Atmosphere, Ice and Climate team

Our team studies how the polar atmosphere, ocean, and ice interact with each other and the global climate.

What we do

We aim to understand the processes driving these systems and predict their responses to environmental change. Our research supports climate policy and global climate models.

Team Priorities

Atmosphere-ocean-ice interactions

We investigate how air, ice, and ocean interact to influence climate.

Climate and atmospheric composition

We study sea ice dynamics, clouds, aerosols, and atmospheric chemistry. This ensures these critical factors are accurately represented in climate models to predict polar climate change.

Patterns of change

We use long-term observations to identify trends and variability in the polar atmosphere.

Technology and training

Our team:

• uses cutting-edge instruments on the ground, in the air, and on autonomous platforms

• develops numerical models and data analysis techniques

• trains PhD students and early career scientists

International collaboration

Our team collaborates with leading UK and international research teams to tackle high impact science questions and drive the research agenda.

Take a leading role in the planning and implementation of polar science programmes through various organisations, including the:

• Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

• World Climate Research Programme

• International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Our meteorological data collected from Antarctica  contributes sustained observations to World Meteorological Organisation programmes. For example, the Global Atmosphere Watch.

Supporting policy

Our team briefs UK government departments and supports international climate programmes.

Featured project

DEFIANT

The recent extreme swings in Antarctic sea ice extent emphasise the need to increase our knowledge of the drivers and climate implications of Antarctic sea ice loss.

1. New gravity wave observatories in Antarctica

   ANGWIN brings together different nations to observe gravity waves over Antarctica and understand how these atmospheric waves affect global weather patterns and polar climate processes.

   Read more of: New gravity wave observatories in Antarctica

   

2. Antarctic Coastal Winds

   This project aimed to improve observational knowledge of winds along the Antarctic coast and use this to both evaluate the current state-of-the art climate models and help make improvements for the next model generation.

   Read more of: Antarctic Coastal Winds

   

3. Arctic Summer-time Cyclones

   The overarching goal of the project is to determine the role of sea-ice surface properties in Arctic cyclone dynamics and to characterise the interaction of Arctic cyclones with the summer-time Arctic environment.

   Read more of: Arctic Summer-time Cyclones

   

4. How sea ice and snow regulate climate

   CRiceS investigates the rapid decline of sea ice and its links to physical and chemical changes in polar oceans and the atmosphere.

   Read more of: How sea ice and snow regulate climate

   

5. Tracking Antarctica’s Ice Fluctuations

   The recent extreme swings in Antarctic sea ice extent emphasise the need to increase our knowledge of the drivers and climate implications of Antarctic sea ice loss.

   Read more of: Tracking Antarctica’s Ice Fluctuations

   

6. Predicting the mesosphere

   MesoS2D uses powerful radars and satellites to study a little-understood layer of the atmosphere, the mesosphere.

   Read more of: Predicting the mesosphere

   

7. Meteorology and Ozone Monitoring

   Long-term meteorological and ozone observations and data help determine the causes of climate change in the polar regions.

   Read more of: Meteorology and Ozone Monitoring

   

8. Polar regions in the Earth system

   PolarRES investigates polar climate processes in the Arctic and Antarctic, improving global climate projections and reducing uncertainties to better assess environmental and social impacts.

   Read more of: Polar regions in the Earth system

   

9. Real Projections

   Real Projections focused on understanding the processes driving sea ice variability and change, combining observational data with climate model outputs to produce more robust projections of future Antarctic sea ice area under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.

   Read more of: Real Projections

   

10. Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

    SEANA is a NERC-funded project, led by Dr Zongbo Shi (U. Birmingham) that aims to define the baseline atmosphere and model potential future changes.

    Read more of: Measuring shipping emissions in the Arctic

    

11. The Southern Ocean’s carbon story

    SONATA will design and implement an optimal approach to assess the state, variability and climatic drivers of the contemporary Southern Ocean carbon sink. This overriding objective will be achieved through a combination of atmospheric and marine field measurements as well as numerical modelling.

    Read more of: The Southern Ocean’s carbon story

    

12. Southern Ocean Clouds

    Southern Ocean Clouds improves climate models by studying cloud processes over the Southern Ocean to reduce global prediction errors. 

    Read more of: Southern Ocean Clouds

    

13. Antarctic surface mass and energy exchanges

    SURFEIT unites UK and international scientists to study Antarctic ice and atmosphere interactions, improve sea-level projections, and support climate action.

