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Sea ice

Antarctica's sea ice hit another low this year – understanding how ocean warming is driving the loss is key

Date: 2024
Type: Field Work
Authors: Professor Craig Stevens
Summary: At the end of the southern summer, Antarctica’s sea ice hit its annual minimum. By at least one measure, which tracks the area of ocean that contains at least 15% of sea ice, it was a little above the record low of 2023.
Fig 1 hagglunds

Platelet ice sampling system: the first deployment

Date: 2024
Type: Science
Summary: The 22/23 Antarctic field season was the first scientific deployment of the new platelet sampling system. This custom-designed and bespoke-engineered system successfully sampled the biota associated with sea ice and platelet ice habitats.
2024 01 LAURA BASSI cornellisen 03

Podcast: The sea ice factories of Antarctica

Date: 2024
Type: In the media
Authors: Radio New Zealand: The Detail
Summary: If you want to study the health of the world's oceans, you need to get to their heartbeat. That's deep in the Ross Sea, where the sea ice factories of Antarctica - or polynyas - live.
Pressure ridges

Antarctic science-policy knowledge exchange practices in New Zealand

Date: 2024
Type: Update
Summary: Researchers have examined domestic stakeholder perspectives regarding Antarctic knowledge exchange, using Aotearoa New Zealand as a case study
Craig Cary

Tribute to Professor Craig Cary

Date: 2024
Type: Update
Authors: Antarctic Science Platform
Summary: Craig’s dedication to understanding the mysteries of our planet knew no bounds, and his contributions to science leave an indelible mark. His impact reaches beyond academia and research. He was a people person, in turns gregarious or contrary, always generous with his warmth and intellect.
2024 01 30 RI Spengiuns adelie Lana

Antarctica's coasts are becoming less icy

Date: 2024
Type: Press Release
Summary: An increase in pockets of open water in Antarctica’s sea ice (polynyas) may mean coastal plants and animals could one day establish on the continent, University of Otago-led research suggests.
Ross Sea Voyage 2024: Laura Bassi Ross Sea Voyage Photo by Lana Young

Signs found of worryingly fast Antarctic ice melt

Date: 2024
Type: Update
Authors: Radio New Zealand
Summary: Scientists returning from a voyage into Antarctic waters say they found worrying evidence about how much ice has melted and how quickly.
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New Zealand scientists return from Antarctica's ice with information that could shape future climate policy

Date: 2024
Type: Science
Authors: Newshub's Mitchell Redman
Summary: A large group of New Zealand and Italian scientists returned to Lyttelton on Saturday - after a two-month voyage through Antarctica's Ross Sea. Twenty-five Italians and 12 Kiwis were onboard the Laura Bassi - dodging icebergs and battling 185km/h winds in one of the most remote, and largely misunderstood parts of Earth.

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