Archives: News

26 August, 2016

Technical advisor appointment

Read more on Ramboll named technical adviser to BAS

23 August, 2016

Researchers and games developers have joined forces to explain how climate change is affecting Antarctica. A new game called ‘Ice Flows’ launches today (Tuesday 23 August) at an international science meeting in Malaysia.

Read more on New interactive game ‘Ice Flows’ launches today

16 August, 2016

A team of British climate scientists comparing today’s environment with the warm period before the last ice age has discovered a 65% reduction of Antarctic sea ice around 128,000 years …

Read more on New Antarctic ice discovery aids future climate predictions

11 August, 2016

Until now estimates of how much of ice-free rock is exposed in Antarctica were stated as ‘less than 1%’. For the first time scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have …

Read more on New map reveals how little of Antarctica’s rock is ice-free

1 August, 2016

A review of breeding distributions, population trends, threats and key priorities for conservation actions on land and at sea for the 29 species covered by the Agreement on the Conservation …

Read more on Review of threats to seabirds

26 July, 2016

An international team of scientists have used air bubbles in polar ice from pre-industrial times to measure the sensitivity of the Earth’s land biosphere to changes in temperature.

Read more on Polar ice reveals secrets of carbon-climate feedbacks

25 July, 2016

A new study of the movements of sub-Antarctic albatrosses tracked from two remote islands some 5,000 km apart, shows that although the birds from each breeding site take similar routes around the Southern Ocean, they forage in different areas for the majority of the time. The results are published this month in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

Read more on Albatrosses use different regions when on migration

20 July, 2016

The rapid warming of the Antarctic Peninsula, which occurred from the early-1950s to the late 1990s, has paused. Stabilisation of the ozone hole along with natural climate variability were significant in bringing about the change. Together these influences have now caused the northern part of the peninsula to enter a temporary cooling phase. Temperatures remain higher than measured during the middle of the 20th Century and glacial retreat is still taking place. However, scientists predict that if greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise at the current rate, temperatures will increase across the Antarctic Peninsula by several degrees Centigrade by the end of this century.

Read more on A recent pause in Antarctic Peninsula warming

14 July, 2016

A new study has found for the first time that ocean warming is the primary cause of retreat of glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula. The Peninsula is one of the largest current contributors to sea-level rise and this new finding will enable researchers to make better predictions of ice loss from this region.

Read more on Ocean warming primary cause of glacier retreat

11 July, 2016

The Farnborough International Air Show is the next stop for a touring exhibition which highlights what space missions can learn about the isolation that confronts people who work in Antarctica. …

Read more on Antarctic exhibition lands at Farnborough

6 July, 2016

A volcano erupting on a small island in the Sub Antarctic is depositing ash over one of the world’s largest penguin colonies.

Read more on Penguin colonies at risk from erupting volcano

1 July, 2016

An international team of researchers has identified the “first fingerprints of healing” of the Antarctic ozone layer, published this week (30 June 2016) in the journal Science.

Read more on First signs of healing in the Antarctic ozone hole

27 June, 2016

Antarctic sea ice is constantly on the move as powerful winds blow it away from the coast and out toward the open ocean. A new study published today in the journal Nature Geoscience (Monday 27 June) shows how that ice migration may be more important for the global ocean circulation than anyone realized.

Read more on Wind-blown Antarctic sea ice helps drive ocean circulation

27 June, 2016

New technologies and techniques used in a scientific study of the shells of oysters, mussels, clams and scallops reveal clues about how these commercially valuable species may fare in a changing world, and how discarded shells from the aquaculture industry could benefit the environment.

