Oscillating dense plumes
1 August, 2011 by Paul Holland
The flow of dense polar shelf waters down continental slopes is a critical component of the global ocean circulation. Recent observations suggest that such plumes can be heavily impacted by…Our publications
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Simulation of the acceleration of relativistic electrons in the inner magnetosphere using RCM-VERB coupled codes
1 August, 2011 by Richard Horne
Radiation belt dynamics have been modeled by the modified Fokker-Planck diffusion equation with sources from the low-energy plasma sheet population and losses to the atmosphere and magnetopause. We perform a…On the response of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current transport to climate change in coupled climate models
1 August, 2011 by Michael Meredith, Zhaomin Wang
The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report) models show a consistent intensification and poleward shift of the westerly winds over the…Seasonal variations of gravity wave activity in the lower stratosphere over an Antarctic Peninsula station
27 July, 2011 by Steve Colwell, Tracy Moffat-Griffin
An 8 year series of 965 high-resolution radiosonde soundings over Rothera (67 degrees S, 68 degrees W) on the Antarctic Peninsula are used to study gravity wave characteristics in the…The vertical connection of the quasi-biennial oscillation- modulated 11 year solar cycle signature in geopotential height and planetary waves during Northern Hemisphere early winter
16 July, 2011 by Hua Lu, Ingrid Cnossen
We analyzed observational geopotential height data to provide some new insights on the 11 year solar cycle signal in the Northern Hemisphere early winter and its modulation by the quasi-biennial…The need to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity at the high latitude site, South Georgia
11 July, 2011 by Chester Sands, David Herbert, David Barnes, Huw Griffiths, Martin Collins, Oliver Hogg, Peter Fretwell
The multilateral failure to apply the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the target year 2010 was headline news as are the accelerating climatic changes which dictate its urgency. Some…Flow at ice-divide triple junctions: 1. Three-dimensional full-Stokes modeling
30 June, 2011 by Richard Hindmarsh, Richard Hindmarsh
Ice domes are either axisymmetric, high points along ridges, or ridge triple junctions. We model time-dependent isothermal flow near triple junctions, solving the full set of mechanical equations with a…Read more on Flow at ice-divide triple junctions: 1. Three-dimensional full-Stokes modeling
Flow at ice-divide triple junctions: 2. Three-dimensional views of isochrone architecture from ice-penetrating radar surveys
30 June, 2011 by Ed King, Hugh Corr, Richard Hindmarsh, Robert Mulvaney, Richard Hindmarsh
Ground-based surveys of ice-divide triple junctions in two Antarctic ice rises, the Fletcher Promontory and Berkner Island, have been carried out using low-frequency ice-penetrating radars. These surveys have focused on…Frost flowers in the laboratory: Growth, characteristics, aerosol, and the underlying sea ice
27 June, 2011 by Eric Wolff, Howard Roscoe
In the laboratory, we have investigated the growth and composition of frost flowers. Their ionic composition has shown little difference from those of field measurements. Young frost flowers grown on…Ocean tides in the Weddell Sea: New observations on the Filchner-Ronne and Larsen C ice shelves and model validation
1 June, 2011 by Hilmar Gudmundsson, Keith Nicholls
Ocean tides under the large Weddell Sea ice shelves are among the least well observed on Earth. Here we present new, spatially extensive observations of the vertical tidal motion of…Time-dependence of the spatial pattern of accumulation rate in East Antarctica deduced from isochronic radar layers using a 3D numerical ice-flow model
1 June, 2011 by Richard Hindmarsh, Richard Hindmarsh
