Climate

Predictions about the future climate and environment of our planet rely heavily on powerful computer models. In order for these computer models to be as accurate as possible scientists need to collect as much detailed information as they can about the state of our world in the present day.

Humans have only been present in Antarctica for the last 100 years, which is not very long at all when you compare it to records of climate that stretch back millions of years. The handful of research stations in Antarctica that have been collecting data about climate are spread widely across the continent so information is relatively sparse.

 - Field Research

Eleanor Darlington from the University of Loughborough travelled to Antarctica for the 2011/12 season to build three Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at three points along a transect from the coast to the interior plateau. These AWS will automatically collect data about the weather and climate in this region of Antarctica throughout two southern summers (2011/12 and 2012/13) and the intervening winter.

Eleanor will spend 3-years analyzing the data collected to assess how well the computer models are able to represent the weather and climate processes taking place in these parts of Antarctica. 

This project will complement similar work that has been done in other areas of Antarctica by the University of Utrecht (Netherlands), Sheffield University (UK) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Ultimately, Eleanor’s PhD will help scientists to gain a better picture of likely environmental and climate change in the future.

Click here to see her Field Report

Please visit: Loughborough University