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Dr Robert Mulvaney from BAS

Video

Why climate scientists are analysing the world's oldest ice core

Antarctica's oldest ice arrives for analysis at British Antarctic Survey, but will it be able to solve the mystery of our planet's climate cycle shift?

Video

Environment

Shrinking Antarctic sea ice is warming the ocean faster than expected

News

Adelie Penguins

Life

Penguin poo helps keep Antarctica cool

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Environment

Colossal ancient icebergs left grooves on the bottom of the North Sea

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Environment

Why vanishing sea ice at the poles is a crisis for the entire planet

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Collecting rock samples in Antarctica

Environment

Hot methane seeps could support life beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet

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Environment

Antarctic teams drill oldest ice cores yet in search of climate clues

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Environment

Global sea ice levels just hit a new record low

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Antarctic daily sea ice Jan 1st 2024

Earth

Earth wouldn’t have ice caps without eroding rocks and quiet volcanoes

News

The world???s largest iceberg is on a collision course with the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia. These images of the A23a iceberg are taken from an RAF Atlas A400M aircraft as it flew a routine Operation COLDSTARE mission over the South Atlantic. The flight, conducted by 1312 Flight from Mount Pleasant in the Falklands, captured striking aerial images of the iceberg, which has been drifting north from Antarctica and is now approximately 173 miles (280km) from South Georgia. Experts fear it could ground and shatter upon impact, endangering the island's unique wildlife, including colonies of king penguins and millions of elephant and fur seals. South Georgia???s icy shores have faced such threats before. In 2004, the massive iceberg A38 grounded on the island???s continental shelf, blocking access to feeding grounds and leaving countless penguin chicks and seal pups to perish. The iceberg A23a, which originally calved from Antarctica???s Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, became trapped on the seafloor and ensnared in an ocean vortex for decades. It finally broke free in December 2024, embarking on what experts describe as its ???final journey??? into warmer waters north of Antarctica. Satellite imagery reveals the iceberg is steadily shrinking, its towering cliffs???once rising 1,312ft (400m), taller than London???s Shard???are melting and disintegrating. Once covering an area of 3,900 sq km, it has reduced to 3,500 sq km, roughly the size of Cornwall. Large slabs of ice are constantly breaking away, tumbling into the surrounding ocean. A23a could splinter into massive fragments at any moment. These floating cities of ice could linger for years, unpredictably drifting around South Georgia and posing ongoing risks to the island's wildlife. The potential ecological impact is significant, as South Georgia is a haven for wildlife. The island supports some of the world???s most valuable king penguin colonies and is home to millions of fur and elephant seals. By capturing images of A23a, the RAF provides critical data to scientists, sailors, and conservationists worldwide, who are closely monitoring the iceberg's movements. As the iceberg looms closer, experts remain hopeful it may bypass the island. However, preparations are underway to mitigate potential damage to this fragile ecosystem. Where: South Georgia, SEA, United Kingdom When: 22 Jan 2025 Credit: UK MOD Crown copyright/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED SUPPLIER.**

Environment

A giant iceberg is headed for the island of South Georgia

The world's largest iceberg, A23a, is drifting towards the wildlife haven of South Georgia, where it may cause problems for the resident penguins

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Environment

Antarctic ice sheet may be less vulnerable to collapse than expected

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Environment

Antarctica is in crisis and we are scrambling to understand its future

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Technology

AI can use tourist photos to help track Antarctica’s penguins

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Earth

Striking image shows well-preserved wreck of Shackleton’s doomed ship

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