Tag Archives: antarctica

Two Adventurers Kite Ski 4,000 km Across Antarctica for Scientific Research

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Mathieu Tordeur, Heidi Sevestre and the bust of Vladimir Lenin at the Inaccessible South Pole of Antarctica

Heidi Sevestre/Mathieu Tordeur

In the vast, barren expanse of Antarctica, an explorer named Mathieu Tordeur and glaciologist Heidi Sevestre encountered a surreal sight: a golden bust of Vladimir Lenin emerging from the snow. This relic, left by a Soviet expedition, marks the inaccessible South Pole, the furthest point from any Antarctic coast.

This extraordinary 4,000 km expedition aims to gather critical scientific data to better understand the continent’s response to climate change.

“I almost had tears in my eyes,” said Sevestre via satellite phone from Antarctica. The moment was humbling, making them feel small amidst the stark isolation and beauty of the landscape.

Since November 3, the duo has been kite-skiing, harnessing winds to pull them at speeds exceeding 35 kilometers per hour. This groundbreaking kite-skiing expedition is the first of its kind, designed to gather polar scientific data. They pull a sled equipped with advanced ground-penetrating radar capable of scanning up to 40 meters beneath the snow and ice.

Researchers are eager to discover if the increased snowfall in East Antarctica is counteracting the melting occurring along the coast. While satellite measurements provide some insights, the data collected by Tordeur and Sevestre promises to yield more precise estimates, according to Martin Siegert at the University of Exeter, UK.

“For 1,000 kilometers in every direction, we’ll encounter no one,” he noted. “This kind of information is rare, and it’s essential to determine whether ice sheets are growing or retreating.

With a three-month window, the team plans to journey from Novo Air Base in East Antarctica to Hercules Bay in West Antarctica before the Antarctic summer concludes and flights cease.

In 2019, Tordeur became the youngest individual to ski solo to the South Pole without assistance at just 27 years old. Committed to merging adventure with scientific discovery, he remarked, “Kite-skiing offers the potential to explore and research further into the continent, where few scientists venture.”

Mathieu Tordeur and Heidi Sevestre on their Antarctic expedition

Heidi Sevestre/Mathieu Tordeur

Traditionally, underground mapping is conducted via aircraft, yet researchers sometimes employ ground-penetrating radar towed behind tractors to enhance data accuracy. This kite-skiing expedition stands out as one of the most extensive ground-penetrating radar surveys ever attempted.

Tordeur and Sevestre plan to utilize powerful radar that can penetrate up to two kilometers deep, seeking to connect ancient ice layers from East Antarctica to West Antarctica. Successful results could indicate that the West Antarctic ice sheet, capable of raising sea levels by up to five meters, did not completely melt during previous interglacial periods—an ongoing debate within the scientific community.

“This is critical for assessing the stability of the ice sheet amid current climate change,” notes Hamish Pritchard from the British Antarctic Survey.

During their journey, Tordeur and Sevestre traversed roughly 1,000 kilometers along Sastrugi roads, navigating through rippled hard snow sculpted by the wind, which caused instability in their sleds.

To cope with challenging conditions, Sevestre finds motivation in audiobooks, such as The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who recounted a harrowing expedition across the Ross Ice Shelf in the early 20th century.

“They experienced temperatures around -65 degrees Celsius inside their tents, and I can’t help but think they wouldn’t have complained about -28 degrees,” she reflects.

 

Source: www.newscientist.com

Accelerated Melting in Antarctica May Support Key Ocean Currents

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Impact of Melting Antarctic Ice on Ocean Currents

Juan Barretto/AFP via Getty Images

The melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is predicted to hinder or disrupt the Atlantic current that helps keep Europe warm; however, meltwater from West Antarctica might help maintain this essential flow.

That said, it won’t be sufficient to prevent significant climate changes. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is already down by 60% and could take up to 3,000 years to recover fully.

“I suggest caution in predicting an AMOC collapse,” states Sasha Sinnett from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. “However, my findings don’t alter what is forecasted for the next century. We may never see if West Antarctica successfully stabilizes the AMOC.”

The AMOC is a system of ocean currents that transports warm surface water from the tropics to northern Europe. Here, the water cools and sinks, then flows back south to Antarctica. This current carries an enormous amount of heat—1.2 petawatts—equivalent to the output of one million power plants, keeping Europe notably warmer than regions like Labrador or Siberia at similar latitudes. Lighter, fresher meltwater from Greenland is expected to obstruct the sinking of the denser, saltier AMOC water, thereby slowing its flow.

If the AMOC were to collapse, winter temperatures in Northern Europe could drop to almost -50℃ (-58°F). Recently, Iceland declared the closure of the AMOC as an “existing” security threat. Additionally, rising sea levels are threatening the U.S. East Coast, while Africa may face even more severe drought conditions.

A recent study indicates that even if we achieve net zero emissions by 2075 and begin reducing CO2 from the atmosphere, there is still a 25% risk of AMOC collapse. One study forecasts its closure in the coming decades, while another suggests that it will remain weakened due to Antarctic winds.

Currently, the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet has accelerated, with some research indicating a probable complete collapse. However, the impact on AMOC remains uncertain.

The timing of the melting is crucial, according to simulations by Sinet and his team. If pulses of ancient Antarctic meltwater coincide with substantial meltwater from Greenland, the AMOC’s closure will be expedited.

Conversely, if the Antarctic water arrives about 1,000 years prior to the peak melting of Greenland, the AMOC may weaken for a few centuries but then recover over the next 3,000 years. While AMOC shows eventual recovery in all scenarios, early Antarctic melting prevents total collapse and accelerates its resurgence.

