August Update

Antarctic science platform

Due to the impacts of COVID19 on the 20/21 field season the Antarctic Science Platform research teams are re-thinking the coming season’s work. The focus is now on analysis of existing samples and data. Research co-operation with international colleagues, whose field seasons have also been impacted, can fortunately continue online, and model development and testing is underway. The season’s revised science plans are currently being assessed by the Independent Science Panel.

ICEperts webinar series

Thank you to everyone who has joined us for the webinar series, Antarctica’s ICEperts. The final webinar of this series is being held in October, the Platform Leadership Team, Nancy Bertler, Tim Naish and Ian Hawes, will give an update with the latest Platform news and be on hand to answer any questions. Keep an eye on our website and Twitter page for details. If you missed any of our webinars they have been recorded and are available on the Antarctic Science Platform home page here

Project Update : Project Two: Antarctic Ocean Mechanics

Crossing the Temporal Divide in More Ways Than One

University of Otago PhD student Olivia Truax is working on a project looking at how the oceans around Antarctica behaved over the past 6000 years, using clues from sediment cores as well as modern-day oceanography. She has had quite an adventurous year so far, finding herself in lockdown in the US early in the pandemic. She used this time well and completed a virtual internship with a lab at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research, looking at how global models can be used to answer such questions. She then returned to New Zealand with her government managed quarantine providing even more quality time for data analysis. Her research is a key part of Project Two seeking to link understanding of past and present Antarctic oceans - especially in the Western Ross Sea. She has a focus on the Robertson Bay area tucked behind Cape Adare. This is a pinch-point for outflow from the Ross Sea and is ideal for gauging a changing ocean. Her primary supervisor is Co-PI Dr. Christina Riesselman with support from Craig Stevens, Gary Wilson and Stefan Jendersie. Last year Olivia also awarded the Antarctica New Zealand doctoral scholarship, more here.

Congratulations to Professor Carlota Escutia

The Antarctic Science Platform extends our congratulations to Professor Carlota Escutia who has been awarded the prestigious SCAR medal for International Scientific Coordination. Professor Escutia is a valued member of the Platform’s Independent Science Panel. The award recognises her visionary co-leadership of the PAIS programme, enabling fundamental discoveries and understanding of the Antarctic ice sheet history and behaviour as a consequence of global warming. The citation highlights her special skills for bringing people together to achieve strategically important Antarctic and Southern Ocean research. You can read the full citation here.