Read more on Shellfish study published this month

20 June, 2016

On Tuesday June 21st, scientists and support staff based at research stations in Antarctica will celebrate Midwinter’s Day, the shortest day of the Austral Winter. In a tradition that goes …

Read more on Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica

20 June, 2016

The medical evacuation from the US South Pole station via British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station has been completed successfully. A Twin Otter arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile in the …

Read more on Medical evacuation successfully completed

16 June, 2016

Levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere – which is the leading driver of recent climate change – have reached a milestone at British Antarctic Survey’s …

Read more on Carbon dioxide level breached at Halley VI

13 June, 2016

Energetic electrons are an important space weather hazard. In this paper we apply extreme value analysis to 16 years of operational satellite data from the NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellites …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Energetic Electron Hazard

13 June, 2016

This paper shows that, contrary to long-held ideas, the intensity of competition (density of direct, physical spatial contests) differs little with latitude. However, the severity of competition (contests with a …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Battling bryozoans

8 June, 2016

An exhibition showing how the isolation of Antarctica is used as a platform for understanding space opens this week (7-12 June) at The Times Science Festival in Cheltenham.

Read more on Antarctic ‘space’ exhibition opens in Cheltenham

31 May, 2016

International declaration marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Read more on UK reaffirms commitment to protecting Antarctica

26 May, 2016

A study of more than 6,000 marine fossils from the Antarctic shows that the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs was sudden and just as deadly to life in the polar regions.

Read more on Antarctic fossils show creatures wiped out by asteroid

19 May, 2016

Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica is currently one of the single biggest contributors to sea-level rise with an estimated volume loss of 1.2mm sea-level equivalent per decade. The loss …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Improved modelling of ice-ocean processes

6 May, 2016

UK’s £200m Polar Research Ship to be named after Sir David Attenborough, days before the broadcaster’s 90th birthday “Boaty McBoatface” to live on as the name of the ship’s high-tech …

Read more on UK’s £200m Polar Research Ship named in honour of Sir David Attenborough

29 April, 2016

BBC Horizon documentary ‘Ice Station Antarctica’ to be broadcast on Wednesday 4 May at 8pm, BBC2.

Read more on Documentary follows BBC’s Peter Gibbs back to the ice

28 April, 2016

Opportunity to partner with BAS to deliver a construction programme to modernise UK Antarctic and other research facilities.

Read more on British Antarctic Survey seeks construction partner

26 April, 2016

New research highlights differences between the tropics and the poles Rivalry between species is common the world over as animals fight for territory and resources such as food. But, according …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Fighting for space on the seabed

20 April, 2016

BAS scientists to take part in Swiss-led Antarctic research cruise Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are to take part in a research cruise which will circumnavigate the continent of …

Read more on NEWS STORY: BAS in Swiss-led research programme

7 April, 2016

16 PhD students and Early Career Researchers have a unique opportunity to gain practical skills for working safely and effectively in the polar regions.

Read more on On the ice opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers

31 March, 2016

Research published this week by an international team of scientists, including the British Antarctic Survey, provides new insights into how carbon dioxide changed in the oceans surrounding Antarctica during glacial …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Oxygen depletion in the upper waters of the Southern Ocean during glacial periods

22 March, 2016

The Natural History Museum at Tring’s new family exhibition Antarctica asks you to decide whether you could survive the hostile conditions faced by scientists living and working on this fragile …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctica comes to NHM Tring

18 March, 2016

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff joined forces with building representatives from ISG, colleagues from neighbouring organisations and Cambridge University this week to mark an important milestone in the building of …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Milestone for new Innovation Centre

17 March, 2016

The Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is a climatological low pressure system located over the southern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of West Antarctica. Atmospheric variability in this region is larger …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Circulation changes off West Antarctica

17 March, 2016

Got a name for the new polar research ship?

