Photo : Raisuke Numata/polarjournal
Photo : Raisuke Numata/polarjournal
By Kumari Krishna and Fleur Elizabeth Phillip
CLIMATE CHANGE
Sea-ice hits a low record in ts peak growth period
On 29 March, the Arctic sea-ice had its weakest winter buildup since record keeping began in 1978. Scientists say that there have been global repercussions in the climate. The Arctic reaches its maximum sea-ice in March and then a six month melting season. The National Snow and Ice Data Center said its peak measurement taken on Saturday was 5.53 million square miles. Scientists say that the region is warming four times faster than the rest of the world. Pressure and temperature differences between the north and south shrink, which weakens the jet streams that move the weather systems along. (Seth Borenstien “Arctic sea ice hits record low for its usual peak growth period,” Phys Org, 29 March 2025)
GEOPOLITICS
Putin says Russia open for foreign cooperation for developing the Arctic
On 27 March, Russia President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is willing to cooperate with foreign partners, including the west. In a speech, Putin said US President Donald Trump’s statement to acquire Greenland was serious and it was clear that Greenland had nothing to do with Russia. He also raised his concerns that NATO countries in general are increasingly designated the icy island as a springboard for possible conflicts. Reporting from Moscow, Yulia Shapovalova, said the President’s priority is to develop the region and improve the living conditions and get better access to the natural resources. Putin is also keen on developing the Northern Sea Route, which connects the western Eurasia with the Asia Pacific, but it cannot do it alone, and is open for cooperation. (“Russia’s Putin eyes Arctic cooperation despite geopolitical tensions” Al Jazeera, 27 March 2025)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
EOS reports on Ehrenfeucht Map on Antarctic subglacial hydrology
On 07 March 2025, Ehrenfeucht and colleagues published a groundbreaking paper on Antarctic subglacial hydrology, employing a new model of subglacial drainage to map the continent's water systems. The model described both distributed and channelized drainage beneath the ice sheet and compared its results to prior estimates.This accomplishment matters since applying this model to large-scale convergence is technically challenging. The research is a turning point in science, with new opportunities for simulations that couple ice sheets and water flow, which are necessary for projecting sea level rise due to global warming. By demonstrating how water pressure fields operate, the results can enhance ice sheet simulations, leading to more accurate forecasts of future climate impacts.Antarctica is also important in controlling the climate of the world, and thus it is important to know its water systems under the ice. Such findings will improve climate models and guide future decisions about how to combat climate change. (Minghua Zhang, "Subglacial Hydrology Under the Antarctic Ice Sheet," EOS, 25 March 2025)
Year-round study by NIOZ finds microbial life in Antarctic waters
On 24 March, Atrobiology reported on a study conducted during July 2013 and April 2014 of microbial communities in Antarctica. Researchers from Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) conducted an unprecedented year-long study, examining bacteria and microbial eukaryotes seasonally at Rothera and Palmer research stations. The project was led by NIOZ and included US and UK partnerships and was designed to compare microbial dynamics under different environmental conditions.Concurrently, samples were taken by standardized procedures to ensure consistency. Bacteria, protists, phytoplankton, and other microorganisms were characterized by DNA sequencing, and statistical models predicted microbial interactions with advanced techniques. Bacterial control of community structure was higher at Palmer, where temperatures have increased more rapidly, while microbial eukaryotes dominated at RotheIEW, ra.The research shows that warmer temperatures allow for more bacteria and less phytoplankton, leading to lower biological productivity. Less phytoplankton means less food for higher trophic groups, and will have consequences for marine ecosystems. Since the Southern Ocean is a key link in global food webs, climate change impacts on microbes will have global repercussions. Engelmann, the lead author, emphasized the importance of integrating data about microbes into modeling approaches as well. According to him: "Our study provides important baseline data, but we need to continue to collect data in order to understand how microbial communities respond to climate change. Once we have that, we can put it into models in order to make our predictions and conservation planning that much stronger...It is critically important to continue long-term data collection, because more research will provide better insight into the interactions that microbes have with each other and what resilience to climate change means for the future of microbes." International collaboration is the key to surmounting the logistical challenges of Antarctic research. (Keith Cowing, "Ocean World Biodiversity: Climate Affects Microbial Life Around Antarctica," ASTROBIOLOGY, 24 March 2025)
