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Grant Macdonald❄️

@geogeordie.bsky.social
354 followers 138 following 63 posts

Studying the poles - sea ice, ice shelves, and now emperor🐧, using 🛰️ & field work❄️. Postdoc at Durham. Formerly of UChicago, UTSA, UVic.

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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
Leconte @manchotempereur.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
World's largest penguin colony hit by climate-driven decline www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
World's largest penguin colony hit by climate-driven decline
Climate change is blamed for dramatic decline of chinstrap penguins living on a remote volcanic island.
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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🌊 Antarctic winter sea ice at 3rd-lowest level on record. “How sensitive is the global climate system to this loss of sea ice? We're still working to put numbers on that. But the system is changing faster than we are understanding it.” — Will Hobbs @utas.edu.au ▶️ www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’
Coverage levels fall a million square kilometres short of the long-term average, with global heating likely driving losses
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Peter T Fretwell @ptfretwell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Emperor penguins are moving home to avoid climate change. New paper now out: www.nature.com/articles/s42...
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Durham University @durham.ac.uk · 02/09/2026
@geogdurham.bsky.social researchers have used freely available satellite radar images to track emperor penguins in polar winter – giving a year-round view of their movements that could support conservation efforts 🐧 Discover more about this amazing work 👉 tinyurl.com/2zv9zdj9
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A nice article on the NASA site about emperor penguins that discusses our first paper from the EPIC -penguin🐧❄️- project (as well as another really cool paper). science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
science.nasa.gov
A Changing World for Emperor Penguins - NASA Science
Experts are analyzing decades of images from Landsat satellites for clues about how the iconic birds have responded to sea ice disruptions in the past.
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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
International Cryosphere Climate Initiative @iccinet.org · 12/08/2026
📣Announcement: ICCI are happy to announce that applications for #COP31 Cryosphere Pavilion side events and early career scientist volunteers are now open! More information: iccinet.org/cop31-cryosp... The deadline for applications is Monday, August 31. We hope to see many of you in Antalya!
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Irene Quaile @iceblogger.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
!!!!!
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Alec Luhn @alecluhn.com · 13/06/2026
It’s winter in Antarctica, and the Bellingshausen Sea is free of sea ice for the third year. “I don’t think we will see sea ice there any more. It’s done,” a scientist says. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Antarctica’s west coast missing an area of sea ice the size of France as temperatures peak 20C above average
A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’
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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
Alison Banwell @alibanwell.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Please consider submitting an abstract to our @agu.org 2026 session, “The Cryosphere is for All’! @cires.colorado.edu @ciresceee.bsky.social @cpom-uk.bsky.social #AGU26 #cryosphere 🧊 🧪
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Edmund Lea @mappermundle.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
📃 The first paper from my PhD has just been published in JGR: Earth Surface, detailing insights into Arctic glacial history from morphometry and machine learning.❄️ 🛰️ doi.org/10.1029/2025... Co-authors @polarguy.bsky.social, @drfionaclubb.bsky.social and Neil Ross. @iapetusdtp.bsky.social
A map of Arctic Canada and Greenland showing predicted glacial landscape classes.
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Durham Glaciology @durhamglaciology.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
❄️ NEW PAPER out today led by Honary Fellow @tomchudley.bsky.social alongside others in the group. Tom's paper explores the role of seasonal varations in ice dynamics for the drainange of surface meltwater through crevasses on Store Glacier, Greenland agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It’s not the first time I’ve talked about penguins from space in a pub, but it might have been the first time where people were listening. Had fun presenting at Pint Of Science in Durham last night!
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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
Katherine Deakin @katherinedeakin.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Our new review paper is now out in Reviews of Geophysics! 🎉 We present the first comprehensive review of the role of sea ice and ice mélange in influencing outlet glacier dynamics across both polar regions ❄️ 🧊 Read more here: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The Influence of Sea Ice and Ice Mélange on Outlet Glacier Dynamics in the Arctic and Antarctic: Recent Progress and Future Challenges
Sea ice and mélange influence glacier dynamics directly through modulating calving, and indirectly through influencing ocean circulation Glacier responses to sea-ice change are influenced by loca...
