Sustained Antarctic Research: A 21st Century Imperative

One Earth, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 95 - 113

Published: Sept. 1, 2019

The view from the south is, more than ever, dominated by ominous signs of change. Antarctica and Southern Ocean are intrinsic to Earth system, their evolution is intertwined with influences course Anthropocene. In turn, changes in Antarctic affect presage humanity's future. Growing understanding countering popular beliefs that pristine, stable, isolated, reliably frozen. An aspirational roadmap for science has facilitated research since 2014. A renewed commitment gathering further knowledge will quicken pace systems beyond. Progress already evident, such as addressing uncertainties causes ice loss global sea-level rise. However, much remains be learned. As an iconic "commons," rapidity change provoke political action. vital ever a sustainable future this One Earth.

Language: Английский

---

The State and Future of Antarctic Environments in a Global Context

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 44(1), P. 1 - 30

Published: Oct. 10, 2019

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean comprise a critical part of Earth System. Their environments are better understood than ever before, yet region remains poorly considered among international agreements to improve state global environment. In situation owes isolated regional regulation within Antarctic Treaty System, in dated notion that well conserved relatively free from human impact. Here we review growth knowledge anthropogenic pressures on them. We show region's unusual diversity is facing substantial local globally mediated pressure, par with globally. environmental management being challenged keep pace change. Much benefit can be derived consideration resource context agreements.

Language: Английский

---

A perspective on ecologically relevant plant-UV research and its practical application

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. 970 - 988

Published: Jan. 17, 2019

Plants perceive ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation through the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8), and initiate regulatory responses via associated signalling networks, gene expression metabolic pathways. Various adaptations to enable plants harvest information about fluctuations in irradiance spectral composition natural environments, defend themselves against exposure. Given that UVR8 is present across plant organs tissues, knowledge of systemic involved its activation function throughout important for understanding context specific responses. Fine-scale both perception within tissues cells requires improved application UV-attenuation leaves canopies, warranting greater consideration when designing experiments. In this context, reciprocal crosstalk among photoreceptor-induced pathways also needs be considered, as appears produce particularly complex patterns physiological morphological response. Through crosstalk, go beyond simply UV-protection or amelioration damage, but may give cross-protection over a suite environmental stressors. Overall, there emerging showing how captured by used regulate molecular processes, although upscaling higher levels organisation, i.e. organisms, canopies communities remains poor. Achieving will require further studies using model species Arabidopsis, represent broad range functional types. More attention should given environments all their complexity, such are needed acquire an impact climate change plant-UV Furthermore, broadening scope experiments into regulation facilitate commercial production. By considering progress made research, perspective highlights prescient topics photobiology where future research efforts can profitably focussed. This emphasises burgeoning interdisciplinary links assist effects organisational scales gaps need filled so achieve integrated vision UV-radiation.

Language: Английский

---

The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(6), P. 3178 - 3180

Published: March 30, 2020

This summer, a heatwave across Antarctica saw temperatures soar above average. Temperatures zero are especially significant because they accelerate ice melt. Casey Station had its highest temperature ever, reaching maximum of 9.2°C and minimum 2.5°C. The in was 20.75°C on 9 February. Here we discuss the biological implications such extreme events. Extreme events associated with global change predicted to increase frequency become more impactful. As come end hottest decade ever recorded, recent weather have once again been unprecedented. Significant attention has rightly focused drought heatwaves resulting unprecedented fires Australia (Nolan et al., 2020), delays Indian monsoonal rains followed by flooding winter warming Northern Hemisphere high latitudes (https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/02/10/record-arctic-oscillation/). However, Antarctic summer also broken records. In past, much East spared from rapid climate due part ozone depletion, which cools surface slightly enhances strength westerly wind jets shield northerly air (Bornman 2019; Robinson & Erickson, 2015). North this jet, Peninsula subantarctic islands shown warming, similar magnitude Arctic. Much concern oceans melting below (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146289/pine-island-glaciers-newest-iceberg/). late 2019, stratospheric led an early breakup hole (Lewis, 2019) records started break (Figure 1a). what believe is first, report event at Station, 1b) January, add record reported for Heatwaves rarely Antarctica, but elsewhere often classified as three consecutive days both temperatures. Using classification, experienced between 23 26 January 7.5°C. recorded (9.2°C) 24 (2.5°C) following morning (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_300017_All.shtml/). means 0.2°C higher than mean (2.3°C, 31 year record), while that day 6.9°C higher. World Meteorological Organization (https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/new-record-antarctic-continent-reported/) new 18.4°C (6 February 2020) Argentine research base, Esperanza (northern tip, Peninsula; Figure 1b). almost 1°C hotter former 17.5°C (24 March Three later, eclipsed Brazilian scientists Marambio Base Seymour Island, off eastern side (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/13/antarctic-temperature-rises-above-20c-first-time-record/). If verified, beats pre-2020 3°C. average daily exceeded long-term over preceding years + 2.0°C (+1.2 SDs; 70 record) 2.4°C (+1.4 49 (based data https://legacy.bas.ac.uk/met/READER). Such positive anomalous around will impacted systems continent. Most life exists small ice-free oases, collectively cover only 0.44% continent's landmass (Brooks, Jabour, Hoff, Bergstrom, 2019), largely depend snow their water supply (Robinson, Wasley, Tobin, 2003). warm conditions accelerated snowbanks, documented Eagle Island (see 1c) observed us near Escudero King George Vestfold Hills Antarctica. Although it too full reports, biology numerous ways, probably leading disruptions ecosystem, community population scales. A Dry Valleys during 2001–2002 resulted heat waves, glaciers flash (Ball, Barrett, Gooseff, Virginia, Wall, 2011; Barrett 2008; Woehler, Klekociuk, Pook, Massom, 2018). ended and, next 13 years, shifts populations soil nematodes favour those preferring wetter (such Eudorylaimus sp.; Gooseff 2017). addition, there increased productivity Nostoc spp, within streams, no biomass another cyanobacterial mat species, Phormidium (Gooseff Warming can result negative impacts. Melt provide additional these desert ecosystems effects many organisms terms growth reproduction (Barrett Clarke, Robinson, Hua, Ayre, Fink, 2012; We localized appearing benefit Hills' moss banks were previously be very drought-stressed (Robinson Prior flood event, most mosses grey moribund, 1 month later shoots green. site rare rain (22 2020). Given generally cold environment, cases, warmer flora (mosses, lichens two vascular plants), microbes invertebrates live Antarctica's areas. excessive negative, dislodging plants well altering composition microbial mats melts completely, season, then suffer rest season Elevated might lead stress certain organisms. Mosses dark colour allowing absorption solar radiation creation microclimates optimum metabolism (Bramley-Alves, King, Miller, 2014). effective when just zero, 10 30°C, strategy could easily exceed 10°. On our measurements show 2019 14°C 3% time, 2020 fourfold (to 12% time.) Based experience previous hot summers expect multitude impacts coming illustrating how impacting even remote areas planet. Fieldwork supported Australian Division (DMB) Instituto Antártico Chileno (GEZ, MPR). NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis provided NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD, Boulder, Colorado, USA, web https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/. work contribution Research Council Discovery projects DP180100113 DP200100223, Science 4516 (SAR, DHK, DMB) 4387 (ARK) INACH project RT_14-17 MPR, SAR).

Language: Английский

---

The Montreal Protocol protects the terrestrial carbon sink

Nature, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 596(7872), P. 384 - 388

Published: Aug. 18, 2021

Language: Английский

---