Reporters document Antarctica changes

WOODS HOLE, Mass., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Three journalists are at the Palmer Research Station in Antarctica this week to document signs of climate change.

The journalists, recipients of three-week Marine Biological Laboratory polar program fellowships, are Scott Canon from the Kansas City Star, Jason Orfanon from National Public Radio, and Angela Posada-Swafford from the Spanish magazine Muy Interesante.

"Long-term measurements tell the story here," says Chris Neill, director of the Logan Science Journalism Polar Program in Antarctica and a scientist at the MBL's Ecosystems Center in Maine.

"The Antarctic Peninsula is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth," Neill said. "Average temperature has warmed 6 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950. Winter temperature has warmed even more, a shocking 11 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of sea ice along the western Antarctic Peninsula has declined 40 percent and ice cover is 80 days shorter, compared with 25 years ago.

"The rapid loss of ice at the ends of the world will very well be the story of the century," Neill added. "If the Earth loses too much ice, we tumble headlong into uncharted territory."

The journalists will be in Antarctica until Dec. 18.