Read more on NEWS STORY: Suggest a name for new polar ship

16 March, 2016

Research shows extent of decline of New Zealand southern right whales The first population assessment since the end of the whaling era reveals that New Zealand southern right whales have …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Assessment of whales’ decline

17 February, 2016

Take part in an online consultation about Europe’s research priorities for the Polar Regions

Read more on NEWS STORY: Consultation – polar research priorities for Europe

17 February, 2016

The catastrophic release of fresh water from a vast South American lake at the end of the last Ice Age was significant enough to change circulation in the Pacific Ocean …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Lake drainage affected climate

9 February, 2016

Application deadline approaches The deadline for applications from researchers to the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme, CASS (formerly known as the Collaborative Gearing Scheme, CGS) is just under three weeks away, …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme

26 January, 2016

This paper provides new evidence and proposes a new dynamical mechanism for the teleconnection between the two largest jet streams in the northern winter stratosphere – the tropical wind system …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Polar Vortex teleconnection

23 January, 2016

Scientists now have a new tool to investigate the deep structure of the least understood continent on Earth

Read more on NEWS STORY: New gravity dataset

12 January, 2016

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is recruiting now. The smooth operation and maintenance of our research stations depends on skilled technical support teams. Check out our latest vacancies!

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Cool Antarctic jobs

8 January, 2016

Two British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel, and one former member of staff, have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was made today (Fri. 8th Jan 2016) in the London …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Polar Medal awards

1 January, 2016

Dr Emily Shuckburgh, British Antarctic Survey’s Deputy Head of Polar Oceans, was among those named in the New Year’s Honours List.  She has been awarded an OBE for services to …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New Year’s Honours

21 December, 2015

New research shows decline in population and breeding success of Antarctic seabird A fifty year study of the charismatic seabird, the southern giant petrel, on the Antarctic island of Signy …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Antarctic seabird in decline

16 December, 2015

This paper reveals that the amount of snowfall in coastal West Antarctica has increased during the 20th century, with annual snow accumulation since the 1990s the highest we have observed …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Recent snowfall increase

15 December, 2015

  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Read more on Season’s greetings!

14 December, 2015

In the coming weeks British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will be advertising a range of specialist technical and support jobs at its Antarctic research stations for the 2016/17 season.  Described by …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Job opportunities in Antarctica

10 December, 2015

The British Antarctic Oral History Project is the result of a collaboration between the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), BAS Club, UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), and Scott Polar Research Institute …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctic memories online

1 December, 2015

BAS Organises Side Event for 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with keynote speakers from this session should contact Heather Martin. As world attention focuses on …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: COP21 Side Event, ‘Climate Change in the Arctic’

25 November, 2015

coordinating UK Arctic issues, research and logistics.

Read more on NEWS STORY: New Head of Arctic Office appointed

23 November, 2015

The contract for the UK’s new polar research ship was signed NERC’s Chief Operating Office Paul Fox and Cammell Laird Chief Executive, John Syvret CBE on Friday 19 November 2015 …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New polar ship contract signed

23 November, 2015

New season tackles ambitious science and logistical challenges The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 2015/16 field season is underway with dozens of scientists and support staff – together with planes and tonnes …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: New season – ambitious science

19 November, 2015

The Earth’s climate was warmer than today by at least 1°C during the Last Interglacial (between 129,000 and 116,000 years ago). Thus, the Last Interglacial represents an invaluable case study …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Improving climate predictions

19 November, 2015

Sea-level rise from Antarctic collapse may be slower than suggested A new study by scientists in the UK and France has found that Antarctic ice sheet collapse will have serious …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Sea-level rise from Antarctic collapse

16 November, 2015

A new study by an international team of scientists, including from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), has analysed the effects on seabed communities of glacial retreat. Writing in Science Advances this …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Changes in seabed communities

12 November, 2015

British Antarctic Survey participates in Live Earth 2015 Rothera Research Station band ‘The Skadoos’ has written and performed a song called ‘Holding up the World’ which will be premiered online …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Rothera participates in Live Earth 2015

4 November, 2015

West Antarctic coastal snow accumulation rose 30 percent during 20th century Annual snow accumulation on West Antarctica’s coastal ice sheet increased dramatically during the 20th century, according to a new …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: West Antarctica snow accumulation

27 October, 2015

Tender opportunity for drone to be used in the Polar Regions British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is tendering for the delivery of a long range Unmanned Air System (UAS) for use …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Tender opportunity for drone

