South Georgia and the Southern Ocean
1 October, 2015
So, what does a doctor on a Sub-Antarctic research station do with only 11 young and fit people as potential patients? I get asked that a lot and I’ll endeavour…Our publications
Filtered view: Research papers
Showing 11923 items
On the reconstruction of palaeo-ice sheets: Recent advances and future challenges
1 October, 2015 by Richard Hindmarsh, Richard Hindmarsh
Reconstructing the growth and decay of palaeo-ice sheets is critical to understanding mechanisms of global climate change and associated sea-level fluctuations in the past, present and future. The significance of…Read more on On the reconstruction of palaeo-ice sheets: Recent advances and future challenges
Manual mapping of drumlins in synthetic landscapes to assess operator effectiveness
1 October, 2015 by Kelly Hogan
Mapped topographic features are important for understanding processes that sculpt the Earth's surface. This paper presents maps that are the primary product of an exercise that brought together 27 researchers…Read more on Manual mapping of drumlins in synthetic landscapes to assess operator effectiveness
Model sensitivity of the Weddell and Ross seas, Antarctica, to vertical mixing and freshwater forcing
1 October, 2015 by Gareth Marshall, Paul Holland, Pierre Mathiot, Joakim Kjellsson
We examine the sensitivity of the Weddell and Ross seas to vertical mixing and surface freshwater forcing using an ocean–sea ice model. The high latitude Southern Ocean is very weakly…Uplift rates from a new high-density GPS network in Palmer Land indicate significant late Holocene ice loss in the southwestern Weddell Sea
1 October, 2015 by Ed King
The measurement of ongoing ice-mass loss and associated melt water contribution to sea-level change from regions such as West Antarctica is dependent on a combination of remote sensing methods. A…A new genus of large hydrothermal vent-endemic gastropod (Neomphalina: Peltospiridae)
1 October, 2015 by Katrin Linse
Recently discovered hydrothermal vent fields on the East Scotia Ridge (ESR, 56–60°S, 30°W), Southern Ocean, and the South West Indian Ridge (SWIR, 37°S 49°E), Indian Ocean, host two closely related…Read more on A new genus of large hydrothermal vent-endemic gastropod (Neomphalina: Peltospiridae)
Trophodynamics of Protomyctophum (Myctophidae) in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)
1 October, 2015 by Geraint Tarling, Gabriele Stowasser, Peter Ward, Ryan Saunders
This study investigated spatial and temporal patterns in distribution, population structure and diet of Bolin's lanternfish Protomyctophum bolini, Tenison's lanternfish Protomyctophum tenisoni and gaptooth lanternfish Protomyctophum choriodon in the Scotia…Read more on Trophodynamics of Protomyctophum (Myctophidae) in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)
Exploring the use of transformation group priors and the method of maximum relative entropy for Bayesian glaciological inversions
1 October, 2015 by Robert Arthern
Ice-sheet models can be used to forecast ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland, but to fully quantify the risks associated with sea-level rise, probabilistic forecasts are needed. These require estimates…Inferred support for disturbance-recovery hypothesis of North Atlantic phytoplankton blooms
1 October, 2015 by Eugene Murphy
Analyses of satellite-derived chlorophyll data indicate that the phase of rapid phytoplankton population growth in the North Atlantic (the ‘spring bloom') is actually initiated in the winter rather than the…A strong wind event on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica: A case study of scale interactions
1 October, 2015 by John Turner
In situ observations, satellite imagery, numerical weather prediction, and reanalysis fields are used to investigate the synoptic and mesoscale environment of a strong wind event (SWE) at McMurdo Station/Ross Island…Disentangling the cause of a catastrophic population decline in a large marine mammal
1 October, 2015 by Iain Staniland
Considerable uncertainties often surround the causes of long-term changes in population abundance. One striking example is the precipitous decline of southern sea lions (SSL; Otaria flavescens) at the Falkland Islands,…Read more on Disentangling the cause of a catastrophic population decline in a large marine mammal
Seismic reflection imaging of mixing processes in Fram Strait
1 October, 2015 by Alexander Brearley
The West Spitsbergen Current, which flows northward along the western Svalbard continental slope, transports warm and saline Atlantic water (AW) into the Arctic Ocean. A combined analysis of high-resolution seismic…Read more on Seismic reflection imaging of mixing processes in Fram Strait
Images as proximity sensors: the incidence of conspecific foraging in Antarctic fur seals
29 September, 2015 by Iain Staniland
