s unique about Antarctica. It’s the coldest, windiest and least populated of the world’s continents. It’s the highest continent on Earth and the world’s largest desert. …

Read more on Isolation Stories from Antarctica

12 May, 2020

A newly updated Antarctic Digital Database is released today (12 May 2020). Aimed at the science and logistics communities, the maps include updates to the ice shelf front around Thwaites …

Read more on Updated Mapping Datasets for Antarctica

22 April, 2020

*Did you miss the live event on 22 April? The recording is now available to watch below, or on Youtube via: https://youtu.be/8r3xdrp5GGI* Online launch of The Song of the Ice …

Read more on Earth Day 2020: The Song of the Ice

16 April, 2020

A new £40 million wharf to moor the RRS Sir David Attenborough has been used by polar ships for the first time at British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station in …

Read more on New Antarctic Wharf Ready for the RRS Sir David Attenborough

9 April, 2020 Robert Taylor

Episode 5: Seals from Space In Episode 5 of Iceworld, Rob Taylor is joined by Prem Gill who has just completed two weeks of fieldwork as part of his PhD …

Read more on PODCAST – Iceworld, Episode 5 – Seals from Space

30 January, 2020

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the first sighting of Antarctica by the British naval officer Edward Bransfield on this date in 1820, a new building to facilitate the …

Read more on New building at Rothera breaks ground

22 January, 2020 Jennifer Jackson

BAS biologist Dr Jennifer Jackson shares updates from the South Georgia southern right whale expedition currently in progress in the sub-Antarctic. During January 2020, the British Antarctic Survey’s wild water …

Read more on Blog: South Georgia whale expedition in full swing!

13 January, 2020

A new study identifies the non-native species most likely to ‘invade’ the Antarctic Peninsula region over the next decade. It provides a baseline for all operators in the region to …

Read more on Predicting non-native ‘invasions’ in Antarctica

20 December, 2019

As you make the last preparations for the festive period, spare a thought for those who will be working away in Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey. Over 300 staff, scientists …

Read more on Festive Greetings from Antarctica

19 December, 2019

A major modernisation programme at British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station begins its second ‘summer season’ this month with the arrival of a 60-plus person team from BAM. Construction …

Read more on Antarctica: Getting Ready for RRS Sir David Attenborough

12 December, 2019

A team of glaciologists has unveiled the most accurate portrait yet of the contours of the land beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet – and, by doing so, has helped identify which …

Read more on New high-precision map of Antarctica’s bed topography

29 November, 2019

Two studies published in a special issue of the journal Science Advances this week (27 November 2019) highlight the fragility of the Antarctic and its ecosystems in the lead up …

Read more on Studies highlight fragility of Antarctic ecosystems

14 November, 2019

Nearly 100 scientists and support staff depart this week (13 November 2019) for the most ambitious mission to date for Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. In the second year of …

Read more on Scientists head to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

4 November, 2019

A team of international researchers, including Professor Richard Horne from British Antarctic Survey, has been awarded best research study from the journal Risk Analysis for 2019. The study, led by …

Read more on Space weather study wins accolade

1 November, 2019 Robert Taylor

Mapping in Antarctica – podcast

Read more on PODCAST – Iceworld, Episode 1 – Maps

9 October, 2019

In a new study published this week (Wednesday 9 October) in the journal Biological Conservation, an international team of researchers recommends the need for additional measures to protect and conserve …

Read more on Study recommends special protection of emperor penguins

26 September, 2019

MONACO: Hundreds of scientists and Government representatives met in Monaco this week to finalise the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a …

Read more on New report reveals state of the planet

29 July, 2019 Melody Clark

Professor Melody Clark, Project Leader, discusses the trials and tribulations of undertaking research in Antarctica. Her latest paper published in Nature Communications shows that rising sea temperatures of just 1-2 …

Read more on Warming up the Antarctic: Harder than you think

25 July, 2019

New research, published this week (24 July 2019) in the journal PLOS ONE, shows how Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a key species in the Southern Ocean food web, choose different …

Read more on Antarctic krill use ‘hotspots’ for their young

11 July, 2019

PRAGUE 11 July 2019 Twenty-nine nations today [11 July 2019] reaffirm their commitment to the treaty that protects and preserves Antarctica as a continent for peace and science. Sixty years …

Read more on Reaffirmed international commitment to Antarctic Treaty

3 July, 2019

A team of scientists has discovered a rare lava lake on a remote and inaccessible sub-Antarctic island. This volcano in the South Sandwich Islands is only the 8th to be identified worldwide to have a persistent lava lake. 

