We can’t easily look beneath ice shelves to watch them melt from below and rely on ice shelf-ocean models to estimate basal melt. But how good are these models and where don’t they agree? In today’s post, @claire-y.bsky.social answers some of these questions! 🌊🧊 blogs.egu.eu/divisions/cr...

Melting ice shelves in ocean models: an idealised model intercomparison project

Antarctic ice shelves melt from beneath where they contact the ocean, but how well do ocean models simulate this process? Building on several decades of model development, a recent model intercomparis...

blogs.egu.eu

🌏 Better models = better climate predictions. A new paper led by ACEAS PhD researcher Claire Yung (ANU) shows how a refined equation used in ocean models can significantly improve the accuracy of Antarctic ice shelf melt predictions. ➡️ antarctic.org.au/new-model-co...

New model correction improves predictions of Antarctic ice shelf melt - ACEAS

A new study led by ACEAS PhD researcher Claire Yung from ANU introduces a correction to ocean models that could significantly improve global sea-level rise predictions from Antarctic ice shelf melt.

antarctic.org.au

Nice summary of the importance of Antarctica's ice shelves and how little we know about them. Major differences between models of present day ice shelf melt need to be resolved. Paper here tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/...

Multi-model estimate of Antarctic ice-shelf basal mass budget and ocean drivers

Abstract. Societal adaptation to rising sea levels requires robust projections of the Antarctic Ice Sheet's retreat, particularly due to ocean-driven basal melting of its fringing ice shelves. Recent ...

tc.copernicus.org

Climate Tracker@climate.skyfleet.blue · 8mo ago

The fate of the planet’s coastlines depends on how fast Antarctica’s ice sheets melt. We don’t know what’s coming #Climate

Our paper on a new ice shelf basal melt parameterisation is out! tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/... Small-scale processes in the ocean drive ice shelf basal melt, and large-scale ocean models can’t resolve these processes. Therefore, models use melt parameterisations, but these can still be improved.

Stratified suppression of turbulence in an ice shelf basal melt parameterisation

Abstract. Ocean-driven basal melting of Antarctic ice shelves is an important process that affects the Antarctic Ice Sheet, global climate and sea level. Basal melting is controlled by small-scale pro...

tc.copernicus.org

I am thrilled to share this multimedia story highlighting my experience on the #Denman Marine Voyage earlier this year, alongside the inspiring work of 3 other Antarctic scientists: news.unsw.edu.au/en/breaking-... ✍️ @melissalyne.bsky.social 🌊🇦🇶 #DMV @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social @ccrc.bsky.social

Breaking the ice: why study Antarctica?

From unique wildlife to resilient microbes, world-changing climate dynamics to untapped biotechnological potential – four UNSW scientists outline what makes Antarctica a laboratory like no other.

news.unsw.edu.au

New today: Critical research published in @nature.com on the abrupt and alarming changes being observed in #Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean, led by Prof. @climatenerilie.bsky.social, with @profmattengland.bsky.social and colleagues ⬇️ theconversation.com/from-sea-ice...

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them

The vast ice of Antarctica has long seemed impregnable. But sudden changes are arriving – from shrinking sea ice to melting ice sheets and slowing ocean currents.

theconversation.com

🌊❄️🧪 🇦🇶 Please share: We have learned that the National Science Foundation is moving ahead with plans to decommission the U.S. Research Vessel/Ice Breaker Nathaniel B. Palmer this October. If you care about Antarctic research, please read on (1/n)

We figured out a cheap-ish way to make ocean models create Dense Shelf Waters (DSW) on the surface of the Antarctic continental shelf! How? Fast answer: Ocean surface cells thinner than 1 m! Long answer on the paper: dx.doi.org/10.1029/2024... ---- More info in the thread

Antarctic Dense Water Formation Sensitivity to Ocean Surface Cell Thickness

The ability of ocean models with depth coordinates to form Antarctic Dense Shelf Water (DSW) depends on their surface vertical resolution Deeper surface cells shift the direction of surface Ekman...

dx.doi.org

🚨 New paper alert 🚨 We developed the new PanAntarctic model and assessed the sensitivity of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation and export to horizontal model resolutions of 1/10°, 1/20° and 1/40°. Open access paper in JAMES: doi.org/10.1029/2024...

