Researchers undertake unprecedented circumnavigation of Antarctica
Researchers from seven countries, led by Brazil, embarked on an unprecedented adventure: the circumnavigation of Antarctica. For the first time, scientists will circle the entire frozen continent of the South Pole, covering approximately 14,000 kilometers while collecting ice, water, and air samples to deepen their understanding of climate change and the effects of pollution.
The expedition departed from Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, on November 22, with a team of 61 scientists—27 representing nine Brazilian public universities and the rest hailing from Russia, China, India, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Jefferson Cardia Simões, a professor at the Polar and Climate Center of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and an expert in polar geography, leads the mission. He has traveled to Antarctica a dozen times.
“We are witnessing the most intense, rapid, and widespread climate changes affecting daily life in both polar regions,” he said before departure, highlighting the expedition's importance.
They are all on board the icebreaker from Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, one of the few vessels of its kind for scientific purposes. Over 130 meters long, the ship can break through ice sheets up to 2 meters thick, allowing the researchers to get as close to the coast as possible.
The circumnavigation is expected to continue around the continent until January 12, when the expedition will reach King George Island, the closest point to South America and home to the Brazilian Navy's Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. The researchers are scheduled to return to the city of Rio Grande, in Rio Grande do Sul, between January 23 and 25.
Tasks
The teams of scientists have various tasks focused on three main areas: monitoring the ice caps, analyzing the continent's climate, and detecting microplastics. The primary objective is to gain a better understanding of what the Antarctic ice sheet looked like in the past and how it is responding to climate change and other human activities.
“We have floating ice shelves, and that's where icebergs break off. However, over the past 20 years, we've observed that many of these platforms are disappearing and disintegrating. The warming of the ocean and atmosphere may also be lubricating the Antarctic ice sheet, causing it to diminish. What does this imply? In 200 to 300 years, we could see a rise of 6 to 7 meters in sea level,” explains researcher Jefferson Cardia.
All the material collected by the expedition can help science understand what direction the planet is taking but also explain issues affecting the planet today. “Despite its polar position, and apparent remoteness from the other continents, Antarctica is vital for life on Earth, and yes, it does have an impact on our daily lives. It is one of the main climate regulators and what happens in Antarctica has an impact on the whole planet. If you look at the map, the continent and the area of sea ice have contact with all the oceans. In Brazil, rainfall and temperatures, which are so important for food production, are directly linked to what happens in Antarctica,” explains Rosemary Vieira, a professor at the Institute of Geosciences at Fluminense Federal University and one of the coordinators of the university's team.