Background Although there have been recent advances in the development of animal-attached ‘proximity’ tags to remotely record the interactions of multiple individuals, the efficacy of these devices depends on the…Designing and implementing an assay for the detection of rare and divergent NRPS and PKS clones in European, Antarctic and Cuban soils
23 September, 2015 by Kevin Newsham
The ever increasing microbial resistome means there is an urgent need for new antibiotics. Metagenomics is an underexploited tool in the field of drug discovery. In this study we aimed…Antarctic sea ice losses drive gains in benthic carbon drawdown
21 September, 2015 by David Barnes
Climate forcing of sea-ice losses from the Arctic and West Antarctic are blueing the poles. These losses are accelerating, reducing Earth’s albedo and increasing heat absorption [1]. Subarctic forest (area…Read more on Antarctic sea ice losses drive gains in benthic carbon drawdown
Palaeo-ice stream pathways and retreat style in the easternmost Amundsen Sea Embayment, West Antarctica, revealed by combined multibeam bathymetric and seismic data
15 September, 2015 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, James Smith, Robert Larter
Multibeam swath bathymetry data sets collected over the past two decades have been compiled to identify palaeo-ice stream pathways in the easternmost Amundsen Sea Embayment. We mapped ~ 3000 glacial…Emerging spatial patterns in Antarctic prokaryotes
14 September, 2015 by David Pearce, Peter Convey
Recent advances in knowledge of patterns of biogeography in terrestrial eukaryotic organisms have led to a fundamental paradigm shift in understanding of the controls and history of life on land…Read more on Emerging spatial patterns in Antarctic prokaryotes
Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome
11 September, 2015 by Peter Convey
The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how…Read more on Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome
Feathers as a tool to assess mercury contamination in gentoo penguins: Variations at the individual level
9 September, 2015 by Norman Ratcliffe, Philip Trathan
Feathers have been widely used to assess mercury contamination in birds as they reflect metal concentrations accumulated between successive moult periods: they are also easy to sample and have minimum…Chemical fingerprints encode mother-offspring similarity, colony membership, relatedness and genetic quality in fur seals
8 September, 2015 by Jaume Forcada
Chemical communication underpins virtually all aspects of vertebrate social life, yet remains poorly understood because of its highly complex mechanistic basis. We therefore used chemical fingerprinting of skin swabs and…Differential acquisition of amino acid and peptide enantiomers within the soil microbial community and its implications for carbon and nitrogen cycling in soil
1 September, 2015 by Kevin Newsham
l-isomeric amino acids and oligopeptides are thought to represent a key nitrogen (N) source for plants and soil microorganisms, bypassing the need to take up inorganic N, whilst self-cycling of…Crystallisation temperatures of the most Mg-rich magmas of the Karoo LIP on the basis of Al-in-olivine thermometer
1 September, 2015 by Teal Riley
Calculating reliable temperatures of Mg-rich magmas is problematic because melt composition and KD(Fe-Mg)ol-liq, the key parameters of many traditional thermometers, are difficult to constrain precisely. The recently developed Al-in-olivine thermometer…The vertical shape of a buoyant acoustic streamer between depth control units
1 September, 2015
When conducting marine seismic surveys it is important to know the vertical profile of the seismic streamer. Typically the streamer has a density that is different from the seawater; therefore…Read more on The vertical shape of a buoyant acoustic streamer between depth control units
European and Mediterranean mercury modelling: local and long-range contributions to the deposition flux
1 September, 2015 by Xin Yang
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that is known to have adverse effects on human health, and most human exposure to toxic methylmercury is through fish consumption. Soluble Hg compounds…Key metabolic pathways involved in xenobiotic biotransformation and stress responses revealed by transcriptomics of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea brasiliana
1 September, 2015 by Michael Thorne, Melody Clark
The Brazilian oyster Crassostrea brasiliana was challenged to three common environmental contaminants: phenanthrene, diesel fuel water-accommodated fraction (WAF) and domestic sewage. Total RNA was extracted from the gill and digestive…Leapfrog migration and habitat preferences of a small oceanic seabird, Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii)
1 September, 2015 by Richard Phillips
Aim Our current understanding of migratory strategies and the reasons for their high variability along the phylogenetic tree remains relatively poor. Most of the hypotheses relating to migration have been…Winter use of sea ice and ocean water-mass habitat by southern elephant seals: The length and breadth of the mystery
1 September, 2015 by Jean-Baptiste Sallee
