Introducing Antarctica’s heartbeat

In this short video, RNZ science communicator Dr Claire Concannon summarises Antarctica’s heartbeat – episode 2 from her Voice of the Sea Ice podcast series.

This second episode delves into the sea ice cycle in Antarctica, the role it plays in global oceans and climate and the research by scientists to better understand the cycle.

Transcript

Dr Claire Concannon

The annual flux of Antarctica sea ice is often called its heartbeat. Each year, a huge expanse of ocean around this massive continent freezes over in winter and melts again come summer. Sea ice plays an important role in regulating Earth’s climate and provides vital habitat for Antarctic penguins and seals.

So what’s happening to it as our climate warms?

Kia ora, I’m Claire Concannon, and in a new series, Voice of the Sea Ice, we travel to Antarctica to take its pulse and learn how this incredible place at the bottom of the world impacts us all.

Near New Zealand’s Scott Base, Antarctic sea ice is locked to the land and can get over 2 metres thick, which means researchers can drive, camp and work on it. Because it’s white, the sea ice reflects sunlight back into space and prevents heat from getting into the ocean. Plus, as it freezes, super salty cold water sinks down and flows into the deepest parts of the world’s oceans.

In summer, most of the ice melts, releasing its grip on the land, breaking apart and drifting out to sea. It reaches its minimum in late February or early March, but in February 2023, it reached a record low amount, causing scientists to sound the alarm. Near Scott Base, New Zealand researchers are keeping an eye on what’s happening to the sea ice by using a monitoring station, tracking buoys and by analysing cores of the ice.

Learn more about Antarctica’s heartbeat and how it’s changing by listening to the Voice of the Sea Ice podcast.

Acknowledgements

This video is courtesy of RNZ. It is from the Voice of the Sea Ice podcast series by Dr Claire Concannon. The series was made with travel support from the Antarctica New Zealand Community Engagement Programme.