Main points
- In February, the air temperature at the Akademik Vernadsky station was constantly above zero, and the ocean temperature reached a historic high.
- Glaciers in the region have shrunk significantly over the past 3-4 years, which is of concern to scientists and highlights the importance of monitoring temperature changes.
A historically high temperature was recorded at the Akademik Vernadsky station / Collage by Channel 24 (Photo Canva, Womo)
The head of the 31st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, Anzhelika Hanchuk, reported unprecedented warming at the Akademik Vernadsky station. In February, the air temperature remained above zero, and ocean temperatures reached a historic high.
The region's glaciers have shrunk significantly, which is causing serious concern among scientists, Ukrinform writes.
What is known about unprecedented warming?
Historically high air and ocean temperatures were recorded at the Akademik Vernadsky station this year. Angelika Hanchuk, who is currently on a rotation at the station, noted that glaciers in the region have significantly shrunk over the past 3-4 years.
It was a shock to me. The glaciers have shrunk so much that I didn't expect it to,
– Hanchuk said.
According to her, this year was an unprecedented event: the air temperature practically did not drop below zero throughout February. This means that the region experienced increased heat for a very long period, which had not been observed before.
“The ocean temperature has never been this high before,” the expedition leader added.
Hanchuk also emphasized that in recent years, changes in the region's ice cover have become very noticeable. Glaciers that previously occupied large areas have now noticeably shrunk, which came as a shock to her after previous expeditions.
This year saw the highest ocean temperatures ever recorded in this region of Antarctica. Such temperatures have not been observed in previous years.
The expedition team notes that such phenomena highlight the importance of monitoring the state of glaciers and temperature changes in Antarctica, as these indicators affect the ecological balance of the region.
What is known about the Akademik Vernadsky station?
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The Akademik Vernadsky Station is one of the key Ukrainian scientific bases in Antarctica. It operates year-round and allows for long-term observations of climatic and oceanic parameters, as well as the state of the ice sheet.
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The 31st Antarctic mission for 2026-2027 will be led by Anzhelika Hanchuk. She became the first female leader of a Ukrainian Antarctic expedition.
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It is also worth noting that the first polar biology laboratory has been launched in Ukraine, where samples delivered from the Akademik Vernadsky station will be analyzed. The laboratory allows for a full cycle of modern biological and genetic research without involving foreign institutions.
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The Ukrainian government has adopted a new strategy for the Arctic, Antarctic and the World Ocean to strengthen national security and international positions. According to Tykhy, “the approval of the plan will ensure Ukraine's participation in the future distribution of Antarctic and Arctic resources, as well as the development of living resources of the World Ocean and deposits of metal corrections at the bottom of the World Ocean in the long term.”