This phenomenon could be due to the relocation of the sinking, salty AMOC water moving south as lighter, fresher meltwater accumulates around Greenland, with the flow regaining strength as Antarctic melting decreases.

Though it’s improbable that West Antarctica melts at such a rapid pace while Greenland melts more slowly, these results illuminate a significant connection between AMOC and Antarctic ice melt, notes Louise Sim from the British Antarctic Survey.

“Prior to this study, the extent to which Antarctic changes could significantly influence the effects of Greenland’s ice sheet melting on the AMOC was largely unknown,” she remarks.

However, the study does not address potential feedback effects, such as shifts in wind patterns that might increase Antarctic sea ice, so this relationship needs to be explored in more complex models moving forward, she adds.

Even if rapid melting in West Antarctica prevents the AMOC from collapsing, it could still lead to sea-level rises of up to 3 meters, inundating coastal cities.

“Unfortunately, while one potential disaster may lessen the danger of another, this is little consolation,” concludes Stefan Rahmstorf from the University of Potsdam, Germany.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Ice from 6 Million Years Ago Found in Antarctica

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Scientists have uncovered ice and air that is 6 million years old from a shallow ice core in the Arran Hills of East Antarctica. They believe this ancient ice showcases a preserved surface snowpack or permafrost due to the development of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet during the mid-Miocene to late Miocene epochs.

Ancient ice extracted from the ALHIC1902 ice core. Image credit: Shackleton et al., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2502681122.

“Ice cores function as time machines, allowing researchers to glimpse Earth’s past,” stated Dr. Sarah Shackleton, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

“With the Allan Hills Core, our timeline extends much further than we previously thought was possible.”

“This is a groundbreaking discovery for the NSF-funded Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX),” remarked Dr. Ed Brook, COLDEX director and paleoclimatologist at Oregon State University.

“We were aware that the ice in this area was ancient. Our initial estimates placed its age at around 3 million years, or perhaps slightly older, but this discovery has far surpassed our expectations.”

COLDEX is engaged in a friendly race with various international teams to push the ice core record beyond its historical 800,000-year threshold.

A European research team recently reported finding a continuous ice core dating back 1.2 million years deep within East Antarctica.

For months, the team operated in a remote field camp within East Antarctica’s Arran Hills, drilling 100 to 200 meters into the outskirts of several ice sheets, where ice movement and rugged mountain landscapes work together to safeguard ancient ice and bring it closer to the surface for easier retrieval.

In contrast, obtaining the oldest continuous ice cores from archaeological sites in East Antarctica necessitates drilling deeper than 2,000 meters.

“We are still exploring the specific conditions that enable such ancient ice to remain near the surface,” Dr. Shackleton explained.

“Besides the terrain, factors like intense winds and extreme cold may play a role.”

“The winds can disperse newly fallen snow, while the cold can slow down accumulation until the ice is nearly stationary.”

This makes the Arran Hills one of the premier locations globally for discovering shallow, ancient ice, while also being one of the most challenging environments for fieldwork.

The air trapped within these new ice cores enables scientists to directly ascertain the age of the ice by precisely measuring isotopes of the rare gas argon.

This direct dating method means that scientists can derive age indicators directly from the ice, instead of making assumptions based on accompanying features or deposits.

While this ancient ice record doesn’t form a continuous stretch, its age is unparalleled, the researchers noted.

“By dating multiple samples, our team has compiled a library of ‘climate snapshots’ approximately six times older than previously recorded ice core data, supplemented by more detailed younger data from other Antarctic ice cores,” Dr. Higgins stated.

Temperature records derived from oxygen isotope measurements in the ice indicate that the region underwent a gradual cooling of about 12 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit) over an extended timespan.

This marks the first direct assessment of the cooling extent in Antarctica over the past six million years.

Ongoing analyses of these ice cores aim to reconstruct atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and ocean heat content, which hold significant implications for understanding the drivers of natural climate change.

“The COLDEX team plans to return to the Arran Hills for additional drilling in the coming months, potentially yielding more detailed snapshots and even older ice,” Dr. Brook shared.

“In light of the unexpectedly ancient ice recovered in the Arran Hills, we are preparing a comprehensive, long-term study of the region with the goal of extending the record even further, which we hope to commence between 2026 and 2031.”

The team’s paper has been published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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S. Shackleton et al. 2025. Miocene and Pliocene ice and air from the Allan Hills blue ice belt in East Antarctica. PNAS 122 (44): e2502681122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2502681122

Source: www.sci.news

Antarctica Could Have Crossed a Critical Ocean Tipping Point

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Melting ice sheets in Antarctica will elevate sea levels

durktalsma/getty images

Recent studies suggest that Antarctica may have crossed a critical climate threshold, diminishing hope for recovery. Experts highlight a concerning correlation between the abrupt decline in sea ice since 2016 and anthropogenic ocean warming.

Historically, Antarctic sea ice levels remained stable despite rising global temperatures. However, a drastic shift occurred in 2016, marked by significant reductions in sea ice extent.

By February 2023, Antarctic Ocean Ice recorded a new all-time low, marking the third consecutive summer of reduced sea ice within just seven years. September 2023 also saw unprecedented high levels of Antarctic Ocean Ice.

While climate models have long forecasted reductions in Antarctic sea ice, the pace and scale of the decrease since 2016 are alarming. Researchers convened at the Royal Society in London to evaluate whether these changes signal a critical turning point.

As Marilyn Rafael from the University of California, Los Angeles, notes, natural climate variability alone cannot account for such a rapid shift.