1️⃣ Like a heartbeat driving one of the largest seasonal cycles on Earth, Antarctic sea ice is central to the global climate system and vital for unique ecosystems.

🛰️ "NSIDC's sea ice data is our number one heart rate monitor for the state of the planet’s ice. It’s our early warning system and tells us if the patient is about to flatline." — Dr Alex Fraser, AAPP sea-ice remote sensing scientist @utas.edu.au @nsidc.bsky.social 🌊 tinyurl.com/3vphpmzy

Tracking sea ice is ‘early warning system’ for global heating – but the US is halting data sharing

News comes as research finds record lows of Antarctic sea ice had seen more icebergs splintering off ice shelves

theguardian.com

Q: What happens when we lose Antarctic sea ice in the summer? A: Bad things. A short 🧵 New research out today: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

Impacts of Antarctic summer sea-ice extremes

Abstract. Antarctic sea ice plays many crucial roles in the physical environments and ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In this study, we sy

academic.oup.com

Excited to share new research in the Journal of Geophysical Research:Oceans with @andyhogg.bsky.social, @navidcy.bsky.social, Ryan Holmes, and @hemant-khatri.bsky.social on how the North Atlantic Oscillation impacts the basin's subtropical and subpolar gyres: doi.org/10.1029/2024... 🌊

The very dire and scary situation unfortunately continues for NOAA Research - including across the federal labs, cooperative institutes, and program offices...

Tom Di Liberto@tdiliberto.bsky.social · last yr.

Trump's Budget is out. For NOAA, it's exactly what the previous passback document showed. Trump administration eliminations NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in its ongoing fight against science and reality. www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...

I can’t find a better word than devastating for what’s happening to the next generation of scientists and early career researchers (soft money, lack of tenure) Every day brings something new, and the real funding fall-out (I think) is to come as existing grants run out. Recovery could take decades

Yonatan Grad@yhgrad.bsky.social · last yr.

NSF GRFPs terminated for those in graduate school and already attending Harvard, too.

In @aunz.theconversation.com ⬇️ theconversation.com/antarctica-h...

Antarctica has its own ‘shield’ against warm water – but this could now be under threat

The Antarctic Slope Current shields Antarctica from warm waters. But new research shows meltwater is speeding up the current, which could make it more unstable.

theconversation.com

#Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds A ground-breaking new study led by Ellie Ong has found Antarctica's “last oceanic defence”, the ASC, could be transformed by the melting of the very ice it shields ⬇️ antarctic.org.au/antarctic-ic...

Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds - ACEAS

Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds Antarctica’s “last oceanic defence” could be transformed by the melting of the very ice it shields, a...

antarctic.org.au

🙌 Thank you to our #DMV research teams, voyage partners and science collaborators @antarctic.bsky.social | @arcsaef.bsky.social | AAD | @utas.edu.au | @imas-utas.bsky.social | @scienceanu.bsky.social | @ccrc.bsky.social | UQ | @coschoolofmines.bsky.social

Australian Antarctic Program Partnership@antarctic.bsky.social · last yr.

🚢🌊 How many science projects can you fit on one ship? Enjoy this wrap-up of the Denman Marine Voyage #DMV to East #Antarctica on Australia's icebreaker RSV Nuyina. 🪩 Watch the full video at youtu.be/tbnl7M4kZTk With AAD, @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social, @arcsaef.bsky.social and @utas.edu.au

This is horrible. I don't even know what to say. Some of our most key polar data. "As a result, the level of services for affected products below will be reduced to Basic—meaning they will remain accessible but may not be actively maintained, updated, or fully supported." nsidc.org/data/user-re...

