Antarctica Archives - British Antarctic Survey

7 things you didn’t know about poo in Antarctica

9 December, 2024 Madeline De Marchis

Poo isn’t usually what first comes to mind when thinking of Antarctica, we tend to imagine the frozen landscape, vast expanses of white, ice sheets, and penguins. Yet, poo is …

British Antarctic Survey at the Science Museum Christmas Lates

The British Antarctic Survey invites you to join us at the Science Museum Christmas Lates. The halls will be decked for a festive celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths …

Role of polar ice sheets in climate tipping points

27 November, 2024

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

Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

26 November, 2024

A project looking at how clouds affect climate change in Antarctica starts its second year of field research this month. The Southern Ocean Clouds (SOC) project, which is part of …

Plastic reduces how krill remove carbon into deep ocean

20 November, 2024

New research shows that increased levels of plastic pollution in the Southern Ocean could reduce the ability of Antarctic krill, a tiny shrimp-like crustacean, to help take CO2 from the atmosphere.  The …

Sounds of Antarctica come to life in new album

15 November, 2024

Today marks the release of The Seventh Continent, a new album from the international Sounds of Space Project that offers a unique aural journey to Antarctica. The album features contributions …

A new Antarctic season begins for 2024/25

24 October, 2024

The Antarctic field season is now underway, marked by the arrival of the first aircraft at Rothera Research Station. And with a new season brings a new roster of innovative …

A close up of a hillside next to a body of water

Satellite observations show accelerating greening of Antarctic Peninsula

4 October, 2024

New research released today in Nature Geoscience reveals that vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold in the past four decades. Researchers from University of Exeter, University …

First Antarctic-wide survey of plant life to aid conservation efforts

6 August, 2024

The first continent-wide mapping study of plant life across Antarctica reveals growth in previously uncharted areas, and is set to inform conservation measures across the region. Published today in Nature …

British Antarctic Survey at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2024

Join British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists at this year’s world-famous Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, taking place from Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June. Come and marvel at remarkable fossils …

Journey to the Antarctic: a virtual visit to Rothera Research Station

Aimed at KS2, children have the opportunity to find out about the facilities at Rothera research station and the challenges faced in trying to modernise it without impacting upon this special environment. They can ask questions to a scientist, pilot and engineers on station.

Aerial view of runway and large blue building and blue sea in background

Katie’s Journey to Antarctica

2 April, 2024 Katie Handford

As the Antarctic winter season fast approaches, we’ll be following the journey of one of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme’s (AIMP) Assistant Project Managers, Katie Handford as she gears up to spend winter at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

First flights of uncrewed aircraft in Antarctica

22 February, 2024

A team testing the Windracers ULTRA drone in Antarctica has shared the first video footage of the aircraft flying autonomously over British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station and its …

A plane sitting on top of a snow covered mountain

Pilotless plane test crew arrives in Antarctica

3 February, 2024

A team have arrived at Rothera Research Station, ready to start testing the new Windracers ULTRA autonomous drone in Antarctica. If successful, the new drone platform could represent a major …

Extreme heatwave in East Antarctica caused by record-breaking ‘atmospheric river’

10 January, 2024

Scientists have identified the intricate meteorological drivers that led to an intense heatwave across East Antarctica in from 15-19 March 2022. The heatwave, which affected an area of the size …

Team embarks on mission to investigate iceberg calving

8 January, 2024

Halley Research Station, Antarctica – A team of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is gearing up for an expedition to the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica to unravel …

Interview with Professor Dame Jane Francis

30 December, 2023 Emily Newton

How does a woman born in 1950s England go on to earn a PhD in geology, spend weeks at a time researching in Antarctica, become the director of the British …

RRS Sir David Attenborough samples A23a iceberg during climate science mission

4 December, 2023

ANTARCTICA: Scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg, the largest iceberg in the world. New video footage shows the enormous iceberg, …

A wall of jagged ice in front of a mountain

New Antarctic place names announced

15 November, 2023

Since Antarctica has no indigenous human populations to give names to landmarks, the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee provides advice on place-naming in the British Antarctic Territory, adhering to international principles …