    Read more of: Antarctic surface mass and energy exchanges

    

14. Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

    SSAASI-CLIM attempts to determine the salt sea aerosol source, fate and potential impact on Arctic climate associated with blowing snow above sea ice and other sea ice sources.

    Read more of: Sea salt aerosols and Arctic climate

    

15. North Atlantic climate system integrated study

    ACSIS focussed on understanding changes occurring across the North Atlantic climate system in the ocean, the atmosphere, the cryosphere and the interactions between these constituent components.

    Read more of: North Atlantic climate system integrated study

    

16. Gravity waves over the Southern Ocean

    DRAGON-WEX used a novel 3D satellite analysis method combined with meteor radars at Rothera and King Edward Point to track how gravity waves influence atmospheric circulation.

    Read more of: Gravity waves over the Southern Ocean

    

17. Iceland Greenland seas Project

    The Iceland Greenland Seas Project investigates how atmosphere-ocean processes in the Iceland Sea create the dense waters that flow through Denmark Strait and feed the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which is crucial for global and European climate.

    Read more of: Iceland Greenland seas Project

    

18. Water Resources of the Upper Indus Basin

    This project investigated how much water is stored in the glaciers and snow of the Upper Indus Basin, and how climate variability influences water availability.

    Read more of: Water Resources of the Upper Indus Basin

    

19. ISOL-ICE

    This project collected a shallow ice core from East Antarctic Plateau to reconstruct past ultraviolet radiation and therefore the ozone layer for the past 1,000 yr by measuring the isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen in the nitrate ion.

    Read more of: ISOL-ICE

    

20. Understanding changing Arctic sea ice

    physicists, chemists, biologists, economists, and sociologists from 21 institutes in 11 countries across Europe assess the rapid retreat and collapse of Arctic sea-ice cover

    Read more of: Understanding changing Arctic sea ice

    

21. Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

    This project conducted flights within clouds taking detailed measurements of the physical properties of the cloud – size spectrums and phase (whether the particles are ice or liquid) – as well as taking ground based measurements of the aerosols which will act as nuclei for the cloud particles.

    Read more of: Microphysics of Antarctic Clouds NE

    

22. Sea salt aerosols from blowing snow

    ABSCISSA investigated the sources of sea-salt aerosols in polar regions during Arctic and Antarctic winter.

    Read more of: Sea salt aerosols from blowing snow

    

23. Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

    OFCAP was an integrated programme of field observations, analysis and modelling aimed at understanding how the westerly winds in the Antarctic Peninsula influence the climate.

    Read more of: Orographic Flows and the Climate of the Antarctic Peninsula (OFCAP)

    

24. Joint Airborne Study of the Peninsula Region (JASPER)

    JASPER brings together two of the best equipped Polar meteorology instrumented aircraft and teams to study boundary layer meteorology in the Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea.

    Read more of: Joint Airborne Study of the Peninsula Region (JASPER)

    

1. Historic drilling project finds ice over 1.2 million years old

   The Beyond EPICA-Oldest Ice project has successfully drilled a 2800-metre-long ice core consisting of ice which is over 1.2 million years old.

   Read more of: Historic drilling project finds ice over 1.2 million years old

   

2. Antarctic drilling missions seek to understand climate and ice dynamics

   Over 30 researchers from international institutes are working on ice core drilling campaigns in Antarctica to probe the ice sheet’s behaviour, carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean, and the Earth’s climate history.

   Read more of: Antarctic drilling missions seek to understand climate and ice dynamics

   

3. Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   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 the CloudSense programme, will carry out research on the RRS Sir David Attenborough and at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

   Read more of: Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

   

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

   Scientists have identified the intricate meteorological drivers that led to an intense heatwave across East Antarctica in from 15-19 March 2022.

   Read more of: Extreme heatwave in East Antarctica caused by record-breaking ‘atmospheric river’

   

5. Clouds formed with sea salt contribute to Arctic warming

   Scientists studying Arctic warming have shared new evidence that sea salt aerosols from “blowing snow” play a significant role in forming clouds that reflect solar radiation back to the Earth’s surface.

