mini-SYMPOSIA
This page contains information on the three SCAR Mini-Symposia, updated as further information comes available.
Chairs
Dr. Tas van Ommen (Session 1) + Prof.
Deneb Karentz (Session 2)
Overview
SCAR focuses its science efforts on high priority topical areas through its flagship Scientific Research Programs. As the current series of programs (listed below) draw to a close we hear from program leaders who share the program highlights, explore the main achievements and look at next steps for research.
Antarctic Climate Change in the 21st Century (ANTCLIM21) - The overarching question of AntClim21 is: How will the Antarctic environment change over the 21st Century? Addressing this has involved an integrated approach bringing together climate models, observations, paleo-climate records and linking the physical, chemical and biological realms.
State of the Antarctic Ecosystem (ANTECO) - State of the Antarctic Ecosystem (AntEco) aims to increase the scientific knowledge of biodiversity, from genes to ecosystems that can be used for the conservation and management of Antarctic ecosystems. AntEco was designed to focus on past and present patterns of biodiversity across all environments within the Antarctic and Southern Ocean, so that we might understand the future of this changing region.
Antarctic Thresholds - Ecosystems Resilience and Adaptation (ANT-ERA) - AnT-ERA stands for Antarctic Thresholds - Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation. AnT-ERA facilitated research primarily but not exclusively on climate-change induced ecological processes in Antarctic marine, limnetic and terrestrial systems. AnT-ERA considered all levels of biological organization, ranging from molecules and species to communities and ecosystems. It was an overarching aim of AnT-ERA to cover a broad diversity of scientists and to support excellent science.
Past Antarctic Ice Sheet Dynamics (PAIS) - he Past Antarctic Climate Dynamics programme aims to improve understanding of the sensitivity of East, West, and Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheets to a broad range of past climatic and oceanic conditions and to improve confidence in predictions of ice sheet and sea level response to future climate change and ocean warming. The PAIS research philosophy is based on data-data and data-model integration and intercomparison, and the development of “ice-to-abyss” data transects, extending from the ice sheet interior to the deep sea.
Solid Earth Response and Influence on Cryospheric Evolution (SERCE) - The overarching objective of the Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryospheric Evolution (SERCE) scientific research programme is to advance understanding of the interactions between the solid earth and the cryosphere to better constrain ice mass balance, ice dynamics, and sea-level change in a warming world. This objective is accomplished through integrated analysis and incorporation of geological, geodetic and geophysical measurements into models of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and ice sheet dynamics.
Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica (AAA) - This group incorporates all astronomical and near-earth observations and studies made from the Antarctic continent, spanning all wavelengths and methods.
Presenters
Dr. Tony Travouillon (AAA)
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle (AntClim21)
Dr. Jan Strugnell and Dr. Huw Griffiths (AntEco)
Prof. Julian Gutt (AnT-ERA)
Dr. Laura de Santis (PAIS)
Dr. Pippa Whitehouse and Prof. Matt King (SERCE)
Biographies
Dr. Tony Travouillon has worked on site characterisation and infrared astronomy projects spanning the South Pole, Dome C and Dome A. He is currently working at the Australian National University on designing the next generation of infrared observatories for Antarctica as well as devices for optical communication to benefit science data transfer from the continent.
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle has 17 years of research experience in polar weather and climate both at the University of Reading and BAS. Most of his current research focusses on improving process understanding of polar climate variability and change and linkages between polar and extra-polar regions.
Prof. Julian Gutt is the chief officer of AnT-ERA. He is a marine biologist with experience in Antarctic marine ecosystems, especially the structure and functioning of the macro-benthos, since more than three decades and participated in more than 20 expeditions to both polar regions. He works mainly with non-invasive methods such as underwater-video and -photography in combination with the technology of Remotely Operated Vehicles. He contributed in the past to a variety of SCAR initiatives such as the predecessors of AnT-ERA, the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment report (ACCE) and other initiatives such as the First Global Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO).
