Four Degrees

Oceanography

Looking to the past to see into the future

The Earth’s surface temperatures can have a profound effect on the Earth’s ice sheets, the huge layers of ice thousands of metres thick that cover Greenland and Antarctica. Over the past few decades, satellites have monitored the changes of these icy landscapes, revealing that parts of Greenland and West Antarctica are melting. This is important as it contributes to sea level rise, which can have ...[Read More]

Radioactive waters

As the decommissioning of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station begins, Marion Ferrat takes a look at how radioactive elements make their way to the world’s oceans – and how scientists can use them to study important processes that go on in our waters. Early last week, work began to remove spent fuel rods at the disused Fukushima Dai-ichi power station, more than two years after the plant su ...[Read More]