Alarming rise in melting ice in the Antarctic
Vuoi salvare articoli per un rapido accesso?
Sali a bordo della community DN Plus.
Per te, un'area riservata con: approfondimenti esclusivi, i tuoi articoli preferiti, contenuti personalizzati e altri vantaggi speciali
Accedi RegistratiA Thai research team in Antarctica discovered an alarming increase in ice melt caused by global warming
A Thai research team in Antarctica discovered an alarming increase in ice melt caused by global warming
Articolo riservato agli utenti registrati
Sali a bordo della community DN Plus.
Per te, un'area riservata con: approfondimenti esclusivi, i tuoi articoli preferiti, contenuti personalizzati e altri vantaggi speciali
Accedi RegistratiA Thai research team, part of the Royal Polar Research Project, arrived at the Great Wall Station in the Antarctic and discovered increased ice melt compared to previous years: a stong indicator of the increasingly rapid effects of climate change. This expedition is supported by the Information Technology Foundation under the patronage of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and aims to study the impact of climate change on Antarctica. Upon arrival, the team began their research by conducting ice melt surveys and collecting sediment samples, revealing a surprising increase in ice melt compared to past expeditions.
The Thai research team
Three researchers from Chulalongkorn University and Burapha University, along with a photographer, joined the Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 41), organized by the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC). They reached Antarctica in late January and began studying the effects of marine debris, microplastics, and climate change on marine life and ecosystems. Over the past two days, the team has collected soil samples, seal and penguin droppings, and conducted air pollution measurements in the region, in order to determine how these animals are affected by global warming.
[caption id="attachment_166036" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Antarctica (Photo source: Wikipedia)[/caption]
The current situation compared to 2014
Preliminary findings show that ice in many parts of Antarctica has melted significantly compared to 11 years ago when the Thai team last conducted research in the area. However, air quality measurements indicate that the Antarctic atmosphere remains much purer than in other parts of the world. Professor Dr. Suchana Chavanich, from the Department of Marine Science at Chulalongkorn University and Deputy Director of the Aquatic Resources Research Institute, shared her insights on the findings.
“We anticipated - she explained - that global warming would have a significant impact on the ice and snow here, but witnessing the extent of ice loss first hand was still shocking. Even when it snowed during our stay, the snow melted almost immediately upon reaching the ground, indicating that temperatures in Antarctica are higher than usual.” The team is also documenting their findings through photos and videos, which will contribute to a book and documentary about Thailand’s polar research efforts.
Photo source: Chulalongkorn University