13 October, 2015

Recent research in polar and non-polar regions showed that sun-lit snow packs are important chemical reactors and reservoirs, which strongly influence air quality of the lower atmosphere and likely also …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Improving air quality models

12 October, 2015

Government announces preferred bidder to build new polar ship Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson announced today that the preferred bidder to build a new polar research …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New polar ship bidder selected

7 October, 2015

Antarctic seabird community structure remains unaffected by changes in food availability A new study of sub-Antarctic seabirds shows that their community structure (how they co-exist and share resources) is unaffected …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Assessing seabird communities

6 October, 2015

NERC funds PhD training in robotics and autonomous systems

Read more on NEWS STORY: New Centre for Doctoral Training

29 September, 2015

This paper revised the geological history of the Antarctic Peninsula to show how it developed over the last 500 million years, and used this history to tell us about the …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: New geological history for Antarctic Peninsula

28 September, 2015

Warmer temperatures stimulate diversity of soil fungi Remote and covered by ice for much of the year the Antarctic Peninsula is home to hidden and dynamic communities of microbes that …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Fungal diversity in Antarctic soils

25 September, 2015

BAS scientists awarded grant to study penguins’ reliance on krill Norwegian and British scientists are to take part in a research project to determine how dependant non-breeding penguins are on …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Grant for penguin project

21 September, 2015

Antarctic sea bed life captures carbon as sea ice melts Colonies of tiny filter-feeding Antarctic marine creatures (bryozoans), that appear to be thriving in response to a reduction in sea-ice …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Sea bed life captures carbon

17 September, 2015

Arctic sea ice 2015 On September 11, the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) reported that Arctic sea ice reached its likely minimum extent for 2015. The minimum ice …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Arctic sea ice 2015

15 September, 2015

World Ozone Day 2015

Read more on NEWS STORY: World Ozone Day 2015

9 September, 2015

Researchers from the Arctic Research Programme, managed at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), have shown for the first time that phytoplankton (plant life) in remote ocean regions can contribute to rare …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds

9 September, 2015

A major scientific discovery made by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists, as well as one of its ships, feature on a new set of stamps being released to mark Queen …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctic stamps mark Queen’s milestone

4 September, 2015

The southern sea lion population of the Falkland Islands witnessed a dramatic decline during the last century with numbers falling by 95 per cent between the 1930s and 1960s. It …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Explaining sea lion decline

2 September, 2015

As the southern westerly winds drive the Antarctic circumpolar current around Antarctica, deep waters are forced up to the surface south of the polar front. Changes in the intensity with …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Ocean upwelling and increasing winds

28 August, 2015

Most comprehensive ice loss model A new international study is the first to use a high-resolution, large-scale computer model to estimate how much ice the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Predicting polar ice loss

20 August, 2015

Tender for the construction and fit of a new Innovation Centre at British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge

Read more on NEWS STORY: Tender to construct Aurora Cambridge

18 August, 2015

Bird tracking technology reveals future climate may affect seabird feeding behaviour A two year study of shags on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve in Scotland reveals that when …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Bird tracking aids seabird research

12 August, 2015

In February 2002, satellite images from a remote location in Antarctica revealed how an immense volume of floating ice, up to 1km thick, suddenly collapsed. Over the course of a …

Read more on FEATURED PAPER: Glacier response to ice shelf collapse

10 August, 2015

Antarctic fur seals have unique ‘scent profile’ to recognise their pups Researchers studying Antarctic fur seals have discovered their scent has a unique ‘profile’ which enables them to recognise their …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Scent matters to fur seals

30 July, 2015

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has announced it will invest £16m in research to study the effects of dramatic changes in Arctic ice cover over the last three decades on …

Read more on NEWS STORY: NERC to invest £16m in Arctic Ocean change research

28 July, 2015

Welcome to our new website! We’ve given our website a makeover so that you can find everything you need or want to know about polar science and operations. There are …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New website

22 July, 2015

Why does Antarctica matter? Young Geographer of the Year Award 2015 The Royal Geographical Society is running a schools competition to mark the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Schools Competition

