Totally Cooked: Episode 28 – Drilling into the secrets of Antarctic ice, with Tessa Vance

Drill into the frozen depths of Earth’s climate history in this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast. Your hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan are joined by Dr Tessa Vance (University of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Program) to explore paleoclimatology, and find out how Antarctic ice cores unlock thousands of years of rainfall, drought, and climate variability across Australia and the Pacific, helping put today’s human-caused climate change into crucial context.

From remote drilling sites like Law Dome to the challenges of extracting and analysing ice cores, this episode reveals how scientists reconstruct long-term climate records far beyond Australia’s short observational history. Discover evidence of droughts and wet periods that rival or exceed those on record, and learn how slow-moving climate drivers like the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) shape decades-long swings between dry and wet conditions.

The conversation also uncovers a surprising link between Antarctic sea salt and Australian bushfire risk via a Southern Ocean ‘weather bridge’. Plus, hear about the ambitious Million Year Ice Core Project, aiming to extend climate records back up to two million years, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in climate science, extreme weather, and Antarctic research.

Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.

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This episode will be released and available to stream and download on Friday 14th August, 2026.

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Why listen to Totally Cooked?

Because it’s time to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. Totally Cooked is a science-backed, straight-talking podcast about weather, climate change, and what it all means for life on Earth – especially here in Australia.

Hosted by climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and science communicator Iain Strachan, Totally Cooked breaks down how human activity is changing the Earth’s systems—from our skies to our seas—and what we can do about it.

From greenhouse gases to fire weather, supercomputers to Antarctic ice cores, this is climate science without the jargon, and where no subject is too complex or controversial.

Totally Cooked is for anyone who wants to understand the science of climate change—without needing a PhD. Whether you’re a high school student, policy maker, journalist, teacher, concerned citizen or just a little climate-curious, this podcast will give you the tools to think clearly and act confidently.

• Cut through the noise with clear, honest science.
• Understand the why behind climate change;
• Learn how climate change impacts real-world weather;
• Hear from the best researchers and scientists in their field and from around the world;

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