In East Antarctica surface mass balance data can only be obtained from the sparsely distributed ice cores when considering time periods greater than a few decades. Observations of internal layers…Chorus-driven resonant scattering of diffuse auroral electrons in nondipolar magnetic fields
1 June, 2011 by Nigel Meredith
We perform a comprehensive analysis of resonant scattering of diffuse auroral electrons by oblique nightside chorus emissions present along a field line with an equatorial crossing of 6 R(E) at…Late Quaternary sediments from deep-sea sediment drifts on the Antarctic Peninsula Pacific margin: Climatic control on provenance of minerals
1 June, 2011 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand
We present results of detailed paleomagnetic investigations on deep-sea cores from sediment drifts located along the Pacific continental margin of the Antarctic Peninsula. High-resolution magnetic measurements on u channel samples…The air content of Larsen Ice Shelf
25 May, 2011 by Adrian Jenkins, David Vaughan, Hugh Corr, Hamish Pritchard, Paul Holland, Robert Arthern
The air content of glacial firn determines the effect and attribution of observed changes in ice surface elevation, but is currently measurable only using labor-intensive ground-based techniques. Here a novel…Cruise Report RRS James Clark Ross JR252 & JR254C, 19 March – 6 April 2011
23 May, 2011 by Povl Abrahamsen
This cruise report describes the combined JR252 and JR254C cruise on RRS James Clark Ross, departing Port Stanley on March 19th and arriving in Punta Arenas on April 6th. JR252…Read more on Cruise Report RRS James Clark Ross JR252 & JR254C, 19 March – 6 April 2011
A rate and state friction law for saline ice
1 May, 2011
Sea ice friction models are necessary to predict the nature of interactions between sea ice floes. These interactions are of interest on a range of scales, for example, to predict…Energetic electron precipitation during high-speed solar wind stream driven storms
1 May, 2011 by Mai Mai Lam, Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
Electron precipitation from the Earth's inner magnetosphere transmits solar variability to the Earth's upper atmosphere and may affect surface level climate. Here we conduct a superposed epoch analysis of energetic…Read more on Energetic electron precipitation during high-speed solar wind stream driven storms
First evidence of mesospheric hydroxyl response to electron precipitation from the radiation belts
16 April, 2011 by Mark Clilverd
Utilizing observations from the Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector (MEPED) on board the Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) and the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on board the Aura satellite,…Resonant scattering of plasma sheet electrons leading to diffuse auroral precipitation: 1. Evaluation for electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves
1 April, 2011 by Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
Using statistical wave power spectral profiles obtained from CRRES and the latitudinal distributions of wave propagation modeled by the HOTRAY code, a quantitative analysis has been performed on the scattering…Resonant scattering of plasma sheet electrons leading to diffuse auroral precipitation: 2. Evaluation for whistler mode chorus waves
1 April, 2011 by Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
Using the statistical wave power spectral profiles obtained from CRRES wave data within the 0000–0600 MLT sector under different levels of geomagnetic activity and a modeled latitudinal variation of wave…Evolution of electron pitch angle distributions following injection from the plasma sheet
1 April, 2011 by Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
The temporal evolution of the phase space density of plasma sheet electrons (100 eV-30 keV) injected into the nightside at L = 6 during moderate geomagnetic activity is investigated using…Is the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation affected by solar wind dynamic pressure via an annual cycle modulation?
