The 8th National Antarctic Scientific Expedition organized 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 continues.
Horseshoe Island, where work is currently underway, has bodies of water fed by meltwater from glaciers and snowfall. Based on research conducted in the region, it is expected that these lakes will soon be declared an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) under the Antarctic Treaty System based on natural and scientific values they carry.
“Lakes are home to many scientific projects”
Deputy scientific expedition leader of the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition, Dr. Atilla Yılmaz said that there are many bodies of water on Horseshoe Island.
Yılmaz said: “The lakes in the region near our camp host many scientific projects due to their accessibility. These lakes can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes from our camp. Various studies have been carried out here in the past and during this expedition. For example, as part of this expedition, water and sediment in the lakes “studies were carried out for the presence of microplastics in the samples,” he said.
“It is expected to be declared a special protection area in the coming months.”
Dr. Atilla Yılmaz stated that the lakes, which are rarely seen in such southern latitudes, have ecosystem-rich waters and continued his words as follows:
“Due to the scientific importance of these lakes and their support for natural life, it is planned to declare them a special protected area region later this year or even in the coming months. The scientific value, aesthetic value or other values in Antarctica are planned.” “A system . Under the Antarctic Treaty System, countries take responsibility and take additional measures to protect the regions here and create a management plan. Within this management plan, topics such as “What can you do here, what can’t be done, how should you proceed, what is allowed” are included.”
Recalling that Turkey, Belgium and the United Kingdom presented a proposal to make this place a special protected area in the Antarctic Treaty System with an initiative they launched last year, Atilla Yılmaz said: “We also have “We are assuming that these will be discussed and approved,” he said.
“Scientific activities will continue at full speed here.”
Stating that when there is talk of “special protected areas,” it does not mean that “they will not be entered or examined in any way,” Yılmaz said that scientific activities here continue in full swing, but various precautions are being taken to ensure this to prevent disturbing the ecosystem and natural environment of this place.
Mentioning that many creatures live in the lakes, Yılmaz said: “Many creatures live in this lake ecosystem, which is fed by meltwater from glaciers, especially zooplankton and phytoplankton. We know that two different species of zooplankton live in these lakes.” Previous studies have found plankton fossils that are thousands of years old. This shows that both lakes “underscore their importance both scientifically and to the Antarctic ecosystem,” he said.
Pointing out that as TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, they have an environmental monitoring program for the lakes on Horseshoe Island, which they launched in 2023, Yılmaz said: “Every year we study various physico-chemical parameters in the lakes above ours We take water and sediment samples from this in laboratories in Turkey. “We are studying the amount of pollutants,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the influence of humanity is also visible here.”
Dr. Atilla Yılmaz concluded his words by stating that although Antarctica is defined as an isolated place thousands of kilometers away from Turkey or the entire mainland, unfortunately the influence of humanity can also be observed in Antarctica:
“Especially in recent years, the increasing tourist population in nearby areas, including Horseshoe Island, is also contributing to this effect. In addition, intensive fishing activities continue in the region. Apart from this, air travel from the mainland to nearby regions such as South America, southern Africa or Australia is also possible. It is also possible that pollutants are transported here via water or water. In our study, we want to monitor the concentration of these pollutants over a longer period of time through measurements and laboratory tests analyzed annually. This is important data to determine whether additional precautions need to be taken if levels of these pollutants increase in the future. will be available.”
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