SU Researchers in the Antarctic investigate the history of the ice

The research project MAGIC-DML aims to study the changes in the ice sheets covering Queen Maud Land in Antarctica. The goal is to create a detailed history of the ice cover, focusing on how its thickness and surface area has varied over time. The international collaboration includes researchers from Stockholm University.

“The research provides key knowledge for improving our understanding of climate fluctuations in the polar regions,” says Arjen Stroeven, Professor in the Department of Physical Geography at Stockholm University and research leader for MAGIC-DML.

By collecting samples and determining the ages of rock masses at varying heights, the researchers hope to improve the scientific modelling of the surface ice’s changes. With the help of these models, they can ascertain how climate changes affect the ice sheets, both in the past and the future.

Short film where Jennifer Newall from Stockholm University and Purdue University talks about the expedition

The Swedish Antarctic Research Programme (SWEDARP) kicked off its 2016/17 Antarctic season on 15 December. This season’s expedition has two purposes: maintenance work at the Wasa research station and an investigation of the Antarctic mountains to understand how climate variations affect the ice cover. The research team will arrive at Wasa on 10 January and the work in Queen Maud Land begins 18 February.

Members of the research group doing field work during the expedition:

Jennifer Newall, Purdue University, USA, and Stockholm University
Ola Fredin, Geological Survey of Norway (NGU)
Neil Glasser, Aberystwyth University, UK
Nathaniel Lifton, Purdue University, USA

Follow the expedition:

MAGIC-DML project’s website and blog
Polar expeditions of SWEDARP
MAGIC-DML on Twitter
MAGIC DML on Facebook

Senast uppdaterad: 16 december 2016
Sidansvarig: External Relations and Communications Office

Tipsa

Contact

Climate, Seas and Environment

Videos

Guillemots add knowledge about the ecosystem puzzle Henrik Österblom, Associate Professor in Environmental Sciences at Stockholm Resilience Centre.
The challenges that lie ahead after leg 1, SWERUS-C3 Örjan Gustafsson, professor in Biogeochemistry Stockholm University.
From permafrost thawing to the venting of greenhouse gases Martin Jakobsson, Professor at the Department for Geological Sciences.
Rotation in Barrow, Swerus-C3 Leg 2 The second leg, which starts from Barrow, is led by Martin Jakobsson, Professor at the Department for Geological Sciences (IGV), Stockholm University.
Collapsing Ice Martin Jakobsson, Professor at the Department for Geological Sciences.
Storglaciären- the end-of-year account At Tarfala Research Station, we carry out the the world's most detailed study of how a glacier changes. In this film we follow the work in September, just before the first snow falls.
Sweden and International Polar Research Stockholm University Researchers have played leading roles in a number of Polar expeditions that have taken place as part of the International Polar Year (IPY - spans 2007-2009).
Arctic foxes Tomas Meijer
Arctic Sweden, Archeology Andreas Viberg, Kerstin Lindén.
Hydrocarbons in Siberia Örjan Gustafsson and Jorien Vonk