Icebreaker “Noosfera” crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time, maneuvering between icebergs

Since December 11, the Ukrainian icebreaker “Noosfera” has been operating for the first time beyond the Antarctic Circle.

There, the vessel provides international oceanographic and geological research, the National Antarctic Research Center reports.

Scientists said that the Ukrainian Antarctic Station “Akademik Vernadskyi” is located in front of the Arctic Circle.

It was from there that the route of the “Noosfera”  to the South began – through the Arctic Circle, Margaret Bay on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula to the British Antarctic Station “Rotera” on Adelaide Island.

The captain of the icebreaker Andriy Starish shared that on the way they had to maneuver between icebergs for more than two hours.

“This is an extremely “jewelry” job that requires considerable experience and a good understanding of the vessel’s navigation capabilities,” said Andriy Starish.

Along the way, oceanographers were looking for marine heat waves, which periodically arise as a result of global warming even in the cold waters of Antarctica. To more accurately locate climate anomalies, a seabed cartography was made using acoustic equipment.

Then, using a special CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) probe, scientists measured temperature, salinity, oxygen, acidity levels at 12 points in the Southern Ocean, and also analyzed chemical and biological indicators.

In addition to working in the ocean, the scientists visited “Rotera” – the largest Antarctic station in Great Britain. The possibilities of joint research, which are planned to begin this season, were discussed.

Now the return journey of “Noosfera” to “Vernadskyi” begins, where research will also continue.

Recall that in early December, the icebreaker “Noosfera” arrived at the station “Akademik Vernadskyi”. The ship delivered the team of the Ukrainian seasonal expedition to the station, as well as participants in the first Mexican Antarctic expedition.

Reference. The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line at latitude 66°33′ (North in the north, South in the south) that marks the boundary of the zones where polar day (the Sun does not set) and polar night (the Sun does not rise) are observed for at least one day per year.