The 24-member team that carried out the 8th National Antarctic Scientific Expedition under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute returned home after a 36-day expedition.
The team returned to Turkey with their work in various fields such as environmental and pollution research, oceanographic and hydrographic studies, atmospheric and space observations, geology and geophysics, energy systems, meteorological measurements and bathymetry map development, investigating the mysteries of the planet that is in Antarctica is waiting to be solved.
After completing their work on Horseshoe Island, where Turkey's scientific research camp is located, the expedition team stopped at Dismal Island. The team then crossed the Lemarie and Doumer Channels and reached Deception Island. Here two Spanish scientists joined the TAE-VIII ship for logistics operations.
After a four-hour cruise, the ship reached Livingston Island and Bulgarian St. Another Turkish scientist, who conducted his studies at the Kliment Ohridski Scientific Base, took part.
The science team conducted logistics operations to the Spanish Juan Carlos I scientific base, also located on the same island, and then sailed to the Ecuadorian Maldonado base on Greenwich Island.
After a Turkish scientist who conducted his studies at this station came on board, the team took a six-hour cruise to King George Island, the last stop before the flight to Punta Arenas.
The difficult journey of the expedition team
The team, which wanted to return to Turkey with the first planned flight from the Antarctic King George Island, first via Chile Punta Arenas, then Santiago and Brazil San Paulo, reached King George Island after a stormy sea voyage.
The team had to wait on the Chilean-flagged ship called Betanzos, which served as living quarters for a month because flights could not be operated due to bad weather. While waiting, the expedition team worked on their projects and spent the rest of the time reading books and chatting.
The small Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport on Antarctica's King George Island, which has a dirt runway and operates daily flights, was unable to operate flights for days due to foggy weather.
The expedition team continued its journey after flights began, reaching Santiago from Punta Arenas, Chile, and then Sao Paulo, Brazil. With the last flight here, the team ended its 14,000 kilometer journey in Turkey.
The weather conditions extended the travel time
Head of the 8th National Antarctic Scientific Expedition Prof. DR. Regarding the expedition, Ersan Başar explained that the travel conditions began to deteriorate from Horseshoe Island, especially to Deception Island, and therefore the expedition was extended.
Prof. Dr. Ersan Başar explained that while they were waiting, they constantly checked the weather and made evaluations together as a team.
Stating that one of the most important transportation points in Antarctica is the airport on King George Island, Başar said that the airport has a gravel runway and a very small tower, and there is no point where people can take shelter.
Prof. Dr. Ersan Başar stated that the scientific studies on Horseshoe Island continued for 14 days and that the marine sciences, earth sciences and studies of the scientists on the island were completed.
Başar stated that the team also conducted studies in the marine areas on Horseshoe Island and surrounding areas and provided the following information:
“Sea samples were taken. These samples also include monitoring studies as part of our long-term projects. We have now gained a lot of scientific data from our expeditions in Antarctica and around Horseshoe Island. I think this data will be important for us in terms of time series going forward.”
“We hope that the projects will result in publications in internationally respected scientific journals.”
Deputy scientific expedition leader of the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition Dr. Atilla Yılmaz also said that they carried out sampling and measurement studies related to marine science projects along the route, starting from King George Island, where the ship's journey begins.
Yılmaz said: “A total of 22 projects were carried out within the scope of the 8th National Antarctic Scientific Expedition. The project topics cover various areas such as environmental and pollution research, oceanographic and hydrographic studies, atmospheric and space observations, geology and geophysics, and energy systems,” he said.
The institutions they worked with during the expedition, such as the General Directorate of Mapping (HGM), the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM) and the Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography Department of the Turkish Naval Forces (SHODB), would also have benefited from the strengthening Yılmaz added that 4 foreign scientists took part in the expedition within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
Yılmaz said: “A total of four different researchers from the USA, Bulgaria and Spain took part in our expedition to carry out their studies,” he said.
Emphasizing that it took several years to obtain the results of the studies carried out during the expedition, Yılmaz said, “We hope that these projects will become publications in internationally respected scientific journals.” said.
Yılmaz explained that studies were also carried out to better understand the studies among the public and to raise awareness about Antarctica and global climate change. Participants from Anadolu Agency and TÜBİTAK BİTO documented all processes from the beginning to the end of the expedition. and worked personally with researchers to prepare various studies to be published in the news and social media. told.
Logistics operations, navigation and life safety of the expedition
8th National Antarctic Science Expedition Deputy Expedition Leader for Logistics Cpt. Doğaç Baybars Işıler also stated that they encountered many icebergs during the expedition and said:
“This not only shows us the signals of global climate change, but also shows that we need to pay special attention to safety precautions when navigating at sea. Because the abundance of icebergs in the sea is of great importance both at night and during the day.” “To exclude this, you can observe it at night in this way, with specially illuminated projectors and spotters.”
Pointing out that safety criteria are very important in Antarctica, Işıler said that they conducted safety training not only on a ship-based basis but also for each researcher participating in the expedition before and after their arrival on the ship.
Işıler said: “In order for the ship to ensure its own safety, it is very important to carry out observations in front of sea ice and icebergs and pay attention to navigation safety so that we can all complete the entire journey healthily and safely.” he said.
Health support for the expedition team
A doctor accompanied the team, which carried out 22 separate projects in the areas of earth sciences, life sciences and physics. Assoc. Prof. from Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Underwater Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine. Dr. Bengüsu Mirasoğlu participated in the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition and provided health support to the science expedition team both on site and on the ship.
Mirasoğlu mentioned that there are two different phases to find a doctor in Antarctic science expeditions and said:
“One of them is the research that is carried out before the expedition begins. Antarctica is one of the most remote, cold and isolated places, so the health status of the participants coming here must be suitable for working here. For this reason, we have all participants who come here undergo a very detailed examination before the expedition begins. “We try to rule out possible illnesses before they occur. We also support them in the event of any accidents or illnesses that may occur after they arrive here, and of course we support them in the treatment of illnesses.”
Mirasoğlu stated that they did not have any serious health problems during the expedition.
Minister Kacır's congratulations to the science team
Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır congratulated the scientific expedition delegation and stated that the crescent moon and star flags fly at the poles and that they will continue to protect scientific studies, make the temporary science base on the continent permanent and be among the most important members in the Antarctic Treaty System.
On the other hand, observations of the glaciers, icebergs and creatures living in the South Pole were carried out during the expedition.
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