Becky McCerery

Microbial Communities in Sediments From Different Landform Systems, Svalbard At the sequence level all glaciers and landforms were different in their biodiversity, only 72/1,268 sequences were detected in >2 samples Microbial richness was similar across all glacier locati...

Our new paper is out in @jgrbiogeo.bsky.social finally wrapping up a 2022 Svalbard season! Looking at microbial communities in different landforms and glacier types. agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

We have a new preprint out reviewing the monitoring & detection of Svalbard surging glaciers: eartharxiv.org/repository/v...

We also compiled a new database of Svalbard's surge-type glaciers: zenodo.org/records/1524...

@dannipearce.bsky.social @hazlovell.bsky.social @adrianluckman.bsky.social

Microbial dormancy as an ecological and biogeochemical regulator on Earth - Nature Communications Dormancy enables microbes to withstand periods of environmental harshness. It occurs throughout diverse ecosystems and spans vast timescales, and could play an important role in shaping the co-ev...

How can zombie microbes interact with the Earth system? 🦠🧟🌎

Microbes, even when dormant, play a massive role in shaping Earth's ecosystems & biogeochemistry 🌎

In @natcomms.nature.com I explore dormancy in the context of Earth’s geosphere-biosphere co-evolution

🧵👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The Spirit of the Rainforest The Spirit of the Rainforest

Peruvian scientist, conservationist, and National Geographic Explorer, Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, will give a public lecture about her work in the Amazon Rainforest.

📅 13 May 2025
⌚ 5.30pm - 6.30pm
📍 City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle

💡 Discover more and register FREE here:

Happy #WorldPenguinDay! 🐧🪶

Today we’re celebrating our favourite Antarctic co-workers. From curious onlookers near our research stations to the subjects of vital ecosystems studies, these charismatic birds are the true icons of Antarctica.

📣 The #Goldschmidt2025 conference program is now available! The schedule of sessions & presentations is now online.
To plan your week, browse the program by theme: buff.ly/1zvFrpU
or per day: buff.ly/8RQwc8M
Remember the presenter & early registration deadline is 21 May.

Change in iceberg calving behavior preceded North Sea ice shelf disintegration during the last deglaciation - Nature Communications Massive tabular icebergs broke off of the UK during the last ice age. The widespread break-up of the ice shelves which produced these giant icebergs can be traced to around 18,000 years ago, and likel...

Icebergs? The size of a city? 90 miles from the UK? Must be a joke, right?

No! Our new paper in @natcomms.nature.com shows massive tabular icebergs broke off the UK in the last ice age before the UK’s ice shelves disintegrated from climate warming.

🧵

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

@bas.ac.uk

Treading gently: The scientists who leave little trace at the world's northernmost lab Scientists in the high Arctic are lifting their labs into the air to avoid damage from melting permafrost.

"In daily life I meet people who ask me if the Arctic is actually changing," says Iain Rudkin, Arctic Operations Manager for the British Antarctic Survey.

"I wish they could see how much it's lost so quickly."

www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

I have worked with the Global Glacier Casualty list to add two new stories this week on Darwin Glacier, Sierra Nevada of California and Ice Worm Glacier, North Cascades, Washington. Darwin Glacier was lost in 2022 and Ice Wrom Glacier in 2023.
glaciercasualtylist.rice.edu

M2 internship 2025-2026: Investigating Microbial Dormancy responses to stress cycles in the cryosphere Supervisors: James A. BRADLEY (james.bradley@mio.osupytheas.fr) and Rey MOUROT (rey.mourot@mio.osupytheas.fr)

📢 6-month paid Masters internship available with me and @reymourot.bsky.social
Investigating Microbial Dormancy Responses to Stress Cycles in the Cryosphere ❄️🦠🧬😴🌡️
Join us in beautiful Marseille @mioceanologie.bsky.social ☀️🌊⛰️🇫🇷
#ERC_SIESTA
Apply by 15 April
RT
Link 👇
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/329851

“A stark reminder”: Record-breaking CO2 Levels Recorded for Earth’s Polar Regions The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) has announced that atmospheric CO2 levels surpassed the key threshold of 430 parts per million (ppm) for the first time.

⚠️ Daily average atmospheric #CarbonDioxide levels have exceeded 430ppm for the first time since records began, and likely for the first time in at least 3 million years according to @iccinet.bsky.social: pml.ac.uk/news/a-stark...

Deadline is today to submit to our @goldschmidt-confer.bsky.social session on biogeochemical processes in extreme environments!

A series of five satellite images showcasing diverse landscapes: an island with turquoise waters, a snowy terrain, mountainous regions with winding roads, colorful lakes, and a dry, arid area with circular features. More importantly, they spell out DAVID with their landscape images.

Psst…You want to know about the NASA website that spells out your name in Landsat imagery. 🧪

landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/apps/YourNam...

Proud to have contributed to the @royalsociety.org STEM Research Career roadmap yourstemcareerpath.royalsociety.org which celebrates diverse pathways into stem, changing sectors and disciplines etc.

This Research Fellow post @northumbriauni.bsky.social is closing for applications this week!

