Antarctica’s coasts vulnerable to hitchhiking pests and pollution New ocean models reveal how Antarctica’s unique ecosystems could be threatened by the arrival of non-native marine species and marine pollution from other continents. In a new study published in Global Change Biology, scientists suggest that floating objects can reach Antarctic waters— by hitching a ride on […]

The dawn of the Antarctic ice sheets Scientists have achieved a world first, combining unique geological samples from the seafloor with sophisticated modelling to reveal the origins of the Antarctic ice sheet. Global warming is affecting today’s Antarctic ice sheet. The ‘eternal’ ice is melting faster than predicted—but more in West Antarctica than East Antarctica. […]

How to drill an ice shelf – and why A key activity of last summer’s Denman Terrestrial Campaign (2023/24) was using a hot water drill on the Shackleton ice shelf to try and reach the ocean below. Why? The Denman Glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in Australian Antarctic Territory. It’s fate depends […]

New research reveals Australia may be severely underestimating bushfire risk  A study of sea salt in Antarctic snowfall reveals why Australia could be underprepared for bushfire seasons. Climate scientists have warned that Australia could be facing bushfires that are even more devastating than the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. Their warning is based on a new […]

Heavy water: how melting ice sheets and pumped groundwater can lower local sea levels – and boost them elsewhere Bernhard Staehli/Shutterstock Rebecca McGirr, Australian National University; Anthony Purcell, Australian National University; Herbert McQueen, Australian National University, and Paul Tregoning Imagine you’re standing near the edge of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, gazing out over the ocean, when the […]