NEWS STORY: Awards to BAS staff
16 January, 2013
Polar medals awarded to three BAS staff Three British Antarctic Survey staff have been honoured with the Polar Medal. The Queen approved the awards for outstanding achievement and service to …
Category: Antarctica
PRESS RELEASE: Lake drill mission called off
27 December, 2012
Antarctic lake mission called off In the early hours of Christmas Day (Tuesday 25 December 2012) Professor Martin Siegert, Principal Investigator of the Subglacial Lake Ellsworth experiment, confirmed that the …
NEWS STORY: Queen Elizabeth land
18 December, 2012
UK names part of Antarctica in honour of the Queen The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has announced that the southern part of British Antarctic Territory has been named Queen Elizabeth …
PRESS RELEASE: British team to explore buried lake
12 December, 2012
British team set to access and sample one of the last unexplored environments on Earth This week (12 December) a British team of scientists and engineers, including scientists from British …
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NEWS STORY: Sea level rise calculated
30 November, 2012
British Antarctic Survey researchers part of landmark study to improve projections for future sea level An international team of satellite experts including researchers at British Antarctic Survey has produced the …
NEWS STORY: Celebrating Antarctica Day
27 November, 2012
Antarctica Day was inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the 1st December 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, which was adopted “with the interests of science and the progress of all …
PRESS RELEASE: Effects of ocean acidification
25 November, 2012
First evidence of ocean acidification affecting live marine creatures in the Southern Ocean The shells of marine snails – known as pteropods – living in the seas around Antarctica are …
NEWS STORY: Agreement signed with Chile
19 November, 2012
British Antarctic Survey and Chilean Antarctic Institute sign agreement to strengthen science cooperation This month Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary, William Hague welcomed a joint commitment to partner …
PRESS RELEASE: Changing winds increasing sea ice cover
11 November, 2012
Why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change The first direct evidence that marked changes to Antarctic sea ice drift have occurred over the last …
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NEWS STORY: Insights into icebergs
29 October, 2012
Scientists discover new mechanism at work breaking-up icebergs An international team of scientists has discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which large tabular icebergs break up out at sea as …
PRESS RELEASE: Ice sheet behaviour analysed
17 October, 2012
Ice sheet retreat controlled by the landscape Ice-sheet retreat can halt temporarily during long phases of climate warming, according to scientists. A UK team led by Durham University has found …
NEWS STORY: Consultation on merger proposal
11 September, 2012
NERC consultation on proposal to merge BAS and National Oceanography Centre (NOC) The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is undertaking a consultation exercise on a proposal to merge two of …
PRESS RELEASE: Mission to Antarctic buried lake
7 September, 2012
British team set to embark on ambitious Antarctic mission to penetrate & sample ancient buried lake After 16 years of planning the countdown is on for one of the most …
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PRESS RELEASE: Antarctica’s climate timeline
22 August, 2012
New climate history adds to understanding of recent Antarctic Peninsula warming Results published this week by a team of polar scientists from Britain, Australia and France adds a new dimension …
NEWS STORY: Ocean sampling at Rothera
20 August, 2012
Ocean sampling: Rothera, Antarctic Peninsula: last but not least! Are the World’s oceans all the same, or are they different? OK at the most basic level, we all know that …
NEWS STORY: HMS Protector open to public
6 August, 2012
Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol vessel, HMS Protector, pays a four-day visit to Ipswich The Royal Navy’s 5000 tonne Antarctic patrol vessel will sail into Ipswich on Friday (August 10) for …
PRESS RELEASE: Shellfish and changing oceans
5 August, 2012
New study helps predict impact of ocean acidification on shellfish An international study to understand and predict the likely impact of ocean acidification on shellfish and other marine organisms living …
PRESS RELEASE: Ocean role as carbon sink
29 July, 2012
New discovery of how carbon is stored in the Southern Ocean A team of British and Australian scientists has discovered an important method of how carbon is drawn down from …
NEWS STORY: Antarctica celebrates Olympics