27 March, 2011 by Hua Lu
In this study, statistical evidence of a possible modulation of the equatorial stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) by the solar wind dynamic pressure is provided. When solar wind dynamic pressure is…Properties of the quasi 16 day wave derived from EOS MLS observations
27 March, 2011
This paper describes the use of EOS Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) data to observe the field of traveling planetary waves with quasi 16 day periods. This study utilizes MLS v2.2…Read more on Properties of the quasi 16 day wave derived from EOS MLS observations
Magnetosonic wave instability analysis for proton ring distributions observed by the LANL magnetospheric plasma analyzer
18 March, 2011 by Richard Horne
Energetic proton (1–45 keV) distributions measured by the magnetospheric plasma analyzer detector on Los Alamos National Laboratory geosynchronous orbiting satellites are analyzed to study the characteristics of proton ring development…In search of an ice core signal to differentiate between source-driven and sink-driven changes in atmospheric methane
16 March, 2011 by Anna Jones, Eric Wolff
The concentration of atmospheric methane increased from around 360 ppbv at the last glacial maximum (∼20 ka before present) to about 700 ppbv in the pre-industrial era (∼200 years before…An international effort to quantify regional carbon fluxes
1 March, 2011
The international carbon cycle research community is currently coordinating the largest, most comprehensive assessment it has ever undertaken: the Regional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP; http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/reccap). The objective is…Read more on An international effort to quantify regional carbon fluxes
Source region for whistlers detected at Rothera, Antarctica
1 March, 2011 by Mark Clilverd
The accepted mechanism for whistler generation implicitly assumes that the causative lightning stroke occurs within reasonable proximity to the conjugate foot point of the guiding magnetic field line and that…Read more on Source region for whistlers detected at Rothera, Antarctica
Daytime midlatitude D region parameters at solar minimum from short-path VLF phase and amplitude
1 March, 2011 by Mark Clilverd
Observed phases and amplitudes of VLF radio signals propagating on a short (∼360 km) path are used to find improved parameters for the lowest edge of the (D region of…A superposed epoch investigation of the relation between magnetospheric solar wind driving and substorm dynamics with geosynchronous particle injection signatures
27 January, 2011 by Gareth Chisham, Mervyn Freeman
We report a superposed epoch analysis of the hemispheric open magnetic flux, maximum nightside auroral intensity, geomagnetic activity, and solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions around the time of…Solar signal propagation: The role of gravity waves and stratospheric sudden warmings
27 January, 2011 by Hua Lu, Ingrid Cnossen
We use a troposphere-stratosphere model of intermediate complexity to study the atmospheric response to an idealized solar forcing in the subtropical upper stratosphere during Northern Hemisphere (NH) early winter. We…Read more on Solar signal propagation: The role of gravity waves and stratospheric sudden warmings
Effects of post-breeding moult and energetic condition on timing of songbird migration into the tropics
1 January, 2011 by Vsevolod Afanasyev
Each autumn billions of songbirds migrate between the temperate zone and tropics, but little is known about how events on the breeding grounds affect migration to the tropics. Here, we…Cryptic speciation and the circumpolarity debate: A case study on endemic Southern Ocean octopuses using the COI barcode of life
1 January, 2011 by Katrin Linse
Three hundred and fifty specimens of the endemic Southern Ocean octopus genus Pareledone, were sequenced for the barcoding gene COI. Geographic coverage comprised the South Shetland Islands, the Ross Sea,…Last glacial-interglacial sea-ice cover in the SW Atlantic and its potential role in global deglaciation
1 January, 2011 by Claire Allen
Sea-ice growth and decay in Antarctica is one of the biggest seasonal changes on Earth, expanding ice cover from 4 106 km2 to a maximum of 19 106 km2 during…The Zn abundance and isotopic composition of diatom frustules, a proxy for Zn availability in ocean surface seawater
1 January, 2011 by Claire Allen
We have developed cleaning methods for extracting diatomopal from bulk marine sediment samples, for measurement of both zinc (Zn) abundance and isotope composition. This cleaning technique was then applied to…Lead-radium dating provides a framework for coordinating age estimation of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) between fishing areas
1 January, 2011 by Mark Belchier
Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) or ‘Chilean sea bass’ support a valuable and controversial fishery, yet their life history is not well understood and longevity estimates range from ~20 to >50…Impacts of HOx regeneration and recycling in the oxidation of isoprene: Consequences for the composition of past, present and future atmospheres
1 January, 2011
A global chemistry-climate model is used to assess the impact on atmospheric composition of the regeneration and recycling of HOx in the photo-oxidation of isoprene. The impact is explored subject…Anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems in Antarctica
1 January, 2011 by Kevin Hughes
Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, but it has not escaped the negative impacts of human activity. The unique marine ecosystems of Antarctica and their endemic faunas are…Read more on Anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems in Antarctica
Observation of a mesospheric front in a thermal-doppler duct over King George Island, Antarctica
1 January, 2011
A mesospheric front was observed with an allsky airglow imager on the night of 9–10 July 2007 at Ferraz Station (62 degrees S, 58 degrees W), located on King George…Case study of a mesospheric wall event over Ferraz station, Antarctica (62 degrees S)
1 January, 2011
On 16–17 July 2007 during an observational campaign at Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (62 degrees S, 58 degrees W), a mesospheric wall was observed with an airglow all-sky imager. The…Read more on Case study of a mesospheric wall event over Ferraz station, Antarctica (62 degrees S)
800,000 years of abrupt climate variability
1 January, 2011 by Eric Wolff
We constructed an 800,000-year synthetic record of Greenland climate variability based on the thermal bipolar seesaw model. Our Greenland analog reproduces much of the variability seen in the Greenland ice…Antarctic marine biology
1 January, 2011 by Andrew Clarke, David Barnes
Antarctica is a continent of extremes: on average it is the highest, windiest, coldest and driest land mass on Earth. It also has the largest ice-mass, with less than 1%…Reduced survival of Antarctic benthos linked to climate-induced iceberg scouring
1 January, 2011 by David Barnes, Terri Souster, Terri Souster
The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a hotspot of recent rapid regional warming and ice loss1. The WAP sea surface freezes each winter to form a ‘fast-ice’ skin that can…Read more on Reduced survival of Antarctic benthos linked to climate-induced iceberg scouring
Origin of freshwater and polynya water in the Arctic Ocean halocline in summer 2007
1 January, 2011 by Povl Abrahamsen
Extremely low summer sea-ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean in 2007 allowed extensive sampling and a wide quasi-synoptic hydrographic and δ18O dataset could be collected in the Eurasian Basin and…Read more on Origin of freshwater and polynya water in the Arctic Ocean halocline in summer 2007
A network of autonomous surface ozone monitors in Antarctica: technical description and first results
1 January, 2011 by Anna Jones, David Maxfield, Eric Wolff, Howard Roscoe, Markus Frey, Michael Rose, Neil Brough
A suite of 10 autonomous ozone monitoring units, each powered using renewable energy, was developed and built to study surface ozone in Antarctica during the International Polar Year (2007-2009). The…Geomagnetic activity related NOx enhancements and polar surface air temperature variability in a chemistry climate model: modulation of the NAM index
1 January, 2011 by Mark Clilverd
The atmospheric chemistry general circulation model ECHAM5/MESSy is used to simulate polar surface air temperature effects of geomagnetic activity variations. A transient model simulation was performed for the years 1960-2004…Widespread persistent thickening of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet by freezing from the base
1 January, 2011 by Fausto Ferraccioli, Hugh Corr, Tom Jordan
An International Polar Year aerogeophysical investigation of the high interior of East Antarctica reveals widespread freeze-on that drives substantial mass redistribution at the bottom of the ice sheet. Although the…Rapid deglaciation of Marguerite Bay, western Antarctic Peninsula in the Early Holocene
1 January, 2011 by Dominic Hodgson, Joanne Johnson
Glacial geological evidence of rapid ice stream retreat is important for the potential insight it can bring to understanding of contemporary rapid ice sheet change. Here, we report new chronological…Read more on Rapid deglaciation of Marguerite Bay, western Antarctic Peninsula in the Early Holocene
Getting around Antarctica: new high-resolution mappings of the grounded and freely-floating boundaries of the Antarctic ice sheet created for the International Polar Year.