Dr. Laura De Santis, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, Italy. She is a marine geologist with expertise in analysing sea bed and sub-sea bed morphological and geophysical (reflection seismic) data for reconstructing past environmental conditions in the polar regions. Laura sailed on 6 oceanographic international geophysical cruises in Antarctica (in the George V Land, Prydz Bay and in the Ross Sea) between 1990 and 2018. She also was a member of the scientific party of the Cape Roberts deep drilling project and she is co-chief of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Exp. 374 (Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet History, 2018). Laura is co-chief officer of the Geoscience SCAR/PAIS Past Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics program (2016-20) aimed at reconstructing past Antarctic ice sheet dynamics and its contribution to global sea level change.
A/Prof. Pippa Whitehouse is an Associate Professor in the Geography Department of Durham University. Her expertise lies in modelling the process of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), which considers feedbacks between ice dynamics, sea-level change, and solid Earth deformation. Studying GIA in Antarctica has been the focus of her research for the last ten years, and she has taken part in three Antarctic fieldwork seasons during this time. She is currently the joint chief officer of the SCAR-funded scientific research program SERCE (Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryospheric Evolution).
Dr. Huw Griffiths is a marine biologist with 20 years experience of working in the polar regions. He specialises in Antarctic sea floor biodiversity and ecology. In sharp contrast to the icy desert at the surface, the bottom of the Southern Ocean is teaming with thousands of species, most of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Dr. Jan Strugnell investigates the evolution and function of marine organisms using genomic, proteomic and environmental DNA techniques. Her research seeks to address both blue skies and applied questions she has worked on, and continues to work on species from a broad range of marine environments, including polar oceans, the deep sea, temperature rocky shores and tropical coral reefs.
Presenters
Dr. Tony Travouillon (AAA)
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle (AntClim21)
Dr. Jan Strugnell and Dr. Huw Griffiths (AntEco)
Prof. Julian Gutt (AnT-ERA)
Dr. Laura de Santis (PAIS)
Dr. Pippa Whitehouse and Prof. Matt King (SERCE)
Biographies
Dr. Tony Travouillon has worked on site characterisation and infrared astronomy projects spanning the South Pole, Dome C and Dome A. He is currently working at the Australian National University on designing the next generation of infrared observatories for Antarctica as well as devices for optical communication to benefit science data transfer from the continent.
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle has 17 years of research experience in polar weather and climate both at the University of Reading and BAS. Most of his current research focusses on improving process understanding of polar climate variability and change and linkages between polar and extra-polar regions.
Prof. Julian Gutt is the chief officer of AnT-ERA. He is a marine biologist with experience in Antarctic marine ecosystems, especially the structure and functioning of the macro-benthos, since more than three decades and participated in more than 20 expeditions to both polar regions. He works mainly with non-invasive methods such as underwater-video and -photography in combination with the technology of Remotely Operated Vehicles. He contributed in the past to a variety of SCAR initiatives such as the predecessors of AnT-ERA, the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment report (ACCE) and other initiatives such as the First Global Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean (MEASO).
Dr. Laura De Santis, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, Italy. She is a marine geologist with expertise in analysing sea bed and sub-sea bed morphological and geophysical (reflection seismic) data for reconstructing past environmental conditions in the polar regions. Laura sailed on 6 oceanographic international geophysical cruises in Antarctica (in the George V Land, Prydz Bay and in the Ross Sea) between 1990 and 2018. She also was a member of the scientific party of the Cape Roberts deep drilling project and she is co-chief of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Exp. 374 (Ross Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet History, 2018). Laura is co-chief officer of the Geoscience SCAR/PAIS Past Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics program (2016-20) aimed at reconstructing past Antarctic ice sheet dynamics and its contribution to global sea level change.
A/Prof. Pippa Whitehouse is an Associate Professor in the Geography Department of Durham University. Her expertise lies in modelling the process of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), which considers feedbacks between ice dynamics, sea-level change, and solid Earth deformation. Studying GIA in Antarctica has been the focus of her research for the last ten years, and she has taken part in three Antarctic fieldwork seasons during this time. She is currently the joint chief officer of the SCAR-funded scientific research program SERCE (Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryospheric Evolution).