25 July, 2012
Rothera Station staff take part in ‘All the Bells’ to celebrate the Olympics Kitchen pots, glasses and a bedpan are just some of the items being used by staff at …
PRESS RELEASE: Secrets of hidden rift valley
25 July, 2012
Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into accelerating ice loss Scientists have discovered a one mile deep rift valley hidden beneath the ice in West Antarctica, …
NEWS STORY: Antarctic conservation issues
13 July, 2012
Challenges facing the future of Antarctica A century ago, Antarctica was one of Earth’s last frontiers, but now the continent is under threat from human activity. An international team of …
NEWS STORY: Antarctic band reform for one off gig
26 June, 2012
Nunatak reunion at the Sanday Soulka festival on the Orkney Islands Having performed at one of the world’s biggest concerts ‘Live Earth*’ on 7th July 2007, Nunatak** — the British …
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NEWS STORY: Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica
20 June, 2012
Antarctica celebrating Midwinter’s Day A hundred years ago Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team celebrated Midwinter in Antarctica (known as Midsummer’s Day in the UK) — a tradition that …
NEWS STORY: Merger plans for centres
7 June, 2012
Governing body considers combined management of polar and marine science The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is considering a merger of the scientific and logistics management of marine and polar …
NEWS STORY: Ice games for Diamond Jubilee
4 June, 2012
Jubilee Celebrations in Antarctica Scientists and support staff at the British Antarctic Survey Halley Research Station enjoyed a ‘mad hatters’ teaparty and some outdoor pursuits in Antarctica to celebrate the …
NEWS STORY: Assessing potential sea level rise
10 May, 2012
New studies improve scientists’ understanding of the potential contribution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to global sea level rise Three peer-reviewed papers in Nature and Nature Geoscience published in recent …
PRESS RELEASE: Breeding habits of albatrosses
30 April, 2012
Antarctic albatross displays shift in breeding habits A new study of the wandering albatross – one of the largest birds on Earth – has shown that some of the birds …
PRESS RELEASE: Ocean currents driving ice loss
25 April, 2012
Warm ocean currents cause majority of ice loss from Antarctica Reporting this week (Thursday 26 April) in the journal Nature, an international team of scientists led by British Antarctic Survey …
PRESS RELEASE: Penguins surveyed from space
13 April, 2012
Scientists count penguins from space A new study using satellite mapping technology reveals there are twice as many emperor penguins in Antarctica than was previously thought. The results provide an …
JR 275 Diary Log
17 February, 2012 BAS Bloggers
BAS cruise JR 275 departed the Falkland Islands on the James Clark Ross in early February and will sample the South Scotia Ridge, southern South Sandwich Islands and Weddell Sea …
PRESS RELEASE: Challenging mission accomplished
16 January, 2012
Engineering team completes ambitious Antarctic expedition in the ‘deep-field’ A team of four British Antarctic Survey (BAS) engineers has returned to the UK after completing a gruelling journey to one …
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PRESS RELEASE: Critical food supply level
22 December, 2011
New research shows how much food is needed by seabirds An international group of scientists has shown that many seabirds begin to suffer when the food available for them in …
PRESS RELEASE: Study of largest glacier
5 December, 2011
Scientist on BBC Frozen Planet investigates how world’s largest glacier is contributing to sea-level rise A team of scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is to survey the largest glacier …
PRESS RELEASE: Buried mountain range mapped
16 November, 2011
Gamburtsev Mountains enigma unraveled in interior East Antarctica The birth of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains buried beneath the vast East Antarctic Ice Sheet — a puzzle mystifying scientists since their …
PRESS RELEASE: Mission to submerged lake
11 October, 2011
British Antarctic Survey engineering team heads to Antarctica to explore hidden lake Next week a British engineering team from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) heads off to Antarctica for the first …
PRESS RELEASE: Underwater volcanoes discovered
11 July, 2011
Underwater Antarctic volcanoes discovered in the Southern Ocean Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have discovered previously unknown volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands. Using …
PRESS RELEASE: Krill’s key role in oceans
4 July, 2011