Understanding the responses of animals to the environment is crucial for identifying critical foraging habitat. Elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from the Kerguelen Islands (49° 20’ S, 70° 20’ E) have…Limited genetic differentiation among chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colonies in the Scotia Arc and Western Antarctic Peninsula
1 September, 2015 by Michael Dunn
Long-term monitoring of seabird numbers around Antarctica has revealed that the chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) is largely declining throughout its range in the Scotia Arc. Whether archipelagos across this large…Comparative analysis of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. population adaptability in the natural environment of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, maritime Antarctic)
1 September, 2015 by Peter Convey
Plants inhabiting extreme environments may possess features allowing them to tolerate sudden abrupt changes in their environment, a phenomenon often known as ‘adaptability.’ However, ability or success in developing adaptability…Vertical flow in the Southern Ocean estimated from individual moorings
1 September, 2015 by Alexander Brearley
In this study, we demonstrate that oceanic vertical velocities can be estimated from individual mooring measurements, even for non-stationary flow. This result is obtained under three assumptions: i. weak diffusion…Read more on Vertical flow in the Southern Ocean estimated from individual moorings
A protocol for the aerial survey of penguin colonies using UAVs
1 September, 2015 by Damien Guihen, Jeremy Robst, Norman Ratcliffe, Peter Enderlein
Penguins, and many other seabirds, often nest in the open in large colonies, and so are amenable to aerial survey. UAVs offer a flexible and inexpensive method of achieving this…Read more on A protocol for the aerial survey of penguin colonies using UAVs
Mercury accumulation in gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua: spatial, temporal and sexual intraspecific variations
1 September, 2015 by Norman Ratcliffe, Philip Trathan
Mercury emissions have increased over the past decades affecting even remote areas such as Antarctica. As gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) breed on many of the islands surrounding Antarctica, foraging close…Evolutionary factors affecting the cross-species utility of newly developed microsatellite markers in seabirds
1 September, 2015 by Richard Phillips
Microsatellite loci are ideal for testing hypotheses relating to genetic segregation at fine spatio-temporal scales. They are also conserved among closely related species, making them potentially useful for clarifying interspecific…An examination of the relationship between the Southern Annular Mode and Antarctic surface air temperatures in the CMIP5 historical runs
1 September, 2015 by Gareth Marshall, Thomas Bracegirdle
Strong relationships exist between the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and surface air temperature (SAT) across much of Antarctica. Changes in the SAM will have a profound influence on future Antarctic…The molecular evolution of spiggin nesting glue in sticklebacks
1 September, 2015 by Will Goodall-Copestake
Gene duplication and subsequent divergence can lead to the evolution of new functions and lineage specific traits. In sticklebacks, the successive duplication of the mucin-like gene (MUC19) into a tandemly-arrayed,…Read more on The molecular evolution of spiggin nesting glue in sticklebacks
Contrasting patterns in lichen diversity in the continental and maritime Antarctic
1 September, 2015 by Peter Convey
Systematic surveys of the lichen floras of Schirmacher Oasis (Queen Maud Land, continental Antarctic), Victoria Land (Ross Sector, continental Antarctic) and Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctic) were compared…Read more on Contrasting patterns in lichen diversity in the continental and maritime Antarctic
Assimilation of sea surface temperature, sea ice concentration and sea ice drift in a model of the Southern Ocean
1 September, 2015 by Pierre Mathiot
Current ocean models have relatively large errors and biases in the Southern Ocean. The aim of this study is to provide a reanalysis from 1985 to 2006 assimilating sea surface…Airborne radar evidence for tributary flow switching in Institute Ice Stream, West Antarctica: implications for ice sheet configuration and dynamics
1 September, 2015 by Hugh Corr
Despite the importance of ice streaming to the evaluation of West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) stability we know little about mid- to long-term dynamic changes within the Institute Ice Stream…Millennial changes in North American wildfire and soil activity over the last glacial cycle
1 September, 2015 by Robert Mulvaney
Climate changes in the North Atlantic region during the last glacial cycle were dominated by the slow waxing and waning of the North American ice sheet as well as by…Assessing the design and power of capture-recapture studies to estimate demographic parameters for the Endangered Oceania humpback whale population
