Turtle Rock

Antarctica is the site for some remarkable and groundbreaking research - particularly into the extent and impact of Climate Change.

Nine to Noon  was invited to visit Scott base on Ross Island - and speak with some of the scientists working in the field - mostly on the sea ice surrounding the continent.

We begin with some very key research into the microbrial community that lives with in the sea ice that surrounds Ross Island - and how this relates to bigger climate change issues. 

Sea ice around antarctica reaches it maximum of 18 million square kilometres in late September and is the  home to diversity of algae and microbes that live in or underside of ice.

New Zealander Andrew Martin is a sea ice scientist with the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

Kathryn Ryan visited him at his field camp about 20 kilometres from Scott base, where he and a team, including his colleague Professor Andrew McMinn  have been taking samples of the sea ice to assess the impact of climate change at the very start of the food chain.