Antarctic krill help to fertilise Southern Ocean with iron A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role …
PRESS RELEASE: Glacier’s melt rate quickens
27 June, 2011
Warm ocean speeds melting of Antarctic glacier New results from an investigation into a large glacier in Antarctica and its impact on global sea level rise are published this week …
PRESS RELEASE: Deep sea mystery solved
13 June, 2011
New discovery – Copepods share “diver’s weight belt” technique with whales A deep-sea mystery has been solved with the discovery that the tiny 3 mm long marine animals, eaten by …
PRESS RELEASE: Island haven for sea life
24 May, 2011
Study reveals most biologically rich island in Southern Ocean The first comprehensive study of sea creatures around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia reveals a region that is richer in …
PRESS RELEASE: New discovery from “ghost mountains”
3 March, 2011
Ice structures found among hidden Antarctic mountains The discovery of numerous large ice structures within Antarctica’s Dome A region, the site of the buried ‘ghost mountains’, reveals new understanding about …
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PRESS RELEASE: Growing evidence of carbon impact
22 February, 2011
Captain Scott’s century-old collections suggest marine life is capturing more carbon Tiny Antarctic marine creatures collected 100 years ago by Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott give new clues about …
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PRESS RELEASE: New research sheds light on Aurora
20 October, 2010
New space research settles years of scientific debate New space research published this week (Thursday 21 October) in the journal Nature, has settled decades of scientific debate. Researchers from the …
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PRESS RELEASE: Census of Marine Life
4 October, 2010
Event: A Decade of Discovery: Census of Marine Life — News Conference Venue: Royal Institution, London Date: Monday 4 October: 12.30 – 16.30 Findings from a major international investigation into …
PRESS RELEASE: How marine animals crossed continent
31 August, 2010
Marine animals suggest evidence for a trans-Antarctic seaway A tiny marine filter-feeder, that anchors itself to the sea bed, offers new clues to scientists studying the stability of the West …
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PRESS RELEASE: Ridge contributes to melting
20 June, 2010
New research sheds light on Antarctica”s melting Pine Island Glacier New results from an investigation into Antarctica’s potential contribution to sea level rise are reported this week (Sunday 20 June) …
PRESS RELEASE: Submerged lake drill site chosen
4 June, 2010
Drilling into the unknown – the first exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration …
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PRESS RELEASE: Ozone hole anniversary
5 May, 2010
25th Anniversary of the Discovery of Ozone Hole This week British Antarctic Survey (BAS) commemorates the 25th anniversary of one of its most dramatic scientific discoveries — the ozone hole. …
PRESS RELEASE: Diversity of marine species detailed
18 February, 2010
Understanding global climate change through new breakthroughs in Polar research The latest findings from research on Antarctica’s rich marine life are presented this week at the American Association for the …
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PRESS RELEASE: Terns clock up the miles
12 January, 2010
Arctic terns confirmed to have the longest animal migration in the world New information on bird migration is revealed by an international team of scientists who have confirmed that the …
PRESS RELEASE: Air flows explain record low
11 January, 2010
New research sheds light on Earth”s coldest temperatures Results from the first detailed analysis of the lowest ever temperature recorded on the Earth’s surface can explain why it got so …
PRESS RELEASE: Aircraft achieve high standard
8 December, 2009
British Antarctic Survey achieves registration for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has achieved registration for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). Following …
PRESS RELEASE: Warmer spells detected in ice cores
18 November, 2009
Mysteriously warm times in Antarctica A new study of Antarctica’s past climate reveals that temperatures during the warm periods between ice ages (interglacials) may have been higher than previously thought. …
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PRESS RELEASE: Carbon sinks created by glacier retreat
9 November, 2009
Antarctica glacier retreat creates new carbon dioxide store Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas of open water left exposed by the recent and rapid …
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PRESS RELEASE: Albatrosses feed with whales
