Antarctica

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 - 22:31 UTC

  BAS describes how warm, dry winds weaken Antarctic ice shelves

  

  New research describes for the first time the role that warm, dry winds play in influencing the behaviour of Antarctic ice shelves. Making a presentation at a European conference scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explain how spring and summer winds, known as föhn winds, are prevalent on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, West Antarctica and creating melt pools.

• Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 - 11:46 UTC

  IAATO estimates 46.385 visitors to Antarctica during the 2017/18 season

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced its tourism figures for the 2016-2017 Antarctic season at the start of its annual meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2/7. Members are gathered to discuss safe, environmentally responsible Antarctic tourism, including a multi-dimensional approach to managing for growth that will keep activities both safe and sustainable.

• Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 10:17 UTC

  Argentine Icebreaker Irizar is back undergoing sea trials, readying for Antarctica sailing

  

  Argentina's Navy icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar is back on sea trials following almost ten years of recovery and refurbishing after she caught fire in 2007 when returning from Antarctica and was considered almost a wreck given the magnitude of the damages experienced.

• Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:10 UTC

  Twelve million penguins in Antarctica, according to the 2017 SOAP report

  

  April 25 is World Penguin Day, timed to coincide with the annual northward march to the sea of Antarctic penguins, as autumn edges toward winter in that part of the world. There are 12 million penguins in Antarctica, according to a new report – the inaugural State Of Antarctic Penguins 2017 (SOAP) report – also released on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 07:45 UTC

  On World Penguin Day scientists call for more protection of Antarctic wildlife

  

  The world needs to do more to protect the Antarctic wilderness and its wildlife, scientists warned Tuesday, as they marked World Penguin Day. The flightless seabirds—a favorite with children for their clumsy, waddling gait—offer a useful yardstick for researchers to judge the health of their habitat

• Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 01:57 UTC

  Punta Arenas plans to seat a major Antarctica scientific research hub

  

  Chile will build the International Antarctic Center in the southern city of Punta Arenas, meant to become the entering point to the white continent for the world. The Governor of the Magellan region and the Chilean Antarctic, Jorge Flies stated this week that there were 35 projects developing in his jurisdiction, in three important areas.

• Tuesday, March 28th 2017 - 08:12 UTC

  Argentina defines continental shelf limits with the exception of the Falklands and Antarctica areas

  

  Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra has announced that Argentina has definitive international support for its defined continental shelf limits, with the exception of the Falklands/Malvinas, South Georgia, in dispute with the UK, and those covered by the Antarctic Treaty, which are not considered by the UN because of a sovereignty litigation or an international treaty.

• Saturday, March 25th 2017 - 09:21 UTC

  Icebreaker Almirante Irizar ready to begin sea trials after a decade in repairs

  

  Argentine foreign and defense ministers Susana Malcorra and Julio Martínez toured on Friday the recently repaired and refurbished Navy's icebreaker and Antarctica flagship, Almirante Irizar which a decade ago almost became a wreck after she caught fire on return from the annual Antarctic mission.

• Friday, March 10th 2017 - 07:21 UTC

  BAS scientific research survey of South Georgia fish resources

  

  Every two years BAS leads a scientific research survey of the fish resources on behalf of the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. This time Dr. Mark Belchier from BAS was head of the team of experts that carried out the survey.

• Monday, March 6th 2017 - 10:53 UTC

  UK's Signy Station on South Orkney Islands, hottest place in Antarctica

  

  A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) committee of experts announced on March first, new records for the highest temperatures recorded in the Antarctic Region. The results are part of continuing efforts to expand a database of extreme weather and climate conditions throughout the world.