20 December, 2021
Far beneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic, there is more marine life than expected, finds a recent study in the journal Current Biology, published this week (20 December 2021). …
Read more on Abundance of life discovered beneath an Antarctic ice shelf
20 December, 2021
Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five of our research stations will be open …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey’s 2021-2022 field season is underway
14 December, 2021
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is retreating rapidly as a warming ocean slowly erases its ice from below, leading to a faster flow, more fracturing and a threat of collapse, according to …
Read more on The threat from Thwaites: the retreat of Antarctica’s riskiest glacier
14 December, 2021
Data collected from a long-term study by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists shows declining populations of an already relatively rare Antarctic seabird, the South Georgia shag. Published in the journal …
10 December, 2021
Applications for PhD projects with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are now open for October 2022 admission. BAS currently supports over 100 PhD students, working on a huge variety of projects. …
Read more on PhD opportunities with British Antarctic Survey in 2022
8 December, 2021
The RRS Sir David Attenborough completes the first leg of its journey to Antarctica, arriving in the Falkland Islands on 9 December. The draft of Britain’s new polar ship is …
Read more on RRS Sir David Attenborough arrives in Falkland Islands
3 December, 2021
A rare total solar eclipse in Antarctica this weekend (Saturday 4 December) is giving researchers a unique opportunity to learn more about how solar eclipses affect space weather. The next …
Read more on Antarctica experiences rare total solar eclipse
29 November, 2021
The Polar Regions play a crucial role in balancing global climate – with the poles heating up much faster than the rest of the world. Yet, climate projections for these …
Read more on Improving climate projections in the Polar Regions
18 November, 2021
An international team of scientists led by British Antarctic Survey have published research today on using new technology to study mass stranding of whales from space and how the technology …
Read more on Space technology and artificial intelligence to monitor whale mass stranding events
16 November, 2021
Britain’s new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, departs the UK this week for its maiden voyage to Antarctica. It will leave Harwich today (16 November), with 66 …
Read more on RRS Sir David Attenborough makes maiden voyage to Antarctica
15 October, 2021
Humpback whale populations are strongly recovering on their feeding grounds in the South Atlantic, with over 24,543 whales now estimated to use polar waters in the Scotia Arc each summer. …
13 October, 2021
A network of international researchers launches a European collaboration this week ( 14 October 2021). This collaboration will train a new generation of scientists to understand how past climate changes …
Read more on DEEPICE: Network of young researchers to unveil past climate change in Antarctica
Specialist ice core facility to measure concentration and isotopic composition of greenhouse gases
16 September, 2021
The Future of Life Award, which honors those who take exceptional measures to safeguard the collective future of humanity, is announced today (16 September) on the International Day for the …
14 September, 2021
New research by scientists at British Antarctic Survey and Bielefeld University explains how the chaotic formation of genetic islands can occur in marine molluscs. Usually, the individuals of a population …
Read more on Chaotic formation of genetic islands among marine molluscs
9 September, 2021
Spectacular ice age landscapes beneath the North Sea have been discovered using 3D seismic reflection technology. Similar to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) the images reveal in unprecedented detail huge seafloor …
Read more on ‘MRI’ scan reveals spectacular ice age landscapes beneath the North Sea
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 …
Read more on Artificial intelligence to help predict Arctic sea ice loss
17 August, 2021
Warming water and receding sea ice in the Western Antarctic Peninsula is changing the local plankton community with potential consequences for climate change, according to an international team of researchers. …
Read more on Warming Western Antarctic Peninsula waters impact plankton community
9 August, 2021
CAMBRIDGE: British Antarctic Survey welcomes the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 component of its Sixth Assessment Report. This assessment brings together the latest advances in …
Read more on IPCC: Polar scientists welcome Climate Change Assessment
4 August, 2021
Plastic pollution combined with ocean acidification hinders the development of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean, research published today (4 August 2021) in Marine Frontiers reveals. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) …
Read more on Plastic pollution and ocean acidification reduce Antarctic krill development
20 July, 2021
The UK and Australia’s two new polar research ships get together off the coast of Falmouth during sea trials.
