The Antarctic manganese mystery

By Andy Extance2025-12-08T11:06:00

The RRS Sir David Attenborough with its bright red hull sailing through broken ice

Source: © British Antarctic Survey

RRS Sir David Attenborough scientists are trying to measure the potentially crucial role of ocean manganese, finds Andy Extance. But how do you do cutting-edge science in the inhospitable Southern Ocean?

Scientists aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough are braving the harsh Antarctic seas to unravel a hidden factor in climate change: the role of manganese in ocean chemistry. Their £4m IronMan project aims to understand how this overlooked element, alongside iron, influences phytoplankton growth and the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide – a process critical for regulating global temperatures. With sea ice shrinking and ecosystems shifting rapidly, the team’s findings could reshape climate models and reveal new insights into the resilience of polar environments.