Articles tagged with Antarctica
Researchers from NASA and the Byrd Polar Research Center report that a 7 square kilometer section of the Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier broke up on July 6 and 7, with the calving front retreating nearly 1.5 kilometers in one day. This event is unusual due to its rapid detection and fine detail.
Scientists have discovered a 300m high ridge on the sea floor beneath Pine Island Glacier, causing it to accelerate its flow into the sea. The glacier's thinning ice allows warm ocean water to melt the underside, contributing nearly 10% of global sea level rise.
Research in the Western Antarctic Peninsula is crucial due to rapid climate change, with 87% of glaciers in retreat and sea ice no longer present. A multi-platform approach combining ships, satellites, and sensors will help quantify heat budgets and understand interactions between ice, atmosphere, and ocean.
Scientists from over 60 countries present research on the impact of human activities on land-based plants and animals in Antarctica. The study found that changes in ocean currents are linked to wind patterns around Antarctica, affecting the ecosystem.
Researchers recovered core samples from Antarctica, revealing a 53-million-year history of ice formation and interaction with climate. The findings provide crucial insights into the transition from a warm, greenhouse world to an icy 'icehouse' environment.
A research team led by the University of Georgia has discovered a previously unreported chemical mechanism for nitrous oxide production in Antarctic Don Juan Pond. The discovery could help space scientists understand the Martian nitrogen cycle and develop sensors to detect brines on Mars.
Researchers from Ohio State University have successfully drilled the deepest core in the Antarctic Peninsula, reaching a length of 445.6 meters. The core may contain ice dating back to the last ice age, providing valuable insights into past global climate changes.
Researchers at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory found evidence of hydrothermal vents near Antarctica, a discovery that could spur exploration of the distant mid-ocean ridge. The sites identified cover 340 miles of ridge line, offering a new area to study complex organisms and ocean chemistry.
Researchers are analyzing sediment and water samples from four distinct environments, including cold-dry Antarctica, to test a hypothesis about the planet's past climate. The team hopes to find 'markers' or indicators unique to erosion in this type of climate.
Scientists have identified over 6,000 unique species on the sea-floor, with many adapting to changing environmental conditions. Krill populations are reducing due to decreasing sea-ice cover, shifting the food web balance and affecting penguins that breed on the ice.
Increasing ocean acidity poses a significant threat to marine species, with potentially profound ramifications for food chains. A UAB expert warns that the effects of climate change on the world's oceans are undeniable and urgent.
The past year was tied for the second warmest since 1880, while January 2000 to December 2009 was the warmest decade on record. Global temperatures have increased by about 1.5 degrees F (0.8 degrees C) since 1880.
The study reconstructs environmental conditions on the Voring Plateau, indicating shallow marine environments in early Eocene and full submersion by late Eocene. This suggests earlier marine connections between Nordic sea basins, which may have contributed to declining global temperatures and ice sheet development.
A 30-year record low in Antarctic snowmelt was likely caused by strong positive phases for two main climate drivers, ENSO and SAM. The Antarctic snowmelt is expected to revert to higher norms as the damage to the ozone layer is repaired.
A new fossil species, Kombuisia antarctica, discovered in Antarctica, reveals that some land animals may have survived the end-Permian extinction by living in cooler climates. The discovery fills a gap in the fossil record and contributes to understanding of vertebrate survival during this mass extinction event.
A team of researchers from nine institutions, including LSU, will drill through the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to directly access a subglacial lake and study its physical, chemical, and geobiological interactions. The project aims to investigate novel microbial species and ecosystems in this extreme environment.
A new study of Antarctica's past climate suggests that temperatures during interglacial periods may have been up to 6°C warmer than the present day. This finding could help understand rapid Antarctic climate changes and their connection to greenhouse gases.
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey have discovered a new natural carbon-absorption mechanism in Antarctica, where large blooms of phytoplankton are thriving in areas left exposed by rapid glacier melting. This process stores approximately 3.5 million tonnes of carbon each year, which could help mitigate climate change.
Researchers will drill through the Whillans Ice Stream and Ross Ice Shelf, sampling rivers, lakes, and microbial communities. The study aims to understand how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to past climate changes and potentially discover new organisms that can produce beneficial compounds.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and other institutions have made new ground measurements that suggest the West Antarctic ice sheet is losing ice slightly more slowly than estimated. The findings could improve estimates of ice mass loss and provide a clearer picture of Antarctica's contribution to rising sea levels.