Dr. Huw Griffiths is a marine biologist with 20 years experience of working in the polar regions. He specialises in Antarctic sea floor biodiversity and ecology. In sharp contrast to the icy desert at the surface, the bottom of the Southern Ocean is teaming with thousands of species, most of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Dr. Jan Strugnell investigates the evolution and function of marine organisms using genomic, proteomic and environmental DNA techniques. Her research seeks to address both blue skies and applied questions she has worked on, and continues to work on species from a broad range of marine environments, including polar oceans, the deep sea, temperature rocky shores and tropical coral reefs.
Chairs
Prof. Gary Wilson (session 1) + Dr. Catherine Ritz (session 2)
Overview
In this we will hear about SCAR’s three new proposed Scientific Research Programs. Program leaders explore the rationale behind the programs and the scientific questions they seek to answer. The three programmes are:
Integrated Science to Inform Antarctic and Southern Ocean Conservation (ANT-ICON) – this program will answer fundamental science questions relating to the conservation and management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and focus on research to drive and inform international decision-making and policy change.
Instabilities and Thresholds in Antarctica (INSTANT) – this program will address a first-order question about Antarctica’s contribution to sea level. It encompasses geoscience, physical sciences and biological sciences, of the way in which interactions between the ocean, atmosphere and cryosphere have influenced ice-sheets in the past, and what expectations will be in the future with a special focus on quantifying the contributions to global sea level change. They aim to quantify the Antarctic ice sheet's contribution to past and future global sea-level change.
Near-term Variability and Prediction of the Antarctic Climate System (AntClimnow) – this program will investigate the prediction of near-term conditions in the Antarctic climate system on timescales of years to multiple decades. It will take an integrated approach, looking beyond climate projections of the physical system to consider the Antarctic environment as a whole.
Presenters
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle (AntClimNOW)
Dr. Aleks Terauds, Australian Antarctic Division
Dr. Mercedes Santos, Instituto Antarctico Argentino (IAA)
Prof. Timothy Naish, Victoria University of Wellington
Presenters
Dr. Tom Bracegirdle (AntClimNOW)
Dr. Aleks Terauds, Australian Antarctic Division
Dr. Mercedes Santos, Instituto Antarctico Argentino (IAA)
Prof. Timothy Naish, Victoria University of Wellington
Chairs
Dr. Florence Colleoni
A/Prof. Nancy Bertler
Dr. Ceridwen Fraser
Presenters
Prof. Stephen Rintoul - Role and Response of
the Southern Ocean in a Warming World
A/Prof. Nick Golledge - Antarctic
Contributions to Sea Level Rise
Prof. Steven Chown - Antarctic
/ Southern Ocean Ecosystem Response
Overview
As the world strives to implement the Paris Agreement to safeguard society from the worst of climate change impacts, past reconstructions show that Antarctica is sensitive to even modest warming. During past times resembling anticipated future conditions under the Paris Agreement, the retreat of the marine-based Antarctic ice sheet sectors contributed to multi-meter sea level rise. At the same time, observations reveal that the ocean is warming faster than thought, ocean currents and atmospheric circulation pattern are changing, and ice mass loss is accelerating. Once initiated, ice sheet instability might be irreversible and retreat would continue over centennial to millennial timescale. For this reason, decisions made in the next 5-10 years have the potential to influence future generations for millennia to come. This highlights our responsibility to project beyond the IPCC policy timeframe. This mini-symposium is an interdisciplinary session presenting new, relevant physical oceanographic, cryospheric and ecosystem research, followed by a panel discussion on science/policy questions and priorities. This mini-symposium is informed by and supports current and new SCAR Research Programs and is relevant to the efforts of the IPCC and the World Climate Research Programme’s (WCRP) Core Projects and Grand Challenge.