Read more on Discovery of rare lava lake on remote sub-Antarctic island

25 June, 2019

A remote and unoccupied research station in Antarctica has, for the first time, collected important scientific measurements of climate, ozone and space weather thanks to ground-breaking technology developed by British …

Read more on Engineers automate science from remote Antarctic station

21 June, 2019

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica. In a tradition which began in the days of Captain Scott, today’s event (Friday 21 June) marks the shortest, and …

Read more on Midwinter Celebrations in Antarctica

18 June, 2019

The debut mission involving the autonomous submarine Autosub Long Range – affectionately  known as Boaty McBoatface –  has for the first time shed light on a key process linking increasing …

Read more on Boaty McBoatface sheds light on warming ocean abyss

29 April, 2019

A section of the world’s largest ice shelf in Antarctica – around the size of  Spain – is melting 10 times faster than average and warm ocean currents beneath it …

Read more on Solar heat drives rapid melting of Antarctic Ice Shelf

18 March, 2019 Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand

Dr Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand tells us more about what happens once a sediment core has been recovered from the seafloor.

Read more on “Core on deck” – Analysis begins

11 March, 2019

Sea-ice conditions have prevented the Research Icebreaker Polarstern from reaching the Larsen Ice Shelf and the calving areas of iceberg A68.

Read more on Expedition to Larsen C ice shelf thwarted by sea ice

27 February, 2019

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Halley VI Research Station has closed for the 2019 Antarctic winter after a successful summer field season.  It will re-open again in November this year. The …

Read more on Halley Research Station closes for 2019 Antarctic winter

15 February, 2019 Nadescha Zwerschke

Nadescha Zwerschke is a marine biologist, who was travelling on the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) as part of the ICEBERGS 2 cruise in December 2018. Having left Burdwood Bank …

Read more on Persistence and brilliant engineering

4 February, 2019

February 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the origins of British Antarctic Survey, which began when the secret wartime mission “Operation Tabarin” arrived in Antarctica and set up base. This was the start of a permanent UK scientific presence in Antarctica.

Read more on British Antarctic Survey celebrates its 75th birthday

29 January, 2019

Scientists will use two species of seals to investigate a huge glacier in West Antarctica that is at risk of collapse. A team of over 20 polar scientists from the …

Read more on Seals to act as sentinels of remote Antarctic glacier

29 January, 2019 Michael Dinn

In January 2019 a science and engineering team drilled over two kilometres through the ice sheet in West Antarctica using hot water.  It was the first time they had done this …

Read more on Drilling for success

28 January, 2019

An international team of scientists is travelling to the Amundsen Sea – one of the most vulnerable sectors of the Antarctic Ice Sheet – to answer vital scientific questions about …

Read more on International research expedition heads to West Antarctica

17 January, 2019

A new study of the animals living in polar oceans reveals which are most at risk from climate change. The study is published today (17 January) in Frontiers in Marine …

Read more on New study looks at risk to Antarctic marine life in future

14 January, 2019

First digging has begun to deconstruct the old wharf at Rothera Research Station as part of modernisation work to transform the way British Antarctic Survey delivers frontier science

Read more on Digging begins in construction of new Antarctic wharf

19 December, 2018

Of the known non-native or ‘alien’ species found in Antarctica, a non-biting species of midge currently presents one of the highest risks to terrestrial ecosystems, researchers have found. The preliminary …

Read more on The impact of ‘alien’ species in Antarctica

18 December, 2018

British Antarctic Survey is seeking to purchase a small passenger aircraft to work alongside its de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Series 110 (Dash 7). The aircraft will transport science and support teams and cargo between Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and Punta Arenas, Chile.

