Antarctica

• Monday, December 27th 2021 - 20:45 UTC

  Argentina to set up Antarctica observatory to look for exoplanets

  

  Argentina will install an observatory at the Belgrano II base in Antarctica, 1,300 kilometers from the South Pole, which will be operated from Buenos Aires. The automated telescope will be used to detect exoplanets and other celestial bodies which are difficult to watch from other latitudes, it was announced.

• Wednesday, December 22nd 2021 - 08:27 UTC

  British veterans on an Antarctica five week trek; Polar Preet ahead of schedule in her solo to the South Pole

  

  A group of British military reservists and veterans has set off on a five-week trek across Antarctica to carry out climate change research. The eight-strong team is heading to an area of the continent that has never been explored.

• Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:17 UTC

  BAS 2021/22 Antarctic summer field season underway; Rothera/Falklands air link twice a week

  

  Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five BAS research stations will be open and undertaking essential science research after a year’s break caused by Covid-19 last season. This will be another challenging season with ongoing Covid-19 protocols to maintain safety for our staff and collaborators.

• Monday, December 20th 2021 - 09:31 UTC

  NASA keeping track of two British explorers in Antarctica collecting info on survival on Mars

  

  The US space agency NASA is tracking two British explorers on a 3,650 kilometers journey across Antarctica to learn more about humanity's ability to survive on Mars. Explorers Justin Packshaw,57, and Jamie Facer Childs, 37 are on an 80-day trek across the southernmost continent as part of the Chasing the Light mission — a grueling expedition that could give a better understanding of the psychological and physical impact of other worlds on the human body and mind.

• Saturday, December 18th 2021 - 09:39 UTC

  Falklands flagged Sir David Attenborough reaches Rothera Station in Antarctica

  

  Britain’s new polar research vessel, Falklands' flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough, has travelled to Antarctica on its maiden voyage, with its first call on Friday at Rothera Research Station – the UK’s largest Antarctic research station on the continent.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:48 UTC

  Argentina's Petrel Base in Antarctica to be reopened permanently

  

  Argentina's Defense Minister Jorge Taiana has announced the Petrel Base will be reopened following repairs as he oversaw the commencement of this season's Summer Antarctic Campaign.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:39 UTC

  HMS Protector pays tribute to explorer Shackleton at South Georgia on her trip to Antarctica

  

  Sailors from Ice Patrol HMS Protector paid tribute to legendary Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton – a century after he died pushing the boundaries of polar research. The crew of the icebreaker held a memorial service at his graveside on the island of South Georgia – the latest stop for the survey ship as she heads to the frozen continent for a summer of scientific research.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:18 UTC

  Alarming population declination of the rare Antarctic South Georgia shag

  

  Data collected from a long-term study by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists shows declining populations of an already relatively rare Antarctic seabird, the South Georgia shag. Published in the journal Polar Biology, a 40-year census from Signy Island in the remote South Orkney Islands and a 30-year census from Bird Island, close to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, have shown significant population declines at both locations.

• Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 08:42 UTC

  Argentina: Pipeline oil spill in Río Negro exceeded 3 million liters

  

  Environment authorities in the Argentine province of Río Negro Tuesday confirmed the oil spill from the Oldelval pipeline in the past few days exceeded 3 million liters, while the company's remediation plan is still to be approved.

• Tuesday, December 14th 2021 - 09:39 UTC

  Albatros Expeditions christens Ocean Victory in South Georgia with a block of ice

  

  Denmark based Albatros Expeditions has christened the Ocean Victory in South Georgia on its maiden voyage last 3 December, according to a press release.