China tests hydrogen fuel cell for Antarctic research
China tested a hydrogen fuel cell system in 2025 at its fifth Antarctic research station. The system was developed by a State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) company. The system can power itself for 24 days and can produce 30kW of electricity, storing excess wind and solar power to convert to electricity at a future time.This unit can be upscaled from 50kW to a few megawatts and is a clean alternative to diesel generators. The hydrogen storage tank is 50m in diameter, reducing CO2 emissions by around 1kg per kWh. It has a power generation efficiency of 50 percent and is more than 90 percent efficient in combined heat and power, and has a design life of 40,000 hours.This new concept is a big milestone for clean power in distant regions. As Antarctica relies heavily on diesel generators, hydrogen systems have the potential to provide a cleaner and autonomous energy source, proving it is possible for such purposes globally. (Edward Laity, "SPIC hydrogen fuel cell powers Chinese research facility in Antarctica," VIEW, 25 March 2025)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Japan launches the new research vessel for the Arctic: Mirai II
On 28 March, Japan celebrated the launch of its first built ice-class Arctic research vessel, Mirai II. This is a significant step for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), which will help in advancing the research of the Arctic region. Japan’s mission is to contribute to solving issues based on scientific evidence creating an impact in the Arctic region. Concerns are everywhere on the rapid changes in the Arctic, such as climate change, melting of the sea-ice and the increased economic activity in the region. JAMSTEC highlights that the vessel will be equipped with high quality facilities and this will enable a wide range of observations on atmosphere, weather, ocean, sea-ice, and many more. The design incorporates the maximum extent of Japan’s icebreaking construction technology. The new vessel will be polar class 4 capable of constantly breaking 4 foot ice layers. Mirai II will be 13,000 tons with a length of 128 meters and will accommodate a total of 97 people, 34 crew members and 63 researchers. JAMSTEC will cease the current marine research vessel Mirai at the end of 2025. (“Japan Launches Its First Dedicated Ice-Class Arctic Research Vessel,” Maritime Executive, 28 March 2025)
Turkey launches its ninth National Antarctic Scientific Expedition
On 07 March, Türkiye moved forward with its aims for the polar regions by acceding to the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) Treaty, by virtue of which its citizens and businesses may operate in the Arctic. Moreover,Türkiye opened its ninth National Antarctic Scientific Expedition, which shows its commitment to scientific exploration for the polar regions.The history of Turkey's interest in Antarctica starts with Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis, whose map of 1513 contained lands near the continent. From his work, Turkish researchers have been conducting bathymetric surveys in Gaul Bay, improving navigation charts and hydrographic charts. They also installed geodynamic stations on Horseshoe Island to study seismic activity.Under the Antarctic Treaty System, Türkiye does not have a consultative status at present but aims to become one by opening a permanent research station. Since 2017, Türkiye has made eight trips to Antarctica and four trips to the Arctic, including nearly 200 scientists in over 100 research projects. The country has also increased scientific cooperation with more than 20 countries. As there has been growing interest in Antarctica's resources, Türkiye's scientific diplomacy approach aims to be a pioneer in the future. Polar science is not only about acquiring information but also an astute strategy to enhance Türkiye's international profile in evolving polar politics.(Merve AyÅŸe Kızılaslan, "Antarctica: New arena for Türkiye's international influence," DAILY SABAH, 25 March 2025)
China's 41st Antarctic expedition brings back longest sediment sore
On 27 March, Chinese expedition team 41 undertook a gravity core sampling expedition in the Amundsen Sea, obtaining the longest sediment core from the seamount region in Alaska. They used a 22-meter long piston gravity corer which drilled seabed sediment samples from over 2800 meters deep canyon.The drilling took over 20 hours from beginning to completion. Its objective is to investigate changes in the ancient environment and ocean. In China, scientists will examine the core's physical, chemical, and minute fossil characteristics. This will enable them to know past climate trends and predict future directions. China's voyage began on 1 November 2024 and will last nearly seven months. The findings from this study will be significant for climate science, providing information regarding long-term environmental change in the Antarctic region. ("China’s 41st Antarctic expedition obtains longest sediment core in Amundsen Sea," GLOBAL TIMES, 26 March 2025)