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| Antarctic research at risk as government cuts back on science | Antarctic research at risk as government cuts back on science |
| (8 days later) | |
| In the early 1980s British meteorologist Joe Farman, based at the British Antarctic Survey, was studying measurements of ozone levels in the stratosphere. The gas, which protects Earth from deadly solar ultraviolet radiation, had been surveyed by instruments at the BAS's Halley base in the Antarctic since 1957 to improve our understanding of polar meteorology. | In the early 1980s British meteorologist Joe Farman, based at the British Antarctic Survey, was studying measurements of ozone levels in the stratosphere. The gas, which protects Earth from deadly solar ultraviolet radiation, had been surveyed by instruments at the BAS's Halley base in the Antarctic since 1957 to improve our understanding of polar meteorology. |
| But Farman and his colleagues, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin, stumbled on something far more important than data about weather fronts. Their measurements revealed that Earth's ozone layer had decreased by 40% between 1975 and 1984. An ozone hole was opening up over the southern hemisphere, threatening to allow ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth and trigger epidemics of skin cancers. | But Farman and his colleagues, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin, stumbled on something far more important than data about weather fronts. Their measurements revealed that Earth's ozone layer had decreased by 40% between 1975 and 1984. An ozone hole was opening up over the southern hemisphere, threatening to allow ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth and trigger epidemics of skin cancers. |
| The discovery caused consternation and eventually led to the signing of the Montreal protocol, which limited the manufacture of CFC gases that are used in refrigerators and other devices and which had been shown to be the cause of the ozone hole. That hole still looms over the Antarctic but is expected to recover thanks to the Montreal agreement – though not until 2080. | The discovery caused consternation and eventually led to the signing of the Montreal protocol, which limited the manufacture of CFC gases that are used in refrigerators and other devices and which had been shown to be the cause of the ozone hole. That hole still looms over the Antarctic but is expected to recover thanks to the Montreal agreement – though not until 2080. |
| The story is important for many reasons, but is particularly relevant today because it shows how crucial research carried out at the poles is, and how important the BAS has been in these endeavours. It also explains the range and volume of the horrified responses that have greeted the plan now being prepared to curtail the BAS's independence, a consequence of its merger with the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. | The story is important for many reasons, but is particularly relevant today because it shows how crucial research carried out at the poles is, and how important the BAS has been in these endeavours. It also explains the range and volume of the horrified responses that have greeted the plan now being prepared to curtail the BAS's independence, a consequence of its merger with the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. |
| As Andrew Rosindell, chairman of the polar regions all-party parliamentary group, has put it: "This will destabilise the work of UK polar scientists at a time when important climatic changes are occurring at the poles and need investigation. This is an attempt to trash an extremely important scientific organisation." | As Andrew Rosindell, chairman of the polar regions all-party parliamentary group, has put it: "This will destabilise the work of UK polar scientists at a time when important climatic changes are occurring at the poles and need investigation. This is an attempt to trash an extremely important scientific organisation." |
| Many other researchers, politicians and climate activists have made it clear that they also oppose the merger – a move implemented by the BAS's paymasters, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), because it, in turn, is being cut back by the coalition government as part of its plan to reduce investment in science. And here the story of the discovery of the ozone hole provides an extra twist to proceedings. | Many other researchers, politicians and climate activists have made it clear that they also oppose the merger – a move implemented by the BAS's paymasters, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), because it, in turn, is being cut back by the coalition government as part of its plan to reduce investment in science. And here the story of the discovery of the ozone hole provides an extra twist to proceedings. |
| In the early 1980s UK science was being squeezed by Margaret Thatcher's government and long-term monitoring programmes were considered to be particularly vulnerable, including the ozone project at Halley. As Shanklin has said: "Our monitoring was in the frame. Nothing seemed to be changing and there seemed little reason to keep it going." | In the early 1980s UK science was being squeezed by Margaret Thatcher's government and long-term monitoring programmes were considered to be particularly vulnerable, including the ozone project at Halley. As Shanklin has said: "Our monitoring was in the frame. Nothing seemed to be changing and there seemed little reason to keep it going." |