   Read more of: Clouds formed with sea salt contribute to Arctic warming

   

6. Flying campaign to improve climate modelling begins

   A team of scientists are currently conducting a major experiment over the Southern Ocean that will help to improve climate modelling. The Southern Ocean Clouds project team are performing several […]

   Read more of: Flying campaign to improve climate modelling begins

   

7. New funding to predict future sea-level rise in Antarctica

   Researchers at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will develop new and ambitious ideas to tackle critical global environmental challenges, such as global sea-level rise from Antarctica, thanks to new funding. The […]

   Read more of: New funding to predict future sea-level rise in Antarctica

   

8. Flying campaign to future-proof sea ice measurements

   An ambitious flying campaign out of British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station over the Weddell Sea this month (December) aims to calibrate the data collected from two important satellites that […]

   Read more of: Flying campaign to future-proof sea ice measurements

   

9. Funding addresses environmental challenges

   British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists will investigate critical challenges facing the UK, thanks to new funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). A £47m investment to several UK research […]

   Read more of: Funding addresses environmental challenges

   

10. Study sets course for research on Himalayan waters

    A new study featuring contributions from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists has identified 100 pressing research questions on climate change and water resources in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) that must be answered to protect the communities that live there.

    Read more of: Study sets course for research on Himalayan waters

    

11. Study underway as Antarctic sea ice extent at record level

    A £5m project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to investigate the complex changes seen in sea ice around the Antarctic begins this month (March 2022) as the […]

    Read more of: Study underway as Antarctic sea ice extent at record level

    

12. Deep insight into Arctic from MOSAiC expedition

    New research papers from the one-year MOSAiC expedition to study the Arctic have yielded new understanding about the region. Hundreds of international researchers are currently analysing observations from the MOSAiC […]

    Read more of: Deep insight into Arctic from MOSAiC expedition

    

13. Polar medals awarded to BAS staff

    Three British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was published last week (Friday 28 January) in the London Gazette. Melody Clark is a molecular […]

    Read more of: Polar medals awarded to BAS staff

    

14. Grant to understand future impacts on atmospheric prediction

    A new project to improve scientists understanding of the impact of space weather and climate change on the atmosphere starts this month (January 2022). A team from British Antarctic Survey, […]

    Read more of: Grant to understand future impacts on atmospheric prediction

    

15. Improving climate projections in the Polar Regions

    The Polar Regions play a crucial role in balancing global climate – with the poles heating up much faster than the rest of the world. Yet, climate projections for these […]

    Read more of: Improving climate projections in the Polar Regions

    

16. DEEPICE: Network of young researchers to unveil past climate change in Antarctica

    A network of international researchers launches a European collaboration this week ( 14 October 2021). This collaboration will train a new generation of scientists to understand how past climate changes […]

    Read more of: DEEPICE: Network of young researchers to unveil past climate change in Antarctica

    

17. IPCC: Polar scientists welcome Climate Change Assessment 

    CAMBRIDGE: British Antarctic Survey welcomes the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 component of its Sixth Assessment Report.  This assessment brings together the latest advances in […]

    Read more of: IPCC: Polar scientists welcome Climate Change Assessment 

    

18. New verified temperature record for Antarctic continent

    The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has today (1 July 2021) recognised a new record high temperature for the Antarctic continent of 18.3° Celsius on 6 February 2020 at the Esperanza […]

    Read more of: New verified temperature record for Antarctic continent

    

19. New project to understand polar processes in global climate system

    British Antarctic Survey researchers will work on a new Horizon 2020 project to advance their understanding of polar processes in the global climate system. The CRiceS project, or Climate relevant […]

    Read more of: New project to understand polar processes in global climate system

    

20. Celebrating International Day of Women & Girls in Science 2021

    Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), a celebration of women and girls in science led by UNESCO and UN-Women. “International Day of Women and […]

    Read more of: Celebrating International Day of Women & Girls in Science 2021

    

21. Climate scientists uncover 30-year-old temperature record

    The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recognized a temperature of -69.6°C (-93.3°F) at an automatic weather station in Greenland on 22 December 1991 as the coldest ever recorded in the […]

    Read more of: Climate scientists uncover 30-year-old temperature record

    

22. Record warming at the South Pole

    The South Pole has warmed at over three times the global rate since 1989, according to a paper published in Nature Climate Change today (29 June 2020). This warming period was […]

    Read more of: Record warming at the South Pole

    

23. Antarctic sea ice loss explained in new study

    Scientists have discovered that summer sea ice in the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica has decreased by one million square kilometres – an area twice the size of Spain – […]

