Ankara: Trkiye is spearheading its fifth scientific research expedition to the Arctic, aiming to uncover insights about the planet's future through 19 projects focused on the region's marine environment. The expedition, led by Trkiye's Presidency, includes participants from the Scientific and Technological Research Institution (Tubitak), the Directorate of Navigation, Hydrography, and Oceanography (SHOD), Anadolu news agency, and several universities in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, as well as three guest researchers from Bulgaria, Argentina, and Ecuador.
According to Anadolu Agency, the scientific team, coordinated by Burcu Ozsoy, comprises nine Turkish and three foreign nationals. They are working on various projects, including taking Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and meteorological readings within a 3,000-mile radius of Svalbard Island. These efforts aim to analyze the impact of sea ice melting on the marine ecosystem through samples collected from 70 stations, with findings expected to strengthen Trkiye's contribution to Arctic science.
Dogac Baybars Isiler, the expedition's captain, has contributed to the 19 Arctic projects. Assistant leader Erhan Arslan measured meteorological parameters, while senior Anadolu photojournalist Sebnem Coskun documented the expedition's progress.
Lieutenant Mustafa Kanat from SHOD undertook oceanographic measurements to identify suitable locations for satellite-based bathymetric readings. Adil Enis Arslan from Istanbul Technical University researched water vapor dynamics using GNSS. Aslihan Nasif from Dokuz Eylul University monitored oceanographic parameters to assess climate change impacts.
Rafet Cagri Ozturk of Karadeniz Technical University explored marine mammal detection using environmental DNA (eDNA), while PhD candidate Bilge Durgut studied annual Arctic ecosystem changes due to climate change. Guldehan Deryal from Istanbul University examined pharmaceutical pollutants in microplastics using advanced spectroscopy and chromatography techniques.
Three high school students, finalists in Tubitak's research projects, joined to test their work in air and climate, sustainability, and social sciences. Among foreign researchers, Ecuador's Sara Cifuentes studied marine microbiota and resistance genomes, Argentina's Lucas Martinez Alvarez researched microbial community adaptations, and Bulgaria's Svetoslav Dimov investigated seawater microbiota and human impacts on ecosystems.