Update from the Symposium : 15th July 2011

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• [BAS Press Release] Scientists discuss what lies beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet
  Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey and institutes around the world discuss 'what lies beneath the ice' at the International Symposium of Antarctic Earth Sciences in Edinburgh today (Friday 15 July).

  A session: 'Uncovering and unveiling Antarctica' will explore the Gamburtsev Sub-glacial Mountains, in the heart of East Antarctica. These were uncovered during the International Polar Year. It was the first time the geology and topography of the sub-glacial mountains, roughly the size of the European Alps, were mapped using a range of airborne geophysical techniques.

  The big question about these ice covered mountains is why they exist at all, because, unlike other mountain ranges they lie far from the edge of a tectonic plate, where mountains usually form. New maps will improve knowledge of the protracted geological history of the Gamburtsevs, which stretches back over a billion years (before complex life existed). Understanding this geological history allows scientists to propose a new model of how the Gamburtsevs were formed. As the least understood mountain range on Earth they are critical to the long-term stability of the Antarctic ice sheet.

  
  
  

Update from the Symposium : 13th July 2011

• [Eureka Alert] Lie of the land beneath glaciers influences impact on sea levels
  Fresh research into glaciers could help scientists better predict the impact of changing climates on global sea levels.
  
  
• [NEWS ARTICLE - BAS] Antarctic researchers strive to make better predictions for future sea-level rise
  Antarctic geoscientists and ice sheet modellers get together in Edinburgh this week to investigate ways to improve predictions of likely sea-level rise as a result of future ice loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
  
  

Update from the Symposium : 12th July 2011

Latest Video Clips

News Items

• [PRESS RELEASE - BAS] Underwater Antarctic volcanoes discovered in the Southern Ocean
  Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have discovered previously unknown volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands. Using ship-borne sea-floor mapping technology during research cruises onboard the RRS James Clark Ross, the scientists found 12 volcanoes beneath the sea surface some up to 3km high. They found 5km diameter craters left by collapsing volcanoes and 7 active volcanoes visible above the sea as a chain of islands.
  
  
• [PRESS RELEASE - University of Edinburgh] Lie of the land beneath glaciers influences impact on sea levels
  Fresh research into glaciers could help scientists better predict the impact of changing climates on global sea levels. Scientists have shown for the first time that the terrain beneath glaciers influences how much glacier melt contributes to fluctuations in sea levels.
  
  
• Underwater volcanoes discovered in southern Atlantic - Toronto Sun - 11 July 2011
  Scientists who have discovered previously unknown underwater volcanoes around the remote South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean say the research is important to help understand what happens when volcanoes erupt or collapse underwater. ...
  
  
• Scientists discover underwater volcanoes in the Southern Ocean - WireUpdate
  By BNO News LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- A group of scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has discovered a dozen underwater volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands, which is a British overseas territory. ...
  
  
• Antarctic survey finds undersea volcanoes UPI.com - ‎(News agency)‎
  EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 11 (UPI) -- A British Antarctic Survey team says it has discovered underwater volcanoes in waters around the remote Sandwich Islands. Using sea-floor mapping technology during research cruises, the scientists found 12 ...
  
  
• British Scientists Discover Massive Underwater Volcanoes - Irish Weather
  
  
• Descobertos 12 vulces submarinos no oceano Antrctico Publico (Portuguese magazine) 11.07.2011 Helena Geraldes
  Uma equipa de cientistas descobriu uma cadeia de doze vulces nas guas do Oceano Antrctico, alguns com trs quilmetros de altitude, revelou hoje o British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
  
  
• Descubren volcanes submarinos en el oceno antrtico MADRID, 11 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS)
  Cientficos del British Antarctic Survey (BAS) han descubierto volcanes hasta ahora desconocidos en las aguas del ocano alrededor de las remotas islas Sandwich del Sur.
  
  
• BAS James Clark Ross discovers underwater volcanoes in South Sandwich Islands MercoPress 12 July 2011
  Scientists who have discovered previously unknown underwater volcanoes around the remote South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean say the research is important to help understand what happens when volcanoes erupt or collapse underwater.
  
  

Update from the Symposium : 10th July 2011

Today's presentations focus on the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet and its contribution to future sea level rise and records of past significant rapid change. The structure and evolution of the Gondwanda supercontinent involving the tectonic history of Antarctic continent is also being addressed.

News Stories:

• STV (North) Ltd - Online- Our otherworldly Dynamic Earth
• BBC Radio. Good Morning Scotland - Professor Nick Owens is interviewed live - listen again (for 7 days only)
• British Antarctic Survey Press Release - Underwater Antarctic Volcanoes discovered in the Southern Ocean

Videos from the Press Conference this morning: