Denman Glacier Has Already Lost Over 250 Billion Tons of Ice
glider can be controlled remotely by colleagues working in the United States.A key aim of the research being conducted onboard Nuyina is to quantify how much the glacier might contribute to rising sea levels in a warming climate in the centuries to come.The voyage is a collaboration between the Australian Antarctic Division, Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF), the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) and the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP)
Dancing Krill
Chase, probe, embrace, flex, push. It’s probably too much information, but that is how krill mate.The behavior was recorded on a deepsea camera 500 meters below the surface of the Southern Ocean back in 2011 by Australian Antarctic Division researchers – who then made an animated illustration of this special “dance.”Krill can change from adults to juveniles, and they can survive over 200 days of starvation, reducing their size by using their own body proteins rather than molting their exoskeleton.They are known for being an important food source for whales, seals and penguins
For Those with Saltwater in Their Veins
National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE).In 1979 she was modified for participation in the internationally coordinated program to study marine living resources in the Southern Ocean: BIOMASS (Biological Investigations of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks). This was the first major Australian Antarctic project investigating deep sea marine science, and Nella Dan was modified to support deep sea research trawling with instrument rooms, echo sounders, a computer data logging system and laboratory.Her ending came in Buckles Bay, Macquarie Island, when she smashed against the rocks on December
Australian Research Vessel Heads South to Study Clouds
of sea level rise.Recently published research has shown the “overturning circulation” of Antarctic waters driving global ocean currents may be slowing down, affecting the redistribution of heat, carbon and nutrients across the globe. Co-Chief Scientist Dr Annie Foppert from the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership at the University of Tasmania said the meltwater from the Antarctic Ice sheet is reducing the amount of dense water sinking to the deep ocean around Antarctica, slowing ocean currents that control climate.Data collected on the voyage will be compared to earlier measurements
Deep-sea Probe Recovered from Southern Ocean
team effort, we now have some ideas to refine the design and operation of the recovery device.” A range of science agencies in Hobart are enmeshed in the life of this BGC-Argo float – it is owned by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS); it was deployed by an Australian Antarctic Program Partnership voyage in 2020; float preparation and data delivery, funded by IMOS, was managed by CSIRO. Dr Benoit Legresy, CSIRO oceanographer and chief scientist of the research voyage that picked up the float, said: “This float is the biggest we’ve ever deployed
Reseach Finds Fin Whale Songs Shed Light on Migration Patterns
without being intrusive.“The Southern Hemisphere fin whale is a vulnerable sub-species and this method of tracking, whereby microphones are deployed in the deep sea, allows us to observe and map their movements with little disruption,” Professor Erbe said.“Acousticians from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) were instrumental in helping us conduct this research, recording almost a million calls at frequencies of 20Hz, which is too low for humans to hear.“This collaboration and expertise allows researchers to listen in to where the whales are going and why, better informing
Australia’s New Antarctic Icebreaker Begins First Voyage
stations this summer.Happy Dragon is currently nearing Casey with around 1200 tonnes of supplies and equipment for resupply, and to deliver the new mobile inland station for the Million Year Ice Core project.This mission will be one of the biggest annual station resupplies ever undertaken by the Australian Antarctic Program
Clark Named Chair of the Australian Antarctic Science Council
The Australian Antarctic Science Council has a new Chair, with the appointment of Philip Clark AO to lead the organization. The Council was established in 2019 to provide independent advice to Government on the priorities of the Australian Antarctic Science Program.Director of the Australian Antarctic Division, Kim Ellis, said Clark brings a wealth of experience to the role. “I am really excited to have Mr. Clark take on this leadership role in such a pivotal time for Antarctic and Southern Ocean research. Mr. Clark has worked in leadership and governance roles in government, universities
Sea Trials for Australia's New Icebreaker Delayed Due to COVID-19
Australia's newly built Antarctic icebreaking research and supply vessel (RSV) is nearly ready to be delivered, but its sea trials have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) said.Construction of the ship commenced at Damen’s Galați shipyard in Romania in May 2017, and the vessel was floated out in September 2018 prior to its scheduled arrival at its home port Hobart in 2020. But delays brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak have derailed the delivery schedule.“The fit-out and testing schedule for the vessel is being severely impacted by
February 2025
