Antarctica

• Thursday, November 19th 2020 - 09:02 UTC

  South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands Celebrates Inaugural Polar Pride Day

  

  On 18 November the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and the Government of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) are celebrating the inaugural Polar Pride Day. This day demonstrates a commitment to support and enhance Diversity in Polar Science.

• Friday, November 6th 2020 - 09:19 UTC

  Humpback whales are back in South Georgia, after almost extinction a century ago

  

  A new study shows the welcome return of humpback whales to the waters around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia after a century of commercial whaling decimated their populations. The study is published in the journal Endangered Species Research this week and is good news for whale conservation.

• Friday, November 6th 2020 - 09:16 UTC

  RRS James Clark Ross left Harwich for summer mission in Antarctica

  

  The RRS James Clark Ross left the Port of Harwich on Thursday beginning its five-and-a-half-month mission to deliver scientific and operational staff to Antarctica and to resupply the UK stations in Antarctica for another year.

• Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:44 UTC

  Polar associations agree on standards for field staff on expedition cruise vessels

  

  Two polar associations have developed standards for field staff working on expedition cruise vessels in polar regions. The Association of Arctic Expeditions Operators, AECO, and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, IAATO, agreed on guidelines that have been adopted as industry standards.

• Friday, October 23rd 2020 - 09:14 UTC

  South Georgia message to potential visitors, “If you can get here, we are open”

  

  During the uncertain times, the pandemic has presented, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands were glad to be able to speak directly to tourism industry representatives last August during a virtual meeting hosted by IAATO, reports the August/September South Georgia Newsletter.

• Thursday, October 22nd 2020 - 08:50 UTC

  Britain's new polar ship Sir David Attenborough begins sea trials

  

  Britain's new polar ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, has left her Merseyside construction yard. Sirens and accompanying tugboats marked the Attenborough's departure from builder Cammell Laird's wet dock at Birkenhead. Four years in the making, the £200m vessel is about to venture out on a series of sea trials.

• Tuesday, October 20th 2020 - 09:38 UTC

  CCAMLR: 287 women scientists call for a Marine Protected Area in western Antarctic Peninsula

  

  Climate change and human activity are harming Antarctica and threatening wildlife from humpback whales to microscopic algae, more than 280 scientists and conservation experts say in urging protections for the icy region.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 09:26 UTC

  Ozone hole over Antarctica peaks at 24 million square kms, the highest for the last decade

  

  The annually occurring ozone hole over the Antarctic is one of the largest and deepest in recent years. Analyses show that the hole has reached its maximum size. The 2020 ozone hole grew rapidly from mid-August and peaked at around 24 million square kilometers in early October. It now covers 23 million km2, above average for the last decade, and spreading over most of the Antarctic continent.

• Monday, October 12th 2020 - 09:11 UTC

  Icebreaker “donation” for Argentina? Australia's “Aurora Australis”?

  

  According to reports in the Argentine media next November the Australian flagged icebreaker Aurora Australis will be docking in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, and then head for Buenos Aires where, allegedly, she will be incorporated to the Argentine navy fleet and will be participating next to ARA Almirante Irizar in the 2020/21 Antarctica campaign.

• Friday, October 2nd 2020 - 09:00 UTC

  IAATO Antarctic fellowship for a scientist to research micro-plastic in aquatic systems

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), have announced one of the recipients of the Antarctic Fellowship 2020.