Satellite observations of sea ice have been available since 1979. By utilizing proxy data from Antarctic weather stations, Raphael and her team extended their research timeline back to the early 20th century.

Their analysis, based entirely on historical data, indicates that the likelihood of reaching a minimum sea ice extent in 2023 was less than 0.1%. “We are observing extreme patterns in sea ice behavior,” she explained at the Royal Society Conference.

Alexander Hauman from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany emphasizes that this rapid decline in ice formation signifies a climate tipping point, with potential repercussions for the entire continent and broader climatic and ecological systems.

“The entire Antarctic sea ice system is reacting collectively,” he stated at the meeting, noting that the changes observed are poised to have long-term implications.

Last summer’s minimum Antarctic Ocean Ice extent was significantly below historical averages

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

Hauman explains that “changes in ice dynamics” may be responsible for this phenomenon. Emerging research indicates that warming seawater contributes to accelerated ice loss, as roughly 90% of the excess heat generated by human activity is absorbed by the oceans.

In Antarctica, a layer of warm, fresh water separates colder, mixed surface waters from warm deep-sea water. However, a recent study by Hauman and his team highlights how shifts in wind patterns and salinity in the Southern Ocean have severely weakened this barrier since 2015, allowing warm deep water to rise to the surface and encourage ice melting. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by climate change-induced warming of deep waters, as indicated by recent research.

Hauman suggests that natural fluctuations in climate may have triggered modifications in salinity and wind patterns, intensifying the effects of anthropogenic warming trapped in deep waters. This could imply that the impact of warming seawater is already being felt in Antarctica, obstructing new sea ice formation.

Hauman notes that recent shifts in ocean circulation can only be counteracted by either mitigating upwelling effects or sudden alterations in salinity within the Southern Ocean. Nevertheless, the potential responses of the system remain highly uncertain.

The ramifications of these developments could be catastrophic. Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in stabilizing land glaciers and ice sheets. Without adequate sea ice formation, the rate at which these ice structures melt may increase, leading to significant global sea level rise. It is estimated that the Antarctic ice sheet holds enough water to potentially raise global sea levels by up to 58 meters.

The depletion of ice in the Antarctic also alters the Earth’s surface albedo. Darker oceans absorb more solar heat compared to reflective white ice.

Additionally, vast stores of carbon trapped in the Southern Ocean could be released into the atmosphere as deep-sea temperatures rise, as suggested by various studies.

Researchers are just starting to grasp how these types of climate feedback mechanisms might unfold in Antarctica, after many years of relying on inaccurate and low-resolution models.

Topics:

  • Climate change/
  • Antarctica

Source: www.newscientist.com

Atmospheric Disturbance Caused Temperature Surge in Antarctica

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The Antarctic is experiencing higher temperatures than expected

Eyal Bartov / Alamy

Since early September, air temperatures in Antarctica have soared beyond 35°C (63°F), accompanied by a significant reduction in wind speeds, with ozone depletion halting unexpectedly.

This scale of change is typically anticipated only every two decades, according to Martin Zicker from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. However, such phenomena appear to be occurring with increasing frequency, with similar transient disruptions noted last year, alongside more severe occurrences in both 2019 and 2002.

Jucker observes that four of these events have appeared within just 25 years, indicating ongoing unpredictable shifts in the global climate system.

Typically, air temperatures in Antarctica hover around -55°C (-67°F), but have been unrelentingly rising to -20°C (-4°F) since September 5th. Although still extremely cold, this shift has resulted in the polar vortex winds decreasing relatively gently to 100 km/h.

While this warming event has not yet met the formal criteria for sudden stratospheric warming, Jucker notes that for that classification to apply, the winds need to cease entirely—not just for weeks but in response to the warmth itself. He warns that the repercussions in the Southern Hemisphere could be dramatic over the ensuing months.

Initially, Australian meteorologists forecast a wetter spring than normal, but they are now signaling potential impacts from a powerful system over western Australia, likely pushing the region into warmer and drier conditions.

Unusual weather patterns may persist. Jucker indicates that one possible scenario could see a return of the polar vortex, bringing atmospheric temperatures back to their typical averages.

Conversely, the temperature anomaly might continue, with expectations of further increases up to 20°C (36°F). This could lead to erratic weather in the higher latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.

The reason behind this anomaly remains unclear scientifically, but Jucker asserts that it’s almost guaranteed that rising sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, possibly increasing by 1°C (1.8°F) to 3.6°F, are connected.

“The presence of three significant typhoons in the Pacific can be traced to these warmer sea temperatures,” remarks Jucker. “We’ve witnessed markedly strange weather patterns over the last two years, coinciding with this substantial rise in ocean temperatures.”

Edward Dodridge from the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, emphasizes the array of extreme changes occurring at the southernmost point of the globe. Recent years have seen a dramatic deceleration in sea ice loss, heatwaves, widespread breeding failures among Emperor Penguin colonies, and shifts in Antarctic circulation.

“Antarctica continues to astonish us,” he notes. “While each change is noteworthy on its own, my primary concern is witnessing shifts that not only reinforce themselves but also ripple through various components of the Antarctic ecosystem.”

“The loss of summer sea ice facilitates the fracturing of ice shelves, which in turn accelerates ocean warming. This warmer seawater melts the remaining ice shelves at an increased rate.”