    Read more of: Antarctic sea ice loss explained in new study

    

24. Climate scientists help businesses tackle climate change

    Climate change could add around 20% to the global cost of extreme weather events by 2040, according to early findings from Cambridge researchers. The findings come from the Cambridge Climate […]

    Read more of: Climate scientists help businesses tackle climate change

    

25. Arctic under spotlight at World Economic Forum

    A team of Arctic scientists – including British Antarctic Survey (BAS) climate scientist Dr Jeremy Wilkinson – are hosting their fourth Arctic Basecamp in Davos this week (20-24 January) at […]

    Read more of: Arctic under spotlight at World Economic Forum

    

26. World Ozone Day 2019

    Latest ozone news – world ozone day

    Read more of: World Ozone Day 2019

    

27. Scientists to study methane emissions in North Sea

    Scientists embark on a three-week flying campaign today (23 April) to study methane emissions from gas fields in the southern North Sea. Using specialised scientific equipment, on board one of […]

    Read more of: Scientists to study methane emissions in North Sea

    

28. Antarctic snowfall dominated by a few extreme snowstorms

    A new study reveals the importance of a small number of intense storms around Antarctica in controlling the amount of snow falling across the continent.

    Read more of: Antarctic snowfall dominated by a few extreme snowstorms

    

29. Scientists highlight Arctic at World Economic Forum

    A team of Arctic scientists – including British Antarctic Survey (BAS) climate scientist Dr Jeremy Wilkinson – are hosting their Arctic Basecamp in Davos this week (23 January) at the […]

    Read more of: Scientists highlight Arctic at World Economic Forum

    

30. FEATURED PAPER: Himalayan winds

    Around one billion people depend on water resources originating from the Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalayan region, attributable to both rainfall and melting of snow and ice. The wind in the valleys […]

    Read more of: FEATURED PAPER: Himalayan winds

    

31. Funding to assess shipping emissions and climate hazards

    British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists have been awarded funding to enable them to assess the impact of emissions from shipping and to quantify and manage the risk of climate hazards. […]

    Read more of: Funding to assess shipping emissions and climate hazards

    

32. Our experts comment on IPCC report

    Expert comment on IPCC Special Report

    Read more of: Our experts comment on IPCC report

    

33. World Ozone Day – 16th September

    The 2018 ozone hole began forming in late August and won’t reach its largest for over a fortnight.  Already it covers most of the Antarctic continent, an area of 14 […]

    Read more of: World Ozone Day – 16th September

    

34. European wind energy generation potential in a 1.5˚C world

    The UK and large parts of northern Europe could become windier if global temperatures reach 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels, according to a new study. This has implications for wind energy […]

    Read more of: European wind energy generation potential in a 1.5˚C world

    

35. “Hairdryer winds” cause ice melt during Antarctic winter

    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 […]

    Read more of: “Hairdryer winds” cause ice melt during Antarctic winter

    

36. FEATURED PAPER: Record temperature at Signy

    On 30th January 1982, a record high temperature of +19.8°C was measured at Signy Research Station – a record for any station south of 60°S. In this paper, we examined […]

    Read more of: FEATURED PAPER: Record temperature at Signy

    

37. Scientists gather in Davos to highlight Arctic climate change

    A team of leading Arctic scientists – including British Antarctic Survey glaciologist Dr Jeremy Wilkinson – are gathering in Davos this week at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting (23-24 […]

    Read more of: Scientists gather in Davos to highlight Arctic climate change

    

38. New study calls for unified research to understand changing ecosystems

    A new multidisciplinary study led by scientists at British Antarctic Study (BAS) stresses the need for an integrated approach to understand the effects of climate change on Antarctic marine ecosystems. […]

    Read more of: New study calls for unified research to understand changing ecosystems

    

39. World Ozone Day: 30th anniversary of Montreal Protocol

    This week (Saturday 16 September), marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It is one of the most successful […]

    Read more of: World Ozone Day: 30th anniversary of Montreal Protocol

    

40. Study shows ice sheet loss over the last 11,000 years

    Reporting this week (Wednesday 5 July) in the journal Nature, an international team of researchers led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explains that wind-driven incursions of warm water forced the […]

    Read more of: Study shows ice sheet loss over the last 11,000 years

    

