Dramatic modifications to polar ice caps revealed on new map of Arctic and Antarctica

Dramatic modifications to the polar ice caps brought on by local weather change are being mirrored in a brand new version map of Antarctica and the Artic.

Produced by cartographers on the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the flagship printed map wants updating commonly to maintain observe of the quickly altering environments.

The new version – with Antarctica on one facet and the Arctic on the reverse – accommodates model new sea ice extent knowledge, up to date cities and airports within the Arctic, and new ice shelf outlines in Antarctica after the current calving of big icebergs.

The Arctic map covers all land and ocean north of 60°N and has been refreshed, with every bit of knowledge having been up to date or checked.

The map now displays the indigenous names of many cities within the Canadian Arctic together with Sanirajak and Naujaat.

Physical modifications embrace new ice fronts reflecting the retreat of many massive glaciers flowing out from Greenland and Svalbard, and modifications to lake extents because the landscapes round them adapt.

BAS cartographer Elena Field, who contributed to the map, mentioned: “The Polar Regions are altering rapidly, each from the consequences of local weather change and improved infrastructure and transport routes, so we have to regularly replace these maps to maintain up.

“In addition, better data on the geography from satellite imagery, gives us a bird’s eye view of the continent, which has now been mapped better than ever before.”

The maps are complimented by 4 inset maps exhibiting permafrost and land cowl that are necessary and fast-changing facets of the Arctic panorama, and each side have maps exhibiting sea ice extent.

They present the 30-year common sea ice extent though these extents are altering year-on-year, particularly within the Arctic.

A brand new current 10-year common to check in opposition to the 30-year common has been produced.