Keynote presentation
The Antarctic cryosphere: changes, challenges and chances
Ian Allison, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart
Technological advances over the last two decades, particularly in space-borne observation systems, have provided large-scale, quantitative information on changes to the Antarctic ice sheet and sea ice, and to glaciers on sub-Antarctic islands. There is clear evidence that change is occurring, although in many cases there is considerable regional variability and remaining uncertainty in its magnitude, particularly in East Antarctica. The processes of change, which include complex interactions between ice, ocean and atmosphere, and their ultimate drivers, are also not always well enough understood to project the future of the Antarctic environment. This presentation will provide an overview of what we know about changes to Antarctic ice and snow, what are the major gaps in our understanding of the changes and their causes, and what are the strategic opportunities to address these gaps within the Antarctic science programs of Australia and New Zealand.
