Antarctica

• Thursday, July 7th 2016 - 05:56 UTC

  Sub Antarctic volcano eruption ash threatens one of the world's largest penguin colonies

  

  A volcano erupting on a small island in the Sub Antarctic is depositing ash over one of the world's largest penguin colonies. Zavodovski Island is a small island in the South Sandwich archipelago and its volcano Mt Curry has been erupting since March 2016. The island is home to over one million chinstrap penguins -- the largest colony for this species in the world.

• Saturday, July 2nd 2016 - 09:20 UTC

  Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal according to study published in Science

  

  Nearly thirty years after an international treaty banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal. By mid to late century, it should be fully recovered.

• Wednesday, June 22nd 2016 - 05:40 UTC

  British Antarctic Territory marks Mid-Winter's Day

  

  The flag of the British Antarctic Territory was flying over the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Tuesday,. 21st June to mark mid point of Antarctic winter. 21st June is Mid-Winter’s Day in the British Antarctic Territory.

• Friday, June 3rd 2016 - 19:40 UTC

  Argentine hopes dashed on Falklands, Antarctica: Continental Shelf Commission refused to consider three major claims

  

  In April 2009, Argentina submitted a formal claim to sovereignty over an exceptionally large continental shelf, across hundreds of miles of the sea-bed to the east and south of Argentina. This year, in March, newspapers around the world incorrectly reported the whole Argentine submission had been endorsed.

• Friday, June 3rd 2016 - 19:34 UTC

  Delimitation of the Argentine continental shelf

  

  By Professor Peter Willetts, South Atlantic Council (*) - The Argentine Foreign Ministry announced on 28 March 2016 that it had gained international recognition of a claim to an exceptionally large continental shelf. But they were mistaken. Argentina had made a submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on 21 April 2009 to claim sovereignty rights over the resources of the sea-bed.

• Thursday, June 2nd 2016 - 08:29 UTC

  Antarctic Treaty parties reaffirm commitment to ban on mining in the Antarctic

  

  The 29 countries party to the Antarctic Treaty unanimously agreed on Wednesday to a resolution at the 39th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) stating their “firm commitment to retain and continue to implement…as a matter of highest priority” the ban on mining activities in the Antarctic, which is part of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (also called the Madrid Protocol).

• Friday, May 13th 2016 - 16:44 UTC

  IAATO celebrates 25th anniversary with record number or participants; Bob Simpson reappointed

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has concluded its 25th anniversary meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, USA with a record number of participating members. Sixty-nine members attended, agreeing on changes to membership structure and outcomes that strengthen the association’s ability to achieve its mission of promoting the practice of safe, environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic.

• Saturday, May 7th 2016 - 08:25 UTC

  UK's state of the art polar research ship to be named Sir David Attenborough

  

  The United Kingdom's £200 million state-of-the-art polar research ship is to be named after world renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, the Science Minister Jo Johnson confirmed on Friday. Following a call for suggestions that sparked global interest, Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough has been selected as a name that captures the ship’s scientific mission and celebrates the broadcaster’s contribution to natural science.

• Tuesday, May 3rd 2016 - 21:04 UTC

  Antarctica visitors increase 4.6% in 2015/16; IAATO celebrates 25th anniversary

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced its tourism figures for the 2015-2016 Antarctic season on the first day of its 25th Anniversary Meeting in its home town of Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

• Thursday, April 21st 2016 - 05:11 UTC

  Chile downplays Argentina's continental shelf extension which included Falklands and Antarctic territory

  

  A strong controversy is expected following statements from Chilean officials who downplayed the significance of the recent UN continental shelf maritime extension referred to Argentina and which included the Falklands, South Atlantic Islands and Antarctica territory.