Updates

Bringing you hot topics, from cold places

Discover the latest updates on our activities, team and research findings. You can browse, filter by category or type, or search by keywords.

Sea ice

Antarctica's sea ice hit another low this year – understanding how ocean warming is driving the loss is key

Date: 2024
Type: Field Work
Authors: Craig Stevens
Summary: At the end of the southern summer, Antarctica’s sea ice hit its annual minimum. By at least one measure, which tracks the area of ocean that contains at least 15% of sea ice, it was a little above the record low of 2023.
Ross Sea Voyage 2024: Laura Bassi Ross Sea Voyage Photo by Lana Young

Signs found of worryingly fast Antarctic ice melt

Date: 2024
Type: Update
Authors: Radio New Zealand
Summary: Scientists returning from a voyage into Antarctic waters say they found worrying evidence about how much ice has melted and how quickly.
74c6aa25 40d1 46d7 ba15 17a391662739

New Zealand scientists return from Antarctica's ice with information that could shape future climate policy

Date: 2024
Type: Science
Authors: Newshub's Mitchell Redman
Summary: A large group of New Zealand and Italian scientists returned to Lyttelton on Saturday - after a two-month voyage through Antarctica's Ross Sea. Twenty-five Italians and 12 Kiwis were onboard the Laura Bassi - dodging icebergs and battling 185km/h winds in one of the most remote, and largely misunderstood parts of Earth.
Ross Sea Voyage 2024 RV Laura Bassi travels along the Ross Ice Shelf January 2024 Photo by Lana Young

Voyage to solve the mystery of Antarctica’s plummeting sea ice

Date: 2024
Type: Science
Authors: Stuff
Summary: A team of 12 are on board the Italian research vessel Laura Bassi, which is currently off the coast of Antarctica studying the Ross Sea.
95 288 Craig Potton

Antarctic Science Platform in the news 2022/23

Date: 2023
Type: Update
Summary: In case you missed it, here are some of the media and outreach opportunities our team was involved in during the past year. There were also public talks, school visits and publications in subscription-based magazines.
Penguins on cracking ice 2

Record low Antarctic sea ice is another alarming sign the ocean’s role as climate regulator is changing

Date: 2023
Type: In the media
Authors: Craig Stevens
Summary: A changing climate is upon us, with more frequent land and marine heatwaves, forest fires, atmospheric rivers and floods. For some, it is the backdrop to day-to-day life, but for a growing number of people it is a life-changing reality.
Sea ice photo by Tim Haskell

Why is Antarctic sea ice melting?

Date: 2023
Type: In the media
Authors: Radio New Zealand
Summary: Researchers in our southernmost continent were shocked to find stretches of sea ice disappearing, and while they don't know why it's happening, the consequences could be catastrophic.
IMG 4359 Large

Scott Base staff continue Antarctic scientific project with coaching from New Zealand-based experts

Date: 2020
Type: In the media
Authors: Holly Henry, Newshub
Summary: Antarctica New Zealand has been able to continue an important project without all the scientists on the ice.

Archive