1 September, 2015 by Jennifer Jackson
Capture-recapture studies offer a powerful tool to assess abundance, survival and population rate of change (λ). A previous capture-recapture study, based on DNA profiles, estimated that the IUCN-listed Endangered Oceania…Glacial melt under a porous debris layer
1 September, 2015 by Jonathan Kingslake
In this paper we undertake a quantitative analysis of the dynamic process by which ice underneath a dry porous debris layer melts. We show that the incorporation of debris-layer airflow…Mapping the ice-bed interface characteristics of Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, using microseismicity
1 September, 2015 by Alex Brisbourne, Andy Smith, Emma Smith, Hamish Pritchard
Flow dynamics of the ice streams that drain the Antarctic Ice Sheet are heavily influenced by processes at the bed. Natural seismic activity generated beneath an ice stream is associated…Temporal variations in the flow of a large Antarctic ice stream controlled by tidally induced changes in the subglacial water system
21 August, 2015 by Hilmar Gudmundsson, Sebastian Rosier
Observations show that the flow of Rutford Ice Stream (RIS) is strongly modulated by the ocean tides, with the strongest tidal response at the 14.77 day tidal period (Msf). This…Status of known non-native species introductions and impacts (updated)
21 August, 2015 by Kevin Hughes
Antarctic biodiversity and ecosystems are under threat from introduced non-native species. Currently the Antarctic Peninsula and off shore islands are the most invaded areas. Invasions are likely to increase, facilitated…Read more on Status of known non-native species introductions and impacts (updated)
Retrieving the paleoclimactic signal from the deeper part of the EPICA Dome C ice core?
20 August, 2015 by Eric Wolff
An important share of paleoclimatic information is buried within the lowermost layers of deep ice cores. Because improving our records further back in time is one of the main challenges…Read more on Retrieving the paleoclimactic signal from the deeper part of the EPICA Dome C ice core?
Century-scale simulations of the response of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to a warming climate
18 August, 2015 by David Vaughan
We use the BISICLES adaptive mesh ice sheet model to carry out one, two, and three century simulations of the fast-flowing ice streams of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Each…Space weather concerns for all‐electric propulsion satellites
10 August, 2015 by Richard Horne
The introduction of all-electric propulsion satellites is a game-changer in the quest for low-cost access to space. It also raises new questions for satellite manufacturers, operators and the insurance industry…Read more on Space weather concerns for all‐electric propulsion satellites
Implementation of a cloud-based electronic medical record to reduce gaps in the HIV treatment continuum in rural Kenya
7 August, 2015
Background Electronic medical record (EMR) systems are increasingly being adopted to support the delivery of health care in developing countries and their implementation can help to strengthen pathways of care…New Sericosura (Pycnogonida: Ammotheidae) from deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean
5 August, 2015 by Katrin Linse
Three new species of Sericosura (Pycnogonida: Ammotheidae) are described from recently discovered hydrothermal vents in the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean: Sericosura bamberi sp. nov., S. dimorpha sp. nov. and…New taeniogyrinid species of sea cucumber from the Weddell Sea (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Synaptida)
5 August, 2015 by Huw Griffiths
The case put by Alexei Smirnov in 2012 is accepted and the order name Synaptida Cuénot is adopted in place of Apodida Brandt. Two new Synaptida species are described for…Weakening of the global atmospheric circulation with global warming
1 August, 2015 by Joakim Kjellsson
This study finds that the global atmospheric circulation weakens, i.e. transports less mass, by about 5 % per degree of global warming as a result of anthropogenic emissions. This is…Read more on Weakening of the global atmospheric circulation with global warming
A case study of electron precipitation fluxes due to plasmaspheric hiss
1 August, 2015 by Mark Clilverd, Roger Duthie, Roger Duthie
We find that during a large geomagnetic storm in October 2011 the trapped fluxes of >30, >100, and >300 keV outer radiation belt electrons were enhanced at L=3-4 during the…Read more on A case study of electron precipitation fluxes due to plasmaspheric hiss
Study of the impact of ice formation in leads upon the sea ice pack mass balance using a new frazil and grease ice parameterisation
1 August, 2015 by Paul Holland
Leads are cracks in sea ice that often form due to deformation. During winter months leads expose the ocean to the cold atmosphere resulting in supercooling and the formation of…Assessing trace element contamination in Fildes Peninsula (King George Island) and Ardley Island, Antarctic