Read more on UK and Australian new polar research ships rendezvous on sea trials
12 July, 2021
The 40-year-old mystery of what causes Jupiter’s X-ray auroras has been solved. For the first time, scientists have seen the entire mechanism at work – and it could be a …
Read more on Mystery of what causes Jupiter’s X-ray auroras is solved
2 July, 2021
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), and international collaborators have this week published the first detailed research on the sounds made by southern right …
Read more on Acoustic research sheds new light on whale sounds
15 June, 2021
As governments convene for the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) June 14–24, 2021, an Expert Working Group1 of leading Antarctic scientists warns that climate change is pushing this remote …
Read more on Leading scientists warn of global impacts as Antarctic nears tipping points
11 June, 2021
For decades, the ice shelf helping to hold back one of the fastest-moving glaciers in Antarctica – Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica – has gradually thinned. Analysis of satellite …
Read more on Antarctic glacier is ripping apart at ice front, causing it to gain speed
10 June, 2021
A workshop report published today (10 June) by 50 of the world’s leading biodiversity and climate experts states that unprecedented changes in climate and biodiversity, driven by human activities, have …
Read more on World’s experts report on tackling biodiversity and climate change
4 June, 2021
A study of two alternative methods for reconstructing ancient temperatures has given climate researchers a better understanding of how cold it was in Antarctica during the last Ice Age, around …
28 May, 2021
This summer, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will be an official partner for the Good Business Festival youth programme in the Liverpool City Region. BAS already has an important connection with the area – Britain’s new polar ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey partners with The Good Business Festival Youth Programme
24 May, 2021
British Antarctic Survey researchers will work on a new Horizon 2020 project to advance their understanding of polar processes in the global climate system. The CRiceS project, or Climate relevant …
Read more on New project to understand polar processes in global climate system
21 May, 2021
An enormous iceberg has calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, in Antarctica. The iceberg, newly named A-76, measures around 4320 sq km in size and is …
19 May, 2021 David Barnes
This week at Climate Exp0, Dr David Barnes, benthic marine Ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, has discussed the potential for mitigating climate change through nature-based solutions, including sharing collaborative research …
19 May, 2021
For the first time, geological records have been used to reconstruct the history of Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica. The ice shelf is the largest remaining remnant of a …
Read more on Scientists reconstruct past history of largest ice shelf on Antarctic Peninsula
19 April, 2021
For the first time, researchers have collected data from underneath the remote Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica using an underwater robot.
Read more on Underwater robot reveals how Thwaites Glacier is melting
19 April, 2021
The mission to determine the impact of the giant A-68a iceberg on the important marine ecosystem of sub-Antarctic South Georgia is a success.
15 March, 2021
A new unmanned robotic vehicle on the RRS Sir David Attenborough will help scientists to understand the impact of glaciers on sea-level rise.
Read more on New autonomous robotic for RRS Sir David Attenborough
10 March, 2021
For the first time, an international team of scientists has used satellite magnetic data from ESA’s Swarm mission, together with aeromagnetic data, to help reveal the mysteries of the geology …
Read more on Antarctica’s magnetic link to ancient neighbours
5 March, 2021
Drones, or un-crewed aerial vehicles, are helping scientists to survey remote colonies of seabirds more rapidly and efficiently than ever before. The results, which show population change in three seabird …
Read more on Drones ‘effective method’ for counting seabirds
3 March, 2021
Albatrosses and large petrels spend 39% of their time in places where no single country has jurisdiction. The results come from a new global analysis of the year-round movements of …
Read more on Seabirds spend nearly 40% of their time in high seas
2 March, 2021
Rock lobsters may have lived further north in the past, and may be vulnerable to climate change in the future, according to a new study published this month (March 2021). …
23 February, 2021
Glaciers in West Antarctica are moving more quickly from land into the ocean, contributing to rising global sea levels. A 25-year record of satellite observations has been used to show …
Read more on Glaciers accelerate in the Getz region of West Antarctica
17 February, 2021
Scientists have completed the first phase of a research mission to determine the impact of the giant A-68a iceberg on one of the world’s most important ecosystems. A team of …
Read more on Robotic gliders deployed on giant iceberg mission
15 February, 2021
Far underneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic, there’s more life than expected, finds a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, published this week (15 February 2021). …
Read more on Discovery of life beneath Antarctica’s ice shelves
4 February, 2021
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists will work with an Artificial Intelligence company after being awarded a contract from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to support the protection of an endangered …
2 February, 2021
A research mission to determine the impact of the giant A-68a iceberg on one of the world’s most important ecosystems departs from Stanley in the Falkland Islands today (2 February …
21 January, 2021