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Dr Ella Gilbert @drgilbz.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
If you're working in the climate science space, please sign and share this open letter calling out the insanity of exploiting more oil & gas when we need to eradicate dangerous fossil fuels. Letter here: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Sign here: forms.gle/DexNszLJjaRe... Pls share far & wide!
docs.google.com
OPEN LETTER: Extracting North Sea fossil fuels will threaten lives and livelihoods
Extracting North Sea fossil fuels will threaten lives and livelihoods An open letter to UK party leaders As climate scientists, we know that worsening climate impacts have been mainly caused by burn...
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Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · 27/03/2026
NEW – ‘Very alarming’ winter sees Arctic sea ice hit record-low for second year running | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org @ayeshatandon.carbonbrief.org w/ comment from @zacklabe.com Read here: buff.ly/Vu1TaIF
Daily Arctic sea ice extent for 2026 and 2025, with decadal averages and the record-low year of 2012 for comparison, based on data from the NSIDC. Chart by Carbon Brief.
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Really important new work on emperor penguin populations - and more bad news, unfortunately. Significant declines in recent years at key Ross Sea colonies emphasize the need to better understand the relationship between sea ice conditions and the species' success.
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Really interesting work on the development of the estuary at Petermann Glacier-so far known to be unique to that ice shelf -where ocean ocean water and sea ice flows back onto the shelf. Petermann has a special place in my heart as subject of my first paper.Didn't know then an estuary had developed!
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Reposted by Grant Macdonald❄️
Jonathan Tonkin @jdtonkin.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
New paper out from @rosetazetta.bsky.social Evidence of emperor penguins’ sensitivity to sea ice fluctuations We used very-high res satellite imagery to study the Ross Sea emperor penguin population over 20+ y, revealing potential sensitivity to sea ice fluctuations @drmichellelarue.bsky.social
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Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/03/2026
Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data)... • about 630,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,040,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,530,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 1,970,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Line graph time series of 2026's daily Arctic sea ice extent compared to decadal averages from the 1980s to the 2010s. The decadal averages are shown with different colored lines with purple for the 1980s, blue for the 1990s, green for the 2000s, and white for the 2010s. Thin white lines are also shown for each year from 2000 to 2025. 2026 is shown with a thick gold line. There is a long-term decreasing trend in ice extent for every day of the year shown on this graph between February and April by looking at the decadal average line positions.
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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 18/03/2026
Bluesky, we need your help to count walrus! 🦭 Previously on "Walrus from Space", volunteers like you sifted through around 500,000 satellite images to support our conservation research. Now we're asking the you to help us count the walrus in those images 👀 ➡️ geohive.vantor.com/walrus/login
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Peter T Fretwell @ptfretwell.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Our latest paper is now out, and it's not good news www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Emperor Penguins must change their feathers - it may now be killing them
The birds moult to protect themselves, but in a warming world, it could be endangering them.
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Bethan Davies @iceybethan.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
The future of the Antarctic Peninsula depends upon the choices we make today. www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/s...
bas.ac.uk
Scientists reveal our best- and worst-case scenarios for a warming Antarctica - British Antarctic Survey
New study on the Antarctic Peninsula shows that the choices we make in the next decade will determine Antarctica’s fate for centuries
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Prof Michael Meredith 🌊🧪🥼❄️ @oceanandice.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
We are seeking a 3+ year postdoc in ocean modelling, to work on an exciting project investigating underwater tsunamis in Antarctica. More about the project here: www.polomints.ac.uk Read more about the post here: lnkd.in/eBjndZPv Please share and help connect us with the best candidates!
polomints.ac.uk
Polar Ocean Mixing by Internal Tsunamis
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David Small @davidsmall.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
🚨job opportunity🚨 Durham is advertising 3-year fellowships (any field). We are very keen to hear from Antarctic/Cryo people who might be interested in joining a great group. The positions come with some travel & research funds. See here for details or get in touch www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
durham.ac.uk
addison-wheeler-fellowship - Durham University
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Matt King @deformedearth.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Antarctic ice sheet folk, I'm looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Antarctic Ice Sheet Reconstruction [readvertised] for a 3.5yr appointment in Tasmania. Very flexible start date! Join our new team, figuring out what is happening and what may happen in East Antarctica. 1/4 ❄️
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Penguin swimcam www.instagram.com/reel/DUUDvq6...
