12 scientists are taking part in the expedition, which will carry out a total of 12 different scientific projects and studies in the fields of oceanography, biology, chemistry, atmospheric dynamics, meteorology, geodesy and satellite systems.
The research team, which set out from Istanbul to conduct marine sampling studies in polar ecosystems, first reached Oslo. The team then left Tromsø by ship, completed the final preparations for their scientific research expedition to the northern tip of the world and began scientific research there. The team is expected to use the ship to reach 82 degrees north latitude.
“12 different scientific projects and studies are being implemented”
Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated in his post on his NSosyal account that the polar research expeditions will continue under the auspices of the Presidency and carried out by TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute.
Stating that after the successful completion of the 10th National Antarctic Scientific Expedition this year, the 6th National Scientific Research Expedition to the Arctic (North Pole and Surrounding Areas) began, Kacır made the following assessments:
“Our scientific committee, which aims to study the effects of global climate change on site and conduct critical research, consists of three foreign researchers and three high school students who won the TÜBİTAK Climate Research Projects Competition. A total of 12 different scientific projects and studies in the fields of oceanography, biology, chemistry, atmospheric studies, meteorology, geodesy and satellite systems will be implemented within the scope of the expedition.”
Pointing out that the scientific delegation will collect CTD profiles and water and sediment (seabed sediment) samples at specific coordinates and at different depths along the planned expedition route, Kacır explained that the researchers will record temperature, salinity distributions and the presence of microplastics in the Arctic Ocean, and that the atmospheric dynamics in the Arctic region will be monitored throughout the expedition and geodetic GNSS observations (Global Navigation Satellite System).
“We will carry out all our scientific projects in the Arctic Ocean”
The coordinator of the 6th National Arctic Research Expedition, Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, made statements before the expedition, stating that there were scientists in the team and that researchers from Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul University, Dokuz Eylül University and Gebze Technical University also participated in the expedition to carry out their scientific projects.
Explaining that a researcher from the Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography Department of the Turkish Naval Forces particularly participated in the studies to be carried out in marine areas, Özsoy said, “Our international scientific participants, who are indispensable to our expeditions, will also join our expedition this year from Argentina, Uruguay and Bulgaria.”
Explaining that they will carry out all their scientific projects on the ship in the Arctic Ocean, Özsoy said: “We plan to go up to the 82nd parallel north. In particular, we will cover the distance to the existing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. In the meantime, we have an uninterrupted travel schedule thanks to our stations in the marine area and the fact that there is 24-hour daylight in the Arctic.”
High school students also take part in the expedition
Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy reiterated that high school students also take part in the expedition every year and concluded her words as follows:
“They carry out their projects on site together with scientists. High school students who apply for the tender opened by TÜBİTAK in two different categories, climate research and polar research, will receive the right to enter the finals and then be ranked. Among our ranked students, they will be given the right to participate in the expedition in the last interview. This year, three of our high school students took part in our science expedition. They are participating from two different high schools: Izmir Science High School and Özdemir Bayraktar Aerospace Technologies Vocational and Technical High School “Three of our high school students will carry out their scientific work in this field with the tender opened by TÜBİTAK and the award they received from our President within the framework of TEKNOFEST.”
“We will conduct 12 different scientific studies”
Captain Doğaç Baybars Işıler, leader of the 6th National Arctic Research Expedition, stated that they have an expedition plan of about 25 days and that they intend to carry out the work within this plan with 12 researchers.
Stating that the team consists of three female and nine male researchers, Işıler said: “We will carry out twelve projects during the expeditions. We will carry out twelve different scientific studies in areas such as marine sciences, space, space travel and positioning systems. Our goal is to sample 50 to 70 separate sampling stations depending on weather conditions.”
Türkiye is strengthening its scientific presence in the polar regions
Türkiye continues to strengthen its scientific presence in the polar regions and its reputation at the global level.
In this context, a total of 12 different scientific projects and studies in the fields of oceanography, biology, chemistry, atmospheric research, meteorology, geodesy and satellite systems will be implemented within the framework of the 6th National Arctic Research Expedition, which will be carried out under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK KARE.
The scientific committee will collect CTD profiles as well as water and sediment (seafloor sediment) samples from specific coordinates and different depths along the planned expedition route to determine temperature, salinity distributions and the presence of microplastics in the Arctic Ocean. In addition, atmospheric dynamics in the Arctic will be monitored and geodetic GNSS observations will be conducted throughout the expedition.
International collaborations and future scientists are in the same boat
The expedition, which revealed Türkiye's global scientific potential, built strong international and inter-institutional partnerships with public interest in mind. While 2 public institutions, 5 universities and 2 high schools from Turkey are represented in TASE VI, a total of 3 foreign researchers from the Antarctic Institutes of Argentina, Bulgaria and Uruguay will carry out their studies with the Turkish scientific delegation as part of the bilateral cooperation.
Three high school students from two different projects (Muhammed Emin Bozkurt, Kadir Asrın Sarı and Barkın Özsoy) who won first place in the TÜBİTAK 2204-D High School Students Climate Change Research Projects competition and were selected through interviews were also included in the team. Young people have the opportunity to directly test the climate change projects they develop in the Arctic environment.
Meanwhile, the science expedition is expected to end on July 24.
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