1 August, 2015 by Kevin Hughes
King George Island, situated in the South Shetland Islands archipelago, is one of the most visited sites in Antarctica. This has contributed to a high density of scientific stations and…The ‘scaly-foot gastropod’: a new genus and species of hydrothermal vent-endemic gastropod (Neomphalina: Peltospiridae) from the Indian Ocean
1 August, 2015 by Katrin Linse
The ‘scaly-foot gastropod’ is widely recognized as an iconic species of deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems in the Indian Ocean. Uniquely among gastropods, this species carries hundreds of dermal sclerites on…Responses to increases in temperature of heterotrophic micro-organisms in soils from the maritime Antarctic
1 August, 2015 by Kevin Newsham
Understanding relationships between environmental changes and soil microbial respiration is critical for predicting changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) fluxes and content. The maritime Antarctic is experiencing one of the…Malcolm Roy Clarke, FRS
1 August, 2015 by Paul Rodhouse
Malcolm Roy Clarke, FRS (1930–2013) made lasting contributions to cephalopod biology through his productive research programme, his commitment to furthering cephalopod biology and his congenial spirit. His professional legacy includes…Survey of Saturn Z-mode Emission
1 August, 2015 by Emma Woodfield, Richard Horne
Because of the role of Z-mode emission in the diffusive scattering and resonant acceleration of electrons, we conduct a survey of intensity in the Saturn inner magnetosphere. Z-mode is primarily…Freshwater distributions and water mass structure in the Amundsen Sea Polynya region, Antarctica
1 August, 2015 by Adrian Jenkins, Povl Abrahamsen, Michael Meredith
We present the first densely-sampled hydrographic survey of the Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP) region, including a detailed characterization of its freshwater distributions. Multiple components contribute to the freshwater budget, including…Future challenges in cephalopod research
1 August, 2015 by Paul Rodhouse
Cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) play an important role as keystone invertebrates in various marine ecosystems, as well as being a valuable fisheries resource. At the World Malacological Congress, held 21–28 July…Subglacial hydrology as a control on emergence, scale, and spacing of ice streams
1 August, 2015 by Teresa Kyrke-Smith
Observations have long associated ice streams with the presence of meltwater at the bed. More recently, theoretical models have been able to reproduce ice stream behavior as a consequence of…Read more on Subglacial hydrology as a control on emergence, scale, and spacing of ice streams
Wind-driven upwelling around grounded tabular icebergs
1 August, 2015 by Povl Abrahamsen, Keith Nicholls
Temperature and salinity data collected around grounded tabular icebergs in Baffin Bay in 2011, 2012, and 2013 indicate wind-induced upwelling at certain locations around the icebergs. These data suggest that…Read more on Wind-driven upwelling around grounded tabular icebergs
Timing and climate forcing of volcanic eruptions for the past 2,500 years
30 July, 2015 by Robert Mulvaney
Volcanic eruptions contribute to climate variability, but quantifying these contributions has been limited by inconsistencies in the timing of atmospheric volcanic aerosol loading determined from ice cores and subsequent cooling…Read more on Timing and climate forcing of volcanic eruptions for the past 2,500 years
Iron budgets for three distinct biogeochemical sites around the Kerguelen archipelago (Southern Ocean) during the natural fertilisation experiment KEOPS-2
29 July, 2015 by Jean-Baptiste Sallee
Iron availability in the Southern Ocean controls phytoplankton growth, community composition and the uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the biological pump. The KEOPS-2 experiment took place around the Kerguelen plateau…Onset, intensification, and decline of phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean
28 July, 2015 by Jean-Baptiste Sallee
The seasonal cycle of phytoplankton biomass in the Southern Ocean (SO) is characterized by a period of rapid accumulation, known as bloom, that is typical of high-latitude regions. Recent studies…Read more on Onset, intensification, and decline of phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean
Observations of coincident EMIC wave activity and dusk-side energetic electron precipitation on 18-19 January 2013
28 July, 2015 by Mark Clilverd
Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves have been suggested to be a cause of radiation belt electron loss to the atmosphere. Here simultaneous, magnetically conjugate measurements are presented of EMIC wave…Particles and iodine compounds in coastal Antarctica
27 July, 2015 by Anna Jones, Howard Roscoe, Neil Brough
