Related Papers
Antarctic climate and environment history in the pre-instrumental period Chapter Editor
Luca Bargelloni
Antarctic Science
Antarctic climate change and the environment
2009 •
Elie Verleyen
The Antarctic climate system varies on timescales from orbital, through millennial to sub-annual, and is closely coupled to other parts of the global climate system. We review these variations from the perspective of the geological and glaciological records and the recent historical period from which we have instrumental data (∼the last 50 years). We consider their consequences for the biosphere, and show how the latest numerical models project changes into the future, taking into account human actions in the form of the release of greenhouse gases and chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. In doing so, we provide an essential Southern Hemisphere companion to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.
SCAR’s Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) Review Report
2009 •
colin summerhayes
Antarctic climate change and the environment (ACCE)
A. Klepikov
State of the antarctic and southern ocean climate system
2009 •
Paul Mayewski
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Antarctic extreme events
Martin Siegert
There is increasing evidence that fossil-fuel burning, and consequential global heating of 1.1°C to date, has led to the increased occurrence and severity of extreme environmental events. It is well documented how such events have impacted society outside Antarctica through enhanced levels of rainfall and flooding, heatwaves and wildfires, drought and water/food shortages and episodes of intense cooling. Here, we briefly examine evidence for extreme events in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean across a variety of environments and timescales. We show how vulnerable natural Antarctic systems are to extreme events and highlight how governance and environmental protection of the continent must take them into account. Given future additional heating of at least 0.4°C is now unavoidable (to contain heating to the “Paris Agreement 1.5°C” scenario), and may indeed be higher unless drastic action is successfully taken on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by mid-Century, we explain...
Global change biology
The Southern Ocean ecosystem under multiple climate change stresses - an integrated circumpolar assessment
2014 •
Irene R Schloss
A quantitative assessment of observed and projected environmental changes in the Southern Ocean (SO) with a potential impact on the marine ecosystem shows: (i) large proportions of the SO are and will be affected by one or more climate change processes; areas projected to be affected in the future are larger than areas that are already under environmental stress, (ii) areas affected by changes in sea-ice in the past and likely in the future are much larger than areas affected by ocean warming. The smallest areas (<1% area of the SO) are affected by glacier retreat and warming in the deeper euphotic layer. In the future, decrease in the sea-ice is expected to be widespread. Changes in iceberg impact resulting from further collapse of ice-shelves can potentially affect large parts of shelf and ephemerally in the off-shore regions. However, aragonite undersaturation (acidification) might become one of the biggest problems for the Antarctic marine ecosystem by affecting almost the en...
Antarctic research at a time of crisis: The impact of COVID-19 on the Antarctic research community
2021 •
Cristian Lorenzo
This presentation will share the results of a survey that aimed at understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the Antarctic research community. Primarily designed to identify the most adversely affected Antarctic researchers and gauge what kind of assistance they might need, the survey, which forms part of an interdisciplinary international research programme on the impact of COVID-19 for the Antarctic community more broadly, also examined the long-term implications of COVID-19 for National Antarctic Programmes. Over 300 Antarctic research community members, most of them academics, participated in the survey. Preliminary results show that the careers of early-career researchers and those heavily reliant on fieldwork are most adversely affected by COVID-19. As expected, relief funds and free access to data, especially for those whose field campaigns were cancelled, would moderate the impact the pandemic has had on researchers to a certain extent. The survey also reveals that COVID-19 resulted in significant adverse impacts on mental health for Antarctic researchers, with the majority of survey participants noting extreme or moderate dissatisfaction with their mental health and significant increases in anxiety and stress levels, all of which needs to be considered when designing strategies for addressing the impact of COVID-19 in the Antarctic community
Relief analysis in periglacial environments on selected ice-free areas of the South Shetland Islands
Adolfo Maestro
Frontiers in Marine Science
Global Drivers on Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Changing Physical Environments and Anthropogenic Pressures in an Earth System
2020 •
Cath Waller
The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) ecosystems. Atmospheric ozone depletion over the Antarctic since the 1970s, has been a key driver, resulting in springtime cooling of the stratosphere and intensification of the polar vortex, increasing the frequency of positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). This increases warm air-flow over the East Pacific sector (Western Antarctic Peninsula) and cold air flow over the West Pacific sector. SAM as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation events also affect the Amundsen Sea Low leading to either positive or negative sea ice anomalies in the west and east Pacific sectors, respectively. The strengthening of westerly winds is also linked to shoaling of deep warmer water onto the continental shelves, particularly in the East Pacific and Atlantic sectors. Air and ocean warming has led to changes in the cryosphere, with glacial and ice sheet melting in both sectors, opening up new ice fr...
