PRESCIENT

PRESCIENT (UK Polar Research Expertise for Science and Society) is a joint programme between BAS (British Antarctic Survey) and CPOM (the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling).

The programme supports strategically-important, long-term measurements and specific capabilities that BAS and CPOM deliver for the wider science community. These are organised in four science areas:

Polar and Mountain Climate Data Records. We will deliver six activities to support climate observations and modelling: i) year-round observations of climate-sensitive parameters on the rapidly-warming Antarctic Peninsula to understand interconnections within this changing system; ii) an ice coring and analysis capability to underpin projects that learn from the past to inform future climate predictions; iii) a capability for airborne atmospheric sensing, upgrading the data capture system and progressing transition to low carbon autonomous platforms; iv) a satellite data processing capability with improvements to sea ice altimetry retrieval; v) an improved sea ice modelling component for the UK Earth System Model (UKESM); vi) a network to measure snowfall in mountain regions, to inform weather and climate models and support decisions around water resources.

Southern Ocean Biological Observatories. We will support long-term observations in regions of the Southern Ocean to understand how ecosystems are affected by change (climate, sea ice, pollution) and how such stresses impact plankton community structure, biodiversity and productivity, life-cycle behaviour, and vertical migration. New autonomous platforms and novel technologies, including eDNA, will underpin this research.

Antarctica’s contribution to Sea-Level Rise. We will deliver five activities that support our ability to make robust predictions about future global sea level: i) a capability to process satellite data of land ice, to understand current global changes in ice sheets; ii) maintenance and development of UKESM elements that address land ice to improve future predictions of ice loss; iii) an improved airborne radar capability to inform on under-ice basal properties; iv) an improved hot water drilling capability that enables deployment of instruments below ice shelves, ice sheets, and ice streams; v) enhancements to our sustained oceanic observations near and beneath ice shelves – critical to understand the ocean’s role in driving ice shelf loss.

Space Weather Observatory. We will deliver sustained observations of space weather parameters through the 2025 solar maximum and the descending phase that will support numerical modelling that informs the UK Risk Register on space weather threats. Our Antarctic network will be expanded with new instruments and greater geographic range to fill previous observational gaps.

PRESCIENT will aid the BAS transition to low carbon science delivery. For example, delivery of airborne science using remotely piloted autonomous systems (RPAS) will be progressed, building on the recent learning from the WINDRACERS project.

PRESCIENT also supports the delivery of National Public Good. We will deliver independent scientific advice and support to a range of stakeholders in government, business, and wider society, ensuring that our scientific activities and expertise is available to support solutions.