The experts’ aim is to investigate factors that contribute to climate change; ship left Rio Grande do Sul
The scientific expedition led by Brazilians with the aim of completing the largest navigation around Antarctica early this Saturday (Nov 23, 2024), shortly after 2am. A ceremony to launch the expedition was held in Rio Grande (RS).
Scientists are expected to spend 60 days on the Akademik Tryoshnikov, a Russian icebreaker from the Institute for Arctic and Antarctic Research in St. Petersburg, conducting research on and exploring more than 20,000 kilometers of the Antarctic coast. According to the navigation plan, the crew must reach the southern ocean in 7 days.
The group is made up of 61 researchers from Brazil, Russia, China, Argentina, Chile, India and Peru. In total, the crew is 140 people. The majority of researchers are Brazilian. Members of the Albédo pour la Cryospère Foundation, which researches ice and snow conservation, will also be present. The foundation finances 97% of the total US$6 million (R$37.3 million at current prices) needed for the expedition. A team of documentary filmmakers and photographers are also part of the crew.
Every 200 km the ship must make a stop to carry out research, 32 of which will be for collecting oceanographic data and another 16 for collecting deep layers of ice. A plane will also carry out geophysical surveys, which will enable future analysis of sea level rise. Another 9 should be at scientific stations in Russia, China and India.
The expedition along the Antarctic coast is also supported by CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) and Fapergs (Rio Grande do Sul State Research Support Foundation). The project is led by glaciologist Jefferson Cardia Simões, from the Polar and Climatic Center at UFRGS (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul).
