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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 16th 2025 - 17:36 UTC

Antarctica

  • Thursday, November 10th 2016 - 11:20 UTC

    HMS Protector opens 2016/17 season in South Georgia surveying 160 sq miles of seabed

    During her stint around South Georgia the Plymouth-based icebreaker/survey ship scanned 160 square miles of seabed – roughly the area of the Isle of the Wight. (Pic RN)

    Having spent last Antarctic summer celebrating the deeds of one British polar hero, the crew of Royal Navy icebreaker HMS Protector have opened the 2016-17 survey season honoring his rival. A century after Sir Ernest Shackleton landed at King Haakon Bay on South Georgia in a makeshift lifeboat – the James Caird – Protector entered the same fjord and sent her hi-tech survey launch – the James Caird IV – close to the identical spot.

  • Tuesday, November 1st 2016 - 14:21 UTC

    Gentoo penguins proving to be the sturdiest in Antarctica

    Chinstraps have been in steady decline while gentoos have undergone a series of population fluctuations…although their over trend is upwards

    A forty year study on a remote Antarctic island shows that while populations of two penguin species are declining, while a third is increasing. Analysis of census data from Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands reveals that, between 1978 and 2016, the number of chinstrap penguin pairs declined by nearly 70%.

  • Friday, October 28th 2016 - 13:47 UTC

    Major victory for protection of the Southern Ocean

    The Antarctic Ocean Alliance applauds the momentous agreement by Members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to safeguard 1.55 million km2 of the Ross Sea in the Southern Ocean.

  • Friday, October 28th 2016 - 13:28 UTC

    Milestone agreement to create world's largest marine sanctuary in Antarctica

    It will cover more than 1.55 million square kilometres, roughly the size of Britain, Germany and France combined—of which 1.12 million square kilometres will be a no fishing zone.

    The world's largest marine reserve aimed at protecting the pristine wilderness of Antarctica will be created after a “momentous” agreement was finally reached Friday, with Russia dropping its long-held opposition. The deal, sealed by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) at an annual meeting in Hobart after years of negotiations, will see a massive US and New Zealand-backed marine protected area established in the Ross Sea.

  • Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 18:58 UTC

    The tiny crustacean which plays a key role in fertilizing the Southern Ocean

    This natural iron fertilisation by krill stimulates the growth of phytoplankton and form the base of the Southern Ocean food web.

    Scientists have discovered that Antarctic krill – a tiny shrimp-like crustacean – plays a key role in fertilising the Southern Ocean with iron, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, the microscopic plants at the base of the marine food web. This finding is important for understanding the oceans’ capacity for carbon capture.

  • Monday, October 17th 2016 - 09:34 UTC

    Global momentum to protect the Antarctic Ocean builds as international talks begin in Hobart

    “The time for action to safeguard the Antarctic’s waters, the engine room of the ocean, is now. Commitments for almost 4m sq kms of MPAs have been made in the past weeks” Mike Walker said.

    The Antarctic Ocean Alliance is calling on nations to secure the future of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean, at the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) currently meeting in Hobart, Australia. This week, representatives from 25 governments are gathering in Hobart to address three proposed marine protected areas, amounting to more than five million square kilometers of Antarctic waters.

  • Monday, October 17th 2016 - 06:28 UTC

    Uruguayan scientists on HMS Protector en route to Antarctica for a joint research project

    Federico Weinstein and Carolina Rodríguez are travelling on HMS Protector on a scientific cruise to Antarctica (Pics; British Embassy Uruguay)

    Two Uruguayan young scientists are on board Ice Patrol HMS Protector en route to the Falkland Islands and Antarctica and will be participating in a research program on human impact on the Antarctic marine environment including pollution mainly by plastic made products. Federico Weinstein and Carolina Rodríguez belong to the Faculty of Sciences and represent the resumption of long standing links between the Ice Patrol and Montevideo.

  • Wednesday, September 7th 2016 - 13:14 UTC

    South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands mark Toothfish Day

    In marking Toothfish Day, GSGSSI extended its gratitude to all its stakeholders and partners for their work and collaboration in the 2016 toothfish fishing season

    The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) are celebrating Toothfish Day with a reception and quiz at Government House in Stanley, Falkland Islands.

  • Wednesday, September 7th 2016 - 12:53 UTC

    Dr. Lisa Kelley, top expert in polar operations, named IAATO's Operations Manager

    Lisa has worked in the polar tourism industry for over 15 years, successfully leading expeditions since 2007 for IAATO member operator, Lindblad Expeditions.

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced the appointment of Lisa Kelley as Operations Manager. IAATO Executive Director Dr. Kim Crosbie said, “Lisa has a strong background in polar operations and has actively contributed to IAATO for many years.

  • Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 21:44 UTC

    Ocean warming primary cause of glacier retreat in the Antarctic Peninsula

    Some 90% of the 674 glaciers in this region have retreated since records began in the 1940s.

    A new study has found for the first time that ocean warming is the primary cause of retreat of glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula. The Peninsula is one of the largest current contributors to sea-level rise and this new finding will enable researchers to make better predictions of ice loss from this region.