Cleaning the All-Sky Camera portal on top of the optical caboose at Rothera Research Station

2023-2024 field season begins for British Antarctic Survey

19 October, 2023

The Antarctic field season has started, with over 600 people beginning the journey South to work on over 60 projects on station and in the field. The season of work …

New threat to Antarctic fur seals

16 October, 2023

Antarctic fur seals that were hunted to near extinction have recovered but now face dangerous decline because of a lack of food, new research suggests. The study of fur seals, …

British Antarctic Survey on Radio & TV this Autumn

25 September, 2023

British Antarctic Survey scientists are called up for their expertise this season, in a series of documentaries on radio and television. Secrets of our Universe with Tim Peake, Channel 5 …

Loss of sea ice causes catastrophic breeding failure for emperor penguins

24 August, 2023

Emperor penguin colonies experienced unprecedented breeding failure in a region of Antarctica where there was total sea ice loss in 2022. The discovery supports predictions that over 90% of emperor …

New Antarctic extremes ‘virtually certain’ as world warms

8 August, 2023

Extreme events in Antarctica such as ocean heatwaves and ice loss will almost certainly become more common and more severe, researchers say. With drastic action now needed to limit global …

The mystery of the missing Antarctic sea ice

3 August, 2023

Winter sea ice in the Antarctic is at a historic low, and scientists are working to understand why an area of ice the size of Greenland is missing. Scientists from …

DNA Detectives: New ways to spot Southern Ocean hitchhikers

10 July, 2023

How do you spot an invader you can’t see in a harsh and unforgiving environment? A team of international scientists are looking for new methods to defend the frozen continent …

Bird diet sampling helps uncover the lives of living fossils

27 June, 2023

Researchers have discovered a flesh-eating fish is in major decline – by looking at the stomach content of some of the world’s largest bird, albatrosses. The Patagonian Lamprey, Geotria macrostoma, …

Deep ocean waters in Antarctica are shrinking and warming

12 June, 2023

Antarctic Bottom Water is the coldest, densest water mass on the planet and plays a pivotal role in regulating the ocean’s ability to store heat and capture carbon. In a …

Antarctic tipping points

1 June, 2023 by Louise Sime, Rachel Cavanagh, Jane Francis, Oliver Marsh, Geraint Tarling, Rosie Williams

Life as a structural engineer in Antarctica

19 May, 2023 Connie Pang

Connie Pang is a Senior Structural Engineer at Ramboll and travelled to Antarctica this year to work as the Site Supervisor for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme. Here she looks …

British Antarctic Survey at Bluedot Festival 2023

British Antarctic Survey is delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s Bluedot Festival from 20-23 July 2023. Join us at Bluedot Festival – an award winning line up of music, science and …

Scientists named on TIME100 list for Antarctic research

13 April, 2023

Scientists Dr Peter Davis (British Antarctic Survey) and Dr Britney Schmidt (Cornell University) have been named in the 2023 TIME100 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the …

A person standing in front of a building in the snow

Polar Passover

5 April, 2023 Alysa Fisher

Alysa Hulbert, is an Information Officer at British Antarctic Survey. She spent several months last year working in Antarctica, which coincided with the Jewish festival of Passover or Pesach פֶּסַח. …

Last Post from the burning decks of a melting iceberg

22 March, 2023 Emily Newton

Composer Ewan Campbell has written a piece of music for trumpet inspired by the 21-year journey of the A22a iceberg. The new composition was also illustrated onto a British Antarctic …

Here we go again…

14 March, 2023 Christopher Robert Lloyd

Christopher Robert Lloyd, Associate Project Manager at Ramboll is currently working at Rothera Research Station on the construction of the Discovery Building for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In …

First journey to Rothera

1 February, 2023 Kathleen Maclean

Simeon Anastasov, Principal Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants, is currently working at Rothera Research Station providing site supervision as part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In this blog …

Polar Fest at The Deep, Hull

We’re delighted to be partnering with The Deep and the Scott Polar Research Institute to bring you ‘Polar Fest’ – the perfect family friendly event this winter! This event is …

Artist impression of the new Discovery Building for science in Antarctica with snow and blue sky in the background

Antarctica drawing competition launches

2 November, 2022

The British Antarctic Survey and its partners are launching a drawing competition for schools, to inspire the next generation of polar engineers, scientists and explorers. School children between the ages …

Melting sea icewith melt pools and snow-free terrain, Antarctic Peninsula.

