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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · 16d

We’re proud to be featured on these gorgeous Antarctic learning boards in Christchurch. Made by Gateway to Antarctica: Ōtautahi Christchurch to celebrate the city’s Antarctic gateway status and history of Antarctic exploration, research and international collaboration - sounds like a bit of us!

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Sep 8

Introducing Science Team member, paleoglaciologist and isotope chemist Ryan Venturelli! SWAIS2C brings together more than 120 scientists from around 50 research organisations. Our Polar Careers outreach series features our team members, and the work they do on and off the ice👉http://bit.ly/3I7M320

A selfie of Ryan Venturelli, a paleoglaciologist and isotope chemist from the U.S. Ryan is wearing the USAP extreme cold weather jacket, and is smiling. She is in Antarctica.

A woman in glasses and a floral sweater sits in a lab. Text reads: "I run a lab at Colorado School of Mines that turns rocks and dirt into gas so we can measure their chemistry. We use this data to study how Antarctic glaciers and ice sheets changed in the past."

A red scientific drilling rig on snow in Antarctica. Text reads "In Antarctica, I work in teams that drill holes through ice and collect mud and rocks from underneath them. The best thing about working in Antarctica is being part of a team all working toward the same mission."

A smiling woman in safety gear outdoors. Text reads: "Want to be a scientist? Keep showing up, being interested, and asking questions. The more people thinking about glaciers and ice sheets, the more we learn!

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Aug 20

Strewth! It turns out Oz isn’t the biggest continent Down Under. Here's the latest in our series of illustrations showing the sheer scale of Antarctica relative to more familiar chunks of land. 🎨Marlo Garnsworthy. More here 👉https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Aug 13

🚨Sound the sediment siren! Since the last season at KIS3, our engineers have been busy making modifications to our drilling system, and put it to the test in rural NZ. Co-Chief Molly Patterson recorded this update while on site www.swais2c.aq/media/test-o...

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jul 31

Vast, massive, enormous – there’s no shortage of words to describe the size of Antarctica, but it can be hard to get your head around. Here’s how it compares vs US. Check out our Antarctica is Big series https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big 🎨@icebird.bsky.social

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jul 21

Congratulations to SWAIS2C team member Natalie-Jane Reid for being awarded an Antarctica New Zealand Doctoral Scholarship to support her research on Ross Sea deep ocean currents. She will measure records in SWAIS2C sediment cores to reconstruct deep ocean current strength bit.ly/4572S4W

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jul 14

Groundbreaking insights about rivers beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and their role in Ross Ice Shelf melt, have been uncovered. SWAIS2C Co-Chief Scientist Huw Horgan led the team observing this water entering the ocean cavity at KIS2, on the grounding zone of the WAIS 👉https://bit.ly/44FFniV

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jul 7

It's SWAIS-mail time! Not a subscriber? Catch up on all the news from the project, and sign up so you don't miss out next time 👉http://bit.ly/44RL0M8
📷Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand. Thanks to the KIS3 2024/25 team for the ultimate in sign-writing.

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jun 30

A 100,000-year-old record of waves breaking high up on a cliff above a Cornish beach has more connection with Antarctica’s ice sheets than you might think. SWAIS2C science team member Ed Gasson explains @uk.theconversation.com bit.ly/44p6z5p

What ancient ice sheets can tell us about future sea level rise

When ice gets trapped on land as giant ice sheets, it causes the sea level to change, but it doesn’t change by the same amount all around the planet.

bit.ly

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · May 13

Scientists, drillers, mechanics and... Scene of Crime Officers!
Our on-ice team brought together people from a range of backgrounds, including the multi-talented Sean Heaphy - hot water driller for the field season, Senior Constable with the NZ Police back home. www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one...

Working in ice-solation

New Zealand Police

www.police.govt.nz

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Mar 11

For our past two field seasons, the Antarctica New Zealand traverse team hauled our gear 1328km across the Ross Ice Shelf. But the safe path to KIS3 was first mapped in 2017. Daniel Price helped find the route, and shares his experience in this new RNZ podcast 🎧https://bit.ly/3DoFUMO

Voice of the Sea Ice: A land of ice and ambition

From historic expeditions to modern day science, Antarctic exploration is a unique and dangerous experience.

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Mar 4

Home sweet home from the air! Check out this amazing drone footage of our deep-field Antarctic research camp KIS3 this past field season. Our on-ice team spent up to 6 weeks living here on the grounding zone of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. 🎥Anthony Powell / Antarctica NZ youtube.com/shorts/CtPga...