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Great to visit BAS yesterday to chat penguins and meet more of the wildlife from space community (what a cool name for a research theme).
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Penguin saviours needed in the Buenos Aires region 🇦🇷 www.instagram.com/p/DUBttt5kmt...
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Liz Bagshaw Glaciology @lizbagshaw.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
We're looking for a postdoctoral research associate to measure Greenland meltwater using Cryoeggs and seismometers. Join our dream team, apply here by 9 Feb: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de... Job ID ACAD108442 #glaciologyjobs
bristol.ac.uk
Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol
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Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 23/01/2026
Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data)... • about 500,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,090,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,640,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,110,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Line graph time series of 2026's daily Arctic sea ice extent compared to decadal averages from the 1980s to the 2010s. The decadal averages are shown with different colored lines with purple for the 1980s, blue for the 1990s, green for the 2000s, and white for the 2010s. Thin white lines are also shown for each year from 2000 to 2025. 2026 is shown with a thick gold line. There is a long-term decreasing trend in ice extent for every day of the year shown on this graph between January and March by looking at the decadal average line positions.
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Peter T Fretwell @ptfretwell.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
There are almost 300,000 data points in the IWC blue whale catch record, not one catch is recorded in the area of recent summer sea ice loss near the coast of West Antarctica. This shows that that Antarctic summer sea ice has not been as low as it is now for more than a century.
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Ignacio Juarez @penguinacho.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
I am very happy to announce that my first PhD paper has been published today at the Journal of Animal Ecology!!! It is on how three penguin species have been shifting their breeding times in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic in response to climate change. They are the fastest birds in doing so!
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Our first paper from the 'EPIC' project- 'How will Emperor Penguins Respond to Changing Ice Conditions?'🐧❄️ - is now out. 🎉 My first first-author penguin paper🐧! w co-authors @changingice.bsky.social, Chris Stokes, Melanie Marochov, @ptfretwell.bsky.social, Stéphanie Jenouvrier tinyurl.com/4635pdwh
cambridge.org
Response of emperor penguins to 40 years of changing ice conditions at the Astrid, Mertz and SANAE colonies using satellite remote sensing (1984–2024) | Antarctic Science | Cambridge Core
Response of emperor penguins to 40 years of changing ice conditions at the Astrid, Mertz and SANAE colonies using satellite remote sensing (1984–2024)
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Peter T Fretwell @ptfretwell.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
For many years we have watched the Wilkins Ice shelf slowly break up. In 2009 it detached from Charcot Island to form Attenborough Strait. Yesterday, the last sliver joining it to Rothschild Island began to disintegrate. I'm waiting for tomorrow's image.
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Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
1️⃣🌊 Coastal polynyas (semi-permanent areas of ice-free ocean) are known as ‘sea ice factories’ because they produce vast amounts of new ice. This process drives the global current system which redistributes heat and #carbon around the world. ▶️ aappartnership.org.au/east-antarct... 📸 @esa.int
aappartnership.org.au
East Antarctic ‘sea ice factory’ revealed as unexpected global current driver - AAPP
A surprising source of deep-ocean ventilation in East Antarctica, with implications for global ocean currents and climate systems
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Irene Quaile @iceblogger.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Himalayan winters are seeing less snowfall as more ice melts
Experts say dwindling snowfall during winter will impact the lives and livelihoods of millions.
