A southernmost Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) watching at 84oS (Criosfera 1 remote laboratory) in December 2022

Since the 1980´s decade Antarctica has been experiencing enhanced westerly winds. The cause of this phenomenon is frequently attributed to the positive phase of the SAM (Southern Annular Mode - that is an index corresponding to the dynamics of a belt of low-pressure systems surrounding Antarctica mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silva, Heitor da, Villela, Franco, Passos, Heber, Mustafa, Osama, Prado, Luciana, Santos, Elaine dos, aximoff, Izar
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: Authorea, Inc. 2023
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.169740186.64479314/v1
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Summary:Since the 1980´s decade Antarctica has been experiencing enhanced westerly winds. The cause of this phenomenon is frequently attributed to the positive phase of the SAM (Southern Annular Mode - that is an index corresponding to the dynamics of a belt of low-pressure systems surrounding Antarctica moving north or south along the time), the ozone depletion in the stratosphere and probably a manifestation of the modern high levels of the atmospheric GHG (greenhouse gases). Recent publications realize that these enhanced winds have important implications to marine and terrestrial life in Antarctica. Among them, we may cite changes in bird migration patterns and foraging and landing at their cliff nests. In this work we present the record of the southernmost watching of the Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) at latitude 84oS (Criosfera 1 remote Brazilian laboratory) in December 2022. In this case there was a very clear association of the bird watching with an abrupt change in wind direction during the migration of a cyclone system at the Weddell Sea sector.