Aerosol particle number concentrations have been measured at Halley and Neumayer on the Antarctic coast, since 2004 and 1984 respectively. Sulphur compounds known to be implicated in particle formation and…Read more on Particles and iodine compounds in coastal Antarctica
Constraints on soluble aerosol iron flux to the Southern Ocean at the Last Glacial Maximum
23 July, 2015 by Eric Wolff, Robert Mulvaney
Relief of iron (Fe) limitation in the Southern Ocean during ice ages, with potentially increased carbon storage in the ocean, has been invoked as one driver of glacial–interglacial atmospheric CO2…
The impact of parameterising light penetration into snow on the photochemical production of NOx and OH radicals in snow
17 July, 2015 by Hoi Ga Chan, Markus Frey
Snow photochemical processes drive production of chemical trace gases in snowpacks, including nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and hydrogen oxide radical (HOx = OH + HO2), which are…
Atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) at Dome C, East Antarctica, during the OPALE campaign
17 July, 2015 by Howard Roscoe, Markus Frey
Mixing ratios of the atmospheric nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 were measured as part of the OPALE (Oxidant Production in Antarctic Lands & Export) campaign at Dome C, East Antarctica…Modelling the instantaneous response of glaciers after the collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf
16 July, 2015 by Hilmar Gudmundsson, Jan De Rydt
Following the disintegration of the Larsen B Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, in 2002, regular surveillance of its ~20 tributary glaciers has revealed a response which is varied and complex in…
A diatom-conductivity transfer function for reconstructing past changes in the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the Southern Ocean
16 July, 2015 by Dominic Hodgson
Sub-Antarctic islands are ideally placed to reconstruct past changes in Southern Hemisphere westerly wind behaviour. They lie within their core belt (50–60°S) and the strong winds deliver sea salt ions…Is ornithogenic fertilisation important for collembolan communities in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems?
13 July, 2015 by Peter Convey
In the Arctic, areas close to seabird colonies are often characterized by exceptionally rich vegetation communities linked with the high nutrient subsidies transported by seabirds from the marine environment to…Spatial distribution and ecological niches of non-breeding planktivorous petrels
13 July, 2015 by Richard Phillips
According to niche theory, mechanisms exist that allow co-existence of organisms that would otherwise compete for the same prey and other resources. How seabirds cope with potential competition during the…Read more on Spatial distribution and ecological niches of non-breeding planktivorous petrels
Flow speed within the Antarctic ice sheet and its controls inferred from satellite observations
1 July, 2015 by Rosie Williams, Robert Arthern, Richard Hindmarsh, Richard Hindmarsh
Accurate dynamical models of the Antarctic ice sheet with carefully specified initial conditions and well-calibrated rheological parameters are needed to forecast global sea level. By adapting an inverse method previously…Oceanographic variability on the West Antarctic Peninsula during the Holocene and the influence of upper circumpolar deep water
1 July, 2015 by Claire Allen, Dominic Hodgson, Victoria Peck
Recent intensification of wind-driven upwelling of warm upper circumpolar deep water (UCDW) has been linked to accelerated melting of West Antarctic ice shelves and glaciers. To better assess the long…Flexibility in foraging strategies of Brown Skuas in response to local and seasonal dietary constraints
1 July, 2015 by Richard Phillips
The Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi is an opportunistic species that displays a high degree of flexibility in foraging tactics. We deployed global positioning system (GPS) and immersion (activity) loggers…The influence of preceding dive cycles on the foraging decisions of Antarctic fur seals
1 July, 2015 by Iain Staniland, Philip Trathan
The foraging strategy of many animals is thought to be determined by their past experiences. However, few empirical studies have investigated whether this is true in diving animals. We recorded…Read more on The influence of preceding dive cycles on the foraging decisions of Antarctic fur seals
Marine debris ingestion by albatrosses in the southwest Atlantic Ocean
1 July, 2015 by Richard Phillips
Plastics and other marine debris affect wildlife through entanglement and by ingestion. We assessed the ingestion of marine debris by seven albatross species in the southwest Atlantic by analyzing stomach…Read more on Marine debris ingestion by albatrosses in the southwest Atlantic Ocean
Variability among individuals is generated at the gene expression level
1 July, 2015 by Lloyd Peck, Michael Thorne, Melody Clark, Simon Morley