An evaluation of British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has provided an objective assessment of its research excellence and impact. It concludes BAS is ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’. Two independent panels …
Read more on Evaluation concludes BAS research is ‘world leading’
15 January, 2021
Gentoo penguins are benefiting from a newly enlarged no-fishing zone (known as a No-Take Zone NTZ) around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracking research …
13 January, 2021
Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2021/22 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists …
Read more on Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now
8 January, 2021
A British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientist departs Germany today (8 January 2021) onboard the research vessel SONNE to study the diversity of marine organisms in the Atlantic deep sea. Dr …
Read more on Expedition to map biodiversity in Atlantic deep sea
8 January, 2021
The BAS field season is underway. Since the RRS James Clark Ross departed the UK in November last year, it has safely delivered summer and wintering staff and essential cargo …
9 December, 2020
Polar climate scientists have created the most high resolution past record of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds. The results, published this week (9 December) in the journal Communications Earth and …
Read more on Southern Hemisphere westerly winds likely to intensify as climate warms
27 November, 2020
Large krill swarms in the Southern Ocean could help remove additional carbon from the atmosphere, in a way that is currently ‘hidden’ in global models. Scientists knew that the carbon-rich …
Read more on Krill provide a highway for ocean carbon storage
25 November, 2020
Applications for PhD projects with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are now open for October 2021 admission. There are currently over 100 PhD students associated with BAS, working on a huge variety …
Read more on Do your PhD with British Antarctic Survey in 2021
19 November, 2020
An international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all …
Read more on Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction
17 November, 2020
British Antarctic Survey contributes to new international study that finds a surprising increase in the amount of dense water sinking near Antarctica, following 50 years of decline. Dense water formed …
Read more on Climate extremes drive changes in Antarctic Bottom Water
13 November, 2020
The UK Prime Minister has announced today (Friday 13 November) a new Marine Protected Zone around the overseas territory of the island of Tristan da Cunha. The move is part …
Read more on BAS feeds into designation of new ocean sanctuary
13 November, 2020
The award recognises Professor Horne’s unique ability to combine basic and applied research to develop useful space weather products.
5 November, 2020
A new study shows the welcome return of humpback whales to the waters around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia after a century of commercial whaling decimated their populations. The …
23 October, 2020
New study of plastics in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands
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 …
Read more on RRS Sir David Attenborough departs Cammell Laird for technical sea trials
15 October, 2020
An international ‘Krill Action Group’, including experts from the British Antarctic Survey, has identified several research priorities to advance the understanding of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and improve the management …
Read more on Research priorities for effective krill management
23 September, 2020
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recognized a temperature of -69.6°C (-93.3°F) at an automatic weather station in Greenland on 22 December 1991 as the coldest ever recorded in the …
Read more on Climate scientists uncover 30-year-old temperature record
22 September, 2020
New research shows that Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a key link in the Southern Ocean food web, have refuges from the rapid climatic warming and ice loss that has degraded …
Read more on Antarctic krill take refuge from climate change
18 September, 2020 Michael Meredith
As the Arctic sea ice minimum approaches this month, we share a blog from Professor Mike Meredith at British Antarctic Survey about how the region is rapidly changing in our …
9 September, 2020
Newly discovered deep seabed channels beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica may be the pathway for warm ocean water to melt the underside of the ice. Data from two research …
5 August, 2020
A new study using satellite mapping technology reveals there are nearly 20% more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than was previously thought. The results provide an important benchmark for monitoring …
Read more on Scientists discover new penguin colonies from space
31 July, 2020
Scientists have found that studying high-resolution images of whales from space is a feasible way to estimate their populations. A team, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), compared satellite images …
29 June, 2020
The South Pole has warmed at over three times the global rate since 1989, according to a paper published in Nature Climate Change today (29 June 2020). This warming period was …
27 June, 2020
Space weather research at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) receives a funding boost of around £2M today (Saturday 27 June) from the SWIMMR (Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk) programme. …
Read more on Space weather monitoring receives funding boost
22 June, 2020 Huw Griffiths
BAS marine biogeographer Dr Huw Griffiths talks about the importance of diverse role models. He is hopeful that existing and future polar scientists will see that being yourself and being different are no barrier to working in the most extreme environments on Earth, and can be a real asset as a scientist.
