Like many major research programmes, BIOPOLE integrates a number of scientific aims and methodological approaches. These require some deal of explanation which can potentially take up quite a bit of space in the various manuscripts and reports that will be written about specific BIOPOLE outputs. For this reason, we submitted to Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO) an article providing a high-level overview of the objectives of BIOPOLE and how they will be addressed. This was accepted and published on 3^rd Sept 2025. The article generally follows the structure of the original BIOPOLE proposal, with certain updates such as to the implementation schematic (below). The article covers key aspects of BIOPOLE, such as the three overarching questions (i.e. Inputs, Processes and Implications), the Workplan, Programme Tools, Impacts, Programme & Data Management, and Engagement. We trust you will all find this both a useful aide-memoire of the BIOPOLE plan and an efficient way of citing it in your subsequent BIOPOLE outputs.

The article can be cited as follows: Tarling, Geraint A., et al. “BIOPOLE-Biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning in changing polar systems and their global impacts.” Research Ideas and Outcomes 11 (2025): e163757.

https://riojournal.com/article/163757

Figure: Schematic depicting the BIOPOLE implementation plan

The Author of this Article Geraint Tarling (British Antarctic Survey)

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with BIOPOLE researchers at NOC, have uncovered an important but previously overlooked process occurring beneath the Arctic sea ice. Atmospheric nitrogen transformation into bioavailable nutrients is actively taking place under sea ice in the central Arctic, driven by microbial groups not typically associated with this role. These bacteria are able to convert dissolved nitrogen gas into ammonium—a nutrient essential for supporting algal growth—right in an environment long assumed to be too cold, dark, and inhospitable for such activity. Their presence and activity, especially near melting ice edges, suggest that the retreat of sea ice may actually increase the supply of bioavailable nitrogen in Arctic waters.

This matters because nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient for algae, which underpin the entire marine food web. If more nitrogen becomes available as ice diminishes, the Arctic Ocean could experience enhanced primary production, influencing everything from plankton communities to higher trophic levels. Since algae also absorb CO₂ as they grow, this process might subtly affect the region’s carbon uptake as well.

The researchers emphasise, however, that the Arctic is undergoing rapid change, and increased productivity may come with ecological shifts that are difficult to predict. They argue that this newly documented under-ice nitrogen fixation must be included in future models of Arctic biogeochemical and climate processes, as it appears to be a more significant component of the system than previously recognised.

The Author of this Article Mar Benevides (NOC)

Kate Hendry (BAS) worked with ScienceVega to produce an online article aimed at secondary school students on a recent paper, partnered with BIOPOLE: “Dynamic ice–ocean pathways along the Transpolar Drift amplify the dispersal of Siberian matter”, led by Georgi Laukert at the University of Bristol and published in Nature Communications. The paper was part of the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) project, and investigated the use of chemical tracers for understanding the provenance of freshwater in the ocean and sea-ice in the Arctic.

As the ScienceVega reporter says: “The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates. The international research provides the clearest ever picture of how the underlying transport system, known as the Transpolar Drift, operates.”

ScienceVega (https://sciencevega.com/) is an organisation that tells stories from scientists to inspire the next generation of scientists, especially encouraging the take-up of STEM subject by girls and a love of science to promote positive mental health in young people.

ScienceVega: What is the Transpolar Drift?

KH: The Transpolar Drift is a big ocean current that cuts right across the middle of the Arctic Ocean, past Greenland and Iceland, and into the North Atlantic. We’re interested in it for lots of reasons, but importantly because it takes a lot of the freshwater from the big Arctic rivers from the Arctic into the Atlantic, where it plays an important role in controlling how the rest of the global ocean moves around (and, so, how the ocean moves heat and carbon around the planet).

Cover Image: Scientists retrieving seawater from different depths using a carousel water sampler deployed through a hole in the sea ice, sciencevega pg.07

Reference: Laukert, G., Bauch, D., Rabe, B.,… Hendry K.R. & Kienast, S.S. 2025. Dynamic ice–ocean pathways along the Transpolar Drift amplify the dispersal of Siberian matter. Nature Communications, 16(1), p.3172.

