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The effect of global warming on the southern polar regions necessitates careful monitoring of glacier deformations and their movements, as well as an understanding of atmospheric physics. For this purpose, the yearly movements of UNAVCO stations-South Pole Station (AMU2) (winter-summer) and other stations in the South Pole region have been observed in this paper for about a fifteen-year period (2006–2021). In addition, the area differences of the Antarctic continent due to seasonal changes (winter-summer) between 1980 and 2021 were investigated in this study. Moreover, the height values of the stations on the Antarctic continent were observed seasonally. The subglacial lakes in the Antarctic continent cause the differences in the height values as a result of the seasonal changes. A decrease in sea ice of 0.91 million km² for the winter season and 0.55 million km² for the summer season during a 41-year period has been determined for four sectors of the Antarctic continent. The temperature changes on the Antarctic continent in the summer and winter seasons (2005–2022) were also evaluated in this paper. Air temperature increases was apparent especially in the Antarctic Peninsula, East Antarctic and West Antarctic coasts. The Weddell Sea and the Amundsen Sea regions have had the most sea ice loss, each with 1.24 million km². On the other hand, it can be observed that the East Antarctic sector has expanded by 0.32 million km². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of Antarctic sea ice since 1979 in the presence of increasing greenhouse gases remains one of the most puzzling features of current climate change. Some studies have proposed that the formation of the ozone hole, via the Southern Annular Mode, might explain that expansion, and a recent paper highlighted a robust causal link between summertime Southern Annular Mode (SAM) anomalies and sea ice anomalies in the subsequent autumn. Here we show that many models are able to capture this relationship between the SAM and sea ice, but also emphasize that the SAM only explains a small fraction of the year‐to‐year variability. Finally, examining multidecadal trends, in models and in observations, we confirm the findings of several previous studies and conclude that the SAM–and thus the ozone hole–are not the primary drivers of the sea ice expansion around Antarctica in recent decades. Plain Language Summary: Unlike its Arctic counterpart, sea ice around Antarctica has been growing since 1979, even as the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased. Given that the ozone hole formed over the South Pole around the same time, one is led to ask whether the ozone hole may be responsible for the growth of Antarctic sea ice (recall that there is no ozone hole over the North Pole). In this study, looking at both models and observations, we show that the ozone hole is capable of affecting the surface winds and these, in turn, can make sea ice expand. However, the magnitude of this effect is small. Also since the ozone hole started healing after the year 2000, while Antarctic sea ice kept expanding, we conclude that ozone depletion is not the main reason for the expansion of Antarctic sea ice in recent decades. Key Points: Many CMIP5 models are able to capture the observed seasonal correlation between summertime Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Antarctic sea ice extentThe SAM, however, only explains 15 of the year‐to‐year sea ice extent variability in the fall, in both models and observationsSAM trends, and ozone depletion, are not the primary drivers of the observed Antarctic sea ice expansion in the last four decades [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic region is considered to be the least contaminated in the world due to its specific location and separation of this area as well as low activity of humans (Hashimoto et al., 1988). Additionally, in accordance with the provision of the Antarctic Treaty System (Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, 2020) it is prohibited to conduct any actions with nuclear materials in this area. Nevertheless, Antarctica is not free from radioactive pollutants (human activity, nuclear tests or accidents) created in other parts of the world and transported by air masses or sea currents to the region of the South Pole where they can be detected. This paper presents results of measurements of activity concentrations of both natural and artificial gamma-ray emitting isotopes present on air-filters exposed in the ground level of the air in Marambio Base (Antarctic Peninsula). Furthermore, comparison with results obtained from other part of Antarctica were performed (i.e. Aboa Station, including radioisotope sources estimation). Investigation suggests that the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula is effectively isolated from the Antarctic mainland and, in case of air radioactivity, should be considered separately. • Concentrations of selected isotopes present in ground level air of Marambio Base (Antarctic Peninsula) were determined. • Activities of 210Pb, 137Cs, 226, 228Ra and 40K were measured by means of low-background, digital gamma-ray spectrometry. • Obtained results shows significant differences comparing to stations located on the continent mainland. • Differences indicate and confirm the isolation of the Antarctic Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]