Fire and Ice: Exploring Iceland

Experience thrilling days filled with volcanic and geological exploration. Discover Iceland’s stunning landscapes and seize the evening chance to witness the Aurora Borealis in October.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Researchers Document Submarine Canyons in Antarctica

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Submarine canyons are vast, deep formations located on the majority of the world’s continental margins. Antarctica plays a pivotal role in marine processes that significantly influence global climate and ocean circulation. The understanding of oceanographic, climatic, geological, and ecological importance is often hindered by the limitations in Canyon data. In a recent study, researchers from University College Cork and the University of Barcelona aimed to develop the most comprehensive catalogue of Antarctic submarine canyons and gullies. They discovered 332 drainage networks consisting of 3,291 river segments, which is nearly five times the number of canyons recorded in earlier research.

This map shows a network of 332 submarine canyons on the seabed of Antarctica. Image credits: Riccardo Arosio & David Amblas, doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2025.107608.

Submarine canyons are prevalent features found along all continental margins.

These canyons are typically V-shaped valleys with narrow, flexible morphology, beginning at the edge of the continental shelf or continental slope and extending into either the continental rise or abyssal plains.

Short channels less than 10 km in length are referred to as submarine gullies, and they are commonly found within canyon systems on continental slopes.

Submarine canyons are crucial for transporting sediments and nutrients from coastal areas to deeper waters, establishing biodiverse habitats by linking shallow and deep marine environments.

While approximately 10,000 submarine canyons exist globally, only 27% of the ocean floor is mapped at high resolution, indicating a likely higher total number of canyons.

Despite their ecological, oceanographic, and geological significance, submarine canyons are often underrepresented, especially in polar regions.

“Similar to the submarine canyons in the Arctic, those in Antarctica mirror canyons found elsewhere in the world,” stated Dr. David Amblàs, a researcher at the University of Barcelona.

“Yet, they tend to be larger and deeper due to the prolonged effects of polar ice and the considerable volume of sediment that glaciers deposit onto the continental shelf.”

For their research, the authors utilized version 2 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO V2), the most comprehensive and detailed seabed map for the region.

They employed new high-resolution seabed data alongside semi-automated methods to identify and analyze these canyons.

Overall, they described 15 morphometric parameters that displayed notable differences between the southeastern and western canyons.

“Some of the submarine canyons we examined exceed depths of 4,000 meters,” remarked Dr. Amblàs.

“The most impressive among them is located in East Antarctica and consists of a complex, divergent canyon system.”

“It originates from multiple canyons near the edge of the continental shelf and converges into a single main channel that descends steeply into deep water.”

Dr. Ricardo Arosio from Cork University commented:

“The canyons in East Antarctica exhibit more complexity and branching patterns, forming varied canyon channel systems characterized by the often typical U-shaped cross sections.”

“This indicates a significant influence of long-term development under persistent glacial activity alongside erosion and sediment deposition processes.”

“On the contrary, West Antarctic canyons are short and steep, featuring a V-shaped cross section.”

“This morphological distinction supports the hypothesis that the East Antarctic ice sheet developed earlier and underwent a longer maturation process,” explained Dr. Amblàs.

“This was previously suggested by studies of sedimentary records but lacked explanation through large-scale seabed geomorphology.”

“Thanks to the high resolution of the new seabed measurement database—500 m per pixel, compared to 1-2 km per pixel in earlier maps—we can effectively apply semi-automated technology for canyon identification, profiling, and analysis,” Dr. Arosio stated.

“The strength of our research lies in the integration of various methods previously used but now brought together into robust and systematic protocols.”

“We’ve also developed a GIS software script that enables the calculation of numerous canyon-specific morphometric parameters with just a few clicks.”

The team’s research will be featured in the journal Marine Geology.

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Riccardo Arosio & David Amblas. 2025. Topographic measurements of the Antarctic Submarine Canyon. Marine Geology 488:107608; doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2025.107608

Source: www.sci.news

These Images Capture My First Glimpse of Antarctica Under the Sun.

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The Antarctic region of the Sun never seen before

ESA & NASA/SOLAR ORBITER/PHI Team, J. Hirzberger (MPS)

Thanks to the groundbreaking Solar Orbiter spacecraft, I had my first glimpse of the Antarctic region of the Sun. These images and other observations aim to enhance our ability to predict solar activity.

Capturing an image of the solar poles requires the spacecraft to move away from the zodiac plane, affecting nearly all objects in the solar system, which orbit within the sun’s flat disk. The Solar Orbiter, a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency and NASA, achieved this milestone. Launched in 2020, it gradually adjusted its trajectory to reach an angle steep enough to reveal the previously unseen polar areas of the Sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4r4yos6j7y

ESA unveiled the initial image of the Sun’s Antarctic region taken in March, with the spacecraft positioned at 15 degrees below the zodiac plane and currently at 17 degrees beneath it.

Seeing this image for the first time was truly remarkable. Lucy Green from University College London, which contributed to developing the Solar Orbiter, remarked, “We felt privileged as these previously concealed areas became accessible to us.”

The Antarctic of the Sun seen at various wavelengths

ESA & NASA/SOLAR ORBITER/PHI, EUI, SPICE teams

The Solar Orbiter has also been using measurements of magnetic fields and high-energy radiation emerging from the Sun’s Antarctic region, data that ESA has now shared. Understanding the magnetic fields in this area is crucial for our comprehension of the solar cycle, which shows intensive activity roughly every 11 years, states Green. “To fully grasp the Sun as a star, we need to analyze the magnetic fields surrounding it. The magnetic regions at the poles are integral to this understanding.”

“It might seem paradoxical, but one of the most critical areas on the Sun for forecasting space weather on Earth is not visually appealing when seen from Earth: the solar poles,” says Matthew Owens from the University of Reading, UK.

