The Ukrainian research icebreaker Noosphere is operating south of the Antarctic Circle for the first time, conducting international oceanographic and geological research.
According to the National Antarctic Scientific Center (NANC), the Antarctic Circle is an imaginary line at 66°33′ latitude (north – Arctic, south – Antarctic), marking regions where polar day (sun never sets) and polar night (sun never rises) occur for at least one day per year.
Ukraine’s Vernadsky Research Base is located just north of the Antarctic Circle, and the Noosphere began its route from there, traveling south through the Antarctic Circle and Margaret Bay on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula to the British Antarctic station Rothera on Adelaide Island.
Captain Andriy Starish reported that the crew had to navigate between icebergs for over two hours, requiring highly precise maneuvers and deep knowledge of the vessel’s capabilities. Along the way, oceanographers searched for marine heatwaves, which can occur even in Antarctica due to global warming.
To identify climate anomaly sites, researchers mapped the seafloor using acoustic equipment. A CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) probe was used at 12 points in the Southern Ocean to measure temperature, salinity, oxygen, acidity, and chemical and biological indicators. The results were unexpectedly significant and will be shared after the study is completed.
Ukrainian and Mexican geologists also collected sediment core samples using a multicorer, helping to reconstruct climate changes over the past hundreds and thousands of years.
During the expedition, scientists visited Rothera, the largest British Antarctic station, which hosts up to 100 researchers in summer and 22 in winter. Plans for joint research to begin this season were discussed.
The NANC noted that near Rothera, temperatures are currently similar to Ukraine: +1 to -2°C, despite it being summer in Antarctica. Research will continue on the Noosphere’s return trip to Vernadsky Research Base.
