The minister's visit to Antarctica came ahead of next week's launch of International Polar Year (IPY).

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Poles 'vital for climate science'

Before the research papers of the IPY's scientists are published, for those living on the southern polar cap, climate change is already palpable.

CNN: Antarctica: On thin ice

This month is the launch of International Polar Year (IPY) -- an ambitious scientific effort involving over 200 projects -- which will study exactly these types of geological changes.

CNN: Antarctica: On thin ice