“These new images provide unprecedented insights into regions near Antarctica. As the Solar Orbiter mission progresses, it will ascend to higher latitudes and provide even clearer views of the pole,” he remarks. Space weather forecasts depend on knowing the magnetic structure at the poles, especially during the Sun’s least active phases over the next three to four years, says Owens.

The Solar Orbiter has also offered us a look into the Sun’s Arctic, but ESA is awaiting the data’s return to Earth. In the meantime, you can explore the Arctic through an approximation crafted by ESA in 2018 using clever imaging techniques.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Tourists in Antarctica Fund Scientific Research amid Government Cuts

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During the warm Antarctic season, a refined Norwegian passenger ship is known as Ms Fridtjof Nansen Departing regularly from Argentina, head south along the turbulent drake passageway to the Antarctic Peninsula. The cruise is home to more and more wealthy adventurers, bucket listers, and increasingly polar scientists seeking to collect data as public funds for research in Antarctica under the Trump administration.

The National Science Foundation is one of the world’s largest funders of scientific research and has an annual budget. Approximately $9 billion This supports most of the research in the United States Antarctic. Over the past few months, the Trump administration has ordered agencies to cut deeper, making scientists wonder how they will study everything, from melting glaciers and ice sheets to the effects of pollution from power plants and wildfires.

On Thursday, National Science Foundation director Seturaman Panchanashan resigned after the White House directed him to cut the agency’s budget and staff by more than half. According to an exclusive report from Science.

Panchanathan’s resignation follows Elon Musk’s previous orders from government efficiency Freeze fund All new research grants from the National Science Foundation, and the announcement that Doge will be over last week Over $200 million “Wild” research grants given by the agency.

Some experts are concerned that the Trump administration continues its National Science Foundation It may inform you of the end For research into the United States of Antarctica.

Leopard seals along the Antarctic Peninsula.
Chase Cain / NBC News

James Burns, co-founder of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, is an international alliance for environmental and non-governmental organizations focusing on Antarctic conservation and research, and says the National Science Foundation has become “wicked language” within much of the Trump administration. “For whatever reason, there’s so much to learn in Antarctica, that’s not good on many levels for us.”

President Donald Trump’s orders specifically target Antarctic research include: Staff of several National Science Foundations We are working on Antarctica projects and essential reductions Construction funds for McMurdo Stationthe largest US research foundation on the continent.

Antarctica-based research projects have already declined for several years – disrupted decades of robust fieldwork; Never recovered from Covid-19 restrictions. Currently, research on the world’s southernmost continent has been facing several years under Trump’s slash and burning policies.

However, I’m riding on Fridjov Nansen. And its sister ship, Ms. Roald Amundsen, Polar Scientist, has reliable funds for their research. HX Expeditions, which operates two Antarctic ships, hosts researchers from institutions such as West Washington University. University of California, Santa Cruz. National Snow and Ice Data Center. Their rooms and boards are covered by the purchase of tickets from tourists sailing to Antarctica for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

“If we can’t pay customers to allow our ship to go south, we can’t support the research we are helping out,” said Verena Meraldi, chief scientist on the HX Expedition. “It’s not easy [to get there]. There are not many flights coming down here, and fewer research vessels. ”

Gentleman penguins along the Antarctic Peninsula.
Chase Cain / NBC News

Tourists traveling on the HX expedition are part of the explosive ecotourism industry, focusing on experiencing nature while helping to preserve the local area. The number of visitors to Antarctica has increased from about 8,000 each year in the 1990s to over 120,000 per year. International Antarctic Tour Operators Association. By 2035, the ecotourism market will be like that projection It will grow to over $550 billion. Ms Fridtjof Nansen on a late March expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula It was home to over 400 ecotourists and several researchers, including Freia Aardred, a doctoral student at Durham University in the UK.

Alldred moved along with sterilized bags to collect samples of seaweed grown in Antarctica waters and snow algae. She has studied how climate change affects the carbon content of these Antarctic species, and Cruises has provided a unique opportunity to collect new samples.

“We’ve never been anywhere with a research foundation,” says Alldred. “Instead, if I went to a base in the Antarctic in England, I could only sample within my area. Here I have gone to five different sites throughout the peninsula that may not have been previously studied.”

The boat was housed nearby scientists and ecotourists, giving scientists the unusual opportunity to explain their work directly to non-scientists through interactive sessions in an onboard lab. For ten days, enthusiastic passengers attended lectures from resident researchers, ate with them at the ship’s restaurant, sharing their first steps in the vast polar deserts of Antarctica.

“It’s incredible to share these experiences with people, explain why we do research, what kind of questions we answer, and they see them firsthand,” said Chloe Lou, a researcher who works with the California Ocean Alliance to capture the impact of tourist boats on Antarctica whales. “It fires me for my passion for my work.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Outbreak of H5N1 virus causing bird deaths in Antarctica

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Antarctic adelie penguins are under threat from bird flu

Steve Bloom Images/Aramie Stock Photos

H5N1 bird flu was first discovered in a dead bird in Antarctica. Fatal tensions in avian flu are currently spreading south along the Antarctic Peninsula, with devastating consequences for wildlife such as penguins and could spread across the continent.

“It’s scary. Luckily, it only affects a few. [birds]”I say Juliana Viana at the Pope Catholic University of Chile in Santiago. “I hope it stays that way, but the bird flu in Chile and Peru was a disaster. It killed thousands of seabirds and sea lions.”

Between November 2024 and January 2025, Vianna’s team investigated 16 nesting sites for seabirds along the Antarctic Peninsula. Researchers found 35 dead Skuas with no signs of injury. Samples from 11 bodies were found to be positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus that has spread around the world in recent years.

