The 11-member science team, including foreign scientists, returned to Turkey after completing the fourth National Scientific Research Expedition. Their month-long mission in the Arctic focused on 16 projects spanning weather, atmosphere, physical sciences, and life sciences, with a special emphasis on the causes and effects of global climate change. Previously, the Arctic Century covered the topic about Turkey’s interests in the Arctic Region.

Speaking at the airport upon their return, Expedition Coordinator Burcu Özsoy announced the successful completion of their twelfth polar expedition, which includes eight missions to Antarctica and four to the Arctic. She stressed the importance of polar research in understanding climate change, highlighting the significance of the work done by Turkish scientists in both polar regions. Their research will now be followed by detailed analyses and scientific publications.

Özsoy detailed the broad scope of their studies, which cover life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences, and social sciences under the overarching theme of climate change. “Our studies encompass life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences, and social sciences," she said. She also pointed out the unique status of the Arctic as an oceanic area not owned by any country, necessitating evaluations from various perspectives, including social implications.

Highlighting the economic impacts of climate change, Özsoy noted the potential for new sea routes in the north and access to previously unreachable points in the south due to ice retreat. Preliminary results indicate a more significant increase in temperature in the northern regions compared to the southern ones. The variability in the northern sea ice extent, where the team reached, underscores significant environmental changes, emphasising the need for continued research. She asserted that Turkish scientific data is now comparable to that of countries with a century-long history of polar research.

Expedition Leader Ersan Basar described their intensive work during the expedition, which included sampling at 51 stations with a focus on marine pollution. “These samples will be analysed in laboratories at five Turkish universities, yielding valuable results,” he said.

Source: Daily News

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