Antarctica

Antarctica



Without the ice, this is what Antarctica would look like. It's nice and blue this map, so I like it. I'm not too fond of the idea of actually being able to observe this in real life, though. That means that all the ice would have melted. We really don't want that! :-)

Geology of Antarctica

Antarctica

Dry Valleys, Antarctica




Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Antarctic Lakes

Active Antarctic Lakes



Credit: NASA

We've suspected there is some kind of activity underneath the ice sheets of Antarctica. Now, we've gathered more information and have spotted a number of active lakes playing around under the ice.

We do not want the lakes to play in such a way that the ice disappear more rapidly than it already does!

Antarctic

Adventures in Antarctica



Follow the scientist's adventure here.

Earth Observation in Antactica

Breaking The Ice in Antarctica




Credit: ESA (Annotations by A. Humbert, Münster University)
Click on the image for a larger view of the rift in the ice bridge supporting Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctica.






Credits: ESA

This map is showing break-up events of Larsen-B and Wilkins ice shelves, as observed by Envisat, in Antarctica.


Earth observation from space is a powerful tool when we try to understand what happens to our planet. I'm so fond of the concept of getting accurate data that will improve our Earth models. The more the merrier - the better will our predictions be. A real money saver, if you ask me. :-)

Fish and The Antarctic

Fishing in The Antarctic



Cartographer: Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Norway is a big fishing nation and we are of course fishing in the Antarctic as well. Compared to other parts of the oceans the fishing around Antarctic is minimal. Let us hope that we have learned from the over fishing that we have done in the North Atlantic and do not repeat that in the extreme South Atlantic. That is where the fish is apparently, at the Atlantic 'corner' of the Antarctic.

Climate Change Antarctic

Antarctic - Hot, Hot, Hot



At least hotter than before! :-)

Antarctica

Antarctica Holidays




With GPS, Of Course!





Fix'n Up Cryosat.




Read the story about how scientists, more specifically a bunch of geodesists measuring with GPS, spend their Christmas holidays on Antarctica.

Fish

Adaptive Antarctic Fish



Photo by Uwe Kils

Antarctic icefish have no hemoglobin, an adaptation to the oxygen-rich waters of the Southern Ocean.

Remove the hemoglobin from my blood, NOW! It is getting colder and I'd like to survive just like the Antactic icefish! It's not so easy as I wish I'm afraid, it would have needed to be in my genes for ages to kick in. I love winter and snow, but I hate freezing. I'm a "freezing stick" (directly translated from Norwegian) and have no idea where those genes that make me thrive in this climate went. Because I do thrive in the cold north but I freeze too darn quick. No, I'm not longing for the tropics. In the tropics my brain stops functioning. I am willing to suffer in the cold for my brain, that is how much I appreciate this particular organ of mine! I think I will study this antarctic fish's strategy a little closer....




The Antarctic Fish Movie (8 min).

Ice shelf

Diminishing Ice Shelf






Hanging in a thin thread - Before (1992) and After (2008)