Deadline 19/2/25

Love Earth Observation research?🛰️ Don't miss out! Apply now 👇

The Greenland Ice Sheet is fracturing faster than expected Cracks in Greenland's glaciers deepened by climate change.

Three-dimensional maps of glacier surfaces across Greenland reveal that cracks are growing rapidly where land ice meets the sea — and climate change is to blame

https://go.nature.com/419xEck

Best practice and interventions for accessible fieldwork - RGS This session will cover best practice and positive interventions for fieldwork, with a focus on menstruation and menstrual health.

I'm giving a talk at @northumbriauni.bsky.social as part of the @rgsibg.bsky.social seminar series on best practice interventions for fieldwork focusing on toileting outdoors, menstruation and safeguarding - free tickets can be found here: www.rgs.org/events/upcom... We'll be recording the talk too!

A new iceberg, ~30x14 km in size, recently calved from the southern end of the George VI Ice Shelf. It's called A84 and is already making quite an impact, bumping into the Stange Ice Shelf over the weekend! These Copernicus Sentinel-1 images from Polar View show the new berg over the last few days.

The #Greenland Ice Sheet is cracking open more rapidly as it responds to climate change.  Research led by @tomchudley.bsky.social from @geogdurham.bsky.social found crevasses had significantly increased in size and depth in just five years 👉 bit.ly/4aKE8l7

@leverhulme.bsky.social #DUresearch

Climate change in the polar regions of our warming world is threatening to transform many of its features, such as this icy tableau in the Fish Islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. There is still much to learn about these places before we know better what those changes may be.

A new special issue of Science highlights research on Earth’s frozen places—from the Arctic to the Antarctic—and how it’s changing due to climate change and the geopolitical challenges this important work faces.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4jPYRID

We are running a session at Goldschmidt 2025 conference in Prague this July on biogeochemical processes in extreme environments. Abstract submissions are open until Feb 26th and we are particularly interested in seeing work re: #polarscience #polarchemistry and #polarmicrobiology

APPLY — Inspiring Girls Expeditions

Multi-day, tuition-FREE expeditions for high school girls* blending science, art, and backcountry travel 🏔️
inspiringgirls.org/apply

📅 Deadlines:
Girls* on Ice Canada - 2/7
Girls* on Rock & Girls* in Icy Fjords - 2/9
Girls* on Ice Switzerland & Girls* on Ice Austria - 2/14
Girls* on Ice Alaska - 3/2

Research led by our own @tomchudley.bsky.social has found that crevasses on Greenland Ice Sheet are increasing in size & depth – and may cause more rapid loss of ice from the region. Read more about Tom's work here: tinyurl.com/3mms3wau

A satellite image showing lots of meltwater pool on an ice shelf in the centre, and rocky outcrops on the left (west) on Alexander Island, and Palmer Land on the right (east).

Fossil Bluff region on Alexander Island

Hodgson Lake, Citadel Bastion and Corner Cliffs on Alexander Island.

Beautiful Sentinel-2 imagery of George VI Ice Shelf with lots of meltwater from yesterday. The patterns that this water produces is like artwork! Fossil Bluff is shown in the second image, and Hodgson Lake shown in the last - a former subglacial lake sealed under ice thick perennial ice ❄️

Gentoo Penguin, South Georgia

Adelie Penguin, Antarctic Peninsula (+snow algae)

Magellanic Penguin, Falklands

King Penguins, Crozet

Some favourite penguins for #penguinawarenessday though I think some are more aware than others. Looking forward to getting back south to the penguins soon.

❄️It's that time of year again!❄️ The Antarctic Science International Bursary is open for applications!
£6000 bursaries available to ECRs anywhere in the world for #Antarctic science projects that extend the scope of current work. Deadline 21 March antarcticsciencebursary.org.uk/apply-for-an...

Unbeatable snow days in Northumberland - though I fear the last of the season 😔

My new dark red climate stripe for 2024 shows it’s the hottest year yet These ‘warming stripes’, adopted around the world as a symbol of climate awareness, action and ambition, now include another dark red stripe for 2024.

Full article for @theconversation.com: theconversation.com/my-new-dark-...

Ridgeline chart showing the distribution of global daily air temperature differences from the pre-industrial reference period (1850-1900), for every year between 1940 and 2024. Each individual year resembles a hill, shaded in a darker shade of red and further to the right for warmer years. The trend is clearly towards warmer years, with 2024 standing out as first year above 1.5C.

NEW: 2024 has just been confirmed as the warmest year on record, and the first to breach the 1.5C threshold.

We used a ridgeline (Joy Division inspired) chart to visualise daily temperature anomalies since 1940.

2024 clearly stands out with 100% of its days above 1.3C and 75% above 1.5C.

Inspired by: Arctic Regions | 1 of 11 - The Lit & Phil Monday 27th JANUARY 2025 | 6pm Northumbria University “Inspired By” […]

If you're based in the North East come and hear me talk about all things Arctic and Antarctic at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle on the 27th ❄️🐻‍❄️🐧

www.litandphil.org.uk/event/inspir...