Claire Yung

Melt and circulation change with the new parameterisation, and there are still many uncertainties. But we are hopefully one step closer to accurate melt predictions across Antarctica!


Thanks to @mad-ros.bsky.social @adele-morrison.bsky.social @andyhogg.bsky.social and Yoshihiro Nakayama!

Diagram of an idealised ice shelf cavity, showing ice shelf, buoyant plume beneath it and incoming warm water. One box shows the ocean model representation of the boundary layer. Another shows a sample boundary layer temperature, salinity and velocity of the shear-driven melt regime.

Beneath ice shelves, meltwater sits above the rest of the ocean. In some conditions, stratification suppresses the boundary layer turbulence that parameterisations assume is driving melt. We tested a new parameterisation with this stratification-melting feedback, previously not fully accounted for.

Stratified suppression of turbulence in an ice shelf basal melt parameterisation Abstract. Ocean-driven basal melting of Antarctic ice shelves is an important process that affects the Antarctic Ice Sheet, global climate and sea level. Basal melting is controlled by small-scale pro...

Our paper on a new ice shelf basal melt parameterisation is out! tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/...
Small-scale processes in the ocean drive ice shelf basal melt, and large-scale ocean models can’t resolve these processes. Therefore, models use melt parameterisations, but these can still be improved.

Breaking the ice: why study Antarctica? From unique wildlife to resilient microbes, world-changing climate dynamics to untapped biotechnological potential – four UNSW scientists outline what makes Antarctica a laboratory like no other.

I am thrilled to share this multimedia story highlighting my experience on the #Denman Marine Voyage earlier this year, alongside the inspiring work of 3 other Antarctic scientists:

news.unsw.edu.au/en/breaking-...

✍️ @melissalyne.bsky.social

🌊🇦🇶 #DMV @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social @ccrc.bsky.social

From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them The vast ice of Antarctica has long seemed impregnable. But sudden changes are arriving – from shrinking sea ice to melting ice sheets and slowing ocean currents.

New today: Critical research published in @nature.com on the abrupt and alarming changes being observed in #Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean, led by Prof. @climatenerilie.bsky.social, with @profmattengland.bsky.social and colleagues ⬇️

theconversation.com/from-sea-ice...

🌊❄️🧪 🇦🇶 Please share:

We have learned that the National Science Foundation is moving ahead with plans to decommission the U.S. Research Vessel/Ice Breaker Nathaniel B. Palmer this October.

If you care about Antarctic research, please read on (1/n)

Antarctic Dense Water Formation Sensitivity to Ocean Surface Cell Thickness The ability of ocean models with depth coordinates to form Antarctic Dense Shelf Water (DSW) depends on their surface vertical resolution Deeper surface cells shift the direction of surface Ekman...

We figured out a cheap-ish way to make ocean models create Dense Shelf Waters (DSW) on the surface of the Antarctic continental shelf! How?
Fast answer: Ocean surface cells thinner than 1 m!
Long answer on the paper: dx.doi.org/10.1029/2024...
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More info in the thread

🚨 New paper alert 🚨

We developed the new PanAntarctic model and assessed the sensitivity of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation and export to horizontal model resolutions of 1/10°, 1/20° and 1/40°.

Open access paper in JAMES:

doi.org/10.1029/2024...

1️⃣ Like a heartbeat driving one of the largest seasonal cycles on Earth, Antarctic sea ice is central to the global climate system and vital for unique ecosystems.

Tracking sea ice is ‘early warning system’ for global heating – but the US is halting data sharing News comes as research finds record lows of Antarctic sea ice had seen more icebergs splintering off ice shelves

🛰️ "NSIDC's sea ice data is our number one heart rate monitor for the state of the planet’s ice. It’s our early warning system and tells us if the patient is about to flatline." — Dr Alex Fraser, AAPP sea-ice remote sensing scientist
@utas.edu.au
@nsidc.bsky.social

🌊 tinyurl.com/3vphpmzy

Impacts of Antarctic summer sea-ice extremes Abstract. Antarctic sea ice plays many crucial roles in the physical environments and ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In this study, we sy

Q: What happens when we lose Antarctic sea ice in the summer?
A: Bad things. A short 🧵
New research out today: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...

Excited to share new research in the Journal of Geophysical Research:Oceans with @andyhogg.bsky.social, @navidcy.bsky.social, Ryan Holmes, and @hemant-khatri.bsky.social on how the North Atlantic Oscillation impacts the basin's subtropical and subpolar gyres: doi.org/10.1029/2024... 🌊

The very dire and scary situation unfortunately continues for NOAA Research - including across the federal labs, cooperative institutes, and program offices...

I can’t find a better word than devastating for what’s happening to the next generation of scientists and early career researchers (soft money, lack of tenure)

Every day brings something new, and the real funding fall-out (I think) is to come as existing grants run out. Recovery could take decades

Antarctica has its own ‘shield’ against warm water – but this could now be under threat The Antarctic Slope Current shields Antarctica from warm waters. But new research shows meltwater is speeding up the current, which could make it more unstable.

In @aunz.theconversation.com ⬇️

theconversation.com/antarctica-h...

Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds - ACEAS Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds Antarctica’s “last oceanic defence” could be transformed by the melting of the very ice it shields, a...

#Antarctic ice melt to drastically alter the structure of key Antarctic current, new research finds

A ground-breaking new study led by Ellie Ong has found Antarctica's “last oceanic defence”, the ASC, could be transformed by the melting of the very ice it shields ⬇️

antarctic.org.au/antarctic-ic...