14 July, 2015

New study uncovers how petrels in sub-Antarctic co-exist during the winter For the first time, scientists understand more clearly how birds living on the remote sub-Antarctic island of Bird Island …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New study uncovers how petrels co-exist

13 July, 2015

Antarctica more diverse and biologically rich than previously thought The team of scientists, led by Monash University, along with colleagues from the British Antarctic Survey, University of Waikato in New …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctic life is highly diverse

8 July, 2015

Polar ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions that changed human history Researchers find new evidence that large eruptions were responsible for cold temperature extremes recorded since early Roman times A freshly …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Polar ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions

30 June, 2015

Prince Albert II of Monaco supports Antarctic conservation assessment HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco recently closed a historic meeting of biodiversity and Antarctic experts, convened for three days in …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New Antarctic conservation assessment

24 June, 2015

New publication to celebrate NERC’s Anniversary. To mark its 50th anniversary, NERC has produced Great science for a great future, a publication outlining just a few of the impacts of the research …

Read more on NEWS STORY: NERC Celebrates 50th Anniversary

24 June, 2015

Antarctic life – highly diverse, unusually structured A new assessment by scientists, published in Nature this week, suggests Antarctica is a more diverse and biologically rich region than previously thought. …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctic biodiversity highlighted

16 June, 2015

Midwinter Celebrations in Antarctica This week staff at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica. In a tradition which began in the days of Captain Scott the …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Midwinter Celebrations in Antarctica

4 June, 2015

FREE event: ‘Discover Antarctica’ at British Geological Survey Open Day, Saturday 27 June, 10am-4pm Staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will showcase its work at this year’s British Geological Survey …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Space weather features at free event

27 May, 2015

FREE Public Event – Work in a cold climate: designing for the most extreme place on Earth London Festival of Architecture 2015 Thursday 18 June 2015, 18:30 – 20:00 The …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Free event on Halley VI

26 May, 2015

Petrels tracked across the Oceans Staff at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are following the journeys of White-chinned Petrel fledglings as they make their first journeys over the South Atlantic Ocean …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Petrels followed on feeding trips

19 May, 2015

EU boost for polar science A new initiative to enhance the integration of Europe’s scientific and operational capabilities in the Polar Regions has been funded by the EU Horizon 2020 …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: New network for polar science

18 May, 2015

Announcement of opportunity – Antarctic construction works associated with a new polar research vessel. Cambridge Seminar 4 June 2015 In April 2014 the British Government earmarked more than £200 million …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Antarctic building workshop

13 May, 2015

New study shows Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from above and below A decade-long scientific debate about what’s causing the thinning of one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves is settled …

Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Ice shelf at double risk

11 May, 2015

30th Anniversary of the Discovery of Ozone Hole This week British Antarctic Survey (BAS) commemorates the 30th anniversary of one of its most important scientific discoveries that affected the world …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Ozone hole 30th anniversary

8 May, 2015

THIS year’s Lyme Regis Fossil Festival was another success, with thousands of people visiting the three-day event.

Read more on NEWS STORY: Thousands enjoy Fossil Festival

6 May, 2015

NERC Research Experience Placement 2015 A Research Experience Placement supported by EnvEast DTP and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is available at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) this …

Read more on NEWS STORY: NERC placement offered

1 May, 2015

Digital Explorer launches virtual adventure on the ice at the UK Arctic Research Station The British Antarctic Survey is proud to support Digital Explorer’s second visit to the UK Arctic …

Read more on NEWS STORY: Live link to the Arctic

30 April, 2015

NERC Advanced Training Short Course A Skills Framework for Delivering Safe and Effective Fieldwork in the Polar Regions Course date: 26 August – 8 September 2015 Deadline for applications: 4pm, …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New training course

29 April, 2015

First new family of starfish discovered in hydrothermal vents A new family of deep-sea starfish has been discovered living in the warm waters around a hydrothermal vent in the East …

Read more on NEWS STORY: New starfish identified