The Author of this Article Kate Hendry (British Antarctic Survey)

In June this year, the Marine Biogeochemistry Forum joined forces with the Challenger Society to host Advances in Marine Biogeochemistry (AMBIO)conference. AMBIO is a Challenger Society the special interest group, and provides a technical forum for students, educators, researchers and governmental and industrial partners with shared interests in marine biogeochemistry. Hosted by the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, the conference was a great two days covering all things biogeochemistry, with a range of talks and posters focussing on the inorganic carbon pump, primary productivity, nutrient cycling and new approaches. Excellent keynote talks were given by Dr Ruth Parker from CEFAS, Dr Emma Cavan from Imperial College London, Prof. Alessandro Tagliabue from University of Liverpool, Prof. Alex Poulton from Herit-Watt University.

BIOPOLE was represented through a talk by Anna Belcher, presenting on the BIOPOLE broadcast station campaign in Chile in January 2025, ‘Fresh to marine gradients and cycling of major nutrients in Almirantazgo Sound and, Parry and Marinelli fjords, Southern Patagonia, Chile’. The talk was well received and it was great to engage with nutrient biogeochemists for their insights.

It was fantastic to see many PhD students and Post-docs presenting their latest work. To support this group, AMBIO hosted an excellent panel event for early career researchers; ‘Career Discussions: Next Steps after PhD or Post-Doc’ which was really well attended and a great opportunity to ask questions to a diverse panel who’d taken different paths on their scientific journey. Overall a fantastic two days, engaging in the latest science, forming new networks and catching up with friends and colleagues from this great community. Do look out for the next AMBIO meeting (hosted every 2 years) to present your BIOPOLE work.

The Author of this Article Anna Belcher (NOC)

In June, I was invited to give an illustrated presentation at a ‘Dinner and Talk’ evening hosted by the Mid Devon Green Party. They were keen to hear about the climate research happening at the University of Exeter – especially our recent expedition aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, still affectionately known to many as ‘Boaty McBoatface’. 

I gave a 45-minute talk titled ‘From Poles to Planet: How Plankton Shape the Global Climate’, offering an overview of the BIOPOLE programme. This included highlights from the 2025 BIOPOLE 2 cruise to the Southern Ocean, as well as the ARCWATCH 1 expedition to the central Arctic Ocean on board the FS Polarstern – together providing a broader picture of how polar plankton research informs our understanding of climate systems. 

The audience was small but engaged, and we began the evening with a delicious home-cooked (not by me!) vegan curry. After the talk, a lively discussion followed. Questions ranged from ‘what it’s like to work in such remote regions’ to more philosophical reflections – such as whether plankton should be granted legal rights as part of nature’s protection. As a self-confessed plankton nerd, I found it a fascinating (if tricky!) question.  

The Author of this Article Kathryn Cook (University of Exeter)

On 26^th of June, Dr. Gabi Stowasser went to Buckingham Palace to receive a Polar Medal from HRH Princess Anne. The Polar Medal is awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to individuals who have outstanding achievements in the field of polar research, and particularly for those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal, and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904. 

Over her career in polar science, Gabi has worked on the trophic (feeding) relationships between living organisms in marine ecosystems of the polar regions and British Overseas Territories. She has provided new insights into the spatial and temporal functioning of marine food webs. Gabi applies a combination of biochemical and other analytical methods to identify key connections of energy and nutrient transfer between species in an ecosystem (known as trophic linkages).  

For BIOPOLE, Gabi participated in all three of the Southern Ocean cruises, where she focussed on the deployment and processing of net-catch samples and the filtering of particulate matter from CTDs and surface waters sampled underway. She is presently carrying out analyses on the carbon content of these samples and the trophic relationships of net-caught pelagic organisms using stable isotope tracers. 

The Author of this Article Geraint Tarling (British Antarctic Survey)

On 1^st October, Project AISIT (AI for Stable Isotope Tracers) got underway to help increase our understanding of Arctic freshwater inputs. What AISIT will undertake is the generation of a standardised, machine-readable database of Arctic freshwater tracers and related environmental data. It will bring together data on stable oxygen isotopes (e.g. δ18O), other freshwater tracers like barium, and key nutrient data. By harmonising these data, AISIT will make Arctic freshwater data easier to access, compare, and use. Furthermore, AISIT will engage with the AI community to bench-test the database for further AI research. The project will initially focus on the freshwater tracer and associated environmental data collected by BIOPOLE, before expanding to integrate datasets from the other data sources.   