41. Climate change may cause expansion to ice-free areas across Antarctica

    Ice-free areas in Antarctica could expand by close to 25 per cent by 2100 and drastically change the biodiversity of the continent, research published this week in Nature has shown. […]

    Read more of: Climate change may cause expansion to ice-free areas across Antarctica

    

42. Storms caused massive Antarctic sea ice loss in 2016

    A series of unprecedented storms over the Southern Ocean likely caused the most dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice seen to date, a new study finds. Antarctic sea ice – […]

    Read more of: Storms caused massive Antarctic sea ice loss in 2016

    

43. New insight into what weakens Antarctic ice shelves

    New research describes for the first time the role that warm, dry winds play in influencing the behaviour of Antarctic ice shelves. Presenting this week at a European conference scientists […]

    Read more of: New insight into what weakens Antarctic ice shelves

    

44. FEATURED PAPER: Antarctic cloud physics

    Observations were made of clouds over the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer of 2010 and 2011 using one the BAS Twin Otter aircraft fitted with a range of atmospheric instruments. […]

    Read more of: FEATURED PAPER: Antarctic cloud physics

    

45. Signy Island is hottest place in the Antarctic

    A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) committee of experts announces this week (Wed 1 March) new records for the highest temperatures recorded in the Antarctic Region. The results are part of […]

    Read more of: Signy Island is hottest place in the Antarctic

    

46. Antarctic sea ice extent lowest on record

    This year the extent of summer sea ice in the Antarctic is the lowest on record. The Antarctic sea ice minimum marks the day – typically towards end of February […]

    Read more of: Antarctic sea ice extent lowest on record

    

47. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Working on the Polar Plateau

    A new blog post from a team comprising polar atmosphere and ice chemist Holly Winton, analytical chemist Rebecca Tuckwell and atmospheric and glaciochemist Markus Frey who are working on the […]

    Read more of: ANTARCTIC BLOG: Working on the Polar Plateau

    

48. BLOG: Arriving at the Polar plateau

    A new blog post from atmospheric and glaciochemist Markus Frey who’s just arrived on the Polar plateau as part of the ISOL-ice research project. Read the team’s earlier post here. […]

    Read more of: BLOG: Arriving at the Polar plateau

    

49. FEATURED PAPER: Atmospheric variability & surface temperatures

    This paper investigates the impact that the four principal patterns of Southern Hemisphere (SH) atmospheric circulation variability have on Antarctic surface air temperature (SAT): 1) the southern baroclinic annular mode […]

    Read more of: FEATURED PAPER: Atmospheric variability & surface temperatures

    

50. Arctic sea ice heading towards second lowest on record

    This year the extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic is heading towards being the second lowest on record. The Arctic sea ice minimum marks the day – typically […]

    Read more of: Arctic sea ice heading towards second lowest on record

    

51. A recent pause in Antarctic Peninsula warming

    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 of: A recent pause in Antarctic Peninsula warming

    

52. First signs of healing in the Antarctic ozone hole

    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 of: First signs of healing in the Antarctic ozone hole

    

53. Carbon dioxide level breached at Halley VI

    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 of: Carbon dioxide level breached at Halley VI

    

54. FEATURED PAPER: Circulation changes off West Antarctica

    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 of: FEATURED PAPER: Circulation changes off West Antarctica

    

55. FEATURED PAPER: Polar Vortex teleconnection

    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 of: FEATURED PAPER: Polar Vortex teleconnection

    

56. PRESS RELEASE: COP21 Side Event, ‘Climate Change in the Arctic’

    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 of: PRESS RELEASE: COP21 Side Event, ‘Climate Change in the Arctic’

    

57. NEWS STORY: Arctic sea ice 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 of: NEWS STORY: Arctic sea ice 2015

    

58. NEWS STORY: World Ozone Day 2015

    World Ozone Day 2015

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: World Ozone Day 2015

    

59. NEWS STORY: Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds

    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 of: NEWS STORY: Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds

    

60. NEWS STORY: Polar ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions

    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 of: NEWS STORY: Polar ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions

    

61. NEWS STORY: Ozone hole 30th anniversary

    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 of: NEWS STORY: Ozone hole 30th anniversary

    

62. NEWS STORY: Live link to the Arctic

    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 of: NEWS STORY: Live link to the Arctic

    

