The team participating in the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition, organized under the auspices of the Presidency, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, reached Istanbul after a long journey.
Making statements after the expedition, Captain Özgün Oktar, deputy expedition leader in charge of logistics for the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition, said that 20 researchers, including 2 foreigners, continued their work with 14 projects. Oktar stated that they returned home at the end of a 46-day period and said, "Approximately two tons of cargo, scientific research equipment and other logistics materials were delivered to the continent. We have completed all the planned work with a 33-day work on the continent."
6th National Antarctic Science Expedition Deputy expedition leader Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Hakan Yavaşoğlu stated that 14 projects were carried out this year and said, "We took our studies on life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences and astronomy. Work continued for 14 days. Then we completed our studies on Dismal Island for 2 days." Explaining that more than 60 projects have been completed so far, Yavaşoğlu said, "We have 89 publications. When we consider it among the countries in Antarctica, this is a very high rate. This year, we can say that our professors have been working efficiently, especially on living units."
The 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition started on January 22nd. The 20-member expedition team reached the Antarctic continent on February 2 after passing through 2 countries and 4 cities, and from there they went to Horseshoe Island by sea.
The 20-person expedition team and 30 crew members traveled to Horseshoe Island, where the temporary science camp is located, to work on 14 scientific projects involving 29 institutions. Two foreign researchers, one from Portugal and one from Bulgaria, were included in the team.
National technologies were also included in the expedition this year
While the local and national GNSS receiver produced by HAVELSAN helped to collect data for position determination, a 3D map of Horseshoe Island was studied with a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed in our country and data on glacier depths were collected.
The team's communication in the field was provided by ASELSAN-produced radios and modular radio repeaters. TÜBİTAK SAGE's thermal battery was kept ready to meet energy needs when necessary.
In recent years, Turkey's first meteorological station and the first three GNSS stations were installed in Antarctica. The data collected from all stations shed light on many scientific researches, especially climate change, sea level changes, tectonic movements and glacier observations.
This year, the seismic activity of the region was also monitored with a seismic station.
