Microbes near the surface of the Southern Ocean sustain the polar food chain — impacting the nutrient flow from the surface to the depths where other microbial communities thrive in the dark. #NatGeoExplorer Allison Fong sampled sea ice in the Weddell Sea to understand how changes in the sea ice may affect the microorganisms that feed the Southern Ocean's wildlife populations. This research better informs our understanding of how microbe communities absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and

Antarctic wildlife (like this gentoo penguin) relies on the Southern Ocean for survival. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources can safeguard penguins, whales, krill, fish, and seals with a network of marine protected areas in the ocean surrounding Antarctica. 🎥 by www.instagram.com/johnbozinov | Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition

1.6K views · 142 reactions | Many areas of the wild Southern Ocean are unique and deserve comprehensive protection. For 40 years, Australia has hosted the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, known as CCAMLR. We're working with all 27 members of CCAMLR to establish a representative network of Marine Protected Areas around #Antarctica: to protect marine species and the habitats where they live, feed, and breed. | Australian Antarctic Program | Facebook

A study confirms the Southern Ocean (the continuous body of salt water around Antarctica) absorbs much more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases, making this region an important shield against some of the effects of human-caused global warming: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3136/nasa-supported-study-confirms-importance-of-southern-ocean-in-absorbing-carbon-dioxide/ Video: Many factors affect the flow of carbon into and out of Earth’s ocean, including ocean surface winds. This model shows

438K views · 1.4K reactions | This is how one son convinced his father, a former Republican rep, to change his mind about climate policy | NowThis Impact | Facebook