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Antarctic Science in the Global Context (ASGC) - Previous Research

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Introduction

Antarctic science is crucial to understanding how our planet works. Antarctica’s ice, rocks, animals and plants contain unique information on Earth’s history and the evolution of life. Although remote, Antarctica affects the whole planet through its influence on the climate system and sea level. The Southern Ocean contains one of the least exploited (yet carefully managed) fisheries in the world.

The Antarctic Science in the Global Context (ASGC) programme, a five year research programme funded by NERC, was established to investigate fundamental questions about our planet. It encompassed all the natural sciences and spanned timescales from the present back many millions of years. It covered enormous spatial sizes too, from examining microbes to how the Sun affects Earth. A fuller description of the ASGC programme is available in the following document:

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists were able, for example, to draw major conclusions about the break-up of the Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves, the geological history of land movement around the continent, and the interaction between particles from the Sun and the Earth’s atmosphere. BAS scientists investigated the causes and impacts of climate change, and ultra-violet radiation on Antarctic ecosystems. They also explained some of the complexities of the Antarctic food web and the adaptations that organisms make to survive in the harshest of environments.

The science results were reported in 1190 publications, comprising 936 articles in peer-reviewed research journals, 106 book chapters, and 148 other contributions. Particularly important science results are often reported in Nature and Science. BAS were authors on 20 papers in these journals during ASGC. Full publication lists are available on the Publications page.

Another way to assess the impact of ASGC science is to ask how often was conventional wisdom overturned – a "paradigm shift" and how often did BAS scientists find surprising new evidence that might challenge well-accepted thinking - a “major discovery”. BAS achieved one paradigm shift and two major discoveries on average every year through ASGC.

In addition to the science outputs, ASGC generated many new and improved datasets, innovative technologies and techniques, and new and refined computer models of global climate, geological and ecological processes.

BAS scientists provided leadership of numerous international science programmes, extensive advice to HM Government and many other Non-Government Public Bodies. They also engaged in dialogue with the public in many different ways.

Many of the new findings determined in ASGC are being taken forward under the current BAS research programme – Global Science in the Antarctic Context 2005-2010.

More Information

The BAS ASGC programme was regularly reviewed by a panel of international experts. In their final review, they identified highlights that can be classified as Paradigm Shifts and Major Discoveries.

ASGC Paradigm shifts

A science output that either:

  • gives a new, almost complete explanation of a science topic that essentially closes it to further significant investigation,
  • overturns conventional or well-accepted thinking on a science topic, or
  • opens up a new area of science.

Read about the ASGC paradigm shifts.

Major discovery

A science output that gives substantial new evidence that might make the global science community re-think existing paradigms.

Read about the ASGC major discoveries.