First microplastics found in Antarctic snow
University of Canterbury researchers have published the world's first study confirming the discovery of microplastics in fresh snow in Antarctica......»»
Location, location, location: Snowpack storage and runoff timing in burn scars depend on site and terrain
Increasingly severe wildfires at high elevations are impacting snowpack—an important reservoir for the U.S. West. The altered landscape makes it more challenging to predict when snow will melt and how much water will be available for use......»»
Scientists say there is enough evidence to agree to global action on microplastics
Science has provided more than sufficient evidence to inform a collective and global approach to tackle the continued spread of plastic pollution, according to a new report......»»
Microplastics: Meant to last, just not forever and not in our bodies
Megan Hill is an assistant professor of chemistry and leader of the Hill Lab in Colorado State University's College of Natural Sciences. Her research leverages organic chemistry to design advanced polymeric materials for applications in sustainabilit.....»»
Surface water sampling reveals large numbers of juvenile krill undetected by conventional monitoring methods
In 2018–2019, researchers of Wageningen Marine Research joined the Japanese research vessel Kaiyo-maru (Fisheries Agency Japan; FAJ) on an Antarctic expedition to sample the upper surface waters with the Surface and Under Ice Trawl. Results showed.....»»
Antarctic krill can lock away similar levels of carbon as seagrass and mangroves, finds study
Small marine crustaceans are as valuable as key coastal habitats for storing carbon and should be similarly protected, according to new research......»»
Antarctic research finds exceptional warm air intrusions and omnipresent aerosol layers in the stratosphere
Extremely clean air on the ground, warm air intrusions and sulfate aerosol at high altitudes—a Leipzig research project has gained new insights into clouds in Antarctica. From January to December 2023, the vertical distribution of aerosol particles.....»»
Researchers reveal presence of microplastics in large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean
A research study co-led by the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM, CSIC), together with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), has revealed the worrying presence of microplastics in the stomachs of swordfish.....»»
Rapid loss of Antarctic ice after 2100 likely under current emissions, climate scientists find
A Dartmouth-led study by more than 50 climate scientists worldwide provides the first clear projection of how carbon emissions may drive the loss of Antarctica's ice sheet over the next 300 years......»»
Antarctic research supports healthy space for astronauts
Astronauts and Australian Antarctic expeditioners are working together to advance human health in space, and on Earth......»»
Double dip: Antarctic sea ice sinks to new low for winter
For the second winter in a row, the extent of Antarctic sea ice has been exceptionally below average—and it has just set a new record low for this time of year......»»
Greenpeace sounds alarm on microplastics ingested by Hong Kong wildlife
Microplastic particles turned up in the vast majority of waste samples taken from Hong Kong wildlife in a Greenpeace study, the group said Monday, suggesting that animals still ingest plastics even if they are not feeding in urban areas......»»
Found dead in the snow: How microbes can help pinpoint time of death for forensic investigations in frigid conditions
What happens to a dead body in an extremely cold environment? Does it decompose? How do these conditions affect how forensic scientists understand when the person died?.....»»
Uncovering microplastic dynamics and patterns in coastal habitats
Microplastics have raised concerns among scientists and the public in recent years due to their widespread presence and associated health risks. They have been found in every corner of the planet, from mountain peaks to the deep sea, and in the diets.....»»
3D imaging allows researchers to observe degradation of micro- and nanoplastics with unprecedented detail
In a global first, University of Waterloo researchers have used 3D imaging technology to understand the fine details of microplastics, paving the way for more effective methods of plastic waste recycling......»»
Composite plastic degrades easily with bacteria, offers environmental benefits
Billions of tons of plastic waste clutter our world. Most of it has accumulated on the ground and in the oceans or disintegrated into tiny particles known as microplastics that pollute the air and the water, penetrating vegetation and the bloodstream.....»»
Study of cloud movement in the Arctic could provide better understanding of climate change in the region
Special features of the Arctic climate, such as the strong reflection of the sun's rays off the light snow or the low position of the sun, amplify global warming in the Arctic. However, researchers are often faced with the challenge of modeling the u.....»»
Last voyage of an ocean drilling ship? Here"s why scientists don"t want to see the JOIDES Resolution mothballed
My favorite place in the world isn't a fixed location. It's the JOIDES Resolution, an internationally funded research ship that has spent its service life constantly on the move, from deep in the Antarctic to high in the Arctic......»»
Scientists uncover hidden source of snow melt: Dark brown carbon
Wildfires leave potent climate heaters behind in their wake, particles that enhance the absorption of sunlight and warm the atmosphere. Dropped on snow like a wool poncho, these aerosols darken and decrease the surface reflectance of snowy places......»»
NASA mission gets its first snapshot of polar heat emissions
NASA's newest climate mission has started collecting data on the amount of heat in the form of far-infrared radiation that the Arctic and Antarctic environments emit to space. These measurements by the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experim.....»»
Ski Resorts Are Stockpiling Snow to Get Through Warm Winters
Under protective coverings, piles of snow can be stored for a surprisingly long time, allowing ski resorts to mitigate some of the lack of snowfall caused by climate change......»»