63. PRESS RELEASE: Mapping the ice from below

    Underwater robot sheds new light on Antarctic sea ice The first detailed, high-resolution 3-D maps of Antarctic sea ice have been developed using an underwater robot. Scientists from the UK, […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Mapping the ice from below

    

64. NEWS STORY: BAS to host workshop

    British Antarctic Survey hosts Chemical Air-Snow-Sea Ice Interaction workshop in Cambridge More than 60 scientists from over 15 countries are attending a workshop in Cambridge this week (13-15 October) to […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: BAS to host workshop

    

65. NEWS STORY: Sea ice minimum explained

    Arctic sea ice summer minimum 2014: A scientific perspective The Arctic sea ice minimum marks the day – typically in September – when sea ice reaches its smallest extent at […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Sea ice minimum explained

    

66. NEWS STORY: World Ozone Day

    Today, 16 September, is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The date commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol, which sought to reduce atmospheric levels of […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: World Ozone Day

    

67. NEWS STORY: Icebergs leave their mark

    Climate related iceberg activity has massively altered life on the seabed Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey have found evidence that climate change has fundamentally altered the way that life […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Icebergs leave their mark

    

68. NEWS STORY: Arctic sea ice trends

    British Antarctic Survey coordinates Arctic sea-ice investigation Arctic sea-ice cover is retreating at an unprecedented rate. Scientists fear we may see the complete loss of sea ice during the summer […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Arctic sea ice trends

    

69. NEWS STORY: World’s coldest place identified

    Scientists working at the United States National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said this week they have identified the coldest place on Earth using satellite observations of surface temperature. […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: World’s coldest place identified

    

70. NEWS STORY: Scientists contribute to oral history

    Voices of Science: a new British Library oral history archive A major oral history project to gather the life stories of British scientists has culminated in the launch of a […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Scientists contribute to oral history

    

71. NEWS STORY: Tributes to ozone hole expert

    It is with great sadness the British Antarctic Survey reports that Joe Farman died on Saturday 11 May 2013. He was 82. Joseph Charles Farman CBE, together with colleagues Brian […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Tributes to ozone hole expert

    

72. NEWS STORY: Halley VI awarded new status

    Halley VI receives environmental science status upgrade The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI research station has attained Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Global station status. […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Halley VI awarded new status

    

73. NEWS STORY: Storm events link identified

    Jet stream influences extreme storms A new study of Europe’s extreme storm events reveals that they often occur near  the jet stream – the fast flowing air currents that flow […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: Storm events link identified

    

74. PRESS RELEASE: Summer melt season extending

    Summer melt season is getting longer on the Antarctic Peninsula, new data show New research from the Antarctic Peninsula shows that the summer melt season has been getting longer over […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Summer melt season extending

    

75. PRESS RELEASE: Air flows explain record low

    New research sheds light on Earth”s coldest temperatures Results from the first detailed analysis of the lowest ever temperature recorded on the Earth’s surface can explain why it got so […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Air flows explain record low

    

76. PRESS RELEASE: Warmer spells detected in ice cores

    Mysteriously warm times in Antarctica A new study of Antarctica’s past climate reveals that temperatures during the warm periods between ice ages (interglacials) may have been higher than previously thought. […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Warmer spells detected in ice cores

    

77. PRESS RELEASE: Rise in CO2 emissions

    Fossil fuel CO2 emissions up by 29 per cent since 2000 The strongest evidence yet that the rise in atmospheric CO2 emissions continues to outstrip the ability of the world’s […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Rise in CO2 emissions

    

78. PRESS RELEASE: Ozone hole link to sea ice extent

    Increasing Antarctic sea ice extent linked to the ozone hole Increased growth in Antarctic sea ice during the past 30 years is a result of changing weather patterns caused by […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Ozone hole link to sea ice extent

    

79. PRESS RELEASE: Increase in CO2 emissions

    CO2 emissions are booming Scientists will this week (Friday 26 Sept) announce the annual update on the global carbon figures. They report that CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels and […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Increase in CO2 emissions

    

1. Carbon sink or carbon source?

   Science flights over the changing Amazon Rainforest

   Read more of: Carbon sink or carbon source?

   

2. Precipitation at the Third Pole: the race to understand Himalayan rainfall

   Water is one of the pillars of humanity’s survival – and yet there’s still much to explain about the processes that bring water to some of the world’s largest populations.

