Ukrainian polar explorers cannot go out into the ocean on boats

For more than a month, the water area around Galindez Island, where the Akademik Vernadskyi Antarctic Station is located, has been packed with sea ice.

“Our polar explorers have reported that since August 5 they cannot go out on boats to the ocean, because the water area around the island is packed with ice,” the National Antarctic Science Center reports.

On satellite images, Ukrainian polar explorers saw ice around 100 km. Pictures were taken from a drone of what the station looks like in ice captivity.

It is known that in 2023 there was almost no sea ice in the area of ​​the station, and the year itself became a record for the minimum amount of such ice in the Antarctic for the entire time of observations.

“Sea ice plays an important role in the Antarctic ecosystem. It acts as a “blanket” that separates the ocean from the atmosphere. In addition to blocking sunlight from entering the water and reflecting it, the ice also traps the heat in the ocean, preventing it from heating the air. And the ice floes are a place for the birth of seal cubs, rest and travels of various species of adult seals, emperor penguins,” the scientific center reported.

It will be recalled that engineers are developing a fleet of underwater robots to study Antarctica. With the help of underwater robotic probes, scientists will study climate changes in Antarctica. The development is carried out by engineers who specialize in the creation of NASA spacecraft for the study of distant worlds.