Research: Impact of warming in Antarctica & Southern Ocean

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release – Tuesday 14 February 2017

Impact of warming in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean focus of new research awards

Penguin Colony in the Coastal Zone at Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Credit - Gary Wilson

The New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI) will support six new projects in 2017 to determine the impacts and implications of current and future warming in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Covering a wide range of topics, these projects use an array of new and emerging technologies; from unmanned aerial vehicles to the deployment of specialised probes for under-ice surveillance. One of the projects will attempt to make measurements of the ocean in front of Scott Base as it freezes in the -40°C temperatures of the Antarctic winter.

Director of NZARI Prof Gary Wilson says, “The degree of potential disruption to the coastal and nearshore regions of Antarctica from ocean and climate warming is an overarching theme of the research being supported. From algae to toothfish, there is a clear focus on the potential for living species to resist the changes in ocean conditions brought about by global warming.”

The awards are part of NZARI’s broader effort to accelerate the answers to climate change questions facing the globe, and in partnership with Antarctica New Zealand to advance the New Zealand Science Strategy in Antarctica.

“These new projects will help us to understand whether the Antarctic environment and ecosystems will be able to cope with warming temperatures and changing conditions, including possible tipping points that may result in accelerated change.”

“The work is urgent as the planet faces exceptional rates of warming. The Polar Regions and their ice sheets and oceans are particularly vulnerable. Some of the projects will also help with the implementation of the newly created Ross Sea Marine Protected Area.”

NZARI will invest $500,000 in the new projects and actively collaborate with other Antarctic research institutions for substantial co-funding.

Access to some of the most challenging Antarctic environments in the Ross Sea region is possible through logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand.

ENDS

New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI)

NZARI partners with Antarctica New Zealand and research agencies to develop a global understanding of Antarctica's impacts and vulnerability in a changing global climate. NZARIs vision is to inform industry, government and community alike so that we can plan for impacts of change and where possible mitigate them. A particular focus is placed on the Ross Sea region, where the Southern Ocean reaches its furthest south (85°S) beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. Funding for NZARI is from organisations and individuals concerned with global scale connections to Antarctica and consequences of its changing environment.

Summary of the Type A research projects being supported by NZARI:

Recipients of NZARI RfP 2017 Type A Research Funds

13 February 2017

Southern right whales as indicators of Southern Ocean productivity

Professor Stephen Dawson and Dr William Rayment (University of Otago)

Right whale mothers give birth to calves weighing around 1500kg, yet they do not feed for the several weeks they are on the breeding grounds. This extraordinary demand for energy is met from reserves accumulated in foraging areas, where they feed on copepods and small krill, which in turn feed on phytoplankton – the base of the Southern Ocean food web. Primary productivity is driven by oceanic conditions, which are profoundly influenced by climate change. We will study how climate-driven variations in productivity affects the condition and breeding success of right whales, measured using specially-equipped drones, in the Sub Antarctic Auckland Islands.

The offshore air mass journey and interaction with the Ross Sea surfaces: A process-based investigation of regional climate influenced by mesocyclones

Dr Marwan Katurji (University of Canterbury)

The coastal areas of Antarctica have been at the forefront of disruption due to climate change. Understanding mechanisms that cause regional climate change are therefore vital in assessing coastal impacts. This research aims to expand our knowledge for the Ross Sea Region’s unique environment, by understanding the interplay between the constant outflow from the cold continental air mass, sea ice variability, and warmer and moister circumpolar oceanic air masses. This interaction is key to the generation of localized weather patterns, which provide significant regional variability in precipitation and temperature over the Ross Sea Region that impact Antarctic ecosystems.

Requires logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand

Taking the measure of winter sea ice from beneath, within and above

Dr Greg Leonard (University of Otago)

The expansion of Antarctic sea ice in a warming ocean has been puzzling climate scientists for decades. Solving this problem is complex as sea ice forms in winter when it is very difficult to measure it. This project represents a unique step towards developing an autonomous system to monitor how ocean circulation, melting ice sheets, snow fall and air temperatures combine to influence the sea ice near the Antarctic coast. By sending data back to New Zealand in real-time, we will develop the capability to do this work remotely in a variety of critical locations throughout the harsh Antarctic winter.

Requires logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand

Potential for non-linear, threshold-driven response of Antarctic outlet glaciers; insights from David Glacier, Antarctica

Associate Professor Andrew Mackintosh (Victoria University of Wellington)

Antarctic outlet glaciers can be thought of as giant taps that control ice flow between the ice sheet interior and the coast. If the taps are opened fully, Antarctica may experience rapid, irreversible ice loss in coming centuries, resulting in greater-than-anticipated sea-level rise. Outlet glaciers have been observed by satellites for under 50 years, making it challenging to predict their future behaviour. We will use a transformative geological dating technique to extend the period of outlet glacier observations from decades to millennia. This will provide specific insights into the mechanisms that will drive societally-relevant outlet glacier retreat in the future.

Secrets under the ice: Is McMurdo Sound a spawning area for Antarctic toothfish?

Dr Steve Parker (NIWA) and Dr Laura Ghigliotti (Institute of Marine Sciences, Italy)

Scientists know that the Ross Sea toothfish population spawns on the northern hills and seamounts in the Ross Sea, and conservation actions have focused on protecting that area as the spawning ground. But is that the only place? Recent studies have shown that the toothfish inhabiting McMurdo Sound have the same characteristics as those spawning in the northern Ross Sea, but different from those on the nearby Ross Sea shelf and slope. To find out, scientists must collect samples from McMurdo Sound toothfish during the spawning season, which entails sampling through the sea ice in the middle of winter.

Requires logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand

On thin ice? An in situ surveillance system for sea-ice microbial communities

Associate Professor Ken Ryan (Victoria University of Wellington) and Dr Andrew Martin (University of Tasmania)

The predicted loss of annual Antarctic sea ice (est. between 17% - 31%) within the next century will influence the ecological integrity of the Southern Ocean. Sea ice supports a unique assemblage of microorganisms that form the basic food supply for Antarctic coastal food-webs. Reduced ice thickness coupled with increased snow cover will modify energy flow through the food web in ways that are difficult to predict. This project will deploy state-of-the-art biological sensors to track the abundance and physiological stress levels in the sea-ice microbial community. This in situ surveillance system will allow a larger scale understanding of the distribution and cell health of these primary producers and provide baseline data against which future changes in ecosystem structure and function can be measured.

Requires logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand

© Scoop Media