British Antarctic Survey’s Post

Did you see the aurora last night? We had a great view from Cambridge - and an even better explanatory email thread to colleagues from BAS space weather scientist Professor Richard Horne! Here's an extract: 📣 "Red aurora are not very easy to see with the naked eye, and are not that common. They occur at lower latitudes than the classic bright green auroral arcs – and are known as stable auroral red (SAR) arcs. The red light is emitted from atomic Oxygen usually around 300–500km altitude, but can be as low as 200km. Red aurora are usually associated with a geomagnetic storm, and true to form last night there was a geomagnetic storm that started around 4pm and reached a G4 category by 2am this morning. The storm will likely take a few days to subside. During a magnetic storm an electrical current builds up and flows around the Earth some 20,000km or more above our heads. For comparison the space station orbits at 450km altitude – so the current is way above that, it forms where the GPS satellites orbit. The current is the result of energetic ions and electrons flowing in opposite directions in a ring around the Earth and contained within the external geomagnetic field." 💌 We love it when our expert colleagues share their knowledge! #emailtoall #aurora #geomagneticstorm #spaceweather

Which species have star-ring roles in our icy oceans?! ⭐ It’s echinoderms - critters like star fish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers – which are easily found when diving to the bottom of Antarctic waters. Nick Barrett, a PhD student working with BAS and Cambridge Earth Sciences, has been using BAS’ polar aquarium to investigate how species of Antarctic echinoderms react to change in salinity (how salty their watery environment is). Why do we need to know? 🌊 More freshwater is entering Antarctic waters 🧊 It’s coming from melting glaciers 🚰 They hold more than 68% of Earth’s fresh water Having lived in generally stable conditions on the seabed for millions of years, many Antarctic echinoderms are unique to the region, and can be sensitive to any changes in their environment. Nick says: “The worry is that changes in their abundance could upset the delicate balance of energy flowing through food webs here.” The research aims to discover whether Antarctic echinoderms can cope with these influxes of fresh water, identify the species most at risk, and so aim conservation efforts toward the most vulnerable. Read more about the research here👇 https://lnkd.in/e_uYX-kt What's in the 📸 and who took them? 1. Nick Barrett. Antarctic Echinoderms being studied at BAS 2. Theo Nunn (Animal People Studio). Odontaster sea star righting itself 3. Nick Barrett. Antarctic sea cucumbers 4. Nick Barrett. Antarctic brittle sea stars 5. Nick Barrett. Antarctic sea urchin

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) awarded £8.4 million from NERC: Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. Part of a major investment into the UK’s network of leading environmental science research centres, NERC has announced BAS and CPOM as beneficiaries, to ensure both institutions can continue research and monitoring of the #polar regions for public good. The funding will help to deliver the UK Polar Research Expertise for Science and Society (PRESCIENT) programme, which supports large-scale environmental observations, modelling, and analysis, as well as research capabilities through innovations in platforms, sensors, and data science. The information obtained from these observations will be used to help understand the role and response of polar marine ecosystems to changes in environmental stressors (like temperature, sea ice, and pollution), measure and predict polar ice sheet contributions to global sea level rise (and associated tipping points) and deliver Antarctic space weather observations to global networks in support of the UK National Risk Register. These data and outcomes are crucial for managing natural resources, biodiversity, human health and building our understanding of and resilience to environmental hazards. In turn, the work done by BAS and CPOM will strengthen UK national security from threats caused by these environmental hazards, as well as more widely support the #research and #innovation sector in driving green economic growth. Professor Dominic Hodgson, Interim Director of Science at BAS, said “This funding is essential to underpin future research programmes in the polar regions. Our planet is changing rapidly as a result of human activities. It is critically important that we monitor and understand how the polar regions are reacting, and how the changes there, such as loss of the ice sheets, will impact the rest of the planet. This will help us guide governments and society on how to adapt to a changing world.” Find out more about the PRESCIENT project 👇 https://lnkd.in/eyDk_8cV Find out more about the funding from NERC 👇 https://lnkd.in/eSns2yKR

You've got mail! 📬 We've published our first 'Postcard from Rothera' with updates on the construction of the new Discovery Building at Rothera Research Station. The team have been working through the winter to fit out in the inside. They've ticked lots off the to do list, including: 👷♀️103 smoke and heat detectors 🚪 93 doors ☕ 3 very important tea points The new building will provide a new scientific support and operations facility so we can continue delivering vital polar science in the region. The team have shared their memorable winter moments (clue: an emperor penguin was involved), milestones and what they're looking forward to ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/egCrhpK7 #construction #antarctica #infrastructure #architecture