AISIT is funded by a combination of the EPSRC and NERC as part of an ‘AI for science’ call. PI for AISIT, Geraint Tarling, said “AISIT is a great opportunity to bring together key datasets generated by BIOPOLE researchers and combine them with other disparate data that are out there to consolidate what presently exists on Arctic freshwater tracers”. Lead AISIT researcher, Emily Rowlands, added “What is also exciting is the involvement of the AI research community to gain further insights into the relative importance of freshwater inputs to nutrient distributions across the Arctic and beyond”.  

AISIT brings together researchers from BAS, NOC and UKCEH to work on this 6-month project. The first few months will mainly focus on data consolidation and quality control before wider interactions with AI researchers. AISIT data-manager, Charles Thorpe-Morgan said “There is a large amount of data out there, but it all needs careful processing to ensure the database meets the highest standards and is fit for purpose”. AISIT work-package leader, Petra ten Hoopen, said “We are writing to as many data holders as we can to emphasise the mutual benefit of sharing data to make the AISIT database as comprehensive as it can be. We assure all potential data providers that database will adhere to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), where the original sources will be clearly identified and all data contributors will be credited in the database DOI and further citations” 

Image: AISIT scientists Emily Rowlands and Charles Thorpe-Morgan, based at the British Antarctic Survey 

The Author of this Article Geraint Tarling (British Antarctic Survey)

To enhance coordination and impact in polar science, members of the BIOPOLE programme have spearheaded the formation of two new strategic initiatives: the UK Antarctica Insync Biological Working Group and the BIOPOLE Task Force for a Royal Society Discussion Meeting.  

The UK Antarctica Insync Biological Working Group brings together leading UK researchers focused on Antarctic biology to align scientific efforts, share data, and foster collaboration across institutions as part of the Antarctica InSync initiative. The group aims to identify synergies in ongoing fieldwork, harmonise biological monitoring approaches, and develop integrated frameworks for understanding ecosystem change in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic continent. By working “in sync,” the group hopes to amplify the UK’s contribution to international polar science and policy.   

As a contribution to BIOPOLE’s Legacy initiative, a dedicated BIOPOLE Royal Society Discussion Meeting Task Force has been convened to organise a high-profile international meeting. This event will showcase cutting-edge biological research in polar regions, highlight emerging challenges, and explore the role of UK and international science in addressing global environmental change. The Task Force includes representatives from across the BIOPOLE consortium and is currently developing a compelling programme and list of speakers that will bring together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in early 2026. If successful, this will follow on from a recent Royal Society Discussion meeting on Global impacts of climate extremes in the polar regions: is Antarctica reaching a tipping point?  led by BIOPOLE’s Kate Hendry together with Michael Meredith, Geraint Tarling, and Alexander Brearley, and including talks by BIOPOLE’s Jen Freer and Sian Henley (see News article and Newsletter feature above).

These initiatives reflect BIOPOLE’s commitment to building a cohesive and forward-looking polar research community. They also underscore the programme’s leadership in shaping the future of UK Antarctic science through collaboration, innovation, and strategic engagement.  

Stay tuned for updates on both initiatives in future editions of the newsletter. For further information and how to contribute please contact Nadine Johnston or Geraint Tarling. 

The Author of this Article Nadine Johnston and Geraint Tarling (British Antarctic Survey)

On 23^rd October, lead scientists from the seven LTSM2 National Capability (NC) programmes and NERC Institute Science Directors met to discuss progress and the wider impacts of long-term multicentre science carried out by NERC. The hybrid meeting, hosted at the British Antarctic Survey, was organised by Jessica Richt and chaired by Geraint Tarling, on behalf of BIOPOLE. NERC understands that some environmental science challenges need long-term continuity, large infrastructure, and coordinated teams, which are too complex or costly for individual universities or short-term grants. It therefore funds NC programmes, such as LTSM2, to deliver science that is national and decadal in scale, brings together a critical mass of expertise, infrastructure, and resources, addresses strategic national needs and provides public-good services, such as advice to government and data for the wider community.  

