Palaeo Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change team

Our ambition

is to improve understanding of the mechanisms of past change in ice sheets, oceans and global climate. Our aim is to reduce uncertainty in predictions of future climate and sea level change, informing Government strategy for mitigating against the risks of these changes. We specialise in providing detailed past and contemporary records of climate and environmental change from high latitude regions.

BAS scientists extracting a sediment core from a remote lake on Horseshoe Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The climate record in this core will cover approx' 20,000 years. — BAS scientists extracting a sediment core from a remote lake on Horseshoe Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The climate record in this core will cover approximately 20,000 years.

Team priorities

Science

Glacial history and ice sheet sensitivity to climate change

To develop our understanding of the past response of polar ice sheets and ice shelves to environmental changes. Our aim is to improve forecasts of global sea levels and ice mass loss by providing data against which ice sheet models can be tested.

Patterns and mechanisms of late glacial and Holocene climate change

To investigate the history of the Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds and their role in ice sheet dynamics and the global CO₂ budget. We aim to detect when human impacts exceed the natural ranges of variability in the Earth system by studying climate signals in marine and terrestrial sediments.

Past behaviour of polar oceans and their role as drivers of future climate change

To study changes in the production and export of Antarctic Bottom Water, the circulation of Southern Ocean deep- and bottom-water masses, and the role of sea ice, melt water and biological productivity in controlling past, and future, climate changes.

Understanding Earth’s response to a future high CO₂ world

To improve understanding of the transition between greenhouse and icehouse climate states and the wider impact of global climate changes on the environment. We will study the physical environment, terrestrial and marine palaeobiology and community analysis from the geological past.

Technology, innovation and training

Lead development of the science case and infrastructure requirement for the new UK Polar Research Vessel
Utilise new and existing technologies to sample subglacial sediments to obtain records of past change; such as evidence for West Antarctic Ice Sheet loss and past ice shelf stability, and changes in subglacial hydrology and biology
Apply and test novel dating techniques, and temperature and sea-ice proxies
Train the next generation of polar scientists

Influencing and leading international programmes

Play a strong leadership role and contribute to Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) Research Programmes (PAIS, AntEco), the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP-PAGES), and Antarctic International Ocean Discovery Programme
Participate in drilling initiatives including the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and MeBo

Stakeholder engagement

Produce policy briefings and presentations for UK Government departments including the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign Office Polar Regions Department (FCO)
Produce science updates and briefings on the impact and relevance of our research for our funders, including NERC
Serve as Contributing Authors to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UN Framework Conventions on Climate Change and the Law of the Sea