By marking and monitoring the sea bed at three different depths and counting the number of damaged markers each year for five years, the BAS team found that the frequency of icebergs scouring the seabed – where 80 per cent of all Antarctic life occurs – has increased. This, they believe, is related to the decline of the winter sea ice.

‘During years with a long sea ice season of eight months or so, the disturbance rates were really low, whereas in poor sea ice years, the seabed was pounded by ice for most of the year,’ said Dr Dan Smale, lead author of the research. ‘This is because icebergs are locked into position by winter sea ice, so they aren’t free to get pushed around by winds and tides until they crash into the seabed.’

September 08