Researchers are using NASA's DC-8 plane, equipped with laser mapping instruments and other equipment, to study changes in Antarctica's sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets. The data collected will help scientists better understand how these changes contribute to future sea level rise.
Researchers analyzed ancient air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice to determine the composition of Earth's atmosphere 20 million years ago. They found that carbon dioxide levels were similar to today's only during this time period, when global temperatures were 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit higher and sea levels were 75-120 feet higher.
The Eurofleets project aims to advance the networking of European research fleets, funded by the European Commission with 7.2 million Euros. Researchers will benefit from access to unique ship time on European research vessels.
Researchers found a unique layer in Antarctic sediment with high abundance of marine algae and pollen grains, indicating a sudden warming event around 15.7 million years ago. The findings provide insight into global connections and climate forcing, shedding light on Antarctica's climatic past.
Satellite lasers have created a comprehensive picture of rapidly thinning glaciers along the coastline of both Antarctica and Greenland. The most profound ice loss is attributed to glaciers accelerating as they flow into the sea, with this phenomenon now reaching all latitudes in Greenland and intensifying on key Antarctic coastlines.
A $453,000 NSF grant is funding a research expedition to investigate the return of predatory crabs to Antarctica due to climate change. The team will use advanced technologies to explore the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas and understand how warming waters are promoting the invasion of these species.
Research teams need more focused investigation into Arctic effects of global warming, particularly in early spring and winter.
New studies reveal dry years getting drier in Pacific Northwest, explore rainfall-humidity relationship, and analyze ancient solar cycles using radioactive tracers. These findings highlight the impact of climate change and solar activity on Earth's water cycle and atmosphere.
Researchers used NASA's ICESat satellite data to create the most comprehensive inventory of Antarctic lakes that actively drain or fill under ice. The study revealed a continental plumbing system more dynamic than previously thought, with 124 active lakes identified and linked to nearby and distant locations.
Researchers will use optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques to determine the past thickness of the Antarctic ice sheet. They aim to understand how ice sheets respond to sea level and climate change by collecting samples from beach deposits along the coast.
Researchers have identified a suite of genes involved in controlling the extreme survival mechanism of Arctic springtails against freezing temperatures. These genes are activated during cold-induced dehydration and play roles in trehalose production, heat shock proteins, and tissue remodeling.
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey and University of Durham describe a new 3D map created from radar measurements, revealing features in the landscape beneath a vast river of ice. The study provides insight into how ice streams behave and how they might change in the future.
A study published in Nature finds that sea ice formed in the Arctic before it did in Antarctica, contradicting scientific expectation. The researchers analyzed oceanic sediment cores and fossilized diatoms to conclude that episodic sea ice formation began around 47.5 million years ago.
The Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility at FSU has received a $2.5M grant from the National Science Foundation, double its previous funding. The facility serves as a national repository for marine sediment samples and provides clues to a geologic history stretching back 80 million years.
Scientists have successfully mapped emperor penguin breeding colonies in Antarctica using satellite images, providing a reliable indication of their location through visible guano stains. The study identified 38 colonies, with 10 new discoveries, and will enable researchers to monitor population changes over time.
The Arctic Ocean's ownership is disputed due to varying assumptions about its geography, with countries like Russia and Canada viewing it as land with water on top, while the US sees it as just water. This misunderstanding can lead to large-scale disputes over resource extraction.
The new children's book, Polar Eyes, explores Antarctica's diverse science program through Tanya Patrick's journey. The book features hands-on activities, quizzes, and odd facts to engage young minds, including the penguins' dance destination.
Scientists capture the most comprehensive set of sonar images of Antarctica's seafloor around the Amundsen Sea embayment, providing new insights into past ice flow and potential future sea-level rise. The findings indicate that the controlling mechanisms of the Antarctic ice sheet are more complex than previously thought.
Researchers from British Antarctic Survey and NASA found that the ozone hole has strengthened surface winds around Antarctica, leading to greater flow of cold air over the Ross Sea. This resulted in a small increase in sea ice extent in West Antarctica, contrary to the expected effects of greenhouse gas increases.
Researchers found that dust blown to Antarctica from Patagonia provides vital information about glacier activity and past climates. The study suggests that the coldest periods of the last ice age correspond with the dustiest periods in Antarctica's past.
