Original source: antarctica.gov.au
Patricia Miloslavich, head of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Antarctic Monitoring Program, presented the results of 30 years of Southern Ocean monitoring to about 400 researchers at the Australian Antarctic Research Conference held on September 7 at the University of Tasmania’s Hobart campus. She also announced voyage data collected by Aurora Australis and RSV Nuyina, as well as four new research voyages beginning in 2027.
Together, the two ships completed 379 voyages, travelled nearly 2.5 million kilometres, and collected 137 million measurements.
Observations from Aurora Australis between 1991 and 2020 showed that air temperatures rose both north and south of 50°S; sea-surface temperatures, however, rose significantly only north of 50°S. Miloslavich said: “Across this area of the Southern Ocean observed by Aurora Australis over 30 years, we can see that air temperatures have risen.”
The monitoring team also used the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) to track changes in zooplankton. The technology has been used in waters around the world since 1931 and was introduced to the Southern Ocean by the Australian Antarctic Division in 1991. The data show that zooplankton individuals are gradually becoming smaller, some species are moving south, and pteropod numbers are declining. These changes affect the foundational links of the Southern Ocean food chain under climate change.
RSV Nuyina uses “wet-well” technology to collect intact biological samples in seawater. Compared with Aurora Australis, which relied on trawling, it provides better sample integrity.
Miloslavich said four voyages will be carried out between the 2027/28 and 2029/30 financial years: million-year ice-core drilling; the Krill and Ecosystem Assessment voyage (KaKE) in the Mawson area; and the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) voyage to survey sea-ice conditions. The East Antarctic Ecosystems-CCAMLR, Climate and Ocean voyage (ECCO) is scheduled for 2029/30 and will support the design of marine protected areas.
Miloslavich said the monitoring framework, “Antarctica InSync,” has been endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP). The first new voyage, KaKE, is expected to depart in 2027/28.
Source: Australian Antarctic Division, September 7, 2026.
FAQ
What research findings did the Australian Antarctic Division announce?
Observations collected aboard Aurora Australis by the Australian Antarctic Division from 1991 to 2020 show that air temperatures rose both north and south of 50°S, while sea-surface temperatures rose significantly only north of 50°S. Zooplankton monitoring also found that individuals are becoming smaller, some species are moving south, and pteropod numbers are declining.
What voyages does the Australian Antarctic Division have planned next?
Four voyages are planned between the 2027/28 and 2029/30 financial years: million-year ice-core drilling; the Krill and Ecosystem Assessment voyage (KaKE) in the Mawson area; the Marginal Ice Zone voyage (MIZ) to survey sea-ice conditions; and the East Antarctic Ecosystems-CCAMLR, Climate and Ocean voyage (ECCO), which will support the design of marine protected areas.
How do the sampling methods of RSV Nuyina and Aurora Australis differ?
RSV Nuyina uses wet-well technology to collect intact biological samples in seawater, while Aurora Australis relied on trawling, which made the samples more susceptible to damage.