Exclusive: Mawson and Davis stations won’t be fully staffed this summer, according to workers, and documents show remediation work will also be halted

Dozens of crucial climate science projects including studies of record low sea ice and rapidly declining penguin populations are set to be cancelled, delayed or restricted due to budget pressures at the Australian Antarctic Division.

These projects include the million-year ice core, an ambitious quest to study atmospheric data trapped in ice.

“Australia’s climate science is globally important and the Australian Antarctic Program will continue to deliver our priority science initiatives, such as the million year ice core and the denman terrestrial campaign.”

The spokesperson said the draft season plan “Provides support to continue delivering these two priority science projects that will be ongoing for years to come and help inform global decisions on climate change”.

“The AAD’s annual season plans are based on priorities articulated through the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan and the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20-year Action Plan, released in 2016,” the spokesperson said.

  • No1@aussie.zone
    6·
    11 months ago

    These [cancelled/delayed] projects include the million-year ice core, an ambitious quest to study atmospheric data trapped in ice.

    Gee, they better hurry and get this approved, or there ain’t gonna be any ice left to do the project!

      • No1@aussie.zone
        5·
        11 months ago

        Yeah, we had this perfect spot to drill on this ice sheet, but then the front fell off.

    • Zagorath@aussie.zoneEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Maybe the way the Government is thinking: hey, if we just let it all melt, the data won’t be trapped any more!

      • No1@aussie.zone
        3·
        11 months ago

        You can’t prove global warming if we destroy all the evidence, or wait until it’s all gone! Checkmate, climateers!

        • Zagorath@aussie.zoneEnglish
          3·
          11 months ago

          Destroy? Of course not! We’re freeing the evidence from its entrapment! That should be easier to get, right?

          Right?

          • No1@aussie.zone
            2·
            11 months ago

            Free the climate, brother!

            shudders It’s just a bad feeling when sarcasm/irony seem so close as to be easily possible…

    • Minarble@aussie.zone
      4·
      11 months ago

      No I don’t. Like at all. Cut funding for Australian space programs as well. But there is money for a stadium in Tassie.

      Utopia the ABC show is not supposed to be a how to guide.