SWAIS2C
@swais2c.bsky.social
Will the Paris climate target save the Ross Ice Shelf & limit WAIS melt? SWAIS2C—Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2°C —aims to find out!
Find out more: SWAIS2C.aq
Find out more: SWAIS2C.aq
We’re proud to be featured on these gorgeous Antarctic learning boards in Christchurch. Made by Gateway to Antarctica: Ōtautahi Christchurch to celebrate the city’s Antarctic gateway status and history of Antarctic exploration, research and international collaboration - sounds like a bit of us!
September 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
We’re proud to be featured on these gorgeous Antarctic learning boards in Christchurch. Made by Gateway to Antarctica: Ōtautahi Christchurch to celebrate the city’s Antarctic gateway status and history of Antarctic exploration, research and international collaboration - sounds like a bit of us!
Introducing Science Team member, paleoglaciologist and isotope chemist Ryan Venturelli! SWAIS2C brings together more than 120 scientists from around 50 research organisations. Our Polar Careers outreach series features our team members, and the work they do on and off the ice👉http://bit.ly/3I7M320
September 8, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Introducing Science Team member, paleoglaciologist and isotope chemist Ryan Venturelli! SWAIS2C brings together more than 120 scientists from around 50 research organisations. Our Polar Careers outreach series features our team members, and the work they do on and off the ice👉http://bit.ly/3I7M320
Strewth! It turns out Oz isn’t the biggest continent Down Under. Here's the latest in our series of illustrations showing the sheer scale of Antarctica relative to more familiar chunks of land. 🎨Marlo Garnsworthy. More here 👉https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big
August 20, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Strewth! It turns out Oz isn’t the biggest continent Down Under. Here's the latest in our series of illustrations showing the sheer scale of Antarctica relative to more familiar chunks of land. 🎨Marlo Garnsworthy. More here 👉https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big
🚨Sound the sediment siren! Since the last season at KIS3, our engineers have been busy making modifications to our drilling system, and put it to the test in rural NZ. Co-Chief Molly Patterson recorded this update while on site www.swais2c.aq/media/test-o...
August 13, 2025 at 11:45 PM
🚨Sound the sediment siren! Since the last season at KIS3, our engineers have been busy making modifications to our drilling system, and put it to the test in rural NZ. Co-Chief Molly Patterson recorded this update while on site www.swais2c.aq/media/test-o...
Vast, massive, enormous – there’s no shortage of words to describe the size of Antarctica, but it can be hard to get your head around. Here’s how it compares vs US. Check out our Antarctica is Big series https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big 🎨@icebird.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Vast, massive, enormous – there’s no shortage of words to describe the size of Antarctica, but it can be hard to get your head around. Here’s how it compares vs US. Check out our Antarctica is Big series https://www.swais2c.aq/education/educational-resources/antarctica-is-big 🎨@icebird.bsky.social
Congratulations to SWAIS2C team member Natalie-Jane Reid for being awarded an Antarctica New Zealand Doctoral Scholarship to support her research on Ross Sea deep ocean currents. She will measure records in SWAIS2C sediment cores to reconstruct deep ocean current strength bit.ly/4572S4W
July 21, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Congratulations to SWAIS2C team member Natalie-Jane Reid for being awarded an Antarctica New Zealand Doctoral Scholarship to support her research on Ross Sea deep ocean currents. She will measure records in SWAIS2C sediment cores to reconstruct deep ocean current strength bit.ly/4572S4W
Groundbreaking insights about rivers beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and their role in Ross Ice Shelf melt, have been uncovered. SWAIS2C Co-Chief Scientist Huw Horgan led the team observing this water entering the ocean cavity at KIS2, on the grounding zone of the WAIS 👉https://bit.ly/44FFniV
July 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Groundbreaking insights about rivers beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and their role in Ross Ice Shelf melt, have been uncovered. SWAIS2C Co-Chief Scientist Huw Horgan led the team observing this water entering the ocean cavity at KIS2, on the grounding zone of the WAIS 👉https://bit.ly/44FFniV
It's SWAIS-mail time! Not a subscriber? Catch up on all the news from the project, and sign up so you don't miss out next time 👉http://bit.ly/44RL0M8
📷Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand. Thanks to the KIS3 2024/25 team for the ultimate in sign-writing.
📷Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand. Thanks to the KIS3 2024/25 team for the ultimate in sign-writing.
July 7, 2025 at 10:18 PM
It's SWAIS-mail time! Not a subscriber? Catch up on all the news from the project, and sign up so you don't miss out next time 👉http://bit.ly/44RL0M8
📷Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand. Thanks to the KIS3 2024/25 team for the ultimate in sign-writing.
📷Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand. Thanks to the KIS3 2024/25 team for the ultimate in sign-writing.
Shout-out to the awesome women of our 2024/25 on-ice team this International Day of Women and Girls in Science! From co-chief scientist to medic to hot water driller, these inspiring women played vital roles at our deep-field research camp. Thanks for your contributions to our critical science!
