science Archives - British Antarctic Survey

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 …

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.

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, …

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 …

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 …

A man flying through the air while riding a wave in the ocean

Threatened sea birds visit plastic pollution hot spots

4 July, 2023

Plastic pollution accumulating in international waters poses a serious risk to marine life, including a number of threatened bird species. A huge team of scientists studied the global movements of …

Fish survival in the extreme cold

30 June, 2023

An international team of researchers has sequenced the genomes of 24 Antarctic fish species to investigate how they survive the extreme cold. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, …

Ground beneath Thwaites Glacier mapped for first time

31 May, 2023

The ground beneath Antarctica’s most vulnerable glacier has been mapped for the first time, helping scientists to better understand how it is being affected by climate change. Analysis of the …

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 …

Breaking records and exploring life in the abyss

21 March, 2023 Huw Griffiths

We are marine biologists that study seafloor creatures, Jamie is doing a PhD investigating Antarctic sea spiders in the University of Galway and Huw works at BAS. Both of us …

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 …

Rothera Marine Team – Overcoming challenges

3 January, 2023 Aurelia Reichardt

Working in Antarctica often means making the best out of what you got. For the Rothera 2022 wintering team, this meant spending a winter without diving, which had to be …

First science on board RRS Sir David Attenborough

16 May, 2022 Emily Neville

Britain’s new polar ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, has reached another exciting milestone, completing its first ever scientific assignment – retrieving a scientific mooring! RRS Sir David Attenborough is currently …

Universities Network: COP26 Images of Innovation Exhibition

19 October, 2021

The Innovation Showcase explains how innovative science and technology is helping or, in future, could substantially help the goals of COP26 and of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enabling adaptation to climate change or informing action related to climate change.

Immersive science-art exhibition opens at Glasgow Science Centre

29 September, 2021

A new immersive exhibition, Polar Zero, opens at Glasgow Science Centre this weekend (2 October), injecting an artistic and cultural dimension to the climate negotiations at the Conference of the …

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 …

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 …

Eureka Glacier showing pronounced crevassing in the glacier as it discharges into George VI Sound.

Subglacial hydrological control on flow of an Antarctic Peninsula palaeo-ice stream

5 June, 2019 by Alexander Tate, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, James Smith, James Kirkham, Kelly Hogan, Robert Larter, Zoe Roseby

Basal hydrological systems play an important role in controlling the dynamic behaviour of ice streams. Data showing their morphology and relationship to geological substrates beneath modern ice streams are, however,…

A flock of seagulls standing next to a body of water.

Seabird populations on Antarctic Peninsula unexpected

5 December, 2018

Results of a new study on Antarctic seabirds shows a larger percentage of their populations inhabit important nesting sites around Ryder Bay, close to British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station than …

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 …

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 …

Research cruise heading to study South Atlantic islands

16 March, 2018

The RRS James Clark Ross left the Falkland Islands yesterday (15th March) and is travelling towards Tristan Da Cunha, with expected arrival on the 22nd March. The vessel will survey …

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 …

A body of water with a mountain in the background.

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 …

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 …

A sunset over a body of water with a mountain in the background.

Working together to make the Arctic more accessible for science

2 February, 2018

Fifteen research institutes from around the world, including British Antarctic Survey, have joined forces to allow scientists access to their polar ships to carry out marine-based research in the Arctic. …

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 …

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 large body of water with a mountain in the background.

New Year Honours for British Antarctic Survey scientist

5 January, 2018

Our congratulations go to Dr Phil Trathan who has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Southern Ocean science and conservation. Dr …

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 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 …

Double New Year Honours for British Antarctic Survey Directors

31 December, 2016

Two leading polar scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have received awards in the 2017 New Year Honours list from Her Majesty the Queen. BAS Director, Professor Jane Francis, …

BAS Science Summaries 2016/17

2 December, 2016

Continuous Plankton Recorder

Contemporary research has shown that the Southern Ocean is warming. Summer surface temperatures have risen by more than 1 degree Centigrade in the last 80 years and a strong upper-layer …

ORCHESTRA

Understanding the Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat, Carbon Sequestration and Transports

White-chinned Petrel Tracking

The white-chinned petrel is the most common bird species recorded as fisheries bycatch in the Southern Ocean [1]. Although currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, limited population trend data …

Angelika brandt et al. standing around a table.

SHIP BLOG: Heading for home

31 March, 2016 Susie Grant

The ship’s science labs have all been packed up and cleaned, kit boxes stowed in the container, cargo paperwork finished and cruise reports written. The SO-AntEco team is ready to …

A group of people working on a large boat

SHIP BLOG: Rhythm of the night

25 March, 2016 Hilary Blagbrough

Oh look it’s snowing/raining and getting dark… it must be time for the Night Shift. I’m Hilary, the night shift leader on the SO-AntEco scientific cruise to the South Orkney …

A group of people standing in front of a crowd posing for the camera.

SHIP BLOG: Science Week questions answered from the Southern Ocean

23 March, 2016 Susie Grant

Last week was UK Science Week, and we asked schools and anyone else who had burning questions about the Antarctic deep sea to send them to us here on the …

ANTARCTIC BLOG: preparation is everything

15 February, 2016 Huw Griffiths

As the days count down towards departure the dreams about forgetting my passport at the airport become more frequent. My office in Cambridge is a long way from the Antarctic …

A man riding a snowboard down a snow covered slope.

ANTARCTIC BLOG: Extreme Geology #8

27 January, 2016 Joanne Johnson

Reflections from the ANiSEED team in Marie Byrd Land Field Guide Al Docherty recounts his most memorable day of the field season so far: “7am the alarm goes off. I look …

A group of people riding skis on top of a snow covered slope.

ANTARCTIC BLOG: Extreme Geology #7