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Frances Butcher @fegbutcher.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I'm hiring! 3-year postdoc on an exciting new @royalsociety.org funded project on Martian glaciers @sheffielduni.bsky.social Advert: tinyurl.com/6rzzk5d4 Terrestrial folks encouraged to apply (e.g. GIS, glacier modelling, geomorphology, or deep learning) Closes 19th Jan. Queries via email.
tinyurl.com
Research Associate in Mars Glaciology at University of Sheffield
An academic position as a Research Associate in Mars Glaciology is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore additional academic job opportunities.
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Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 05/01/2026
Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the 2nd lowest on record (JAXA data) • about 450,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,000,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,570,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,000,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Line graph time series of 2026's daily Arctic sea ice extent compared to decadal averages from the 1980s to the 2010s. The decadal averages are shown with different colored lines with purple for the 1980s, blue for the 1990s, green for the 2000s, and white for the 2010s. Thin white lines are also shown for each year from 2000 to 2025. 2026 is shown with a thick gold line. There is a long-term decreasing trend in ice extent for every day of the year shown on this graph between January and March by looking at the decadal average line positions.
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Prof Michael Meredith 🌊🧪🥼❄️ @oceanandice.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
A picture is worth 1000 words... This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK. Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect. Chapeau!
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James Kirkham @jdkirkham.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
As scientists 🧪 who regularly attend UN #climate summits, we've noticed efforts to downplay, confuse and dilute the latest scientific findings, especially from the cryosphere ❄️. This is alarming. More details in @theconversation.com theconversation.com/earths-froze... @geogdurham.bsky.social
theconversation.com
Earth’s frozen regions are sending a clear warning about climate change – but politicians are ignoring it
The warning lights from the cryosphere have been flashing red for several years and governments and policymakers ignore this at their peril.
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
This isn't very christmassy. www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
nationalgeographic.com
Pumas came back to Patagonia—and met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
A natural experiment in a national park in Patagonia shows how the return of a large predator can reshape an ecosystem.
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James Lea @jamesmlea.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
🚨POSTDOC JOB ALERT🚨 We have an exciting opportunity for a 2 year postdoc on remote sensing of icebergs and marine terminating glaciers. See the link below for more info! Please spread widely, and feel free to email me with any Q's :) tinyurl.com/2jjcmea9
Photo of a marine terminating glacier in Greenland with icebergs in front of it
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Great to see some of the Humboldt cousins of emperor penguins this weekend, just off the coast of Lima.
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Peter T Fretwell @ptfretwell.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Emperor penguins have to gamble between being too far from the ice edge, or moving closer and the ice breaking up under them. This time it looks like they got it wrong.
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Alison Banwell @alibanwell.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
I'm advertising x2 PhDs through this scheme 🛰️ ❄️ 🇦🇶 🇬🇱 "The Role of Landfast Sea Ice in Antarctic Ice Shelf Stability: Integrating Earth Observation with Low-Carbon AI Modelling" "Thawing Greenland, Powering Tomorrow: Dynamic ice sheet hydrology for Sustainable Energy"
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Me, Taylor Swift, and this old giant petrel - all born in 1989.
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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 14/11/2025
Bad news in from South Georgia - the population of breeding female elephant seals has nearly halved following a bird flu outbreak on the sub-Antarctic island. Here's what we know so far... 📸 Connor Bamford
An aerial view of elephant seals on a beach
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Pleased I could participate remotely in COP30 yesterday to talk about the impact of changing ice conditions on emperor penguins - at the fantastic @iccinet.bsky.social pavilion. The ICCI do great work at COP, highlighting the importance of limiting warming for the cryo: www.youtube.com/@iccinet
youtube.com
International Cryosphere Climate Initiative
International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) is a network of senior policy experts and researchers aiming to spread cryosphere science and preserve the cryosphere's key role in Earth's climate s...
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Grant Macdonald❄️ @geogeordie.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Really enjoyed giving a talk on our penguin 🐧 work last night at the Natural History Society of Northumbria @nenature.bsky.social - I was the warm-up for this fantastic talk on Great Auks by Tim Birkhead
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