February 11, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Shout-out to the awesome women of our 2024/25 on-ice team this International Day of Women and Girls in Science! From co-chief scientist to medic to hot water driller, these inspiring women played vital roles at our deep-field research camp. Thanks for your contributions to our critical science!
Drilling at KIS3 has ended due to a technical challenge, following the successful deployment of our sea riser. We're proud of the team’s massive effort to progress this close to obtaining the deep core, & are looking ahead to our season at Crary Ice Rise 📷 Anthony Powell/Antarctica NZ bit.ly/41Wu6v7
December 27, 2024 at 8:30 AM
Drilling at KIS3 has ended due to a technical challenge, following the successful deployment of our sea riser. We're proud of the team’s massive effort to progress this close to obtaining the deep core, & are looking ahead to our season at Crary Ice Rise 📷 Anthony Powell/Antarctica NZ bit.ly/41Wu6v7
🎄Happy Holidays and Merry KIS-mas from the SWAIS2C on-ice team at KIS3 on the Ross Ice Shelf!
🎥 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand
🎥 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand
December 25, 2024 at 1:06 AM
🎄Happy Holidays and Merry KIS-mas from the SWAIS2C on-ice team at KIS3 on the Ross Ice Shelf!
🎥 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand
🎥 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand
🚨We’ve broken through the ice shelf! Our crack team of hot water drillers have melted their way through 587.96m of the Ross Ice Shelf to reach the ocean cavity, providing crucial access to the climate secrets hidden in the seafloor below. Well-deserved ‘victory toasties’ all round! 🧪 📷Ana Tovey
December 19, 2024 at 4:23 AM
🚨We’ve broken through the ice shelf! Our crack team of hot water drillers have melted their way through 587.96m of the Ross Ice Shelf to reach the ocean cavity, providing crucial access to the climate secrets hidden in the seafloor below. Well-deserved ‘victory toasties’ all round! 🧪 📷Ana Tovey
❄️Our mascots still need names! ❄️
🐧They’ll be doing seriously cool 😎science 🧪& we’re inviting students to help name them!
📝 Deadline extended to Dec 31
💡Get involved in real science & learn about what’s happening at the end of the Earth.
#antarctica #STEAM #scienceeducation #scienceed
🐧They’ll be doing seriously cool 😎science 🧪& we’re inviting students to help name them!
📝 Deadline extended to Dec 31
💡Get involved in real science & learn about what’s happening at the end of the Earth.
#antarctica #STEAM #scienceeducation #scienceed
December 16, 2024 at 7:00 AM
❄️Our mascots still need names! ❄️
🐧They’ll be doing seriously cool 😎science 🧪& we’re inviting students to help name them!
📝 Deadline extended to Dec 31
💡Get involved in real science & learn about what’s happening at the end of the Earth.
#antarctica #STEAM #scienceeducation #scienceed
🐧They’ll be doing seriously cool 😎science 🧪& we’re inviting students to help name them!
📝 Deadline extended to Dec 31
💡Get involved in real science & learn about what’s happening at the end of the Earth.
#antarctica #STEAM #scienceeducation #scienceed
We now have a well cavity, and well pump installed. The well pump is vital – circulating water through the system, pumping an endless supply to drill our main borehole right through the 580m ice shelf. It was all hands on deck to ensure a safe and successful install! 📷Ana Tovey
December 15, 2024 at 5:27 AM
We now have a well cavity, and well pump installed. The well pump is vital – circulating water through the system, pumping an endless supply to drill our main borehole right through the 580m ice shelf. It was all hands on deck to ensure a safe and successful install! 📷Ana Tovey
Our Antarctic Intermediate Depth Drill team have been hard at work with our ‘big rig’. They’ve assembled the geological drill that has weathered a long Antarctic winter here at KIS3. To prepare for drilling they’re using the rig to put together the drill pipe. 📷Ana Tovey
December 12, 2024 at 8:21 AM
Our Antarctic Intermediate Depth Drill team have been hard at work with our ‘big rig’. They’ve assembled the geological drill that has weathered a long Antarctic winter here at KIS3. To prepare for drilling they’re using the rig to put together the drill pipe. 📷Ana Tovey
The last of our on-ice team have arrived, and have taken part in Antarctic Field Training to learn skills for life at our deep-field camp. The four scientists – Arne Ulfers, Linda Armbrecht,
Luca Zurli and Yuri Yamazki – and driller Stephen Stretch, had perfect weather for camping.
Luca Zurli and Yuri Yamazki – and driller Stephen Stretch, had perfect weather for camping.
December 12, 2024 at 1:08 AM
The last of our on-ice team have arrived, and have taken part in Antarctic Field Training to learn skills for life at our deep-field camp. The four scientists – Arne Ulfers, Linda Armbrecht,
Luca Zurli and Yuri Yamazki – and driller Stephen Stretch, had perfect weather for camping.
Luca Zurli and Yuri Yamazki – and driller Stephen Stretch, had perfect weather for camping.