| The axe was about to fall when the three scientists published news of their discovery of the ozone hole in Nature in 1985. Overnight their work changed from being a drain on resources to being a world leader and a triumph for British science. The project, and the planet, were saved. | The axe was about to fall when the three scientists published news of their discovery of the ozone hole in Nature in 1985. Overnight their work changed from being a drain on resources to being a world leader and a triumph for British science. The project, and the planet, were saved. |
| Sadly, we seem to have learned little in the intervening decades. The coalition government of David Cameron – which pledged to lead "the greenest government ever" – has demanded a massive reduction in environmental research as part of an overall plan to reduce annual public investment in science by 14%. As Bob Ward of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change points out: "Basic research, which is driven by the quest for new knowledge rather than an immediately identifiable application, is again under threat as part of the coalition government's programme to reduce its investment in science." | Sadly, we seem to have learned little in the intervening decades. The coalition government of David Cameron – which pledged to lead "the greenest government ever" – has demanded a massive reduction in environmental research as part of an overall plan to reduce annual public investment in science by 14%. As Bob Ward of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change points out: "Basic research, which is driven by the quest for new knowledge rather than an immediately identifiable application, is again under threat as part of the coalition government's programme to reduce its investment in science." |
| The crucial word, of course, is threat. No one has yet closed down any BAS projects. But the risk is real; both the director and deputy director have already left their posts since the merger plan was announced and signs indicate a serious loss of morale. Senior scientists are unlikely to hang about at an institution that appears to be so ill-regarded by its controllers at the NERC and by the government. In such a situation, the next generation of Farmans, Gardiners and Shanklins – researchers who could pinpoint future risks to the planet – will not be on hand to do work that could have crucial environmental importance. | The crucial word, of course, is threat. No one has yet closed down any BAS projects. But the risk is real; both the director and deputy director have already left their posts since the merger plan was announced and signs indicate a serious loss of morale. Senior scientists are unlikely to hang about at an institution that appears to be so ill-regarded by its controllers at the NERC and by the government. In such a situation, the next generation of Farmans, Gardiners and Shanklins – researchers who could pinpoint future risks to the planet – will not be on hand to do work that could have crucial environmental importance. |
| And this is a key point. The impact of global warming is being felt first at the poles. This year summer sea-ice levels in the Arctic plunged to a record low and there is every sign that equally profound changes are taking place in the Antarctic, though it is a far more complex terrain to comprehend than its northern counterpart. Yet the government is inflicting cuts that will prevent Britain playing a proper role in such investigations, say critics who point out that, more than any other country, the UK has helped open up the Antarctic to scientific study. James Cook was the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle; James Clark Ross was the first to reach the continent's great ice shelves; Scott and Shackleton's expeditions in the early 20th century were triumphs of scientific endeavour, even though Scott was beaten to the south pole by Roald Amundsen in 1912; and the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-58, led by the British explorer Vivian Fuchs, was the first to cross the continent overland. | And this is a key point. The impact of global warming is being felt first at the poles. This year summer sea-ice levels in the Arctic plunged to a record low and there is every sign that equally profound changes are taking place in the Antarctic, though it is a far more complex terrain to comprehend than its northern counterpart. Yet the government is inflicting cuts that will prevent Britain playing a proper role in such investigations, say critics who point out that, more than any other country, the UK has helped open up the Antarctic to scientific study. James Cook was the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle; James Clark Ross was the first to reach the continent's great ice shelves; Scott and Shackleton's expeditions in the early 20th century were triumphs of scientific endeavour, even though Scott was beaten to the south pole by Roald Amundsen in 1912; and the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-58, led by the British explorer Vivian Fuchs, was the first to cross the continent overland. |
| It is an impressive legacy. Just how long Britain can continue to add to it with new research remains to be seen. Certainly the prospects of us continuing to do world-leading science there are looking a bit stressed at present. | It is an impressive legacy. Just how long Britain can continue to add to it with new research remains to be seen. Certainly the prospects of us continuing to do world-leading science there are looking a bit stressed at present. |
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