SWAIS2C deep-field Antarctic research camp from the air

YouTube video by SWAIS2C

youtube.com

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Feb 11

Shout-out to the awesome women of our 2024/25 on-ice team this International Day of Women and Girls in Science! From co-chief scientist to medic to hot water driller, these inspiring women played vital roles at our deep-field research camp. Thanks for your contributions to our critical science!

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jan 30

What's it like camping on the snow in Antarctica? Check out hot water driller Hedley Berge's tour of his Scott Polar tent and find out! Hedley lived in his tent at our deep-field research camp on the Ross Ice Shelf for 7 weeks this season.
bit.ly/3Ebl57m

Hedley's Scott Polar tent tour

🤔What's it like camping on the snow in Antarctica? Check out hot water driller Hedley Berge's tour of his Scott Polar tent and find out! ⛺Hedley lived in his tent at our deep-field research camp on the Ross Ice Shelf for 7 weeks this season. 😎He estimates he's spent nearly a year in Scott Polars across his 22-year Antarctic career, so he's got a few hacks up his sleeve for a comfortable sleep and lush living space.

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jan 8

It’s been a huge season for our on-ice team KIS3 - our Co-Chief @vandeflierdt.bsky.social sums it up in this end of season wrap. We’re now focussed on our next season at Crary Ice Rise, where we will attempt to obtain a long sediment core youtube.com/shorts/NM5pe...

Expedition Update: Season sign off

YouTube video by SWAIS2C

youtube.com

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Jan 8

KIS3 from space! Thanks for spotting our little deep-field camp @aretsch.bsky.social 😎

aretsch.bsky.social @aretsch.bsky.social · Jan 4

#KIS3 seen from Space
🇺🇳#Antartica, Ross Ice Shelf
Far away from the next humans....

📸🛰 #Sentinel-2 2024.12.23
🖼️⬅️about 40km wide
🖼️➡️about 1,25km wide

Despite the premature end, these scientists are our modern heroes!

Footage: CopernicusEU

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 27

Drilling at KIS3 has ended due to a technical challenge, following the successful deployment of our sea riser. We're proud of the team’s massive effort to progress this close to obtaining the deep core, & are looking ahead to our season at Crary Ice Rise 📷 Anthony Powell/Antarctica NZ bit.ly/41Wu6v7

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 25

🎄Happy Holidays and Merry KIS-mas from the SWAIS2C on-ice team at KIS3 on the Ross Ice Shelf!

🎥 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 19

🚨We’ve broken through the ice shelf! Our crack team of hot water drillers have melted their way through 587.96m of the Ross Ice Shelf to reach the ocean cavity, providing crucial access to the climate secrets hidden in the seafloor below. Well-deserved ‘victory toasties’ all round! 🧪 📷Ana Tovey

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 16

Here’s the link! forms.gle/2RCEci8FfLwb...

SWAIS2C Mascot-naming Competition

forms.gle

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 16

❄️Our mascots still need names! ❄️

🐧They’ll be doing seriously cool 😎science 🧪& we’re inviting students to help name them!
📝 Deadline extended to Dec 31
💡Get involved in real science & learn about what’s happening at the end of the Earth.
#antarctica #STEAM #scienceeducation #scienceed

Adélie penguin chills by one of our two flubbers, which store the melted snow for hot water drilling.

Adelie takes the hot seat in the Hot Water Driller’s chair!

In the Mess tent, Skua does what skuas do, eyes on the prize—food scraps! (Skua stuffie sitting by the food waste bins.)

Then it’s off to check out “The Turdis”—one of our two toilets. (Skua stuffie sitting on top of the blue outhouse called the Turdis.)

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 15

We now have a well cavity, and well pump installed. The well pump is vital – circulating water through the system, pumping an endless supply to drill our main borehole right through the 580m ice shelf. It was all hands on deck to ensure a safe and successful install! 📷Ana Tovey

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 12

Our Antarctic Intermediate Depth Drill team have been hard at work with our ‘big rig’. They’ve assembled the geological drill that has weathered a long Antarctic winter here at KIS3. To prepare for drilling they’re using the rig to put together the drill pipe. 📷Ana Tovey

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 12

The last of our on-ice team have arrived, and have taken part in Antarctic Field Training to learn skills for life at our deep-field camp. The four scientists – Arne Ulfers, Linda Armbrecht,
Luca Zurli and Yuri Yamazki – and driller Stephen Stretch, had perfect weather for camping.

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SWAIS2C @swais2c.bsky.social · Dec 11

Hot water drilling is underway! We've begun boring the well hole through the Ross Ice Shelf, using water from snow, circulated through our six boilers, passed down through a hot water drill nozzle. We'll melt to below sea level, bore a well cavity, and lower a pump. 📷Ana Tovey

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