The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Antarctica Expedition S-022 departed the Magic City on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 — and the researchers launched their brand-new website two days later. The new website, located at www.uab.edu/antarctica, highlights the research, daily trials and musings of the 2013 UAB Antarctica team.
The field team is led by Charles Amsler, Ph.D., who has led or co-led 10 expeditions to Palmer Station, Antarctica, and is making his 16th Antarctic research expedition overall. He is joined by his wife, researcher Maggie Amsler, who is making her 22nd research expedition to Antarctica, as well as several UAB Department of Biology graduate students, including returning students Kate Schoenrock and Julie Schram, along with Kevin Scriber — who is making his first trip to Antarctica.
The group is studying the dual impacts of sea-surface temperature rise and of ocean acidification caused by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide on key members of the marine communities in Antarctica. Antarctic organisms are especially vulnerable to both threats because of the region’s naturally stable and low water temperatures.
The researchers are documenting their experiences in three blog posts per week from now until May, scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each post will appear on the UAB Antarctica website homepage.
UAB’s National Science Foundation-funded Antarctic research program is co-directed by UAB biology professors Charles Amsler, Ph.D., James McClintock, Ph.D., and Robert Angus, Ph.D.