Turkish scientists shed light on the future with their scientific activities in Antarctica and traced human-induced pollution in the continent.
In the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition, which was held under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and under the coordination of the TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, Turkish scientists left a minimum footprint on Antarctica and became the protector of life by preventing the ecosystem of the continent and its surroundings from being adversely affected.
Turkish scientists who went to the “Science and Peace Continent” Antarctica carried out their studies within the scope of the rules determined in the Antarctic Treaty System, which came into force in 1961 and to which 54 countries are parties, and in accordance with the conditions specified in the Antarctic Treaty Environmental Protection Protocol accepted in 2017. conducted. Turkish scientists worked within the scope of the regulation based on the Madrid Protocol of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change within the said system.
Deputy Leader of the National Antarctic Science Expedition Dr. Atilla Yılmaz stated that they are working on the lakes on Horseshoe Island and that they aim to examine the levels and distribution of human-induced pollutants in the lakes.
Explaining that there are 4 lakes on the island and that they collect water and sediment samples from these lakes, Yılmaz said:
“We will conduct various analyzes in the laboratories in Turkey on the samples collected. Two different zooplankton have been found in the studies carried out in the lakes. This is why the lake ecosystems in the southernmost latitudes where these zooplankton are seen are of great importance. Zooplankton fossils dating back tens of thousands of years have been found in the core and sediment samples taken during the studies. Therefore, we are making great efforts to preserve this scientific and cultural heritage in the future. As the United Kingdom, Belgium and Turkey, we are making an effort to declare all the lakes in the vicinity as protected areas. Most likely, this place will be a protected area from 2024. When it is a protected area, of course, where scientific studies will continue. But there will be certain rules.”
Environmental Officer of the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition Dr. Burak Karacık also stated that they will look for heavy metal and organic pollutants in the samplings they make in the lakes on the island, adding, “Although not human, human-induced pollutants come here. They can come here especially by air transport such as pesticides and atmospheric effects, and they can also affect living things.” said.
Referring to the importance of sea ice formation for Antarctica, Karacık said, “This year, the sea ice level is very low compared to previous years, it is at its lowest level. So why is it important? Because the creatures we call krill, which are the beginning of the ecosystem, have a direct proportion to sea ice. When sea ice decreases, krill decreases. “Especially whales, seals and penguins live on krill. When the sea ice decreases in Antarctica, the whole ecosystem deteriorates. I can say that we have seen this with our own observations. While we saw a large number of whales and seals in previous expeditions, we had the opportunity to see very few of them this time.” he said.
There are 72 special environmental protection areas called “ASPA” in Antarctica.
Dr. Karacık stated that there are 72 special protection areas called “ASPA (Antarctic Specially Protected Area)” in Antarctica, and noted that the areas where there is vitality and that need to be protected have been determined.
Pointing out that special permissions must be obtained to enter these areas, Karacık continued as follows:
“Because there are areas reserved only for scientists to do research and not to affect the ecosystem there. There is no such spot on Horseshoe Island, but the lakes on it are very important for the Antarctic ecosystem and ASPA is planned there. We also paid attention to research these lakes in this year’s expedition. We took samples from the lakes for possible human-caused pollution. It is forbidden to take anything including ‘water’ and ‘ice’ from Antarctica. The reason is that the area is under protection. Scientists can only take samples from here, and special permits are required for these samples.
We always have a perimeter officer to check on these permits and when we go ashore in Antarctica, so that we don’t harm any living creatures while on board. If you do not have a scientific study, you cannot approach penguins more than 5 meters. You should not approach seals in the same way. Why are these important, because; If you approach the penguins, if they have eggs, they can lay it, and the seals in the environment can be disturbed. This is such an untouched ecosystem that it was discovered in the last 200 years and all living things are not afraid of humans, they come to you and wonder. But man can exert his great influence as usual and cause the death of colonies. That’s why there’s a perimeter officer who observes that everything has to be done very carefully.”
Emphasizing that the scientists paid a lot of attention to leave a minimum footprint on the continent during their work on the White Continent during the expedition, Karacık said, “Because Antarctica is far from people and the points we go to are not connected to each other, we put our feet in a special liquid and clean it every time we land. “We do this because we do not want to carry viruses or pathogens from one point to another. Such incidents have happened before. For example, bird flu has caused the death of penguin colonies. To prevent this, we are very careful, especially when going ashore, and we always clean our shoes and clothes.” he said.
Emperor penguin cub caught on camera for the first time on Horseshoe Island
Turkish scientists also make live and glacial observations as part of the expeditions on Horseshoe Island, where they have been carrying out scientific activities for 7 years. During the studies carried out in this context, a baby emperor penguin was seen for the first time on the island.
Burak Karacık, Environmental Officer of the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition, stated that they observed 3 types of penguins on Horseshoe Island, where they made the National Antarctic Science Expedition and where the temporary science camp is located, but that they encountered a baby emperor penguin for the first time this year. Emperor penguins are known to live near Horseshoe Island in the records, but we have never seen emperor penguins on Horseshoe Island during our expeditions. The emperor penguins, which we normally see further south, are a species we haven’t seen for 7 years despite having a colony. This is an interesting situation for us. Apart from this species Adelie and Chinstrap (helmet) penguins are seen on the island.” he said.
Noting that they can see many mammals around Horseshoe Island, Karacık said that it is possible to see elephant seals, fur seals, Weddell seals, crabeater seals and seals that like to hang out in groups.
The largest of the 18 penguin species found in the world: Emperor penguin
According to the information obtained, emperor penguins are a penguin species seen in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Emperor penguins, whose numbers have decreased in recent years and are the largest penguin species in the world, are expected to decrease by 26 percent to 47 percent in their total numbers by 2050, if warming continues with global climate change.
The emperor penguin, the largest of the 18 penguin species found in the world, can reach approximately 120 centimeters in length and 40 kilograms in weight. The species, whose population is over 500 thousand in the world, becomes easy to hunt due to the deterioration of the world’s heat balance, greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, and reduction of sea ice. At the same time, it is difficult for these penguins to find food, which poses a major obstacle to their chances of survival due to the far-reaching effects of climate change.
Awareness dive from the expedition’s diver team
Expedition participants 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition Environmental Officer Dr. Burak Karacık and Anadolu Agency Photojournalist Şebnem Coşkun made an awareness dive into an iceberg that broke off from the glacier on Horseshoe Island, where the Turkish Science Camp is located.
To draw attention to the melting in the White Continent, the point where global climate change is most felt, and to the creatures living due to ice, the diving team dived into the iceberg that broke off from the Horseshoe glacier during the expedition, not only observing the effects of climate change, but also a crabeater sleeping in the pool formed inside the iceberg. crab-eater) spotted the seal.
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