Antarctic Science platform
The Government is investing $49 million in an Antarctic Science Platform to help us understand Antarctica’s impact on the global climate, and how this might change in a warming world.
Antarctica New Zealand will host and implement the platform over a 7-year period from November 2018 to June 2025 (MBIE is in discussion with Antarctica New Zealand about extending the platform beyond June 2025).
The goals of the platform are to:
- improve scientific understanding of pressing issues such as climate change and ecosystem resilience
- safeguard the strategic benefits of New Zealand’s scientific activity in Antarctica
- optimise the value and impact of Antarctic science and Antarctic-related expenditure.
About the research
The Platform’s portfolio of long-term and short-term projects have a focus on:
- stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet and its impact on global sea levels
- Ross Sea Region ice, atmosphere and ocean processes in a warming world
- vulnerability of Ross Sea Region ecosystems to environmental change.
Below is the public statement from our contract with Antarctica New Zealand.
Read the public statement
The Antarctic Science Platform aims to foster a dynamic and integrated New Zealand Antarctic research community to advance our understanding of the impact of Antarctic ecosystems and processes and their influence on the global Earth system, and inform projections of future changes in a warming world.
As a founding party to the Antarctic Treaty, New Zealand is committed to the principles of international cooperation and peaceful use embodied in the Treaty and associated international agreements. The maintenance of an effective Antarctic Treaty System is key to the way the continent and surrounding ocean is managed. Through undertaking high quality scientific research and promoting high standards of environmental protection, New Zealand researchers will contribute not only to advancing our understanding of Antarctica and its influence on earth systems, but to supporting an effective Antarctic Treaty System.
The Platform will comprise 4 core research projects, including Antarctic Ice Dynamics, Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling, Ross Sea region Ecosystem Dynamics, and Sea Ice and Carbon Cycle Feedbacks. A number of smaller projects will prioritise capability building, developing technology, supporting long-term datasets and responding to new opportunities.
Project outcomes will focus on future projections, societal impacts and community engagement to collectively deliver impact. The impacts of the Platform can be summarised as improving understanding of key processes, attributing change, reducing uncertainty in future predictions, and providing an evidence-based approach to policy.
For further information:
Annual updates
Recipients of Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) funding are required to report yearly on the progress of their work programme. Below are the public updates from the Antarctic Science Platform’s annual reports.
Read the public statement from the 2019/20 Annual Report
The purpose of the Antarctic Science Platform (ASP) is to conduct excellent science to understand Antarctica’s impact on the global earth system, and how this might change in a +2°C (Paris agreement) world. Our research will improve the understanding of key processes, attribute change, reduce uncertainty in future predictions, and support evidence-based decision-making.
The long-term vision and resourcing of the ASP has enabled development of large-scale, ambitious, long-term research initiatives. Two Expert Groups have also been established. The “Future Projections” and “Science to Policy Interface” groups facilitate the translation of high-priority, interdisciplinary research into policy ready outputs.
The new ASP National Modelling Hub, a joint endeavour with NIWA, GNS Science and hosted by Victoria University of Wellington supports 4 exceptional Research Fellows, focused on cross-Platform research including national / international linkages. A growing number of graduate students, modelling experts and international partners have joined the National Modelling Hub effort with significant international recognition.
Our team brings together researchers from New Zealand’s Universities and Crown Research Institutes, and is closely partnered with international researchers and Antarctic Programmes. Our research is strategically aligned with international consortia, for example, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Grand Challenges of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Antarctic Treaty System, and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
The first ASP-funded field season in the 2019/20 summer achieved some notable outcomes. These include successful field campaigns at Kamb Ice Stream, Byrd Glacier and the Ross Ice Shelf front, developing capability for sediment coring at Kamb and Crary Ice Rise sites. A field station 900km from Scott Base was established and a 584m deep hole drilled through the Ross Ice Shelf; by far, the thickest ice that the NZ Programme has ever drilled through. An oceanographic mooring was left in place at the end of the season which will continue to transmit data for the next 5 to 10 years.
The ASP is hosted by Antarctica New Zealand.
Antarctica New Zealand(external link)
For further information:
Read the public statement from the 2020/21 Annual Report
The purpose of the Antarctic Science Platform (ASP) is to conduct excellent science to understand Antarctica’s impact on the global earth system, and how this might change in a +2°C (Paris Agreement) or warmer world. This research will improve the understanding of key processes, attribute change, reduce uncertainty in future predictions, and support evidence-based decision-making.
The long-term vision and resourcing of the ASP has enabled development of large-scale, ambitious, long-term research initiatives. Two Expert Groups have also been established. The “Future Projections” and “Science to Policy Interface” groups facilitate the translation of high-priority, interdisciplinary research into policy-ready outcomes.
The new ASP National Modelling Hub, a joint endeavour with NIWA, GNS Science and hosted by Victoria University of Wellington supports 4 exceptional Research Fellows, focused on cross-Platform research including national / international linkages. A growing number of graduate students, modelling experts and international partners have joined the National Modelling Hub effort with significant international recognition.
Our team brings together New Zealand’s Universities and Crown Research Institutes researchers, and is closely partnered with international researchers and Antarctic Programmes. Our research is strategically aligned with international consortia, for example, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Antarctic Treaty System, and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
On-continent preparations for the 2021-22 season were advanced through logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand, including pre-positioning and staging of scientific camp infrastructure of critical drilling equipment at deep-field sites. Planning for the 21-22 field season is underway. Close contact with all National Antarctic Programme partners is being maintained.
The ASP is hosted by Antarctica New Zealand.
Antarctica New Zealand(external link)
For further information:
Read the public statement from the 2021/22 Annual Report
The Antarctic Science Platform’s (ASP) portfolio of projects focus on:
- stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet and its impact on global sea levels
- Ross Sea Region ice, atmosphere and ocean processes in a warming world
- vulnerability of Ross Sea Region ecosystems to environmental change.
This research is improving understanding of key processes, attributing change, identifying critical thresholds for irreversible change and reducing uncertainty in future predictions, to support evidence-based decision-making to build resilience to climate change impacts.
The Platform has proven agile through ongoing Covid-related disruption and reduced field deployment opportunities, to deliver high quality research and science advice. Our researchers partner with policy stakeholders in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as international researchers, and Antarctic and Climate consortia and programmes.
Highlights of the past year include expanding collaborations, publication in high impact journals, and growing graduate student numbers. We have supported key priorities of the Antarctic Treaty, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We are leading the SWAIS 2C project, an international consortium including partners from USA, Germany, UK, Australia, Italy, Korea and the International Continental Science Drilling Programme. Other advancements include interdisciplinary modelling experiments, the expansion of an internationally-coordinated ocean monitoring system, and development and testing of specially designed field equipment, including a bespoke sea ice drill and underwater robotic system for integrated sea ice and ecosystem research.
Contestable funding has welcomed new researchers and projects. The ASP National Modelling Hub is adding critical capacity and diverse expertise in providing high priority future projections for the research community, policy makers and stakeholders. Close contact with other National Antarctic Programme partners is being maintained to align research interests and collaborate on field logistics.
For further information:
Preparing for the next phase
MBIE has begun conversations with the Platform host Antarctica New Zealand about a second phase of funding following the end of the current contract in 2025. Over the next months, Antarctica New Zealand will be co-developing a Platform Plan with stakeholders and partners for the 7-year period from July 2025 to June 2032.
Last updated: 26 October 2023