7 October, 2009
Albatross camera reveals fascinating feeding interaction with killer whale Scientists from British Antarctic Survey, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, and Hokkaido University, Japan, have recorded the first observations …
PRESS RELEASE: Ice thinning captured by satellites
23 September, 2009
Lasers from space show thinning of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets The most comprehensive picture of the rapidly thinning glaciers along the coastline of both the Antarctic and Greenland ice …
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PRESS RELEASE: 3D map aids ice flow estimates
20 July, 2009
New research provides insight into ice sheet behaviour A new study published this week takes scientists a step further in their quest to understand how Antarctica’s vast glaciers will contribute …
PRESS RELEASE: Sonar images reveal seabed
5 May, 2009
New Antarctic seabed sonar images reveal clues to sea-level rise Motorway-sized troughs and channels carved into Antarctica’s continental shelves by glaciers thousands of years ago could help scientists to predict …
PRESS RELEASE: Ozone hole link to sea ice extent
21 April, 2009
Increasing Antarctic sea ice extent linked to the ozone hole Increased growth in Antarctic sea ice during the past 30 years is a result of changing weather patterns caused by …
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PRESS RELEASE: Surveying below the ice
17 March, 2009
Robot submarine searches for signs of melting under Antarctic Ice Shelf A team of British and American scientists has successfully deployed an autonomous robot submarine on six missions beneath an …
PRESS RELEASE: New jobs in Antarctica
12 February, 2009
Antarctic jobs offer opportunity of a lifetime Trades people looking for a career with a difference should check the national press this week. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) launches a recruitment …
PRESS RELEASE: Continent’s diversity revealed
1 December, 2008
First comprehensive inventory of life in Antarctica The first comprehensive “inventory” of sea and land animals around a group of Antarctic islands reveals a region that is rich in biodiversity …
PRESS RELEASE: Interactive map highlights diversity
22 October, 2008
New visualisation of South Georgia A new visualisation tool for exploring the subantarctic islands of South Georgia is unveiled today (22 October 2008). The South Georgia Geographic Information System (SGGIS) …
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PRESS RELEASE: Mission to buried mountain range
13 October, 2008
Challenge to discover Antarctica”s hidden world Later this month teams of scientists, engineers, pilots and support staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), USA, Germany, Australia, China and Japan will join …
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Rock studies help crack questions of glacier thinning in West Antarctica
28 February, 2008
Boulders the size of footballs could help scientists predict the West Antarctic Ice Sheet’s (WAIS) contribution to sea-level rise according to new research published this week in the journal Geology. …
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Krill discovered living in the Antarctic abyss
25 February, 2008
Scientists have discovered Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) living and feeding down to depths of 3000 metres in the waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. Until now this shrimp-like crustacean was thought …
The Philharmonia Orchestra performs Antarctic Symphony
1 February, 2005
A unique collaboration between science and music makes a return to the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 30 April as the Antarctic Symphony, by acclaimed British composer Sir Peter Maxwell …
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PRESS RELEASE: Exhibition showcases designs for new research station in Antarctica
15 November, 2004
Six concept designs, from teams short-listed in an international design competition to build a new research station in Antarctica, are unveiled today (Monday 15 November) at an exhibition at the …
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Design Competition for new Antarctic Research Station – short-list announced
23 August, 2004
Six multi-disciplinary design teams are short-listed for an international competition to design a new scientific research station in Antarctica. The Halley VI competition attracted 86 entries in this unique project …
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Polar pecking order and biodiversity
7 October, 2002
New research into how biodiversity is generated and maintained in the seas surrounding hostile Polar Regions is reported in this month?s Proceedings of the Royal Society (Biological Sciences). British Antarctic …