Working with the hydrochemistry team for @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social on the #DMV, @christinaocean.bsky.social has also captured some incredible images of the natural environment around the Denman Glacier ⬇️ @ccrc.bsky.social | UNSW (portrait: Pete Harmsen / AAD)

We are back in Hobart after 2 months at sea on RSV #Nuyina 🌊 It was an incredible voyage to the Denman Glacier and Shakleton Ice Shelf with great people, an impressive range of science, stunning landscapes, and cute wildlife. @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social #Denman Marine Voyage #DMV

NEW: The total loss of NOAA’s office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research —a nerve center of global climate science, data collection and modeling — represents a setback for climate preparedness that experts warn the nation may never recover from. By @abrahm.bsky.social

White House Proposal Could Gut Climate Modeling the World Depends On

Potential funding cuts for NOAA and its research partners threaten irreparable harm not only to climate research but to American safety, competitiveness, and national security.

propublica.org

The #DMV has transited east and west of the Denman Glacier and the Shackleton Ice Shelf, and one side is markedly more biologically productive than the other. How to find out why? Here's Delphine Lannuzel and Pauline Latour, with @antarctic.bsky.social ⬇️ aappartnership.org.au/all-part-of-...

All part of the process: biology meets chemistry off an ice shelf - AAPP

Revealing the drivers of phytoplankton growth, their role in carbon cycling, and dynamics between ocean, seafloor and ice shelves

aappartnership.org.au

Cuts to #science of >50% at NASA and >75% at NOAA would end US climate and space science research. NASA cuts are '...an "extinction level" event': arstechnica.com/space/2025/0... "At this funding level, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is eliminated...": www.science.org/content/arti...

Check out what our dream team has done so far during the Denman voyage 🌊!!

Australian Antarctic Program Partnership@antarctic.bsky.social · last yr.

🪩 Our #DMV team has done the CTD dance more than 60 times so far in the Denman Marine Voyage. What does the CTD tell us? (hint: it stands for🧂Conductivity 🌡️Temperature 📏Depth). Check out the voyage blog ➡️ aappartnership.org.au/diving-deep-...

What lies beneath 🌊 Dramatically-reduced sea ice cover in front of the tongue of the Denman Glacier has allowed a rare exploration opportunity on the #DMV Here's @hochmuth.bsky.social on the mapping of the seafloor in this incredible unchartered territory ⬇️ #blog antarctic.org.au/denman-glaci...

Denman Glacier, how deep is your continental shelf? - ACEAS

Denman Glacier, how deep is your continental shelf? By Katharina Hochmuth The Denman Marine Voyage is not only the first dedicated marine science voyage on our new home the RSV Nuyina, but we are also...

antarctic.org.au

I've been blown away by all the different types of sea ice out here on the Denman Marine Voyage!

Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS)@antarcticsciaus.bsky.social · 2y ago

Sea ice has appeared in a variety of shapes and forms on the Denman Marine Voyage "...from newly formed ice to thicker, older floes that shake the ship when we collide with it." Find out more in our latest #DMV #blog post from @claire-y.bsky.social, 'Into the ice' ⬇️ antarctic.org.au/into-the-ice/

Antarctica's icebergs are famous for their brilliant whites and blues 🧊 Then, there's the startling green, brown, black and even marbled hues - as seen at the Denman Glacier ice front. But how does it happen? @kaihezak.bsky.social explains ⬇️ #DMV #blog antarctic.org.au/mysteries-of...

Mysteries of colourful icebergs - ACEAS

Mysteries of colourful icebergs By Kaihe Yamazaki Antarctica’s icebergs are famous for their brilliant whites and blues from glacier ice (compacted snow turns blue as air bubbles are expelled), but a ...

antarctic.org.au

About halfway from Hobart to #Antarctica, RSV Nuyina is meeting the Southern Ocean head on. Track the ship's progess on the Denman Marine Voyage #DMV at www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-op... and follow our voyage blog at aappartnership.org.au/DMV/ 📹 Pete Harmsen/AAD

Hi - I'd like to share this story of what is happening at NOAA GFDL, where some of my colleagues and I worked until the mass firings at NOAA last week. "...the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting"

NOAA firings hit the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting

Dismissed researchers were improving severe weather predictions

science.org