Polar Regions News Roundup W/C 26th February 2024

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Polar Regions News

Your weekly Polar news roundup

Helping you stay informed of the latest developments in climate change, environmental conservation, scientific research, geopolitical dynamics, economic opportunities and indigenous rights in the Polar Regions.

26th February 2024

Filming the Frozen Planet series, tourism and international cooperation under the spotlight as MPs continue evidence gathering on Antarctica

Antarctic ice

Watch the latest evidence session from the UK Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research’s inquiry into the UK and the Antarctic Environment. This session focussed on New Zealand science, environmental concerns about tourism on the continent and the making of Frozen Planet II.

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Russia’s war on Ukraine chills Arctic climate science

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right), then the prime minister, takes measurements of an anesthetized polar bear during a visit to a research institute at the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on April 29, 2010. | Pool photo by RIA Novosti

In the two years since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, a chasm has grown between Russian scientists and their counterparts around the world, disrupting international research. Sanctions and communication barriers between Russia and many other nations, have made it increasingly difficult for scientists to work together.

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First flights of new research drone in Antarctica

The 10-metre fixed-winged aircraft is capable of carrying 100 kg of cargo or sensors up to 1000 km.

The autonomous uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) is being tested by scientists and engineers from British Antarctic Survey and Windracers to check it's suitability for future use in researching the continent.

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Russia foils western sanctions on natural gas project as shipments near

The US placed Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 under sanctions in November, in effect blocking its allies from buying the project’s gas when it starts production © Reuters

Arctic LNG 2 plant completed with Chinese help as Beijing becomes biggest importer of the Russian gas.

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A single Antarctic heatwave or storm can noticeably raise the sea level

Elephant Foot Glacier in northern Greenland. Nicolaj Larsen / shutterstock

A heat wave in Greenland and a storm in Antarctica. These kinds of individual weather “events” are increasingly being supercharged by a warming climate. But despite being short-term events they can also have a much longer-term effect on the world’s largest ice sheets, and may even lead to tipping points being crossed in the polar regions.

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Have you read our latest Polar Notes article? See below for the most recent publication on the APPG Polar Regions website.

Polar Note: Getting to the core of environmental change

Amy Gray subsampling lake core in Svalbard

Welcome to the 2024 Polar Notes series: our fortnightly feature looking at a current polar issue or topic of conversation in more depth.  

Our newest article, authored by APPG Research Specialist, Amy Gray, explains why the study of sediments from the bottom of polar lakes can help scientists work out how climate is changing in the Arctic.

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We’d love to hear from you! Contact the APPG for the Polar Regions at info@appgpolarregions.uk