Searching for moorings

Oceanographer Povl Abrahamsen continues his trip to the Amundsen Sea: When we travel down to the Amundsen Sea by ship, it is almost always at the height of summer, when there is least sea ice. We make our measurements, but that only gives us a snapshot of what goes on. In this area, we know… Read more »

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Return to Amundsen Sea

Oceanographer, Povl Abrahamsen, has returned to the Amundsen Sea in west Antarctica on the Korean research ship, Araon. One of his tasks is to assist with the deployment of ten autonomous phase-sensitive radio echo sounders (ApRES) on ice shelves in the region. These downward-looking radars are dug into the snow at the surface, and measure… Read more »

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iSTAR Summary of activities

Since the 1990s, satellites have shown accelerating ice-loss driven by ocean change in five neighbouring glacier basins that drain more than one-third of West Antarctica. The rate of ice-loss here doubled in just six years and now accounts for ~10% of global sea-level rise. However, considerable uncertainty remains in projections of future ice-loss from West… Read more »

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Photography award for iSTAR student

A photograph taken during the iSTAR traverse on Pine Island Glacer has won top prize in a national competition. The image, of a caboose and field camp, was taken by Damon Davies, a PhD student in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh. Damon was a participant on both iSTAR traverses. The photo… Read more »

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iSTAR wraps on the ice!

The ambitious iSTAR science programme, which is studying the retreat of Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, has successfully completed the field work component of its six year, £7.4 million, mission. During the past two field seasons scientists and support teams crossed the glacier on tractors and skidoos, covering more than 2400 kilometres and working at… Read more »

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