Winter warming in Antarctica

27 October, 2022 by Anna Jones, Ella Gilbert, Oliver Marsh

Learning about the first animals from life at the poles

12 October, 2022

The amazing survival strategies of polar marine creatures might help to explain how the first animals on Earth could have evolved earlier than the oldest fossils suggest according to new …

BAS celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11 February, 2022 Melody Clark

Today, 11 February, is International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative led by UNESCO and UN-Women. To celebrate, we have asked some of our female staff …

Antarctica as testing site ahead of mission to icy moons

9 February, 2022

Scientists have deployed a network of seismometers onto Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf in an experiment that will test the instrument’s ability to operate on icy moons in the Solar System. …

Celebrating Christmas in Antarctica 2021

23 December, 2021

2021 has been a rollercoaster year for British Antarctic Survey, operating research stations in the Antarctic and the sub-Antarctic through the Covid-19 pandemic, while our new polar research vessel, the …

Antarctica experiences rare total solar eclipse

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 …

A large red ship is floating in a river with a city skyline behind it.

RRS Sir David Attenborough makes maiden voyage to Antarctica

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 …

UK takes vaccines to Antarctica

12 October, 2021

A consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines has been received by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Rothera Research Station in Antarctica – the furthest south any British Covid-19 vaccine has yet travelled. …

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

5 October, 2021 Huw Griffiths

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

GUEST BLOG: Saving Antarctica! The 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Protocol on Environmental Protection

4 October, 2021 Amanda Wynne

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was agreed in 1991 and came into force in 1998, once it had been ratified by all 26 (currently 28) Antarctic …

GUEST BLOG: Polar Diplomacy

20 September, 2021 Amanda Wynne

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

Chaotic formation of genetic islands among marine molluscs

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 …

Climate change risk to emperor penguins

3 August, 2021

British Antarctic Survey scientists have contributed to a new study published today (3 August) which provides valuable new data highlighting how emperor penguins extinction risk is increased due to rapid …

A penguin with a white belly and a black head standing on snow, with blue sky behind

Leading scientists warn of global impacts as Antarctic nears tipping points

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 …

Solitude and Survival in the South

27 April, 2021 James Bowyer

Doctor James Bowyer has just returned to the UK after providing medical cover for Rothera Research Station staff from 2019 – 2021. James shares his experiences of life and work …

Potential for life in lakes isolated beneath Antarctic ice

18 February, 2021

In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Lyon and the British Antarctic Survey have shown Antarctic subglacial lakes may be more hospitable …

The Discovery Building

The Discovery Building will be a new world-class scientific support and operations facility at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

RRS James Clark Ross on route to Antarctica

15 December, 2020

UPDATE 15/12/2020: Opening Signy Research Station RRS James Clark Ross arrived at Signy Island on 15 December. Signy Island is one of the remote South Orkney Islands, which lie more …

Climate extremes drive changes in Antarctic Bottom Water

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 …

RRS Sir David Attenborough departs Cammell Laird for technical sea trials

21 October, 2020

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

Automated Halley monitors the ozone hole over Antarctica

16 September, 2020

This World Ozone Day, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) celebrates new technology which enables continuous monitoring of the ozone hole over Antarctica. Readings from the Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer at Halley Research …

A research base lit up in an icy landscape in the dark

Celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica

19 June, 2020

British Antarctic Survey are this Sunday (21 June) celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica. In a tradition which began more than one hundred years ago with Captain Scott, the event marks …

Antarctica: Mystery of the ice

Join climate scientist and #SciComm expert Ella Gilbert online for ‘Antarctica: Mystery of the ice’ at BAS Live, 2:00pm, Thursday 18 June 2020. Antarctica, the world’s most southerly continent, contains …

A body of water with a mountain in the snow.

