Press releases

13 Jun 2019

Belarusian polar explorers considering spending first winter in Antarctica in 2020-2021

MINSK, 13 June (BelTA) – Belarusian polar explorers may spend their first winter in Antarctica in 2020-2021, BelTA learned from Aleksei Gaidashov, head of the 11th Belarusian Antarctic expedition, on 13 June.

According to the source, the construction of the first stage of the Belarusian Antarctic station is nearing completion. A new diesel generator fit for winter conditions has been delivered, assembled, and tested in various modes this year. A large amount of winter fuel has been delivered to Antarctica. Five sections out of eight have been assembled in the second facility of the station. There are plans to assemble the other three sections during the forthcoming season. It is necessary to set up a lab and an ambulance and surgery section since it would not be a good idea to try to spend winter in Antarctica without medical equipment. All the efforts are now being channeled into finishing the construction of the first stage. “Once it is done, we will be able to say with confidence that in late 2020 the expedition will be able to go to Antarctica and stay there for the winter,” Aleksei Gaidashov said.

Participants of the 11th expedition worked in Antarctica for several months. In this period they performed dozens of scientific researches and experiments, took thousands of measurements of natural parameters in line with the subprogram “Monitoring of polar areas of Earth, creation of the Belarusian Antarctic station, and enabling the work of polar expeditions” of the government program “Science-intensive technologies and equipment” for the 2016-2020 period. The scientific projects in Antarctica were performed in such areas as comprehensive ground-based and satellite monitoring of the atmosphere and the underlying terrain in Antarctica, the organization of radiation calibration of satellite spectrum apparatus for the sake of the national space program; hydrochemical, biological, environmental studies of terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems of Antarctica; monitoring of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and ultraviolet radiation in Antarctica; research into changes in the natural environment and climate. Samples of natural materials were also collected.

Besides, two major international projects were implemented. A Belarusian-Russian scientific project was implemented to study changes of borders of ice caps and reflecting qualities of their surface using spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based measurements. A Belarusian-Finnish project was implemented to study the water and thermal regime of freshwater Antarctic reservoirs. “An automatic weather post was left near our base in Antarctica. Its data can be watched online in the Internet. It is a very large step forward,” the head of the expedition noted. A scientific program of the Physiology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was carried out to study how neural networks of the brain control vital functions of polar explorers in extreme Antarctic conditions.

Belarus intends to become a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty. In 2018 Belarus became an associated member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. The associated member status is one of the crucial criteria for getting the consultative party status.

Aleksei Gaidashov said: “A regular consultative conference will take place in Prague on 29 June – 11 July. A report is supposed to be made about Belarus’ intention to start the approval process for the consultative party status. We believe that after 12 years of implementing government programs and our active participation in the work of public organizations of the Antarctic Treaty system it is time to aim for it.”

The 11th Belarusian Antarctic expedition was solemnly launched during an expanded-participation session of the bureau of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on 31 October 2018. A team led by Aleksei Gaidashov together with Russian colleagues – specialists of the Russian Antarctic expedition and deck-based aircraft crews of the research vessel – successfully carried out an air operation on 2-4 January 2019 to deliver general cargo and specialists of the second group of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition to the shore.

Participants of the 11th Belarusian Antarctic expedition met with Belarusian scientists at premises of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on 13 June. The Belarusian polar explorers talked about results of their work and showed a movie about the expedition.