1 January, 2011 by Hugh Corr, Richard Hindmarsh, Richard Hindmarsh
The boundary of grounded ice and the location of ice transitioning to a freely floating state are mapped at 15-m resolution around the entire continent of Antarctica. These data products…Variability of basal melt beneath the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf, West Antarctica
1 January, 2011 by David Vaughan
Observations from satellite and airborne platforms are combined with model calculations to infer the nature and efficiency of basal melting of the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf, West Antarctica, by…Read more on Variability of basal melt beneath the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf, West Antarctica
Seasonal interactions in the black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla: links between breeding performance and winter distribution
1 January, 2011 by Richard Phillips
Relationships between events in one period of the annual cycle and behaviour in subsequent seasons are key determinants of individual life histories and population dynamics. However, studying such associations is…Microclimate impacts of passive warming methods in Antarctica: implications for climate change studies
1 January, 2011 by Peter Convey
Passive chambers are used to examine the impacts of summer warming in Antarctica but, so far, impacts occurring outside the growing season, or related to extreme temperatures, have not been…The seasonal cycle of stratosphere-troposphere coupling at southern high latitudes associated with the semi-annual oscillation in sea-level pressure
1 January, 2011 by Thomas Bracegirdle
The semi-annual oscillation (SAO) in sea-level pressure at high southern latitudes is the consequence of a twice-yearly contraction (and strengthening) and expansion (and weakening) of the storm track between 50…Maud Rise – a snapshot through the water column
1 January, 2011 by Katrin Linse
The benthic fauna was investigated during the expedition ANT-XXIV/2 (2007/08) in relation to oceanographic features, biogeochemical properties and sediment characteristics, as well as the benthic, pelagic and air-breathing fauna. The…Read more on Maud Rise – a snapshot through the water column
Dynamic gene expression profiles during arm regeneration in the brittle star Amphiura filiformis
1 January, 2011 by Lloyd Peck, Melody Clark
Echinoderms and in particular brittle stars display a remarkable ability to regenerate lost or damaged tissues. They offer an excellent model in which to study regeneration displaying extensive regenerative ability…Individual variation in migratory movements and winter behaviour of Iberian Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni revealed by geolocators
1 January, 2011 by Vsevolod Afanasyev
The population decline of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni has been the subject of studies across its Western Palaearctic breeding range, but little is known about its use of pre-migratory…Different means to the same end: Long-distance migrant seabirds from two colonies differ in behaviour, despite common wintering grounds
1 January, 2011 by Richard Phillips
Although seabirds that are trans-equatorial migrants show apparently broad overlap among populations in the non-breeding season, such large-scale pattern may conceal subtle but nevertheless key differences in migratory behaviour. These…Demographic parameters of black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris from the Falkland Islands
1 January, 2011 by Jaume Forcada
Black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris are currently classified as globally endangered. The most important populations of this species are believed to be declining due to, amongst other factors, unsustainable levels of…Either taking it easy or feeling too tired: old Cory’s shearwaters display reduced activity levels while at sea
1 January, 2011 by Richard Phillips
It has long been known that birds change their behaviour, reproductive performance and survival as they mature, including in the first few years after recruitment into the breeding population. However,…Antarctic krill 454 pyrosequencing reveals chaperone and stress transcriptome
1 January, 2011 by Lloyd Peck, Michael Thorne, Melody Clark
Background: The Antarctic krill Euphausia superba is a keystone species in the Antarctic food chain. Not only is it a significant grazer of phytoplankton, but it is also a major…Read more on Antarctic krill 454 pyrosequencing reveals chaperone and stress transcriptome
Subglacial environments and the search for life beyond the Earth
1 January, 2011 by David Pearce
One of the most remarkable discoveries resulting from the robotic and remote sensing exploration of space is the inferred presence of bodies of liquid water under ice deposits on other…Read more on Subglacial environments and the search for life beyond the Earth
The Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project
1 January, 2011
The Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) project is an international effort to produce a comprehensive global atmospheric circulation dataset spanning the twentieth century, assimilating only surface pressure reports and using observed…Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity in a changing world
1 January, 2011 by Peter Convey