   Read more of: Precipitation at the Third Pole: the race to understand Himalayan rainfall

   

3. BAS celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

   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 […]

   Read more of: BAS celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

   

4. Blog: The only woman in seminars

   British Antarctic Survey scientist Dr Amelié Kirchgaessner shares her journey in polar science for International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 (11 Feb). My name is Amelié Kirchgaessner, […]

   Read more of: Blog: The only woman in seminars

   

5. MOSAiC Blog: Approaching RV Polarstern

   Dr Markus Frey is on board Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn, making the final approach through the Arctic sea ice to join the MOSAiC expedition on board RV Polarstern. German research icebreaker RV Polarstern is staying […]

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6. MOSAiC Blog: Storm on the Barents Sea

   Dr Markus Frey is on board Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn, waiting for a weather window to make the journey north to join the MOSAiC expedition on board RV Polarstern. German […]

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7. MOSAiC Blog: Sea ice rescue training

   Atmosphere and ice climate scientist Dr Markus Frey is on his way to join the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition. Markus will be using […]

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8. PODCAST – Iceworld, Episode 2 – Meteorology

   November, 2019 In his second Antarctic podcast field guide Rob Taylor talks to Catherine Maguire and John Law from the Rothera Research Station meteorology team. Listen Now Episode 2 Rob […]

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9. MOSAiC Blog: Last preparations in Tromsø

   The BAS SSAASI-CLIM team arrived in Tromsø a few days ago to set up equipment onboard of RV Polarstern. On Friday 20 Sep 2019 the German ice breaker will embark […]

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10. ISOL-ICE Lab Blog: Continuous Flow Analysis of 1,000 yr old ice at BAS

    A new blog from ISOL-ICE project team member Lisa Hauge, who describes recent progress in the lab. Read the team’s earlier blog here. During the last 3 months the ISOL-ICE project has made […]

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11. SCIENCE IN THE LAB: From the Polar Plateau to Cambridge

    A new blog from Polar Atmospheric Ice Chemist Dr Holly Winton,  who is part of the ISOL-ice research project, explaining the process from fieldwork on the Polar Plateau to laboratory work […]

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12. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Working on the Polar Plateau

    Ice core drilling is a large complex operation to firstly get the equipment out into the field, assemble it, drill intact columns of ice and then process the collected ice for analysis. Markus Frey explains.

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13. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Journey to the Polar plateau

    Our journey to the Antarctic Polar Plateau, where we will be spending the next few weeks as part of the ISOL-ICE research project, began on 7 December. We boarded a […]

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14. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Ocean meets air #2

    Thomas Barningham from University of East Anglia shares his voyage and time at Halley Since my last post, a lot has happened – we have arrived and begun work at […]

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15. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Ocean meets air #1

    Welcome to my blog. My name is Thomas Barningham and I’m currently in the third year of my PhD at the University of East Anglia. My work aims to understand […]

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16. ARCTIC BLOG: Setting foot back on land

    Diary entry: Friday 27 March 2015 Time: 2200 hrs UTC Position: 78° 13′ N / 15° 33′ E Air Temperature: +1.5 °C Wind Speed: 8 knots We made it! After 38 days onboard the […]

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17. ARCTIC BLOG: Total solar eclipse

    Diary entry: Friday 20 March 2015 Time: 1200 hrs UTC Position: 81° 44.23′ N / 19° 36.9′ E Air Temperature: −27.4 °C Wind Speed: 14 knots Nature is displaying a magnificent and […]

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18. ARCTIC BLOG: Enduring an Arctic storm

    Diary entry: Wednesday 18 March 2015 Time: 2237 hrs UTC Position: 82° 34.7′ N / 22° 43.6′ E Air Temperature: −32.6 °C Wind Speed: 12 knots The storm lasted not even 48 hours, […]

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19. ARCTIC BLOG: Climbing to the Crow’s Nest

    Diary entry: Friday 13 March 2015 Time: 1400 hrs UTC Position: 82° 52.1′ N / 21° 15.1′ E Air Temperature: −25.6 °C Wind Speed: 4.9 knots Since more than two and a half […]

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20. ARCTIC BLOG: Shimmering lights in the polar night

    Diary entry: Sunday 22 February 2015 Time: 2220 hrs UTC Position: 82° 35′ N / 29° 24′ E Air Temperature: −26.1 °C Wind Speed: 19.3 knots The Norwegian research vessel, […]

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