Arctic Archives - British Antarctic Survey

Role of polar ice sheets in climate tipping points

27 November, 2024

Polar ice sheets are critical for climate projections, according to new research published today in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment. Improving understanding of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets …

A body of water with a mountain in the background

Can glaciers feed the ocean?

29 July, 2024 Kate Hendry

You might imagine glaciers as vast, cold, and lifeless rivers of ice, but they’re far more dynamic and alive than we once thought. Kate Hendry, polar oceanographer at British Antarctic …

Greenland science expedition aims to unveil critical climate insights

15 July, 2024

This week (Friday 19 July) the UK’s polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough makes its first science expedition to the Arctic. A team will work in south-east Greenland …

Disturbing the seabed could make climate change worse

29 January, 2024

A study published this month in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science reveals that disturbing the seabed, through activities such as trawling, could increase the scale and speed of climate …

British Antarctic Survey on Radio & TV this Autumn

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 …

Clouds formed with sea salt contribute to Arctic warming

4 September, 2023

Scientists studying Arctic warming have shared new evidence that sea salt aerosols from “blowing snow” play a significant role in forming clouds that reflect solar radiation back to the Earth’s …

Retreating sea ice keeps zooplankton in the depths

28 August, 2023

Climate change is affecting the vertical migration of zooplankton in the Arctic, with potential implications for the entire Arctic ecosystem, finds a new study, published today in Nature Climate Change. …

A wall of jagged ice in front of a mountain

Increasing ship traffic in Inuit Nunangat

17 August, 2023

Researchers from British Antarctic Survey are heading to the Canadian Arctic this week to learn more about the impacts of increasing ship traffic in Inuit Nunangat. In recent years, climate …

Ny-√Ölesund International Research Village

Poet Laureate visits UK Arctic Research Station

14 July, 2023

The UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE has travelled to the UK Arctic Research Station, where he will create new works inspired by the visit. While hosted at the UK …

The secret life of bees

20 May, 2023 Emily Neville

When I think of bees, I picture a big, fuzzy bumblebee, lolling gently between flowers, or perhaps a honeybee, collecting as much pollen as possible. Maybe even a solitary bee, …

Reflections on Black History Month and lessons for the Polar Research community

5 October, 2021 Huw Griffiths

Black History Month recognises and celebrates the achievements of people with African or Caribbean heritage and takes place every October (in the UK). It marks the contributions of Black people …

Britain’s Arctic Research Station celebrates 30 years of science and monitoring climate change

28 September, 2021

The Arctic Station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard in Norway, the UK’s permanent Arctic research facility, celebrates its 30 years anniversary this week (Tuesday 28 September) as it continues to undertake critical …

A ship in a body of water with a mountain in the background.

BLOG: Predicting September 2021 Arctic sea ice using artificial intelligence

24 September, 2021 Tom Andersson

Tom Andersson, a data scientist at British Antarctic Survey Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab, shares the latest predictions from a new Arctic sea ice forecasting AI tool as this year’s Arctic …

GUEST BLOG: Polar Diplomacy

20 September, 2021 Amanda Wynne

2021 marks several anniversaries for diplomacy in the Polar Regions. This month (19 September) we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Arctic Council. Whilst the Arctic and Antarctic are truly …

A body of water surrounded by ice with a mountain in the background

Artificial intelligence to help predict Arctic sea ice loss

26 August, 2021

A new AI (artificial intelligence) tool is set to enable scientists to more accurately forecast Arctic sea ice conditions months into the future. The improved predictions could underpin new early-warning …

BAS-Arctic Working Group

Working Group purpose The Arctic Working Group is a group of more than 60 BAS scientists and operations staff who are currently working in the Arctic or have aspirations to work …

RRS Sir David Attenborough departs Cammell Laird for technical sea trials

21 October, 2020

BIRKENHEAD. Today (Wednesday 21 October) the UK’s most advanced polar research ship – RRS Sir David Attenborough – leaves Cammell Laird shipyard for two weeks of technical sea trials. In …

Locked into ice: My scientific journey across the Arctic

What does it feel like to be locked in ice, drifting across the Central Arctic Ocean in the middle of the polar night? Why is it both fascinating and challenging …

Past evidence supports complete loss of Arctic sea-ice by 2035

10 August, 2020

A new study, published this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, supports predictions that the Arctic could be free of sea ice by 2035. High temperatures in the Arctic …

MOSAiC Blog: Storm on the Barents Sea

3 February, 2020 Markus Frey

Dr Markus Frey is on board Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn, waiting for a weather window to make the journey north to join the MOSAiC expedition on board RV Polarstern. German …

AXA XL Arctic Live 2019

Schools! Sign up for a range of live broadcasts with the AXA XL Arctic Live research team

A flock of birds sitting on top of a penguin.

SCIENCE IN THE FIELD: Researching seabird species (2)

17 July, 2018 Norman Ratcliffe

Norman Ratcliffe, a seabird ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, studies the biology of seabirds and how this is impacted by climate change. His latest research – Project LOMVIA – is …

A close up of a hillside next to a body of water with old head of kinsale in the background.

SCIENCE IN THE FIELD: Researching seabird species (1)

5 July, 2018 Norman Ratcliffe

Norman Ratcliffe, a seabird ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, studies the biology of seabirds and how this is impacted by climate change. His latest research – Project LOMVIA – is …

FEATURED PAPER: Sea-ice loss impacts Northern Hemisphere

20 June, 2018

This study, led by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, suggests that sea-ice loss in different regions of the Arctic, and of different amounts, leads to different effects on surface …

Polar Governance Workshop

The British Antarctic Survey, along with the University of Leeds and Royal Holloway, University of London, invites you for its second Polar Governance Workshop: Polar Governance in Action: balancing multiple interests …

A sunset over a body of water with a mountain in the background.

Working together to make the Arctic more accessible for science

2 February, 2018

Fifteen research institutes from around the world, including British Antarctic Survey, have joined forces to allow scientists access to their polar ships to carry out marine-based research in the Arctic. …

Polar Medals awarded to BAS staff

31 January, 2018

Three British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff have been awarded the Polar Medal, and one member of staff has been awarded a prestigious Second Clasp. The announcement was published last week …

The mouth of the meltwater channel in the Austre Brøggerbreen

Live from the Arctic!

16 March, 2017 Bianca Perren

This is not my average Arctic field season. Usually the months before departure are spent in a tiered state of preparation – getting field equipment ready and sending it North, …

Research outputs