Environment

• Tuesday, May 20th 2014 - 08:19 UTC

  Antarctica ice sheet loss has doubled since 2010, shows CryoSat satellite

  

  The Antarctic ice sheet has lost ice twice as quickly in the past three years as when it was last surveyed between 2005 and 2010, say scientists. Results from the CryoSat-2 satellite mission, published Monday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, say the largest ice sheet on Earth is now losing 159 billion tons of ice each year.

• Friday, May 16th 2014 - 09:25 UTC

  YPF defends Chevron partnership; court orders investigation into accord with the US oil giant

  

  Argentine state-controlled oil company YPF on Thursday defended the partnership deal it reached with one of the world's largest energy corporations, Chevron Corp., two days after a court ordered a probe into alleged irregularities associated with the pact.

• Wednesday, May 14th 2014 - 00:15 UTC

  West Antarctica glaciers' melting 'have passed the point of no return', says NASA study

  

  A new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine, finds a rapidly melting section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appears to be in an irreversible state of decline, with nothing to stop the glaciers in this area from melting into the sea.

• Friday, May 9th 2014 - 06:13 UTC

  Strong commitment to support Marine Protected Areas in Southern Ocean

  

  The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) joined member states of the Antarctic Treaty, along with observer and expert organizations, in Brasilia this week to discuss measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment.

• Wednesday, May 7th 2014 - 06:32 UTC

  “Climate change, has moved firmly into the present”, warns US official report

  

  The Obama administration released on Tuesday an updated report on how a changing climate has touched every corner of the United States, from oyster growers in Washington State to maple syrup producers in Vermont, and said that urgent action is needed.

• Tuesday, May 6th 2014 - 06:46 UTC

  Drought in Brazil hits hydropower and energy rationing is increasingly likely

  

  With less than 40 days remaining before the country takes center stage as host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazilian hydropower power operators are facing a severe drought that makes energy rationing an increasing likelihood.

• Tuesday, May 6th 2014 - 06:26 UTC

  NASA catches images of volcanic activity in South Sandwich Islands

  

  The South Sandwich Islands, in the far southern Atlantic Ocean, are often shrouded with thick cloud, making it difficult to view the region from space. Sometimes, however, the use of false-color imagery can be used to reveal events that would otherwise be obscured under cloud cover.

• Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 08:51 UTC

  South Georgia re-adjusts license conditions to reduce sea birds by-catches

  

  One of the most significant seabird by-catches in over a decade occurred in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Zone last week, by the Chilean longliner Antarctic Bay.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 03:22 UTC

  Argentina's “Blue Pampa” project to research and develop South Atlantic resources

  

  The recently launched “Blue Pampa” project is a ten-year 'strategic initiative' with the purpose of researching South Atlantic resources in five different areas to ensure conservation and management, plus reinforce Argentine sovereignty with inter-disciplinary campaigns and inter-ministerial support, according to Argentina's Science, Technology and Productive Innovation ministry.

• Monday, April 28th 2014 - 23:29 UTC

  IAATO estimates 36.545 tourists will travel to Antarctica next season 2014/15

  

  New figures released on Monday by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), estimate that 36,545 tourists will travel with IAATO members to Antarctica next season, 2014-2015. The information was reported at the first day of the 37th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Brasilia, which IAATO attend as Invited Experts.