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Antarctic discoveries

17 May 2007

NERC-funded scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the University of East Anglia have research papers published this week in the journals Nature and Science.

Scientists discover new life in the Antarctic deep sea

Scientists have found hundreds of new marine creatures in the vast, dark deep-sea surrounding Antarctica. Carnivorous sponges, free-swimming worms, crustaceans, and molluscs living in the Weddell Sea provide new insights into the evolution of ocean life.

Reporting this week in the journal Nature, scientists describe how creatures in the deeper parts of the Southern Ocean - the source for much of the deep water in the world ocean - are likely to be related to animals living in both the adjacent shallower waters and in other parts of the deep ocean.

Climate change affects Southern Ocean carbon sink

The first evidence that recent climate change has weakened one the Earth's natural carbon 'sinks' is published this week in the journal Science.

A four-year study reveals that an increase in winds over the Southern Ocean, caused by greenhouse gases and ozone depletion, has led to a release of stored CO2 into the atmosphere and is preventing further absorption of the greenhouse gas.

For the full story on both of these important studies please visit the British Antarctic Survey website.

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Briefing note: 10/07

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