Skuas removes corpses and is ahead of other birds, so eating infected birds is particularly likely to cause infection. Skuas in this area are hybrids between the Antarctic (Stercorarius Maccormicki) and brown (Stercorarius Antarcticus)SKUAS.

So far, no other species of birds have been confirmed, but Vianna says she was also said to have been found dead on March 9th. “We spoke with the Chilean Antarctic Institute,” she says. “They saw the dead squau and the penguin.”

As penguins breed in dense colonies, there is a fear that H5N1 spreads rapidly between them, killing most of several groups. Some penguin species may be resistant, as birds’ susceptibility to H5N1 varies from species to species, Vianna said.

The highly pathogenic form of H5N1 avian influenza has been circulating in Europe, Asia and Africa since 2020, killing many wild birds and causing outbreaks on poultry farms. For example, in the UK, H5N1 was killed A quarter of Gannett 2023.

In 2021, it arrived in North America and was later found to infect dairy cows’ breasts and spread between them. By the end of 2022 it had spread to the southern tip of South America, killing thousands of marine mammals and many different species of birds along the way.

The sick brown squat and giant plaster on Bird Island, just off a large island in South Georgia, tested positive for the virus in 2023. South Georgia is approximately 1,500 km from the Antarctic Peninsula.

Vianna’s team in December 2023 and January 2024 Signs of infection discovered in some living Adelie penguins and Antarctic shags At the northernmost tip of the peninsula. The presence of viruses on the continent has now been confirmed.

“Reported deaths of SKUAS are of concern,” he says. Thijs Kuiken At Rotterdam, the University of Erasmus, Netherlands. Some species in the area are only found on small islands and could be wiped out by avian flu, he says.

However, the tests described in Vianna’s study only show that SKUA has been infected with H5 influenza, and Kuiken does not know whether it is a highly pathogenic form.

Vianna says that’s correct, but samples were sent for additional tests not detailed in the paper. “So it’s been confirmed as a highly pathogenic avian flu,” she says.

On February 25th, another group of researchers reported Find H5N1 in the Closet and Kergellen archipelago In the Indian Ocean near Antarctica, where the virus killed elephant seals and several species of birds. That is, the virus moved towards Australia and New Zealand along the way in Antarctica. This is the only major country that is free from the virus.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

69 million years ago, the famous waterfowl of Antarctica was thriving.

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American and Australian paleontologists have discovered and explained the new, almost complete skull of Vegavis Iaai, a diver bird species in Footpro, which lived in Antarctica during the latest Cretaceous period between 69.2 and 68.4 million years ago. New fossils provide insight into bird feeding ecology and show morphology that supports placement among waterfowls in Crown Group (modern) birds.

Vegavis Iaai. Image credit: Mark Whitton.

Vegavis Iaai was first discovered 20 years ago by a research team led by Austin paleontologists, led by the University of Texas.

At the time, the species was proposed as an early member of the crown bird, which evolved into nests among waterfowls.

However, crown birds are very rare before end extinction, and more recent research has raised questions about the evolutionary position of Vegavis Iaai.

“There are few birds who are likely to start as many arguments as paleontologists do. Vegavis,” said Professor Christopher Torres of the University of the Pacific.

“This new fossil will help resolve many of these debates. Chief among them: Where are you? Vegavis Iaai Are you sitting on the bird of life tree?”

Almost complete skull of Vegavis Iaai collected during the 2011 expedition Antarctic Peninsula Paleontology Project.

Professor Torres and his colleagues produced an almost complete three-dimensional reconstruction of the new specimen.

Team analysis reveals typical bird brain shapes and supports the placement of Vegavis Iaai among the waterfowl family, and as relatives of ducks and geese.

However, in this study, the birds had elongated, pointed beaks that drive the strengthened jaw muscles.

“The fossil highlights that Antarctica has a lot to say to us about the early stages of modern bird evolution,” said Professor Patrick O’Connor of Ohio University.

“A bird known almost simultaneously from other parts of the globe is barely recognizable by modern bird standards.”

Furthermore, most of the few sites that have even preserved delicate bird fossils produce incomplete specimens that are so incomplete that they don’t only give hints to their identities. Vegavis until now.

“And some places with substantial fossil records of late Cretaceous birds like Madagascar and Argentina are the strange birds with teeth and long bone tails that are only associated with modern birds. It reveals birds.”

“It seems that something very different is happening in the distance in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in the Antarctic.”

Study was published in the journal Nature.

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Cr Torres et al. 2025. The skulls of Cretaceous Antarctic birds elucidate the ecological diversity of early birds. Nature 638, 146-151; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08390-0

Source: www.sci.news

JUNO identifies a significant hotspot indicating a large volcano near IO’s Antarctica

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The newly discovered volcanic hot spot is larger than the Earth’s boss lake, and Beppo emits six times the eruption of the total energy of all worlds in the world.

On December 27, 2024, a huge hot spot is seen on the right side of the IO IO in this image taken by Jiram infrared imager on Jiram’s infrared image on December 27, 2024. Image credit: NASA / JPL-CALTECH / SWRI / ASI / INAF / Jiram.

“NASA’s Juno spacecraft had two very close frivaties in the extended mission,” said Dr. Scot Bolton, researcher of South West Research Institute.

“And each fly -alibi provided data on painful moon beyond our expectations, but this latest, farther, fry -drive data really blown out our hearts.”

“This is the most powerful volcanic event that has been recorded in the world of volcanoes in our solar system. It really says something.”

The IO, which is slightly larger than the moon on the earth, is the most active volcanic body in the solar system.

It is the most inner moon of Jupiter Gali Leans, including IO, EUROPA, GANYMEDE and CALLISTO.