The Field Museum has received a gift of over $10 million and more than 1,700 meteorite specimens from the Planetary Studies Foundation, establishing the world's largest nongovernment meteorite collection. The collection will be housed in the new Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies.
An international team will explore subglacial Lake Ellsworth in Antarctica for unique life forms and clues about climate change. The five-year project aims to acquire technologies needed to sample water from the lake and extract sediment from its bed, shedding light on life's existence in extreme environments.
A team of researchers found evidence of widespread cooling in Antarctica around 35 million years ago, which was caused by a significant drop in greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. The study used computer modeling and temperature proxies to determine the cause of the cooling.
The International Polar Year 2007-2008 provided critical evidence of global warming's impact on polar regions, including sea ice decline and increased ice sheet melting. Researchers also discovered significant carbon storage in permafrost and changes in Arctic vegetation affecting local ecosystems.
Astrophysicists at Washington University in St. Louis will design and build Super-TIGER to measure the abundances of ultra-heavy galactic cosmic ray nuclei. The instrument aims to better understand the mechanism by which elements are accelerated in interstellar dust grains.
The Greenland ice sheet is expected to melt, causing a 23-foot sea level rise, while Antarctica's ice sheet could add up to 190 feet. Recent studies show that the ice sheets are melting faster than snow replacement.
Climate change is causing Antarctic sea life to face an invasion of predatory king crabs and exotic species, potentially devastating the region's unique ecosystem. Rising temperatures are allowing these species to expand their habitats, disrupting delicate ecological relationships and putting the world's last truly wild places at risk.
Scientists embark on three-year project to measure carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases worldwide, shedding light on their distribution and impact on climate change. The research will enable better predictions of greenhouse gas emissions and inform society's decisions about climate change mitigation.
Researchers used a novel combination of historical temperature data and satellite records to reconstruct a 50-year history of surface temperatures across Antarctica. The analysis confirms that West Antarctica warmed at a higher rate than the rest of the continent.
A new study reveals that most of Antarctica has been warming at a rate comparable to the rest of the world, contrary to previous findings on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The research used satellite data and weather station measurements to estimate temperature trends and found that West Antarctica warmed more than East Antarctica.
Scientists have discovered that parts of Antarctic bedrock are rising while others sink in response to melting ice. This finding will improve estimates of future sea level rise by providing a better view of what's happening under the ice.
A comprehensive 'inventory' of life in Antarctica has revealed over 1200 known marine and land species, including sea urchins, free-swimming worms, crustaceans, and birds. The study found surprising high biodiversity in the region, with many temperate and tropical species present.
A new study by Anna Dornhaus found that individual rock ants specializing on one task are no more efficient than those performing multiple tasks. Despite concentrating their work on a specific job, specialized ants do not perform better or faster, but instead spend more hours working.
A University of East Anglia study demonstrates that human influence is responsible for warming in both Arctic and Antarctic regions. The findings contradict previous observations and the IPCC's previous stance on Antarctica.
A team led by Professor Douglas Wiens is conducting a comprehensive study of Antarctica's Gamburtsev Province, using radar and seismic imaging to understand the region's geological history. The research aims to shed light on the formation of continental ice sheets and climate models.
A U.S.-led team of scientists will use advanced radar and seismic tools to explore the Gamburtsev Mountain range in Antarctica. They hope to determine how this massive mountain range formed, defying geological understanding, and whether it played a role in shaping the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
The rapid growth of tourism in Antarctica poses significant challenges, including environmental impact and lack of funding for monitoring. Marketable visitor rights are proposed as a solution to manage demand and generate revenue for enforcement and monitoring purposes.
IU's Polar Grid Project will deploy customized computational resources to Antarctica to enable scientists to process data more efficiently during polar field expeditions. The equipment will support an extensive research expedition expected to begin in November and running through February 2009.
Paleontologists have found a previously unknown amphibious predator species named Kryostega collinsoni, which had large teeth on the roof of its mouth, similar to those at the edge. The discovery sheds new light on Antarctica's climate during the Triassic period and suggests that it was warmer than today.
The need for international cooperation and regulation is growing in response to climate change, overfishing, pollution, and other impacts on polar ecosystems. The conference aimed to identify priorities for law-making and research, as well as offer advice to decision-makers on protecting the Arctic and Antarctic regions.