LTSM2 NC is particularly focussed on science questions that can be best addressed through pooling expertise across a number of NERC affiliated institutes. BIOPOLE, for example, is a collaboration between BAS, NOC, UKCEH, CPOM and BGS. The other six LTSM2 programmes, called AgZero+, CANARI, CHAMFER, HydroJULES, TerraFIRMA and MOET, each bring together a number of institutes to tackle themes such as next generation agriculture, UK water resources, underground carbon storage, adaptation to sea-level rise, and medium-term mid-scale to long term global-scale climate forecasting.  

The meeting started with an update of progress from each of the seven programmes, which highlighted some impressive achievements as each programme now enters their penultimate year of funding. It then moved on to consider how these programmes can best convey their findings to both funders and wider stakeholders, including the public. Addressing this, Nadine Johnston (BIOPOLE) gave a presentation and then led a discussion on how to formulate “Impact storylines”, covering the essential elements that should be included and providing a case-study from BIOPOLE. An action that came out of the discussion was to form an LTSM2-wide group to formulate impact stories for each programme following a common approach. It was further decided that there should be an impact story covering the wider purpose of the LTSM NC programme itself. Further discussions covered cross-programme linkages and plans going forward. What was clear from the meeting was the need for greater communication and collective action across LTSM2 programmes to ensure that the case for continued NC science is made clearly and coherently to funders.  

The Author of this Article Geraint Tarling (British Antarctic Survey)

The past few years have witnessed unprecedented extremes in the Antarctic linked to climate change. There’s been exceptionally low winter sea ice and accelerated melting of ice sheets and ice shelves. Atmospheric rivers move heat and moisture poleward under becoming more frequent and are associated with extreme atmospheric warming events precipitation events over Antarctica, both impacting ice mass loss. Low sea ice and atmospheric and marine heat waves have severe knock-on effects for ecosystems. In the context of these threats and concerns, scientists from the British Antarctic survey organised a two-day meeting at The Royal Society, in the historic setting of their London headquarters, to bring together international experts to discuss the state of play in our understanding of Antarctic extreme events, future predictions, and policy and societal relevance.  

Throughout the discussions there were some key overarching themes that emerged, cutting across disciplines and other ‘silos’. Timescales as a topic came up as a frequent discussion point, emphasising the links between extreme weather, extreme climate, and abrupt climatic change: events on the timescales of hours or days can impact Antarctic regions for months or even years. It is becoming clear that different components of the Antarctic system experience preconditioning as result of climate change, upon which abrupt change can be triggered by an extreme event. Furthermore, many of these components experience complex interactions of driving and compounding mechanisms. The extent to which extreme events in Antarctica represent irreversible ‘tipping points’, where the climate system shifts into a whole new state, is still a matter of debate.  

Another recurring theme was the fact that the observation record is not only too short to understand extreme events in the context of long-term variability, but also Antarctic and Southern Ocean data are scarce both in time and space. There was a call for more multidisciplinary observations, incorporation of existing technologies in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, and enhanced use of emerging and novel technologies. In addition to recent observations, there was a session that explored the use of the paleoclimate record as a source of analogues to understand what is possible in terms of abrupt Antarctic climate change.  

However, we need more than observations: we need a better mechanistic of underlying processes to forecast future events robustly. Predicting the occurrence of extreme events in Antarctica is highly challenging. In addition to the scarcity of observations needed to test models, the interactions between the climate components are highly complex, exhibit non-linear ‘threshold’ behaviour, and highly dependent on choices relating to model scaling and other parameterisations. The proximity of thresholds, reversibility of climate change, and the amplification by suddenly extreme events all remain unclear. What is clear is that the drivers of extreme events will get stronger with every increment of warming.  

The final two sessions focused on the policy relevance both regionally and globally of extreme events in Antarctica. Close to home, given Antarctica is one of the dominant sources of uncertainty in sea level change projections, there’s a clear and pressing need to understand the full range of possible Antarctic melt outcomes for UK infrastructure and its population. A key message was that communication and translation of science is critical, and we all have a responsibility to make sure the science knowledge is available to the stakeholders that need it, and to work towards inclusive career development for a diverse future scientific community.  

Kate Hendry is an ocean scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, and lead organiser for the Royal Society Discussion Meeting “Global impacts of climate extremes in the polar regions: is Antarctica reaching a tipping point?”.  

The outputs from this row society meeting will be brought together in a special theme issue of the philosophical transactions of the Royal Society A. 

The author of this article Kate Hendry (British Antarctic Survey)