IO has more than 400 active volcanoes, causing the tide heat, which is the result of gravity from Jupiter and other Jovian Moon.

During the extended mission, Juno’s trajectory passes through all other trajectory and flew every month.

Previously, the spacecraft created Flybys near IO in December 2023 and February 2024, and was within about 1,500 km (930 miles) from its surface.

The latest fly -ibai was held on December 27, 2024, and the spacecraft was within about 74,400 km (46,200 miles) of the month, and Ju -no Jovia’s infrared Auroral Mapper (Giram) instrument was trained in the IO Southern Hemisphere. Ta.

“Jiram detected an extremely infrared radiation luminance (huge hot spot) event in the Southern Hemisphere of IO, and saturated the detector,” said Dr. Alessandro Mura, a researcher at the Roman National Institute of Physics. I mentioned it.

“But what we detected was actually a hot spot with some close intervals that suggest a vast magma chamber system underground.”

“Data supports this is the most intense volcanic eruption recorded in IO.”

The team estimates that unknown functions will spans 100,000 km.2 (40,000 square miles).

The previous record holder was Loki Patera of IO, which is about 20,000 km of lava.2 (7,700 square miles).

The total power value of the new hot spot shine was much higher than 80 trillion watts.

This feature was also captured by the junocam Visible Light camera in the mission.

Researchers compared the junocam images of the previous two IO Flybys to the devices collected on December 27.

And these latest images have a low resolution due to JUNO far away, but the relative changes in the surface color around the newly discovered hot spot were clear.

Such changes on the IO surface are known to be related to hot spots and volcanic activities in the planetary science community.

The eruption of this size may leave a long life signature.

Other large eruptions of IO include thermal crushed sediment (a piece of rock exhaled in volcanic), small lava flows that can be supplied by cracks, volcanic plum sediments rich in sulfur and sulfur dioxide. We have created various characteristics.

JUNO uses IO’s Fly Bai on March 3 to look at the hot spot and search for changes in landscapes.

It is also possible to observe earth -based observations in this area of the moon.

“It’s always great to witness an event to rewrite a recordbook, but this new hot spot can potentially do much more,” said Dr. Bolton.

“Interesting features can improve the understanding of volcanism not only in IO but also in other worlds.”

Source: www.sci.news

Amber Found for the First Time in Antarctica

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The first-ever fragment of Antarctic amber was discovered in a sediment core on the mid-shelf of Antarctica’s Pine Island Trough.

Pine Island Amber. Scale bar – 50 μm. Image credit: Klages others., doi: 10.1017/S0954102024000208.

“Resins are direct plant products defined as lipophilic mixtures of volatile and non-volatile compounds that are exuded inside or on the surface of plants primarily by gymnosperms,” ​​said first author Johann from the University of Bremen.・Dr. Klages et al. .

“Some plant resins fossilize under certain conditions and are preserved in the geological record as amber.”

“So far, the southernmost ambers date from the mid-Cretaceous period and have been found in the Otway Basin of southern Australia (Otway amber) and part of the Tupangi Formation in New Zealand's Chatham Islands (Tupangi amber), respectively.”

The first Antarctic amber was recovered by the MARUM-MeBo70 subsea drilling rig from the mid-shelf section of the Pine Island Trough in West Antarctica's Amundsen Sea Bight. RV porous stern Expedition in early 2017.

This specimen, called Pine Island amber, dates from the mid-Cretaceous period, between 92 and 83 million years ago.

The discovery points to a wet, temperate rainforest environment near Antarctica that was dominated by coniferous trees.

“Antarctic amber likely contains remnants of the original bark as microinclusions,” said co-author Dr Henny Gerschel, a researcher at the Saxon Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geology. Ta.

“Given its solid, transparent, and translucent particles, we can see that the amber is of high quality and buried close to the surface, as the amber dissipates as thermal stress and burial depth increases.”

“We also found signs of diseased resin flow, a strategy trees use to seal up damaged bark caused by parasites and wildfires, protecting them from insect attack and infection. create chemical and physical barriers that

“Our findings are another piece of the puzzle and help us better understand the wetland, conifer-rich temperate rainforest environment identified near Antarctica during the mid-Cretaceous.”

“It was very exciting to learn that at some point in their history, all seven continents had climatic conditions that allowed resin-producing trees to survive,” Dr. Klages said.

“Our goal now is to learn more about forest ecosystems. If a forest burns down, can we find traces of life in the amber?”

“This discovery allows us to travel into the past in an even more direct way.”

a paper A report of the discovery was published in today's journal Antarctic science.

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Johann P. Klages others. First discovery of Antarctic amber. Antarctic sciencepublished online on November 12, 2024. doi: 10.1017/S0954102024000208

Source: www.sci.news

During the Eocene, giant fearbirds ruled as the apex predators of Antarctica.

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Paleontologists have unearthed two fossilized phalanges of ancient carnivorous birds on Seymour Island in Antarctica.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of an early Eocene continental community on Seymour Island: large claw-shaped birds hunting and gazing at medium-sized ungulates. Nothiolophos regeloiseveral marsupials on the tree, Antarctoboenus carlinii It is flying in the sky, and behind it is a runner who cannot fly. Image credit: Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche & Washington Jones, doi: 10.26879/1340.

Ancient bird fossils were discovered in the La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island in West Antarctica.

“These phalanges belonged to a large predator, estimated to weigh around 100 kg,” said Dr. Carolina Acosta Hospitalrecce of the National University of La Plata and Dr. Washington Jones of the National Museum of History of Uruguay.

The specimen is approximately 50 million years old (early Eocene).