Read more on British Antarctic Survey seeks small passenger aircraft for Antarctica

11 December, 2018

Amazing, natural, ‘sounds of space’, have been incorporated into the new exploration gameplay in Elite Dangerous

Read more on ‘Sounds of Space’ from Antarctica feature in space simulation game

11 December, 2018

Halley opens for 2018 summer field season

Read more on Summer fieldwork begins at Halley

6 December, 2018 Stephen Smith

Earth’s Final Frontier – the title given to the frozen continent by journalists and academics alike, and with good reason. Antarctica stands resolute and alone, separated from mainland South America …

Read more on Blog: The artistry of Antarctic logistics

5 December, 2018

Results of a new study on Antarctic seabirds shows a larger percentage of their populations inhabit important nesting sites around Ryder Bay, close to British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station than …

Read more on Seabird populations on Antarctic Peninsula unexpected

19 November, 2018

A team of UK and U.S. polar scientists are about to embark on one of the largest joint Antarctic missions for more than 70 years. It’s the first field season …

Read more on Ambitious UK-U.S. Antarctic research mission begins

9 November, 2018 Matthew Southworth

Plant operator and enthusiastic environmentalist Matt Southworth finds his dream of working in Antarctica coming true!

Read more on Living my dream of working in Antarctica

2 November, 2018

Medical research in Antarctica

Read more on Eyes on ice – medical research from Antarctica

30 October, 2018

Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. A major focus for the season is the West …

Read more on New Antarctic field season begins

1 October, 2018

A medical evacuation from the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station was successfully completed this weekend. The evacuation was a precautionary measure in order for the patient to be …

Read more on Medical Evacuation Successfully Completed

26 September, 2018

The construction team responsible for building a new Antarctic wharf at Rothera Research Station  have been practicing full-scale assembly of the 30 tonne steel rigs in Southampton before deployment South. …

Read more on Practice makes perfect

16 September, 2018

The 2018 ozone hole began forming in late August and won’t reach its largest for over a fortnight.  Already it covers most of the Antarctic continent, an area of 14 …

Read more on World Ozone Day – 16th September

10 September, 2018

People, Plastics and the Planet is an international workshop to tackle the global plastic waste problem taking place at British Antarctic Survey’s Aurora Innovation Centre from 18th – 21st September 2018. Organised by BAS, Cambridge University and Value in Enterprise offers the unique opportunity for scientists and entrepreneurs to spend four days developing and testing ideas to address challenges posed by plastics in our environment.

Read more on Plastic solutions: workshop at BAS

18 July, 2018

Report published July 2018

Read more on State of the Polar Oceans report published

17 July, 2018 by Michael Meredith, Andrew Meijers, Eugene Murphy, Mark Belchier, Simeon Hill, Paul Holland, Geraint Tarling, Philip Trathan, John Turner, Jeremy Wilkinson, Layla Batchellier, Linda Capper, Jamie Oliver

Read more on The State of the Polar Oceans 2018

9 June, 2018

A collection of reports and photos from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), documenting the UK’s leading role in the modern era of Antarctic exploration, is being inscribed onto UNESCO’s UK …

Read more on British Antarctic Survey archives awarded United Nations recognition

16 May, 2018

On Monday 14 May, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA) signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to provide a formal framework to joint scientific …

Read more on UK-Argentina science collaboration agreement signed

14 May, 2018

The seas around the Antarctic Peninsula are biologically extremely rich, but are climatically sensitive, having experienced some of the fastest warming globally in recent decades. A special issue of the …

Read more on Special issue on how oceans are changing

3 May, 2018

A new study involving scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) suggests for the first time that warm winds are creating large surface melting of ice shelves in Antarctica during the …

Read more on “Hairdryer winds” cause ice melt during Antarctic winter

30 April, 2018

Professor Mike Meredith wins prize

Read more on Prestigious international award for oceanographer

9 April, 2018

The first comprehensive study of snowfall across Antarctica provides vital information in the study of future sea-level rise. Presenting this week (Monday 9 April 2018) at the European Geosciences Union …

Read more on New study reveals increased snowfall in Antarctica over last two centuries

15 March, 2018 Zoe Roseby

Zoë Roseby is a member of the science team from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) currently aboard the RRS Discovery. Read on to discover what the team will be investigating in …