Running Order
- Prof. Steve Rintoul - Role and Response of the Southern Ocean in a Warming World
- A/Prof. Nick Golledge - Antarctic Contributions to Sea Level Rise
- Prof. Steven Chown - Antarctic / Southern Ocean Ecosystem Response
- Followed by live discussion between the presenters and audience
Biographies
Presenters
Prof. Stephen Rintoul - Role and Response of
the Southern Ocean in a Warming World
A/Prof. Nick Golledge - Antarctic
Contributions to Sea Level Rise
Prof. Steven Chown - Antarctic
/ Southern Ocean Ecosystem Response
Overview
As the world strives to implement the Paris Agreement to safeguard society from the worst of climate change impacts, past reconstructions show that Antarctica is sensitive to even modest warming. During past times resembling anticipated future conditions under the Paris Agreement, the retreat of the marine-based Antarctic ice sheet sectors contributed to multi-meter sea level rise. At the same time, observations reveal that the ocean is warming faster than thought, ocean currents and atmospheric circulation pattern are changing, and ice mass loss is accelerating. Once initiated, ice sheet instability might be irreversible and retreat would continue over centennial to millennial timescale. For this reason, decisions made in the next 5-10 years have the potential to influence future generations for millennia to come. This highlights our responsibility to project beyond the IPCC policy timeframe. This mini-symposium is an interdisciplinary session presenting new, relevant physical oceanographic, cryospheric and ecosystem research, followed by a panel discussion on science/policy questions and priorities. This mini-symposium is informed by and supports current and new SCAR Research Programs and is relevant to the efforts of the IPCC and the World Climate Research Programme’s (WCRP) Core Projects and Grand Challenge.
Overview
As the world strives to implement the Paris Agreement to safeguard society from the worst of climate change impacts, past reconstructions show that Antarctica is sensitive to even modest warming. During past times resembling anticipated future conditions under the Paris Agreement, the retreat of the marine-based Antarctic ice sheet sectors contributed to multi-meter sea level rise. At the same time, observations reveal that the ocean is warming faster than thought, ocean currents and atmospheric circulation pattern are changing, and ice mass loss is accelerating. Once initiated, ice sheet instability might be irreversible and retreat would continue over centennial to millennial timescale. For this reason, decisions made in the next 5-10 years have the potential to influence future generations for millennia to come. This highlights our responsibility to project beyond the IPCC policy timeframe. This mini-symposium is an interdisciplinary session presenting new, relevant physical oceanographic, cryospheric and ecosystem research, followed by a panel discussion on science/policy questions and priorities. This mini-symposium is informed by and supports current and new SCAR Research Programs and is relevant to the efforts of the IPCC and the World Climate Research Programme’s (WCRP) Core Projects and Grand Challenge.
Running Order
- Prof. Steve Rintoul - Role and Response of the Southern Ocean in a Warming World
- A/Prof. Nick Golledge - Antarctic Contributions to Sea Level Rise
- Prof. Steven Chown - Antarctic / Southern Ocean Ecosystem Response
- Followed by live discussion between the presenters and audience
Biographies
A/Prof. Nick Golledge is an Associate Professor in the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, specialising in the numerical simulation of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and particularly, their response to changing external forcings over time. His most recent work has focused largely on policy-relevant timescales and societally-relevant questions such as future ice-sheet contributions to global mean sea level. Entwined with this is the role that systemic feedbacks between ice sheets, ocean, and climate, might play in influencing future ice sheet evolution and the manifestation of future climatic changes. Nick currently holds a Royal Society of New Zealand 'Rutherford Discovery' Fellowship, is a Lead Author on the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC, and co-leads the 'Future Projections' Expert Group of the Antarctic Science Platform. "
Prof. Steven L Chown is Professor of Biological Sciences at Monash University, Melbourne and is President of SCAR. His areas of expertise are ecology, evolutionary physiology and conservation biology. His research mainly concerns biodiversity variation through space and time, and the conservation implications of environmental change, including the means to mitigate it. Yet his work also explores fundamental questions in ecology, physiology and evolutionary biology. He co-developed the field of macrophysiology – the investigation of large-scale patterns in and processes underlying physiological variation and its ecological implications. He has worked in Australia, Africa, the UK, and in the broader Antarctic region, where he has over 30 years of field experience. Owing to his capability in the science-policy interface he has for many years represented the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, providing scientific advice on a broad range of environmental and science policy matters.