Characterization of climate change in Antarctica from the second half of 20th century

• Grant number: 18/05741-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Physical Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Ilana Elazari Klein Coaracy Wainer
• Grantee: Natália Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The coldest places on Earth, where most of the water is found in its solid state, constitute the cryosphere. These places work like "natural thermometers" for the planet and are determinants for its equilibrium. Nonetheless, the planet and, consequently, the cryosphere are subject to change according to natural and human ecological variations, the latter being responsible for accelerating such changes. There are currently many registers about how this changes are affecting the cryosphere. This includes the recent collapse of Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica, which created an iceberg of one trillion tones and 5.8 thousand square kilometers. This project investigates the change in climate parameters in Antarctica. It is an extension of the previous work coordinated by John Turner, entitled "Antarctica climate change during the last 50 years", published in 2005. For this purpose, it is intended to analyze annual and seasonal trends of temperature, wind speed and sea level pressure over the continental stations, as well as oceanographic parameters in the Southern Ocean.