Antarctic Environments Portal

Antarctic Environments Portal logoThe Antarctic Environments Portal provides an important link between Antarctic science and Antarctic policy. The Portal makes science-based information available to the Antarctic Treaty System’s Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) and all the Antarctic Treaty nations. The information in the Portal is there to support the CEP in its development of advice and recommendations to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties on environmental protection.

The Portal supports the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in its role of providing independent and objective scientific advice to the decision making bodies of the  Antarctic Treaty system. All scientific information available through the Portal is prepared by Antarctic experts and goes through a rigorous editorial process before publication. All scientific information available through the Portal is based on published, peer-reviewed science and has been through a rigorous editorial review process

For more information and to see the latest summaries of policy-relevant science, visit the Antarctic Environments Portal website:

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Selected Publications and Infographics

Click here to view all publications

Antarctic Sea Ice #1: Physical Role and Function

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina L.) in the Antarctic Treaty Area

Microplastics in the Southern Ocean

Ten scientific messages on risks and opportunities for life in the Antarctic

Geothermal environments in Antarctica

Pathways for the introduction of terrestrial non-native species

Management of Content

Anyone can propose content for the Portal by contacting the Portal Editor: editor@environments.aq.

All content that is submitted to the Portal must be based on published, peer-reviewed science. The Guidelines for Authors can be found here. The Portal Editor organises a peer review of draft content. These reviews are done in conjunction with an Editorial Group before the content is made public. The process includes a number of review steps to ensure that only the highest-quality information that adequately summarises the current state of knowledge is published in the Portal.

In preparing Information Summaries, authors should consider that officials involved in the work of the Antarctic Treaty System are the primary audience for the Portal, although SCAR’s broader stakeholders are also a target audience.

Users who contribute to the Portal must clear any copyright issues before submitting to the Portal. Contributions to the Portal are held under a Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial – Share Alike 3.0 licence.

Management of the Antarctic Environments Portal

The Antarctic Environments Portal is managed by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research with funding and support in-kind generously provided by several Antarctic Treaty Parties.

The Portal Editor is Dr Keith Reid, Australia.

The Portal Assistant Editor is Emma Needham, SCAR Science and Operations Officer, UK.

The Portal Editorial Group comprises: Prof. Carlota Escutia, University of Grenada, Spain; Dr Polly Penhale, National Science Foundation, USA; Dr Susie Grant, Chief Officer of SCAR’s Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) and Marine Biogeographer at the British Antarctic Survey, UK; Assoc. Prof. Akinori Takahashi, National Institute of Polar Research, Japan and Amanda Lynnes, Director of Environment & Science Coordination, International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

The Portal Manager is Dr Chandrika Nath, SCAR Executive Director.

The Portal Management Board oversees the running of the Portal and consists of Dr Chandrika Nath; Prof Deneb Karentz, SCAR Vice President for Science, and Chair of the Biology Department at the University of San Francisco, USA; Dr Susie Grant, Chief Officer of SCAR’s Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS), and Marine Biogeographer at the British Antarctic Survey, UK; Dr Daniela Liggett, Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and the Portal Editor in an advisory role.