They belong to the following types Forsulacid (commonly known as the fear bird), an extinct family in the order Calliamyformes.

“Caryamiformes are a primarily terrestrial bird order that has shown significant diversification in the past, but only two species currently inhabit South America,” the paleontologists said.

“Despite the rich fossil record, phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships within this order remain poorly understood.”

“Within the Calliamydae, Phorsuracidae forms a crown group with the Caryamydae, and Idiornithidae and Basorhuntiidae have been reconfirmed as fossil families.”

Fossilized phalanx of an ancient Karyamiform bird from Seymour Island, Antarctica. Scale bar – 10 mm. Image credit: Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche & Washington Jones, doi: 10.26879/1340.

The Antarctic terror bird probably preyed on small marsupials and medium-sized ungulates.

“They are likely active hunters, clearly fulfilling the role of continental apex predators similar to the mammals of Paleogene Antarctic communities,” the researchers said.

“Large birds resembling Phorsulaceae represent a previously unknown guild in Antarctica.”

“These findings unequivocally reshape our understanding of the dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem during the early Eocene.”

of result Published in an online magazine Old Trogia Electronica.

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Carolina Acosta Hospitalrecce & Washington Jones. 2024. Was the fearbird an apex predator in Antarctica? New discoveries from the early Eocene of Seymour Island. Old Trogia Electronica 27 (1):a13; doi: 10.26879/1340

Source: www.sci.news

An undisclosed ice base uncovers ethereal cosmic particles in Antarctica

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Scientists have faced a challenge for nearly a century: How do you detect the undetectable, like the elusive neutrino? But now, in a groundbreaking discovery, neutrinos from elsewhere in the Milky Way have been detected for the first time, shedding light on a new era of neutrino astronomy.

The discovery of neutrinos has opened up new possibilities, and researchers like Steve Sclafani from the University of Maryland are excited about this new frontier. Neutrinos, the second most abundant elementary particles in the universe, are notoriously difficult to detect due to their elusive nature. When Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli proposed their existence in the 1930s, he thought they could never be detected, but he was proven wrong in 1956.

The discovery of neutrinos from outside the Milky Way was made possible by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a massive telescope located near the South Pole. By detecting high-energy neutrinos from distant galaxies, scientists are uncovering the mysteries of cosmic particle accelerators. These accelerators, like supermassive black holes, can provide clues about the origins of cosmic rays and other cosmic phenomena.

Small particles, huge targets

The IceCube detector, operated by a collaboration of scientists from around the world, works by detecting Cherenkov radiation emitted when high-energy neutrinos interact with the ice. This innovative approach allowed researchers to distinguish Milky Way neutrinos from other background signals, leading to the detection of hundreds of neutrinos over a 10-year period.

By studying the distribution of these neutrinos, scientists hope to learn more about the origins of cosmic rays and other high-energy phenomena in our galaxy. With plans to expand the IceCube observatory and improve detection methods, the future of neutrino astronomy looks promising.

Birth of neutrino astronomy

The detection of high-energy neutrinos from the Milky Way marks a new era in astronomy, providing researchers with a unique tool to study cosmic phenomena. By tracking these neutrinos back to their sources, scientists hope to uncover the mechanisms behind cosmic particle accelerators and other cosmic mysteries.

Neutrino astronomy offers a new perspective on the universe, allowing researchers to peer into the heart of energetic and turbulent environments near supermassive black holes. This discovery opens up a whole new window on the universe, providing invaluable insights into the workings of the cosmos.

New perspective

Neutrino astronomy has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of cosmic particle accelerators and other energetic phenomena. By studying the origins of high-energy neutrinos, researchers can uncover the mysteries of the cosmos and explore new frontiers in astrophysics. Exciting times lie ahead for neutrino astronomy, with new discoveries and advancements on the horizon.

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About our experts

Mirko Hünefeld from Dortmund University of Technology and Steve Sclafani from the University of Maryland are leading scientists in the field of neutrino astronomy. Their contributions to the IceCube observatory have helped advance our understanding of the universe and unlock new insights into cosmic phenomena.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists Uncover Four New Emperor Penguin Colonies in Antarctica through Fecal Analysis

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Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguin, often weighing around 90 pounds. However, they also have one of the most precarious breeding methods on the planet.

To ensure their chicks leave the nest in the summer, they breed during the coldest months of the year, when temperatures are close to -50 degrees Fahrenheit and Antarctic winds can gust at 190 miles per hour. Male penguins keep their chicks warm by balancing eggs on their feet, and colonies of up to 5,000 penguins huddle together to stay warm, each with their own body temperature. They are said to be walking around with a limp so that they can take turns.

But these animals do all of their breeding on Antarctic sea ice, and last year’s sea ice reached its lowest peak since scientists started measuring it in 1979. Some scientists fear that the decline is now so extreme that it has become an inevitable snowball effect.

If the ice sheet breaks before the emperor penguin colony leaves its chicks, the chicks will fall into the water and die, Fretwell said. That has happened over the past two years, particularly in 2022, with another study by Fretwell published last year showing “complete breeding failure” in all but one of the five known breeding sites.

The new colonies identified by Fretwell are mostly small. They said in a paper published in the journal Antarctic Science that at least some penguins appear to have migrated because of unstable sea ice conditions.

“If the colonies fail, they will move to other areas,” Fretwell told NBC News.

“We spend all this time monitoring these animals and seeing if they can adapt to climate change, but the truth is that penguins ultimately need to adapt. Not us,” Fretwell added. “We need to end our dependence on fossil fuels, not just for penguins, but for all species and ourselves.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com