Meet the PCAPS SG: Reflections from PCAPS SG member Clare Eayrs about PCAPS’ Antarctic research initiatives

This month we kick-off our monthly PCAPS highlight blog post series, where we feature each month one of the PCAPS SG members and the exciting work they are undertaking for PCAPS. Clare Eayrs, a PCAP SG member based at the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), shares insights on her international polar research background and highlights important milestones and initiatives for future Antarctic research.

My research interests encompass sea ice variability in the climate system, extending to under-ice shelf dynamics, which aligns with one of the PCAPS aims to address gaps in polar observations. I am keen to apply my interests in sea ice and related process observations to help PCAPS develop a robust pathway to sustained polar observation that can ultimately enhance our understanding of changing climate conditions.

In my previous role at the Center for Global Sea Level Change (CLSC) at NYU Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, I collaborated with the SCALE project and the University of Cape Town, using the South African icebreaker SA Agulhas II to conduct observations in the Antarctic marginal ice zone. Currently, at KOPRI,

I am supported by the K-NOW (Korea Network for Observation and prediction of ice sheet and sea level changes in a Warming world) project led by Dr. Won Sang Lee and KOPRI logistics, including the Korean icebreaker IBRV Araon. Within the K-NOW project, I maintain an under-ice mooring on Dotson Ice Shelf and collaborate with colleagues at KOPRI and internationally to design experiments that improve our understanding of grounding line change.

Looking ahead, I am developing a sub-project within K-NOW to observe wave transformation through pack ice and fast ice onto the ice shelf during the 2025/26 season, collaborating with Luke Bennetts' modelling team at the University of Adelaide.

Clare Eayrs taking temperatures in a snow pit on fast ice in front of Thwaites Glacier, January 2024. Photo credit: Siobhán Johnson

I recently attended the 29th International Symposium on Polar Sciences and the LIONESS (Land-Ice/Ocean Network Exploration using Semiautonomous Systems) workshop hosted at KOPRI, Incheon, South Korea, from 30 September to 2 October 2024. This experience provided valuable insights into the Korean polar programme's model for polar observations.

The symposium showcased a decade of scientific advancements centred around Korea's Jang Bogo Station and encompassing studies across the cryosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere. This milestone event marked twenty years since the establishment of King Sejong Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and ten years since Jang Bogo Station opened in Terra Nova Bay. 

Attendees at the 29th International Symposium on Polar Sciences. Photo credit: KOPRI

The West Antarctic Observatory Network connects the two stations, and there are future plans for an inland monitoring station. This mobile modular facility will support ice core drilling and space weather observations. The symposium served as a platform for international scientists to exchange ideas, discuss collaborative projects, and present research results. In addition to reviewing Korean Antarctic research findings from the past decade, the meeting highlighted a wide range of projects and multinational collaborations facilitated by the Jang Bogo station and Korean logistics. Through strategic use of their facilities and by developing large-scale projects and collaborations, the Korean Antarctic Programme has rapidly evolved into a world leader in polar research.

The symposium was followed by the LIONESS workshop, an international consortium chaired by Dr. Won Sang Lee (KOPRI), which aims to improve understanding of the Antarctic Ice Sheet's contribution to future sea level rise.

The threat of rising sea levels extends far beyond polar regions, particularly impacting Small Island Developing States and countries with extensive coastal developments. A 2021 study by researchers at the CSLC emphasised the importance of policy coordination, data collection and funding for improving flood projections for the UAE and the wider MENA region. There is also much to learn from the international collaborations set up by KOPRI. 

A major success of the LIONESS consortium has been the variety of projects and people that are working together to resolve challenges in accessing study sites and maintaining long time-series of moorings in Antarctica. The workshop further underscored the vital role of international partnerships in Korean Antarctic Research and provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of international collaboration in collecting Antarctic observations.

By adopting a similar collaborative approach, PCAPS can leverage diverse expertise and resources to enhance our observational capabilities in Antarctica. Furthermore, PCAPS can explore opportunities to integrate our efforts with existing networks like LIONESS to support sustained polar observations that address critical data gaps and contribute to our understanding of the changing baselines in Antarctica.  

Sea ice coring on drifting ice in front of Thwaites Glacier, January 2024. Photo credit: KOPRI

A critical challenge in polar weather and climate research is the significant data gaps in Antarctic observations. Consequently, Antarctica's meteorological and environmental forecasting capabilities lag behind the Arctic, posing increased risks for both human and environmental safety in this extreme region. 

PCAPS aims to address this by exploring innovative, environmentally friendly approaches for sustained observations and assessing the need for a tiered surface observing network that integrates ground-based remote sensing, robotic crafts, and permanent observatories.

These efforts are particularly timely and relevant as we approach the next International Polar Year, providing a unique opportunity to address longstanding gaps in lower troposphere and surface observations in Antarctica. By leveraging international collaborations and cutting-edge technologies, we can significantly enhance our understanding of polar regions and their impact on global climate systems.