There’s a lot happening in the cryosphere, and government agencies need comprehensive and timely information to plan effectively. As the planet is warming at unprecedented speed and the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly visible, there is an urgent need to further enhance our technological capability to monitor the poles, and project future changes. At the same time we must ensure that these technologies remain low-carbon and sustainable, to ensure we meet the UK’s net zero goal of 2050, while continuing to build and enhance its understanding of the polar regions and how changes their will affect us all in the years to come.
Emerging polar science technologies
Digital Twins are enhancing our knowledge of poorly understood processes occurring in the cryosphere, supporting global efforts to plan for a changing climate.
The Polar Science community are using a range of innovative sensor technologies to monitor the Earth’s ice.
Satellite missions are vital in supporting our understanding of the cryosphere, as well as the wider Earth system and climate.
Image credit: ESA
Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (drones) are increasingly used in polar science, to collect data on the Earth’s ice in remote or dangerous areas, which would be difficult or impossible on foot.