Read more on Carrying the PRIDE message to the Polar Regions
17 June, 2020
Scientists have discovered that summer sea ice in the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica has decreased by one million square kilometres – an area twice the size of Spain – …
12 June, 2020
A new study of albatrosses has found that wind plays a bigger role in their decision to take flight than previously thought, and due to their differences in body size, …
Read more on Wind beneath their wings – study finds albatrosses fine-tuned to wind conditions
12 June, 2020
The joint US/UK five-year programme to study the future contribution of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica to global sea-level rise – the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) – announces news …
Read more on Plans for International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration in response to COVID-19
20 May, 2020
Scientists have created the first ever large-scale map of microscopic algae as they bloomed across the surface of snow along the Antarctic Peninsula coast. Results indicate that this ‘green snow’ is …
Read more on Climate change will turn coastal Antarctica green
20 May, 2020
Scientists have discovered where a whale species that feeds around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia breeds during the winter months. This understanding of where the animals migrate from will …
7 May, 2020
Warm winter spells have increased in frequency and duration two- to three times over since 1878, according to a new study published this week (6 May 2020). In a new …
Read more on Increase in winter warm spells in UK temperature records
28 April, 2020
Food wrapping, fishing gear and plastic waste continue to reach the Antarctic. Two new studies into how plastic debris is reaching sub-Antarctic islands are published in the journal Environment International. …
23 April, 2020
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced its latest round of Future Leaders Fellowships today (23 April 2020). Congratulations to Dr Dan Jones and Dr Clara Manno of British Antarctic …
1 April, 2020
An international team of researchers has provided a new and unprecedented perspective on the climate history of Antarctica. From a sediment core collected from the seafloor in West Antarctica, they …
4 March, 2020
British Antarctic Survey is pleased to announce the Appleton Prize 2020 has been awarded to Professor Richard Horne, Head of the Space Weather and Atmosphere science team at British Antarctic …
Read more on Appleton Prize awarded to Professor Richard Horne
26 February, 2020
Climate change could add around 20% to the global cost of extreme weather events by 2040, according to early findings from Cambridge researchers. The findings come from the Cambridge Climate …
Read more on Climate scientists help businesses tackle climate change
20 February, 2020
A team led by British Antarctic Survey has just returned from the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as the last of three expeditions to investigate the recovery of whales a …
11 February, 2020
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls. The United …
Read more on International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020
31 January, 2020
Large brown seaweed can bring invasive species to Antarctica, according to research published today (31 January 2020) in the journal Scientific Reports. The new study describes the first scientific evidence …
Read more on Invading species ‘hitches a ride’ on kelp to reach Antarctica
29 January, 2020
A ‘great’ space weather super-storm large enough to cause significant disruption to our electronic and networked systems occurred on average once in every 25 years. The results are published today …
Read more on Space weather ‘super storms’ occurred every 25 years
29 January, 2020 Markus Frey
Atmosphere and ice climate scientist Dr Markus Frey is on his way to join the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition. Markus will be using …
28 January, 2020
Teams from the US and UK have successfully completed scientific fieldwork in one of the most remote and hostile areas of West Antarctica – coinciding with the 200th anniversary of …
Read more on Scientists drill for first time on remote Antarctic Glacier
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!
17 January, 2020
British Antarctic Survey’s Twin Otter aircraft takes to the skies over Barbados as part of a major international research campaign to enhance understanding of the behaviour of clouds and their …
13 January, 2020
Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2020/21 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists …
Read more on Opportunities for Antarctic research 2020 – Apply now
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
8 January, 2020
A new study published this week (7 January 2020) identifies a need for fishery managers to adopt clear objectives for the protection of seabirds and mammals. It is published in …
6 January, 2020
It is with great sadness that we report the death of previous staff member, Professor Alan Rodger. Alan was a scientist in BAS for over 40 years since 1972. He …
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
12 November, 2019
Applications for BAS PhD projects are now open for 2020 admission. There are currently over 100 PhD students associated with BAS, and nearly half of these students work full time …
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 …
