Tag

British Antarctic Survey

All articles tagged with #british antarctic survey

environment4 days ago•18 min saved

Zavodovski Island’s Chinstrap Penguin Population Plummets 63%, Losing Global Title

The world’s largest penguin colony on Zavodovski Island has lost two-thirds of its chinstrap penguin population since 2011, with numbers dropping from over a million to approximately 400,000. Published in Current Biology, the study attributes this rapid decline to climate change, which is warming oceans and displacing krill, the penguins' primary food source. While macaroni penguins on the same island have increased by 28%, the loss of chinstraps threatens the local ecosystem balance and may lead to the species being classified as endangered.

via The Independent|

#british-antarctic-survey #chinstrap-penguins #climate-change

environment6 days ago•1 min saved

Chinstrap penguin collapse on Zavodovski Island signals Antarctic ecosystem shift

A new study reveals that the chinstrap penguin population on Zavodovski Island, once the world’s largest colony, has plummeted by 63% since 2011. Researchers attribute this rapid decline to climate-driven warming, which has displaced their primary food source, Antarctic krill, further south. While macaroni penguins on the same island have increased in number due to their more flexible diets, the loss of chinstraps threatens broader ecosystem stability. The island has likely lost its status as the world’s largest penguin colony to Cape Adare in the Ross Sea.

via The Guardian|

#antarctica #biodiversity #british-antarctic-survey

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Remains of British Antarctic Researcher Discovered After 66 Years

The remains of British meteorologist Dennis Bell, who died in Antarctica in 1959, were discovered 66 years later on a receding glacier and identified through DNA testing, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery and highlighting the human stories behind Antarctic exploration.

via ScienceAlert|

#antarctica #british-antarctic-survey #dennis-bell

environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rare 2000-Year Event: Thwaites Glacier Melting Rapidly"

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey have found that the recent loss of Antarctic sea ice, which is ten times the size of the UK, is a one-in-2,000-year event, significantly influenced by climate change. Using the CMIP6 climate dataset and 18 different climate models, they determined that such a sharp reduction in sea ice is extremely rare. The study also indicates that it could take over twenty years for the sea ice to recover, with profound impacts on local and global weather and ecosystems.

via indy100|

#antarctic #british-antarctic-survey #climate-change

environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rare 2000-Year Event: Warm Water Melting Antarctic Ice Shelves"

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey have found that the recent loss of Antarctic sea ice, which is ten times the size of the UK, is a one-in-2,000-year event exacerbated by climate change. Using the CMIP6 climate dataset and 18 different climate models, they determined that the record low sea ice levels in 2023 were extremely rare and unlikely without climate change. The study also indicates that it could take over twenty years for the sea ice to partially recover, with significant impacts on global weather and Southern Ocean ecosystems.

via indy100|

#antarctic #british-antarctic-survey #climate-change

science-and-technology2 years ago•0 min saved

"Giant Drone's Spectacular Takeoff in Antarctica"

The British Antarctic Survey has released images of a giant drone being used to explore inaccessible parts of Antarctica in order to study the effects of climate change. The drone is operated remotely and is being used to map the region, with engineers monitoring it from a computer.

via BBC.com|

#antarctica #british-antarctic-survey #climate-change

nature2 years ago•2 min saved

"Trillion-Tonne Iceberg A23a Spins in Spectacular 360° Twirl as it Drifts from Antarctica"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, has been observed doing a 360° spin off the coast of Antarctica as it makes its way through "Iceberg Alley". Measuring 400 meters in height and covering an area of 4,000 square kilometers, the iceberg was captured twirling by NASA satellites. Scientists are studying its impact on the polar region's ecosystem and carbon balance, collecting seawater samples to understand its influence. A23a was calved in 1986 and recently became mobile after being grounded for 40 years, and it briefly lost its title as the largest iceberg in 2021.

via IFLScience|

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Trillion-tonne Iceberg A23a Completes Perfect Spin in Antarctica"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, has completed a pirouette as it moves towards the Southern Ocean, spinning more than 360 degrees just north of the Antarctic Peninsula. The iceberg, about the size of Greater London, is gradually eroding and melting due to warmer waters as it travels north at a rate of about 30 miles per day. A23a, which had been grounded for 30 years, is being swept along 'iceberg alley' and is currently the largest iceberg in the world, but it is expected to eventually fragment. If it reaches South Georgia, it could potentially disrupt wildlife feeding routines.