Recent analyses of Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity data, in combination with molecular biological studies, have created a new paradigm that long-term persistence and regional isolation are general features of most of…Read more on Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity in a changing world
Global southern limit of flowering plants and moss peat accumulation
1 January, 2011 by Peter Convey, Stephen Roberts
The ecosystems of the western Antarctic Peninsula, experiencing amongst the most rapid trends of regional climate warming worldwide, are important “early warning” indicators for responses expected in more complex systems…Read more on Global southern limit of flowering plants and moss peat accumulation
Recent range expansions in non-native predatory beetles on sub-Antarctic South Georgia
1 January, 2011 by Mark Belchier, Peter Convey
The human-assisted establishment of two non-native predatory carabid beetles (Merizodus soledadinus (Guerin-M,n,ville), Trechisibus antarcticus (Dejean)) on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia occurred 30-50 years ago, but the distribution of…Read more on Recent range expansions in non-native predatory beetles on sub-Antarctic South Georgia
Non-indigenous microorganisms in the Antarctic: assessing the risks
1 January, 2011 by Kevin Hughes, Peter Convey
The Antarctic continent is frequently cited as the last pristine continent on Earth. However, this view is misleading for several reasons. First, there has been a rapid increase in visitors…Read more on Non-indigenous microorganisms in the Antarctic: assessing the risks
Spatial and temporal variability in the structure of aggregations of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) around South Georgia, 1997-1999
1 January, 2011 by Jonathan Watkins
Antarctic krill are important in the South Georgia (548S 358W) marine ecosystem. They form aggregations that vary widely in packing density (,1 to 1000 s of individuals m23), length (tens…Observed circulation in the Solomon Sea from SADCP data
1 January, 2011 by Pierre Dutrieux
The Solomon Sea, in the western tropical Pacific, is part of a major oceanic pathway for waters connecting the tropics to the equator via low latitude western boundary currents. Shipboard…Read more on Observed circulation in the Solomon Sea from SADCP data
Two-component modeling of the optical properties of a diatom bloom in the Southern ocean
1 January, 2011
Diatom cells have distinctive optical characteristics, originating from their relatively large cell size, fucoxanthin content and silica cell wall. It has been proposed that diatom-dominated phytoplankton blooms can be identified…Global seabird response to forage fish depletion – one-third for the birds
1 January, 2011 by Eugene Murphy
Determining the form of key predator-prey relationships is critical for understanding marine ecosystem dynamics. Using a comprehensive global database, we quantified the effect of fluctuations in food abundance on seabird…Read more on Global seabird response to forage fish depletion – one-third for the birds
Reconstructed streamflow for Citarum River, Java, Indonesia: linkages to tropical climate dynamics
1 January, 2011
The Citarum river basin of western Java, Indonesia, which supplies water to 10 million residents in Jakarta, has become increasingly vulnerable to anthropogenic change. Citarum's streamflow record, only similar to…The 8200 yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region
1 January, 2011 by Eric Wolff, Liz Thomas
An abrupt cold event ca. 8200 cal. yr BP, is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic release of ice-dammed meltwater from Lake Agassiz and associated disruption of the…Read more on The 8200 yr BP cold event in stable isotope records from the North Atlantic region
Aura MLS observations of the westward-propagating s=1, 16-day planetary wave in the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere
1 January, 2011
The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on the Aura satellite has been used to measure temperatures in the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The data used here are from August 2004…DNA barcoding and molecular systematics of the benthic and demersal organisms of the CEAMARC survey
1 January, 2011 by David Barnes, Huw Griffiths, Katrin Linse
The Dumont d’Urville Sea (East Antarctic region) has been less investigated for DNA barcoding and molecular taxonomy than other parts of the Southern Ocean, such as the Ross Sea and…Breaking the routine: individual Cory’s shearwaters shift winter destinations between hemispheres and across ocean basins
1 January, 2011 by Richard Phillips
There is growing evidence that migratory species are particularly vulnerable to rapid environmental changes arising from human activity. Species are expected to vary in their capacity to respond to these…Post-breeding dispersal of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) nesting at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands
1 January, 2011 by Janet Silk, Michael Dunn, Philip Trathan
ARGOS satellite telemetry and Global Location Sensors (geolocators) were used to identify the moult locations and the winter foraging dispersal of Adélie penguins after they left their breeding colonies on…Economic value of improved quantification in global sources and sinks of carbon dioxide
1 January, 2011