Read more on SCIENCE AT SEA: Setting off for the Scotia Sea

9 March, 2018 Carwyn Davies

Mechanical engineer Carwyn Davies, from British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Marine Engineering (AME) is working onboard the RRS James Clark Ross with our science team to investigate Larsen C Benthos.  Find …

Read more on ENGINEERING AT SEA: Supporting Marine Science

5 March, 2018 Kieran Love

Kieran Love tells us what it is like to be the Zoological Field Assistant at King Edward Point Research Station (KEP) on South Georgia. So, what does being a zoological …

Read more on STATION SCIENCE: Higher predator monitoring

2 March, 2018

Heavy sea ice conditions have thwarted a science mission from reaching the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica from which a large iceberg broke off in July 2017. A team …

Read more on Research mission to Larsen C Ice Shelf thwarted by sea ice

28 February, 2018 Mel Mackenzie

Dr Mel Mackenzie, a Collection Manager of Marine Invertebrates at Museums Victoria in Melbourne, is living and working on board the BAS research ship RRS James Clark Ross for the …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA: You study what?

22 February, 2018 Rowan Whittle

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) palaeobiologist Dr Rowan Whittle is a member of the Larsen C Benthos research cruise onboard the RRS James Clark Ross. Rowan’s primary role is to assist …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA: The adventure begins

13 February, 2018 Layla Batchellier

Find out what the South Georgia Right Whale Expedition team have been up to during their first few weeks sailing in the waters around South Georgia. Firstly, Susannah Calderan tells …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA: Studying Southern Right Whales

12 February, 2018

A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), heads to Antarctica this week (14 February) to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice …

Read more on First expedition to newly exposed Antarctic ecosystem

11 February, 2018 Zoe Waring

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11th February), Zoe Waring, the Marine Assistant at Rothera Research Station, has written a blog about her work at British …

Read more on Celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2018

7 February, 2018 Jennifer Jackson

Whale ecologist Dr Jennifer Jackson, who is leading the first expedition to ‘health-check’ southern right whales since whaling stopped in the 1970s, describes how she and the team prepared for …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA: Rolling, rolling, rolling

5 February, 2018

Our congratulations go to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), who this week celebrate six decades of successful international collaboration.

Read more on Celebrating 60 years of Antarctic science

19 January, 2018

A new study from British Antarctic Survey shows how five common Antarctic marine invertebrates (animals without a backbone) use less energy to feed, grow and reproduce than their temperate and …

Read more on Life in the slow lane

12 January, 2018

A new study from the British Antarctic Survey shows how lanternfish, small bioluminescent fish, are likely to respond to the warming of the Southern Ocean. Lanternfish are one of the …

Read more on Lanternfish reveal how ocean warming impacts the twilight zone

28 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

Following the glider deployments our next destination was Rothera, the UK’s biggest Antarctic research station on Adelaide Island. Good progress was made until we hit the sea ice – 120 …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 4: Sea ice and science

20 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

It was finally time to deploy the gliders and I couldn’t be more excited! Autonomous vehicles are regarded as the future of oceanography, and I feel extremely lucky to be …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 3: Gliders galore!

18 December, 2017 Robert Mulvaney

This Antarctic season BAS scientist Dr Robert Mulvaney is taking part in the ongoing hunt for the oldest ice record Beyond Epica. Using a variety of different techniques, he and …

Read more on SCIENCE ON THE ICE – Part 2: Setting up camp at Little Dome C

12 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

First thing I learn as I begin my trip aboard the RRS James Clark Ross is that, scientist on research cruises need to be able to adapt quickly! Within two …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 2: Busy biologists!

11 December, 2017

A thinning of small areas of floating ice at Antarctica’s coast can accelerate the movement of ice grounded on rocks hundreds of kilometres away, a new study involving scientists from …

Read more on Tiny ice losses at Antarctica’s fringes can accelerate ice loss far away

11 December, 2017

Cartographers surveying Antarctica have discovered Mt Hope is the tallest mountain in the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) at 3,239 m (10,654 ft) above sea level. Until now, maps showed Mt …

Read more on New satellite imagery reveals new highest Antarctic Peninsula Mountain

4 December, 2017

Applications are invited for the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) for Antarctic fieldwork in the 2018/19 field season. The closing date is 5th March 2018. CASS provides opportunities for UK-based …

Read more on Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme – Applications invited

29 November, 2017

An animation of the giant iceberg that calved off the Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica just over two months ago shows an unexpected break up. Satellite images revealed a …

Read more on Giant West Antarctic iceberg disintegrates

29 November, 2017 Ryan Scott

After 6 days, 9505 miles and 7 mm of beard growth, the cruise has officially started! Thursday 16th November and finally the time had come for me start my journey …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 1: Journey to the JCR!