Hot water drilling is underway! We've begun boring the well hole through the Ross Ice Shelf, using water from snow, circulated through our six boilers, passed down through a hot water drill nozzle. We'll melt to below sea level, bore a well cavity, and lower a pump. 📷Ana Tovey
December 11, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Hot water drilling is underway! We've begun boring the well hole through the Ross Ice Shelf, using water from snow, circulated through our six boilers, passed down through a hot water drill nozzle. We'll melt to below sea level, bore a well cavity, and lower a pump. 📷Ana Tovey
Running out of clean socks on the Ross Ice Shelf? Camp mini-washing machine to the rescue! We’re making hot water from snow to drill through the ice shelf, so we can use this ready supply for our camp washing machine. Hot water driller Hedley Berge took the machine for its first spin.
December 9, 2024 at 8:31 AM
Running out of clean socks on the Ross Ice Shelf? Camp mini-washing machine to the rescue! We’re making hot water from snow to drill through the ice shelf, so we can use this ready supply for our camp washing machine. Hot water driller Hedley Berge took the machine for its first spin.
❄️It’s snowing at KIS3 today! We’re lucky to have several heated spaces on site to warm up if needed.
🎥 Ana Tovey/ SWAIS2C
🎥 Ana Tovey/ SWAIS2C
December 8, 2024 at 4:59 AM
❄️It’s snowing at KIS3 today! We’re lucky to have several heated spaces on site to warm up if needed.
🎥 Ana Tovey/ SWAIS2C
🎥 Ana Tovey/ SWAIS2C
It’s flubber feeding time! Over the past few days at KIS3 something big, yellow and hungry for snow, has been growing in size – our flubbers. They’re a crucial step in our efforts to access sediment below the ice shelf – providing the water we need to start hot water drilling.
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December 7, 2024 at 8:02 AM
It’s flubber feeding time! Over the past few days at KIS3 something big, yellow and hungry for snow, has been growing in size – our flubbers. They’re a crucial step in our efforts to access sediment below the ice shelf – providing the water we need to start hot water drilling.
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We’re on an ambitious mission for sediment core, but even getting to our site is a mission! Our scientific drilling camp is incredibly remote – KIS3 is 860km from the nearest base. Getting there requires some serious logistics, specialised polar transport, and of course – a weather window.
December 6, 2024 at 8:31 AM
We’re on an ambitious mission for sediment core, but even getting to our site is a mission! Our scientific drilling camp is incredibly remote – KIS3 is 860km from the nearest base. Getting there requires some serious logistics, specialised polar transport, and of course – a weather window.
Oh yes we Kamb! The first of our science team have made to to KIS3, our deep-field drilling camp on the Kamb Ice Stream, nearly 900 km from Scott Base. They spent their first few hours at camp meeting the rest of the team & getting their homes-away-from-home set up in “Tent City”. 📷Ana Tovey/SWAIS2C
December 5, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Oh yes we Kamb! The first of our science team have made to to KIS3, our deep-field drilling camp on the Kamb Ice Stream, nearly 900 km from Scott Base. They spent their first few hours at camp meeting the rest of the team & getting their homes-away-from-home set up in “Tent City”. 📷Ana Tovey/SWAIS2C
❄️Our mascots are in Antarctica for cool science & we need students help to name them! ❄️
While they wait to fly to our deep-field site & help with our cutting-edge science 🧪 , they’re exploring Scott Base & McMurdo Station!
Enter your names by Dec 22 👉 forms.gle/SSpW8n7P6tF7...
While they wait to fly to our deep-field site & help with our cutting-edge science 🧪 , they’re exploring Scott Base & McMurdo Station!
Enter your names by Dec 22 👉 forms.gle/SSpW8n7P6tF7...
December 3, 2024 at 6:47 AM
❄️Our mascots are in Antarctica for cool science & we need students help to name them! ❄️
While they wait to fly to our deep-field site & help with our cutting-edge science 🧪 , they’re exploring Scott Base & McMurdo Station!
Enter your names by Dec 22 👉 forms.gle/SSpW8n7P6tF7...
While they wait to fly to our deep-field site & help with our cutting-edge science 🧪 , they’re exploring Scott Base & McMurdo Station!
Enter your names by Dec 22 👉 forms.gle/SSpW8n7P6tF7...
When you gotta get your steps in, but you like napping…We’re celebrating Antarctica Day by sharing this Weddell seal that our science team met today (keeping at least 10m distance!). It’s the anniversary of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which designated the continent to peace and science.
December 1, 2024 at 8:56 AM
When you gotta get your steps in, but you like napping…We’re celebrating Antarctica Day by sharing this Weddell seal that our science team met today (keeping at least 10m distance!). It’s the anniversary of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which designated the continent to peace and science.
🗣️We're sharing some Antarctic terms and phrases, so that you too can #TalklikeanAntarctican! Here's one those travelling south hope they won't need: Boomerang bag. If your flight 'boomerangs' and turns back around, you'll be reunited with your checked-in boomerang bag. What would you pack in yours?
November 29, 2024 at 8:57 PM
🗣️We're sharing some Antarctic terms and phrases, so that you too can #TalklikeanAntarctican! Here's one those travelling south hope they won't need: Boomerang bag. If your flight 'boomerangs' and turns back around, you'll be reunited with your checked-in boomerang bag. What would you pack in yours?