On average, about 45 per cent of global annual anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions remain in the atmosphere, while the remainder are taken up by carbon reservoirs on land and…Read more on Economic value of improved quantification in global sources and sinks of carbon dioxide
Provenance changes between recent and glacial-time sediments in the Amundsen Sea embayment, West Antarctica: clay mineral assemblage evidence
1 January, 2011 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, James Smith
The Amundsen Sea embayment is a probable site for the initiation of a future collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the…Near-bottom current direction inferred from comatulid crinoid feeding postures on the Terre Adelie and George V shelf, East Antarctica
1 January, 2011 by Huw Griffiths
For the first time, comatulid crinoid feeding behaviour is used to infer near-bottom current (NBC) directions on the Terre Adélie and George V shelf, East Antarctica. We analysed 47 still-image…Changes in lichen diversity and community structure with fur seal population increase on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands
1 January, 2011 by Roger Worland, Peter Convey
Signy Island has experienced a dramatic increase in fur seal numbers over recent decades, which has led to the devastation of lowland terrestrial vegetation, with the eradication of moss turfs…Low cyanobacterial diversity in biotopes of the Transantarctic Mountains and Shackleton Range (80-82 degrees S), Antarctica
1 January, 2011 by Dominic Hodgson, Peter Convey
The evolutionary history and geographical isolation of the Antarctic continent have produced a unique environment rich in endemic organisms. In many regions of Antarctica, cyanobacteria are the dominant phototrophs in…East Antarctic rifting triggers uplift of the Gamburtsev Mountains
1 January, 2011 by Lester Anderson, Fausto Ferraccioli, Tom Jordan
The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are the least understood tectonic feature on Earth, because they are completely hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Their high elevation and youthful Alpine topography,…Read more on East Antarctic rifting triggers uplift of the Gamburtsev Mountains
Crenarchaea and phytoplankton coupling in sedimentary archives: Common trigger or metabolic dependence?
1 January, 2011 by Victoria Peck
The concentrations of chlorins (chlorophyll transformation products indicative of phytoplankton production) and crenarchaeol (a marker for Crenarchaea abundance) are significantly positively correlated (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r(s) > 0.75) in…Recent developments in the radiation belt environment model
1 January, 2011 by Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
The fluxes of energetic particles in the radiation belts are found to be strongly controlled by the solar wind conditions. In order to understand and predict the radiation particle intensities,…Read more on Recent developments in the radiation belt environment model
Individual state and survival prospects: age, sex, and telomere length in a long-lived seabird
1 January, 2011 by Richard Phillips
Identifying markers that are indicative of individual state, related to fitness, and which could be used to study life-history tradeoffs in wild populations is extremely difficult. Recently, it has been…Snow optical properties at Dome C, (Concordia), Antarctica: implications for snow emissions and snow chemistry of reactive nitrogen
1 January, 2011 by Markus Frey
Measurements of e-folding depth, nadir reflectivity and stratigraphy of the snowpack around Concordia station (Dome C, 75.10 S, 123.31 E) were undertaken to determine wavelength dependent coefficients (350 nm to…Synoptic analysis of the Pacific-North American teleconnection pattern
1 January, 2011
In this study, we use various diagnostic techniques to investigate the synoptic evolution of the Pacific–North American teleconnection pattern (PNA). National Center for Environment Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis…Read more on Synoptic analysis of the Pacific-North American teleconnection pattern
On the persistence and predictability properties of North Atlantic climate variability
1 January, 2011
The persistence and climate noise properties of North Atlantic climate variability are of importance for trend identification and assessing predictability on all time scales from several days to many decades.…Read more on On the persistence and predictability properties of North Atlantic climate variability
Persistent circulation regimes and preferred regime transitions in the North Atlantic
1 January, 2011
The persistent regime behavior of the eddy-driven jet stream over the North Atlantic is investigated. The North Atlantic jet stream variability is characterized by the latitude of the maximumlower tropospheric…Read more on Persistent circulation regimes and preferred regime transitions in the North Atlantic
Detecting and mapping vegetation distribution on the Antarctic Peninsula from remote sensing data
1 January, 2011 by Andrew Fleming, Helen Peat, Kevin Hughes, Peter Convey, Peter Fretwell
We present the first regional map of vegetation of anywhere on the Antarctic continent based on remote sensing (RS) data. We have used a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for…