Category: Science

Antarctica’s hidden threat: meltwater under the ice sheet amplifies sea-level rise

Administrator

A new study shows how subglacial water could threaten the stability of the Antarctic ice cap. Which could add more than two metres than currently estimated to global sea levels by 2300.

Tracking water vapor over Greenland's ice sheet with a drone

Julia Hager

A drone experiment over the Greenland ice sheet has made it possible for the first time to take detailed measurements of water vapor in the atmosphere over Greenland. This new technology could contribute to improving climate models and help to better estimate Greenland's future contribution to global sea level rise.

Vast ecosystem of microalgae accelerates ice melt on Antarctic ice cap

Julia Hager

For the first time, researchers investigated an algal bloom on an Antarctic ice cap and discovered an astonishing diversity of microbial life. However, the coloration accelerates the melting.

Concordia - "A livable, energy-efficient, easy-to-install system"

Camille Lin

The Franco-Italian station is celebrating its twentieth year of operation, perched high above Antarctica. Project manager Patrice Godon tells us about the challenges involved in building the station, from the point of view of polar expertise.

Afforestation in the Arctic only a sham solution to global warming

Julia Hager

In Arctic regions, afforestation can accelerate warming rather than slow it down, warns a new study. Instead of planting trees, researchers recommend preserving open tundra and large herbivores.

Forel, a Swiss research vessel for the scientists

Mirjana Binggeli

From mapping fjords to studying particles, the Forel research vessel leads multidisciplinary expeditions in the Arctic to better understand the impact of global warming and marine ecosystems. A true floating laboratory that looks like a Swiss Army knife.

An Antarctic South-African station on the edge of fear

Mirjana Binggeli

An alleged assault on a South African Antarctic station is currently making headlines. Although the phenomenon is rare, it is not exceptional. Isolation, boredom and confinement in a hostile environment can put the nerves of scientific and station personnel to the test.

Pleistocene glacial ice discovered in the permafrost of the Canadian Arctic

Julia Hager

On Bylot Island in the Canadian Arctic, bodies of ice have been hidden in the permafrost since the early Pleistocene – well protected from external influences and several warm periods. The age of the ice is estimated to be more than 770,000 years.

Claudio Gonzalez - The history of Austral currents under a snail's shell

Camille Lin

Back from Macquarie Island, a marine biologist from Chile's Milenio Base Institute fulfills a scientific and personal dream by collecting rare specimens of mollusks.

Study tracks male Sperm whales over thousands of kilometers

Julia Hager

Male sperm whales in the North Atlantic spend much of the year in Arctic waters, migrating south only for mating. For the first time, a research team has demonstrated that these migrations do not follow a fixed schedule.