Climate change will turn coastal Antarctica green

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 …

Blog: South Georgia whale expedition in full swing!

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 …

Warming up the Antarctic: Harder than you think

29 July, 2019 Melody Clark

Professor Melody Clark, Project Leader, discusses the trials and tribulations of undertaking research in Antarctica. Her latest paper published in Nature Communications shows that rising sea temperatures of just 1-2 …

Boaty McBoatface (Autosub Long Range) at its first Antarctic deployment into the Weddell Sea off RRS James Clark Ross

Boaty McBoatface sheds light on warming ocean abyss

18 June, 2019

The debut mission involving the autonomous submarine Autosub Long Range – affectionately known as Boaty McBoatface – has for the first time shed light on a key process linking increasing …

New mission for 1.5 million year climate record

9 April, 2019

This week a team of European researchers announces its plans for an ambitious mission to find the oldest ice on Earth (9 April 2019). Antarctica’s ice has the potential to …

Persistence and brilliant engineering

15 February, 2019 Nadescha Zwerschke

Nadescha Zwerschke is a marine biologist, who was travelling on the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) as part of the ICEBERGS 2 cruise in December 2018. Having left Burdwood Bank …

New study looks at risk to Antarctic marine life in future

17 January, 2019

A new study of the animals living in polar oceans reveals which are most at risk from climate change. The study is published today (17 January) in Frontiers in Marine …

Opportunities for Antarctic research – Apply now

9 January, 2019

Applications to carry out small-scale research projects in the Antarctic in the 2019/20 season are invited from UK-based researchers. The Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS) provides fieldwork opportunities for scientists …

A body of water with a mountain in the background.

The impact of ‘alien’ species in Antarctica

19 December, 2018

Of the known non-native or ‘alien’ species found in Antarctica, a non-biting species of midge currently presents one of the highest risks to terrestrial ecosystems, researchers have found. The preliminary …

Hay Festival short film highlights Antarctic climate science

29 May, 2018

Leading climate scientist and BAS oceanographer Dr Emily Shuckburgh worked with award-winning author and illustrator Chris Haughton to create the short film Message from Antarctica. This is part of the …

“Hairdryer winds” cause ice melt during Antarctic winter

3 May, 2018

A new study involving scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) suggests for the first time that warm winds are creating large surface melting of ice shelves in Antarctica during the …

ISLAND SCIENCE: Living in Harmony

24 April, 2018 Victoria Warwick-Evans

Four people, two tents, a lot of smelly penguins and boil-in-the-bag army rations. That pretty much sums up life at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands during January and …

New study reveals increased snowfall in Antarctica over last two centuries

9 April, 2018

The first comprehensive study of snowfall across Antarctica provides vital information in the study of future sea-level rise. Presenting this week (Monday 9 April 2018) at the European Geosciences Union …

SCIENCE AT SEA: Surveys and Sediments

27 March, 2018 Matthew Chadwick

Matthew Chadwick is a member of the science team from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) currently aboard the RRS Discovery. Read on to gain an insight into what the team have …

Hay Festival Trans.MISSION

Join Climate scientist and mathematician at British Antarctic Survey Dr Emily Shuckburgh and award-winning designer, author and illustrator Chris Haughton (A Bit Lost, Oh No George! and Shh! We Have …

SCIENCE AT SEA: Setting off for the Scotia Sea

15 March, 2018 Zoe Roseby

Zoë Roseby is a member of the science team from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) currently aboard the RRS Discovery. Read on to discover what the team will be investigating in …

ENGINEERING AT SEA: Supporting Marine Science

9 March, 2018 Carwyn Davies

Mechanical engineer Carwyn Davies, from British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Marine Engineering (AME) is working onboard the RRS James Clark Ross with our science team to investigate Larsen C Benthos. Find …

Polar Governance Workshop

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

STATION SCIENCE: Higher predator monitoring

5 March, 2018 Kieran Love

Kieran Love tells us what it is like to be the Zoological Field Assistant at King Edward Point Research Station (KEP) on South Georgia. So, what does being a zoological …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA: You study what?

