Northumbria University, Newcastle

1 April 2021 14:24

Evidence of Antarctic glacier’s tipping point confirmed for first time

Researchers have confirmed for the first time that Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica could cross tipping points, leading to a rapid and irreversible retreat which would have significant consequences for global sea level.

Dr Sebastian Breitenbach exploring possible passages in an ice-filled cave in Siberia

1 March 2021 11:00

Examining the impact of climate change on Siberia’s stores of permafrost

Northumbria University is to play a leading role in a major study to assess the long-term impact of global warming on Siberia’s thawing permafrost.
Permafrost is frozen ground that stores vast amounts of fossil carbon. Given that permafrost holds twice as much carbon as the atmosphere, and that almost a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in permafrost, this frozen land plays an essen

8 June 2020 10:00

Thousands of tonnes of ocean pollution can be saved by changing washing habits

A new study has revealed that almost 13,000 tonnes of microfibres, equivalent to two rubbish trucks every day, are being released into European marine environments every year – but this could be reduced by as much as 30% if we made a small change to our laundry habits. The findings have been published by the scientific journal PLOS ONE for World Oceans Day on Monday 8 June.

Artists' impression of West Antarctica 90 million years ago. Alfred-Wegener-Institut/J. McKay. This image is available under Creative Commons licence CC-BY 4.0

1 April 2020 16:26

New discovery: Evidence for a 90-million-year-old rainforest near the South Pole

Researchers have found unexpected fossil traces of a temperate rainforest near the South Pole 90 million years ago, suggesting the continent had an exceptionally warm climate in prehistoric times. Their findings are published today (1 April) as the lead story in the scientific journal Nature.

The Getz Ice Shelf (credit: Anna Wåhlin)

26 February 2020 16:08

Antarctic ice walls protect against rising sea levels

A vital role that floating Antarctic ice shelves play in preventing catastrophic sea level rises has been proven for the first time in a new study, published in the scientific journal Nature.

Northumbria University’s Dr Muhammad Wakil Shahzad receiving the global water award from His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

14 February 2020 13:39

Unlocking desalination with solar energy

A mechanical engineer from Northumbria University has won a prestigious award after developing an innovative process to turn sea water into clean, safe drinking water, using solar energy.

A detailed view of changes in ice flow around the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, due to thinning ice shelves. Pine Island Glacier is at the top right, with changes seen almost 100 miles inland.

2 December 2019 08:00

First evidence that Antarctica's thinning ice shelves are causing more ice to move from the land into the sea

Researchers have produced the first physics-based quantifiable evidence that thinning ice shelves in Antarctica are causing more ice to flow from the land into the ocean. Their findings have been published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Reconnaissance flight over the Thwaites glacier (U.S. National Science Foundation)

15 November 2019 15:09

Northumbria scientist embarks on ambitious mission to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

A Northumbria University researcher is one of almost 100 scientists and support staff who have travelled to Antarctica this week (15 November 2019) for the most ambitious mission to date for Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica.

21 October 2019 11:52

£4m study to investigate if climate change will drive the Antarctic Ice Sheet towards a tipping point

A major £4 million EU-funded study to investigate how changes in Antarctica’s ice sheets and shelves may lead to a large and irreversible rise in global sea level over the coming decades is about to begin. Experts from the UK, Norway, Germany and France will work together to investigate the likelihood of abrupt changes in the movement of ice in the Antarctic region over the next 100 years.

Dr Kate Winter at Keteler's Glacier in Antarctica earlier this year

22 July 2019 16:58

Global channel broadcasts academics’ Antarctic footage

The international news channel Bloomberg is broadcasting stunning footage of Antarctica’s landscape captured by a Northumbria University academic who was undertaking research on the continent.

Chasm 1 in the Brunt Ice Shelf (credit: Jan De Rydt)

5 April 2019 10:30

Large Antarctic Ice Shelf, home to UK research station, is about to break apart

Glaciology experts have issued evidence that a large section of the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica, which is home to the British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station, is about break off.

The Flipflopi - a traditional 'dhow' sailing boat made entirely from rubbish collected from African beaches – including 30,000 flipflops.

17 January 2019 08:55

Northumbria lecturer and former student set sail to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the Indian Ocean

A design expert from Northumbria University, Newcastle raising awareness of the impact single use plastic is having on the world’s oceans by helping to create a boat made entirely from rubbish collected from African beaches – including 30,000 flipflops.

7 December 2018 13:21

Northumbria University recognised in UK’s Best Breakthroughs List

Northumbria's research on Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier celebrated for its contribution to understanding the impact of climate change on global sea levels.

Coral reef rim islands, Huvadhoo Atoll (Photo credit: Prof. Paul Kench)

12 November 2018 16:51

Rising sea levels may build, rather than destroy, coral reef islands

Rising global sea levels may actually be beneficial to the long-term future of coral reef islands, such as the Maldives, according to new research published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Prof. Hilmar Gudmundsson explaining the modelling tool to Prof. Christine Hvidberg of the University of Copenhagen

20 August 2018 11:13

Leading the way in modelling the behaviour of ice sheets

A team of world-leading Polar experts have been trialling a new tool developed by researchers from Northumbria University, Newcastle, that will better predict how ice sheets will evolve over time.

3 July 2018 12:29

Study examines the impact of thawing frozen carbon on the Arctic Ocean

A major investigation into the impact of thawing permafrost and the subsequent release of frozen carbon on coastlines in the Siberian Arctic has been announced today (Tuesday 3 July).

From l-r: Oliver Moss, Northumbria University; Jon Shelley, the Environment Agency; Professor Tom Mordue, Northumbria University

11 December 2017 10:44

Fishing for answers on the River Tyne

With tens of thousands of salmon currently preparing to lay their eggs in the upper stretches of the River Tyne, a new project hopes to bring their incredible journey to life.

Floating market on the Mekong River in Vietnam

31 October 2017 15:29