23 November, 2017 Robert Mulvaney

BAS glaciologist Dr Robert Mulvaney journeys deep into Antarctica where he and the team continue their search for the oldest ice record of atmosphere and climate – hopefully stretching back 1.5 million years.

Read more on SCIENCE ON THE ICE – Part 1: The search for the oldest ice continues

20 November, 2017

A UK team of researchers has produced high-resolution maps of the bed beneath a major glacier in West Antarctica, which will help them predict future sea-level rise from this region. …

Read more on Maps reveal landscape beneath Antarctica’s weak underbelly

10 November, 2017

Station opens for 2017 summer season

Read more on Halley VI Research Station ready for 2017 summer season

31 October, 2017

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has decided, for safety reasons, that it will close its Halley VI Research Station during the 2018 Antarctic winter.  This will be the second time that …

Read more on Halley Research Station will not winter in 2018

25 October, 2017

Thousands of marks on the Antarctic seafloor, caused by icebergs which broke free from glaciers more than ten thousand years ago, show how part of the Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated …

Read more on ‘Scars’ left by icebergs record West Antarctic ice retreat

23 October, 2017

Blue Planet II – the nature documentary that explores the deepest and darkest realms of the world’s oceans – is back on the BBC some 16 years after it was …

Read more on BBC Blockbuster Blue Planet II returns

19 October, 2017 Holly Winton

A new blog from Polar Atmospheric Ice Chemist Dr Holly Winton,  who is part of the ISOL-ice research project, explaining the process from fieldwork on the Polar Plateau to laboratory work …

Read more on SCIENCE IN THE LAB: From the Polar Plateau to Cambridge

9 October, 2017

A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is planning an urgent mission to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice shelf for …

Read more on Scientists to visit hidden Antarctic ecosystem after giant iceberg calving

2 October, 2017

A new multidisciplinary study led by scientists at British Antarctic Study (BAS) stresses the need for an integrated approach to understand the effects of climate change on Antarctic marine ecosystems. …

Read more on New study calls for unified research to understand changing ecosystems

29 September, 2017

Rolls-Royce is marking a major milestone on the journey towards the completion of Britain’s new polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough being built by Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird.

Read more on Milestone in construction of RRS Sir David Attenborough

27 September, 2017

Latest satellite images reveal a new 100-square-mile iceberg emerging from Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier. The calving event did not come as a complete surprise, but is a troubling sign with …

Read more on Large iceberg breaks off Pine Island Glacier

19 September, 2017

An international agreement is now in place to give special protection to the area of ocean left exposed when one of the largest icebergs ever recorded broke free from the …

Read more on Special protection for area exposed by Larsen C iceberg

11 September, 2017

This week (Saturday 16 September), marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It is one of the most successful …

Read more on World Ozone Day: 30th anniversary of Montreal Protocol

4 September, 2017

A new study of the marine invertebrates living in the seas around Antarctica reveals there will be more ‘losers’ than ‘winners’ over the next century as the Antarctic seafloor warms.  …

Read more on More losers than winners for Southern Ocean marine life

31 August, 2017

A team of scientists has discovered that a 1°C rise in local sea temperature has massive impacts on an Antarctic marine community. These new results are published this week (31 …

Read more on Antarctic marine life may grow faster in a warming world

29 August, 2017

Temperature plays an important role in the distribution of ocean plankton communities and has the potential to cause major distribution shifts, as recently observed in the Arctic. A new study …

Read more on Zooplankton resilient to long-term warming

2 August, 2017

  The largest remaining ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula lost 10% of its area when an iceberg four times the size of London broke free earlier this month. Since …

Read more on Impact of giant Antarctic iceberg – update on Larsen-C