28 February, 2018 Mel Mackenzie

Dr Mel Mackenzie, a Collection Manager of Marine Invertebrates at Museums Victoria in Melbourne, is living and working on board the BAS research ship RRS James Clark Ross for the …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA: The adventure begins

22 February, 2018 Rowan Whittle

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) palaeobiologist Dr Rowan Whittle is a member of the Larsen C Benthos research cruise onboard the RRS James Clark Ross. Rowan’s primary role is to assist …

Cambridge Science Festival: Woman in Science evening talk

Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of British Antarctic Survey is giving the Annual WiSETI (Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative) Lecture at the 2018 Cambridge Science Festival. She will …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA: Studying Southern Right Whales

13 February, 2018 Layla Batchellier

Find out what the South Georgia Right Whale Expedition team have been up to during their first few weeks sailing in the waters around South Georgia. Firstly, Susannah Calderan tells …

First expedition to newly exposed Antarctic ecosystem

12 February, 2018

A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), heads to Antarctica this week (14 February) to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice …

A group of people standing on top of a snow covered mountain.

Celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2018

11 February, 2018 Zoe Waring

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11th February), Zoe Waring, the Marine Assistant at Rothera Research Station, has written a blog about her work at British …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA: Rolling, rolling, rolling

7 February, 2018 Jennifer Jackson

Whale ecologist Dr Jennifer Jackson, who is leading the first expedition to ‘health-check’ southern right whales since whaling stopped in the 1970s, describes how she and the team prepared for …

Polar Medals awarded to BAS staff

31 January, 2018

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

Life in the slow lane

19 January, 2018

A new study from British Antarctic Survey shows how five common Antarctic marine invertebrates (animals without a backbone) use less energy to feed, grow and reproduce than their temperate and …

SCIENCE ON THE ICE: 20th visit to Antarctica

12 January, 2018 Jonathan Shanklin

It’s been over 30 years since British Antarctic Survey meteorologist Jonathan Shanklin first visited at Halley Research Station. He’s one of few who has spent 20 Antarctic seasons living and …

A person riding a wave on top of a mountain.

Lanternfish reveal how ocean warming impacts the twilight zone

12 January, 2018

A new study from the British Antarctic Survey shows how lanternfish, small bioluminescent fish, are likely to respond to the warming of the Southern Ocean. Lanternfish are one of the …

A group of people on a boat in the water.

SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 4: Sea ice and science

28 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

Following the glider deployments our next destination was Rothera, the UK’s biggest Antarctic research station on Adelaide Island. Good progress was made until we hit the sea ice – 120 …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 3: Gliders galore!

20 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

It was finally time to deploy the gliders and I couldn’t be more excited! Autonomous vehicles are regarded as the future of oceanography, and I feel extremely lucky to be …

SCIENCE ON THE ICE – Part 2: Setting up camp at Little Dome C

18 December, 2017 Robert Mulvaney

This Antarctic season BAS scientist Dr Robert Mulvaney is taking part in the ongoing hunt for the oldest ice record Beyond Epica. Using a variety of different techniques, he and …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 2: Busy biologists!

12 December, 2017 Ryan Scott

First thing I learn as I begin my trip aboard the RRS James Clark Ross is that, scientist on research cruises need to be able to adapt quickly! Within two …

A man riding skis down a snow covered mountain.

New satellite imagery reveals new highest Antarctic Peninsula Mountain

11 December, 2017

Cartographers surveying Antarctica have discovered Mt Hope is the tallest mountain in the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) at 3,239 m (10,654 ft) above sea level. Until now, maps showed Mt …

SCIENCE IN THE SEA – Part 1: Journey to the JCR!

29 November, 2017 Ryan Scott

After 6 days, 9505 miles and 7 mm of beard growth, the cruise has officially started! Thursday 16th November and finally the time had come for me start my journey …

‘Scars’ left by icebergs record West Antarctic ice retreat

25 October, 2017

Thousands of marks on the Antarctic seafloor, caused by icebergs which broke free from glaciers more than ten thousand years ago, show how part of the Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated …

Scientists to visit hidden Antarctic ecosystem after giant iceberg calving

9 October, 2017

A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is planning an urgent mission to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice shelf for …

Research outputs