The annual migration begins! ✈️ Ahead of our science season in Antarctica, the BAS aircraft have started their long journey across the world. The BAS red Dash 7 and Twin Otter aircraft set off from Canada, (where they are maintained and do some summer science work) flying all the way down North and South America. The journey to Punta Arenas on the tip of Chile takes around 10 days, before they make the final hop over the Southern Ocean to Rothera Research Station! 🎥 Mark Thompson and Alex Taylor #aviation #climatescience

We're taking a time capsule to Antarctica, and you're invited on the journey! But hurry, our ship departs on Sunday 13 October 🏃♀️💨 🐧 Add your name to a time capsule going to Rothera Research Station. 🚢 Follow the journey south on #RRSSirDavidAttenborough. 💌 Discover the magic of Antarctica with weekly photo and story updates. #TicketToAntarctica is an epic adventure to the frozen south that’s free and open to everyone! Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eKM8Hej8 Journey into a frozen world of icebergs, penguins and whales, and meet the scientists and teams who live and work in Antarctica. Huge thanks to Sir David Attenborough, namesake of the UK’s polar research ship and *national treasure*, for helping to spread the word! ❤️ #polarregions #publicengagement #archive #climatescience

Climate change reality is happening at a local level – so climate science needs to get specific 📍 By combining data from many different regions of the world, an international group of researchers (including from BAS) have shown that the ‘signals’ of our changing climate are already emerging – in different ways, in different regions. 💧 More rain and less snow in at the poles ⚡️ Altered storm tracks into northwestern Europe ⚠️ More intense tropical and sub-tropical monsoons 📢 Author Dr Paul Holland from BAS explains: “The average warming of our planet isn’t likely to be the biggest impact: ecosystems and human populations are most affected by changes in flooding and drought, extreme heat and cold, storm damage and sea-level rise.” The new paper, led by University of Exeter shows the need for increased focus on localised data and modelling, which will guide how communities in different regions should adapt their infrastructure, public health, food security and extreme event preparedness. Read more here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ex-zTHAw The article is part of the Frontiers in Science multimedia article hub ‘Regional climate change impacts’. #climatescience #climateimpacts #extremeweather #foodsecurity #emergencypreparedness

Into The Land of Mist and Fog 🔮 – Bird Island’s mysterious beauty is captured in a photo shortlisted for The British Photography Awards! Our Bird Island Science Manager, Ash Bennison, took this incredible photo last season at the remote and rugged Bird Island. Scientists are descending through tussock grass to Johnson beach, blanketed by gentoo penguins. This photo captures Bird Island’s wild weather and some of the diverse wildlife that calls it home… and we’re obsessed! 🐧 If you love this photo as much as we do, show your support by voting for Ash’s work in the Documentary category of The British Photography Awards! Vote here 👉 https://ow.ly/morc50TAcE7 🗓️ Votes must be made by Wednesday 9th October. 📸 Canon Eos 7, 24-70mm, Ilford HP5

We're working with Cambridge University Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology to develop a new generation of microscopes that can withstand the extreme cold and help unlock polar life’s frozen secrets! ⬇️

Antarctic krill can store as much carbon as the world’s mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows! New research from Imperial College London shows that a single species, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), can store similar levels of carbon as the world’s mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. Krill – tiny, shrimp-like creatures – are eaten by animals like whales, seals and penguins and so form a key part of the Southern Ocean’s food chain. But their role in our ecosystem is even more vital than we realised… Scientists have been piecing together the role krill have in carbon cycling, and made the amazing discovery that krill, and their poo, store similar amounts of carbon as some coastal marine plants. However, krill are impacted by changes to their habitat by climate change, and potential overfishing for food as well as for use as fishing bait and in dietary supplements. The researchers say the species should be protected in a similar way to ‘blue carbon’ habitats – those which store significant amounts of carbon. BAS’ scientist Simeon Hill was involved in the research and describes how we as people are connected to such a small creature in a remote location. We rely on it to remove carbon from our atmosphere, but are affecting it through out actions. After all, what happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica… #ClimateChange #Carbon #Research #Science #DataCollection #STEM #MarineScience #MarineBiology