🙌 Thank you to our #DMV research teams, voyage partners and science collaborators @antarctic.bsky.social | @arcsaef.bsky.social | AAD | @utas.edu.au | @imas-utas.bsky.social | @scienceanu.bsky.social | @ccrc.bsky.social | UQ | @coschoolofmines.bsky.social

Effective May 5, 2025, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) will decommission its snow and ice data products from the Coasts, Oceans, and Geophysics Science Division (COGS). As a result, the level of services for affected products below will be reduced to Basic—meaning they will remain accessible but may not be actively maintained, updated, or fully supported. This includes Sea Ice Index, Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) Data Products, Glacier Photograph Collection, U.S. National Ice Center Arctic Sea Ice Charts and Climatologies in Gridded Format Gridded Monthly Sea Ice Extent and Concentration, 1850 Onward World Glacier Inventory. If you rely on these products in your work, research, education, or planning, we invite you to share your story at nsidc@nsidc.org. Your input can help us demonstrate the importance of these data sets and advocate for future support.

This is horrible. I don't even know what to say. Some of our most key polar data.

"As a result, the level of services for affected products below will be reduced to Basic—meaning they will remain accessible but may not be actively maintained, updated, or fully supported."

nsidc.org/data/user-re...

Working with the hydrochemistry team for @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social on the #DMV, @christinaocean.bsky.social has also captured some incredible images of the natural environment around the Denman Glacier ⬇️ @ccrc.bsky.social | UNSW

(portrait: Pete Harmsen / AAD)

We are back in Hobart after 2 months at sea on RSV #Nuyina 🌊 It was an incredible voyage to the Denman Glacier and Shakleton Ice Shelf with great people, an impressive range of science, stunning landscapes, and cute wildlife.

@antarcticsciaus.bsky.social

#Denman Marine Voyage #DMV

White House Proposal Could Gut Climate Modeling the World Depends On Potential funding cuts for NOAA and its research partners threaten irreparable harm not only to climate research but to American safety, competitiveness, and national security.

NEW: The total loss of NOAA’s office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research —a nerve center of global climate science, data collection and modeling — represents a setback for climate preparedness that experts warn the nation may never recover from.

By @abrahm.bsky.social

All part of the process: biology meets chemistry off an ice shelf - AAPP Revealing the drivers of phytoplankton growth, their role in carbon cycling, and dynamics between ocean, seafloor and ice shelves

The #DMV has transited east and west of the Denman Glacier and the Shackleton Ice Shelf, and one side is markedly more biologically productive than the other.

How to find out why? Here's Delphine Lannuzel and Pauline Latour, with @antarctic.bsky.social ⬇️

aappartnership.org.au/all-part-of-...

Graph of science funding of NASA from 1980 until present with estimated 50% cut included. This drops NASA Science to under $4B. Image source: Casey Dreier/The Planetary Society

Cuts to #science of >50% at NASA and >75% at NOAA would end US climate and space science research.

NASA cuts are '...an "extinction level" event': arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
"At this funding level, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is eliminated...": www.science.org/content/arti...

Check out what our dream team has done so far during the Denman voyage 🌊!!

Denman Glacier, how deep is your continental shelf? - ACEAS Denman Glacier, how deep is your continental shelf? By Katharina Hochmuth The Denman Marine Voyage is not only the first dedicated marine science voyage on our new home the RSV Nuyina, but we are also...

What lies beneath 🌊

Dramatically-reduced sea ice cover in front of the tongue of the Denman Glacier has allowed a rare exploration opportunity on the #DMV

Here's @hochmuth.bsky.social on the mapping of the seafloor in this incredible unchartered territory ⬇️ #blog

antarctic.org.au/denman-glaci...

I've been blown away by all the different types of sea ice out here on the Denman Marine Voyage!

Mysteries of colourful icebergs - ACEAS Mysteries of colourful icebergs By Kaihe Yamazaki Antarctica’s icebergs are famous for their brilliant whites and blues from glacier ice (compacted snow turns blue as air bubbles are expelled), but a ...

Antarctica's icebergs are famous for their brilliant whites and blues 🧊 Then, there's the startling green, brown, black and even marbled hues - as seen at the Denman Glacier ice front. But how does it happen?

@kaihezak.bsky.social explains ⬇️ #DMV #blog

antarctic.org.au/mysteries-of...

About halfway from Hobart to #Antarctica, RSV Nuyina is meeting the Southern Ocean head on.

Track the ship's progess on the Denman Marine Voyage #DMV at www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-op... and follow our voyage blog at aappartnership.org.au/DMV/

📹 Pete Harmsen/AAD

NOAA firings hit the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting Dismissed researchers were improving severe weather predictions

Hi - I'd like to share this story of what is happening at NOAA GFDL, where some of my colleagues and I worked until the mass firings at NOAA last week.

"...the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting"

Science in a box: how Hydrobox is transforming ocean research With the ability to transform any ship into a floating lab, the Hydrobox has the potential to revolutionise ocean research.

🧪🚢 Hydrobox is a chemistry lab in a shipping container. Funded by ARC, run by CSIRO, Hydrobox is on RSV Nuyina for it's first trip to #Antarctica to deliver data for AAPP and @antarcticsciaus.bsky.social teams in our ocean research aboard the #Denman Marine Voyage.

🌊 www.csiro.au/en/news/All/...