British Antarctic Survey 🐧
@bas.ac.uk
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We're the UK's polar research institute 👋 Uncovering the secrets of Earth's frozen places, doing science for a sustainable planet. Looking for a seriously remote job? https://bas.ac.uk/vacancies
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bas.ac.uk
Hello! 👋

We're the UK's polar research institute. We do climate and ecosystems science in Earth's frozen places, because changes there affect all of us.

As we say at British Antarctic Survey: what happens in Antarctica doesn't stay in Antarctica ⬇️
bas.ac.uk
There's three zones to consider:
🌳 primary forest (not disturbed by people)
🪵 degraded forest (damaged/partly cut down)
🔥 areas affected by fires

The analysis will help us to understand the Amazon’s shifting role in the global climate cycle.

Want more? climate.esa.int/en/supportin...

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bas.ac.uk
But! There's a team of scientists from Brazil, the UK and Europe on the case to find out what's happening.

They are looking at the emissions patterns from inside the forest, from space, and sampling the atmosphere with a plane (that's us).

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Proposed area of Airborne operations (ground boundary) in relation to fixed ground observation sites in primary and secondary forest. The airport at Santarém is highlighted.
bas.ac.uk
There's evidence that the Amazon's ability to absorb carbon is weakening. In fact, it could even become a carbon source.

That's a problem, because it stores hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon in its trees and soil, offsetting some of the excess carbon that humans are creating.

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A photo of Amazonian wetlands, photographed from a survey plane by Jonathan Witherstone.
bas.ac.uk
Ice Cold Katy is in the tropics! ✈️

One of our science aircraft is helping with an important survey of the Amazon rainforest, en route to Antarctica.

Today's survey flight departs at 3.30pm UK time: track VP-FAZ here: tinyurl.com/mwb25m6a

Why? It's all about carbon...
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The survey team of 11 stand in a hangar in front of the Twin Otter aircraft- photo by Dan Beeden
bas.ac.uk
Dr Liz Thomas joins The Climate Question on the BBC World Service to talk about ice cores. These frozen time capsules are unlocking Earth's climate history and helping predict its future.

Listen now on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct702g

#ClimateScience #IceCores
Reposted by British Antarctic Survey 🐧
Reposted by British Antarctic Survey 🐧
earthscista.bsky.social
Over the last six weeks, SEES scientists Mengwen, Patrick, Helen & Andrea jointed the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, which aims to analyse the oldest ice on Earth – up to 1.5 million years old, beyond the 800,000 years previously covered – to understand more about Earth's climate 🧊🧪🥼 @bas.ac.uk
bas.ac.uk
🧊Our researchers have just finished analysing ancient Antarctic ice spanning 1.2 million years of climate history!

The Beyond EPICA project extends the ice core climate record by 400,000 years, helping us to understand long-term climate patterns and improve future predictions.
bas.ac.uk
In three days, our iconic red planes will take off from Canada to make the epic journey across the world to Antarctica.

These flights mark the start of a new polar science season.

BUT ALSO that means there's three days left to send your name to Antarctica with us! tickettoantarctica.com
bas.ac.uk
Polar scientists meeting at @royalsociety.org
in London this week are issuing a stark warning: dramatic and extreme changes in Antarctica are happening faster than expected, with consequences that will affect everyone on the planet.

www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/a...
bas.ac.uk
They discuss Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) which equips those heading to BAS stations with the skills to live safely in Antarctica - think back to school, Antarctica edition!

🎧Listen to Iceworld now on your preferred podcast app or head to our website: www.bas.ac.uk/media/icewor...

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Iceworld Podcast - British Antarctic Survey
Out now, Training for Antarctica – secrets of the pre-deployment programme, with Michaela Boak. So, you’re going to Antarctica. But what skills and training do you need to live and …
www.bas.ac.uk
bas.ac.uk
Want to know what it takes to live and work in Antarctica? Planning and training – and lots of it. 📝💻

In this episode of Iceworld, host Nadia Frontier speaks to Michaela Boak, BAS’s Deployment Support Coordinator.

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bas.ac.uk
Our new working group is tackling hygiene challenges that were previously taboo, creating practical solutions and mandatory training for the workforce. Moving beyond the stereotype to welcome diverse talent. Because polar science needs every perspective 🧊
bas.ac.uk
🗺️NEW: BAS Map Catalogue is live!

Explore Antarctica and the Arctic through our collection of professional maps. Perfect for educators, adventurers, and polar enthusiasts. Many available on open licence for free download. #PolarMaps #Antarctica
bas.ac.uk
Fantastic achievement @magic.bas.ac.uk 🎉👏 These awards are well-deserved recognition of the vital role accurate mapping plays in understanding our changing polar regions. Congratulations and well done!
magic.bas.ac.uk
We're very happy to share that three of our maps received awards at the @bcsmaps.bsky.social Annual Conference last week! Our Alexander Island and Bedmap3 maps were recognised in the Printed Mapping category, and our Ice Logistics Portal (www.icelogistics.info) in the Electronic Mapping category 🏆🎉
2 members of MAGIC are stood in front of a large geological map (William Smith's map) covering England, Wales and part of Scotland. The people are holding three certificates. A photo showing some of the maps that were entered into the awards. Our topographic map of Alexander Island can be seen at the front left of the image, and Bedmap3 can be seen at the back right.
bas.ac.uk
Hope you took in that bit about the ecosystems monitoring we do at King Edward Point Research Station while you were enjoying your penguin and iceberg content!

Here's a few more chinstraps for the road.

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Video of a hoarde of chinstrap penguins on an iceberg, stained with brown-pink guano. Taken over the side of an iceberg ridge, a group of penguins peek over the ledge of the ice.
bas.ac.uk
But LUCKILY there was a nice safe 1km gap between bergs that allowed them to navigate on, safely along the planned transect route.

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bas.ac.uk
MEANWHILE the once-giant A23a has been breaking up near South Georgia. This Antarctic berg was originally the size of Cornwall.

Their transect route was very close to a huge 10-mile-wide fragment.

You can see these enormous bits of berg from space!

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A satellite image of South Georgia island, above which are many shattered pieces of what was a huge iceberg. The largest of these pieces is around 1/4 the size of the whole island: they are clearly visible from space. View out from the ship shows the iceberg A23a filling the whole horizon.