Participants in the third Turkish Arctic research expedition completed their mission and returned to their homeland.
The expedition was held under the patronage of the Administration of the President of Turkey with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Technology in cooperation with the Institute of Polar Research Tübi̇tak (Kare).
A group of scientists who left Istanbul on July 5, for a month conducted research on the Polar Xplorer ship under the Norwegian flag.
The ship reached the sea ice line 81 degrees north latitude.
The group completed scientific research by selection of samples. During the mission, measurements were made at 28 points of the Arctic.
The expedition conducted research in the framework of 14 projects in various sectors of the Barents Sea.
The work of scientists included the study of an ecosystem adapted to the Arctic Ocean, Pisces and other marine inhabitants, selection of phytoplankton samples, determining the level of pollutants in the sea, monitoring the physical parameters of sea water, monitoring atmospheric pollution of the marine water area, meteorological observations, exposure to new trade routes to the environment, as well as monitoring of sea ice and monitoring of marine mammals.
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Anadolu’s agency talked with the head of the expedition by Ozgun Octar and other mission participants who talked about the conduct and goals of the mission.
According to Octar, who live only in the Arctic and white bears brought to the Red Book, are very sensitive to climate change and the effects of human activity.
“We carefully followed the behavior of the bears. These creatures move and hunt on sea ice. They hunt seals and other animals. However, with a change in the climate in the Arctic, sea ice quickly disappears. By 2030, perhaps in the summer season will not remain sea ice, which means that the fed areas of white bears will be lost, ”he said.
According to the coordinator of the expedition of Burdju Ozso, one of the most dangerous risks in shipping is the spread of oil pollution to the surface of the sea and ocean.
He noted that today quite effective and methods to prevent such pollution have not yet been developed.
“In this sense, our research work is a very serious and positive project in this direction,” he said.
The crew of the expedition overcame about 5500 kilometers. Studies of sea ice began at 81 degrees of northern latitude.
Observations of glaciers were made that broke out and mixed with the sea due to climate change, humpbacked whales, small stripes, dolphins, seals, walruses, white bears and dozens of bird species in the Barents Sea.