via Daily Mail|

#a23a #british-antarctic-survey #environment

science-and-environment2 years ago•4 min saved

"Massive Iceberg A23a Spins and Moves After Breaking Free from Antarctica"

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, roughly the size of Delaware, has begun moving after being stuck on the ocean floor for four decades, and researchers have observed it spinning in a circle. Measuring about 1,500 square miles, the iceberg is on a journey into warmer waters, and its movements are being closely monitored by scientists. This event highlights the interconnectedness of our global environment and the urgency to understand and protect our planet's polar regions in the face of climate change.

via USA TODAY|

#antarctica #british-antarctic-survey #climate-change

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Trillion-tonne Iceberg A23a Breaks Free and Spins, Alarming Scientists"

The trillion-tonne iceberg A23a, the world's largest, has completed a spin near the Antarctic Peninsula and is expected to be swept away into the Southern Ocean soon. A23a, which broke off from the Antarctic coast in 1986, has been slowly drifting northward and is now poised to enter the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Recent images show the iceberg wasting at its edges, with waves cutting into its walls and forming smaller "bergy bits" and "growlers" as it journeys into rougher and warmer waters.

via BBC.com|

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey

earth-and-environment2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rapid Erosion: New Animation Reveals Earth's Largest Iceberg's Last Voyage"

Scientists at British Antarctic Survey are using satellite images to track the colossal iceberg A23a as it moves north out of the Weddell Sea, with a new animation showing its trajectory alongside previous large icebergs A68 and A76a. The iceberg, which calved from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, was recently observed by scientists aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough, who collected seawater samples from the area. The animation has been compiled from Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite imagery, providing valuable insights into the iceberg's movement.

via Phys.org|

#a23a #british-antarctic-survey #earth-and-environment

health-environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Antarctic Mammals Affected by Unprecedented Bird Flu Outbreak"

An unprecedented and highly contagious bird flu outbreak in the sub-Antarctic has spread to mammals, with cases confirmed in elephant and fur seals on South Georgia, posing a significant threat to the region’s fragile ecosystem. The virus, detected in brown skuas in October, has now been found in mammals, raising concerns about potential impact on the unique biodiversity of the area. British officials have suspended fieldwork involving animal contact as a precaution, while global experts warn of the possibility of "efficient virus transmission" in the region.

via CNN|

#bird-flu #british-antarctic-survey #ecosystem

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Massive Iceberg Breaks Free: Astonishing Photos and Encounters with the World's Largest Drifting Iceberg"

The British Antarctic Survey has released a video showcasing the massive iceberg known as A23a, which is 40 miles wide and weighs 1 trillion tons. After being grounded for decades, the iceberg has started moving again across the polar regions of Antarctica's open waters. It broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and has been slowly picking up speed since 2020. The iceberg will likely be swept along by the current in the South Atlantic as it slowly melts away.

via Fox Weather |

#a23a #antarctica #british-antarctic-survey

science-and-environment2 years ago•3 min saved

"Research ship captures incredible encounter with world's largest iceberg drifting out of Antarctica"

The RRS Sir David Attenborough, a British polar research ship, had an "incredibly lucky" encounter with the world's largest iceberg, A23a, as it drifted out of Antarctic waters. The ship's crew collected seawater samples around the colossal iceberg, which had been grounded for over three decades before recently starting to drift. The iceberg, equivalent to three times the size of New York City, is now likely to be swept along into "iceberg alley" towards South Georgia. Scientists hope to study the impact of icebergs on carbon and nutrient cycles in the ocean to better understand climate change's effects on the Southern Ocean.

via CBS News|

#antarctica #british-antarctic-survey #climate-change

environment2 years ago•3 min saved

"Massive 'Megaberg' Breaks Free: Implications for Rising Sea Levels"

Incredible footage captured by the British Antarctic Survey shows the world's largest iceberg, A23a, beginning its journey into the Southern Ocean after being stuck to the ocean floor for 30 years. The iceberg is over twice the size of Greater London and 1,312 feet thick. It is expected to be swept along by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current towards "iceberg alley" and the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Researchers aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough also took samples from the iceberg to study its impact on the Southern Ocean and its ecosystems, hoping to gain insights into the effects of climate change.

via Daily Mail|

#british-antarctic-survey #climate-change #environment