Selection acts on individuals, specifically on their differences. To understand adaptation and responses to change therefore requires knowledge of how variation is generated and distributed across traits. Variation occurs on…Read more on Variability among individuals is generated at the gene expression level
An improved model for tidally modulated grounding-line migration
1 July, 2015 by Hilmar Gudmundsson
Understanding grounding-line dynamics is necessary for predictions of long-term ice-sheet stability. However, despite growing observations of the tidal influence on grounding-line migration, this short-timescale migration is poorly understood, with most…Read more on An improved model for tidally modulated grounding-line migration
Recent changes in Antarctic sea ice
1 July, 2015 by Gareth Marshall, Scott Hosking, John Turner, Thomas Bracegirdle, Tony Phillips
In contrast to the Arctic, total sea ice extent (SIE) across the Southern Ocean has increased since the late 1970s, with the annual mean increasing at a rate of 186×103 km2…Mercury concentrations in primary feathers reflect pollutant exposure in discrete non-breeding grounds used by Short-tailed Shearwaters
1 July, 2015 by Richard Phillips
We measured mercury concentrations ([Hg]) and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) in the primary feathers of Short-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) that were tracked year-round. The [Hg] were highest in 14…The bivalve Anopaea (Inoceramidae) from the Upper Jurassic-lowermost Cretaceous of Mexico
1 July, 2015 by Alistair Crame
In Mexico, the Upper Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous La Casita and coeval La Caja and La Pimienta formations are well-known for their abundant and well-preserved marine vertebrates and invertebrates. The…Van Allen probes, NOAA, GOES, and ground observations of an intense EMIC wave event extending over 12 h in magnetic local time
1 July, 2015 by Richard Horne
Although most studies of the effects of EMIC waves on Earth's outer radiation belt have focused on events in the afternoon sector in the outer plasmasphere or plume region, strong…Characterization of distinct bloom phenology regimes in the Southern Ocean
1 July, 2015 by Jean-Baptiste Sallee
In this study, we document the regional variations of bloom phenology in the Southern Ocean, based on a 13-year product of ocean colour measurements co-located with observation-based estimates of the…Read more on Characterization of distinct bloom phenology regimes in the Southern Ocean
Potential for Southern Hemisphere climate surprises
1 July, 2015 by John Turner, Thomas Bracegirdle
Climate model results suggest that future climate change in Antarctica will be accompanied by continued strengthening and poleward contraction of the Southern Ocean westerly wind belt. Paleoclimate records suggest past…Read more on Potential for Southern Hemisphere climate surprises
The science case for the EISCAT_3D radar
1 July, 2015 by Mark Clilverd
The EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATer) Scientific Association has provided versatile incoherent scatter (IS) radar facilities on the mainland of northern Scandinavia (the EISCAT UHF and VHF radar systems) and on…The International Surface Pressure Databank version 2
1 July, 2015 by Gareth Marshall
The International Surface Pressure Databank (ISPD) is the world's largest collection of global surface and sea-level pressure observations. It was developed by extracting observations from established international archives, through international…Read more on The International Surface Pressure Databank version 2
The changing form of Antarctic biodiversity
25 June, 2015 by Andrew Clarke
Antarctic biodiversity is much more extensive, ecologically diverse and biogeographically structured than previously thought. Understanding of how this diversity is distributed in marine and terrestrial systems, the mechanisms underlying its…Adaptations to hydrothermal vent life in Kiwa tyleri, a new species of yeti crab from the East Scotia Ridge, Antarctica
24 June, 2015 by Katrin Linse
Hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean are the physiologically most isolated chemosynthetic environments known. Here, we describe Kiwa tyleri sp. nov., the first species of yeti crab known from the…Chlorine isotope composition in chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11, CFC-12 and CFC-113 in firn, stratospheric and tropospheric air
23 June, 2015 by Emilie Capron, Robert Mulvaney
The stratospheric degradation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) releases chlorine, which is a major contributor to the destruction of stratospheric ozone (O3). A recent study reported strong chlorine isotope fractionation during the…Against the flow: evidence of multiple recent invasions of warmer continental shelf waters by a Southern Ocean brittle star
22 June, 2015 by Chester Sands, David Barnes
The Southern Ocean is anomalously rich in benthos. This biodiversity is native, mostly endemic and perceived to be uniquely threatened from climate- and anthropogenically- mediated invasions. Major international scientific effort…