Improving sea-level projections
Satellite and in situ observations show sea level is continuing to rise.
In the last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, earth system model projections indicated global sea-level rise by…
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Polar regions
Analysis and Comment (12)
On Arctic Sea ice melt and coal mine canaries
Despite peak global temperatures in 2005 and 2010 (unprecedented in the instrumental record), a recent sharp plunge in volume of the Arctic Sea ice and a spate of extreme weather events, coal mining, coal…
Teetering on a tipping point: dangerous climate change in the Arctic
We are seeing the first signs of dangerous climate change in the Arctic. This is our warning that humanity is facing a dire future.
The Arctic region is fast approaching a series of “tipping points” that…
Antarctica’s centenary is Australia’s chance to push for protection
Everyone is looking at Antarctica right now: attention at last! The 100th anniversary of Douglas Mawson’s landing at Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica arrived and passed without the promised celebration…
As emissions rise, we may be heading for an ice-free planet
Last December’s meeting of the American Geophysical Union featured three of the world’s leading climate scientists: James Hansen (NASA’s chief climate scientist), Elco Rohling (National Oceanography Centre…
Loss of Arctic sea ice: don’t let the GFC distract you, climate change is happening
A few weeks ago, NASA announced that the area of Arctic ice is now almost as low as it was in 2007, its historic minimum.
The extent of ice has reduced to 4.33 million km² compared to the mean (1979 to…
Antarctic visions: what is the future of Australia’s forgotten territory?
When does “national interest” equal “national sovereignty”? Apparently when Australia looks south.
That position seems to be emerging from think tanks and senior government officials in the stop/start…
From the ocean to the stars: Australia’s stake in Antarctic research
The recently-released Lowy Institute report, Antarctica: Assessing and Protecting Australia’s National Interests is both timely and likely to stimulate much discussion about Australia’s future presence…
Polar bear scientist on thin ice in Arctic imbroglio
Something does not add up.
About two weeks ago, a scientist working for the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation (BOEMRE), Dr Charles Monnett, was placed on administrative…
Poles apart: Australia’s policy and responsibilities in Antarctica
Does Australia have strategic interests in Antarctica? Do we really think of the region as the “common heritage of mankind”?
The Antarctic Treaty states that it is “in the interest of all mankind that…
Explainer: Keeping conflict on ice with the Antarctic Treaty
This year marks the 50th year of the Antarctic Treaty, a visionary document that for the first time set out a vision for an entire continent based on peace, science and co-operation.
So how does it hold…
Carving up the Arctic: how the rule of law could save the poles
Recent Wikileaks cables detailing diplomatic jostling over the Arctic region only confirm how hotly contested it has become.
There are three principal reasons for this tension:
-The dynamic created by…
Research Briefs (17)
Arctic limestone holds the key to climate change
Ikaite crystals found in Greenland and Antarctica could provide information about climate trends of the past, according to…
Ancient DNA shows penguin recovery
Ancient penguin DNA shows that Macquarie Island penguins have recovered genetic diversity in the past 80 years.
Macquarie…
Satellites map shrinking ice sheets
Ice caps and glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica shed 150 billion tons of ice annually from 2003 to 2010 according to the…
Drop in carbon dioxide drove formation of Antarctic ice sheet
New research from Purdue and Yale Universities suggests that a drop in carbon dioxide was a driving force in the formation…
Happy Nose: sense of smell helps penguins find family
Penguins may use smell to determine if they are related to a potential mate.
Despite the large size of penguin communities…
Scientists construct 800,000 year old climate record
Scientists have produced their version of how Greenland’s climate might have looked over the last 800,000 years.
Using drill…
Thawing experience is poles apart
Ice and frozen ground at the North and South Poles are affected by climate-change-induced warming, but the consequences of…
On again, off again for Arctic ice
New research indicates that although Arctic sea ice will melt away as the climate continues to warm, it may temporarily stabilise…
Tsunami breaks off icebergs
For the first time scientists have observed the power of a tsunami to break off large icebergs in Antarctica.
The tsunami…
Arctic fires could release more carbon into the atmosphere
After a 10,000-year absence, wildfires have returned to the Arctic tundra, and new findings raise concerns the fires could…
Antarctic ice sheet less stable than thought
The Antarctic ice sheet is less stable than previously thought, and Greenland is comparatively safer, according to research…
Calving glaciers very sensitive to temperature
Large, marine-calving glaciers have the ability not only to shrink rapidly in response to global warming, but to grow at…
Warming oceans melt ice faster than previously thought
Subsurface warming in the ocean will exacerbate the melting of ice sheets at a greater rate than previously though.
This…
Lower snowfalls expose Arctic ice to melting
The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, causing an increase in rainfall and a decrease in snowfall. The…
Looking under the shelf
Scientists have uncovered a buried landscape beneath Antarctica’s ice.
An international team including scientists from the…
Penguins keep warm with Mexican waves
Emperor penguins send small waves of movement through their huddles to ensure all members stay warm.
Every 30–60 seconds…
A clearer picture of glacial ice loss
A new study aimed at refining the way scientists measure ice loss in Greenland is providing a “high-definition picture” of…