Royal Navy’s HMS Protector helps scientists study impact of humans on Antarctica
26th January 2024 at 1:52pm
Scientists have been able to study the effects of tourism and climate change on Antarctica thanks to the Royal Navy.
HMS Protector took two researchers from the University of Portsmouth to the frozen continent so they could carry out their specialised work.
The pair collected water and rock samples as the first phase of the ice breaker’s annual polar mission took her from the Falkland Islands south along the western edge of the Antarctic Peninsula.
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The work carried out by Professor Fay Couceiro and Dr Clare Boston will ultimately contribute to understanding the impact on Antarctica as record numbers of tourists continue to visit the delicate region.
Prof Couceiro collected water samples at the Falkland Islands, Anvers Island, Port Lockroy, Detaille Island and Pourquoi Pas Island as well as at the Rothera Research Station, the UK’s biggest facility in Antarctica.
The samples will be tested for concentrations of microplastics, metals and nutrients, with the results providing an insight into the impact humans may be having on Antarctica.
She said: “What an incredible experience. Breathtaking scenery, spectacular wildlife, an amazingly friendly and helpful crew and great food. I can’t thank the Royal Navy enough.”
Fellow scientist Dr Boston is examining the glacial advances during the last 5,000 years by taking rock samples from Pourquoi Pas Island.
And with the help of HMS Protector’s hydrographers, she was also able to collect data in Marguerite Bay to look at landforms created by the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet around 20,000 years ago.
Hydrography measures and describes the physical features of bodies of water and the land areas near those bodies of water, and surveying with multibeam echo sounders is the primary method of obtaining hydrographic data.
“I’ve had an amazing experience joining HMS Protector, seeing the Antarctic wildlife and collecting data,” said Dr Boston. “The crew have worked hard to get me ashore and help me find some rocks.”
On her voyage south, HMS Protector recorded more than 1,000 square miles of seabed data in areas that were either uncharted or poorly charted. This equates to area the size of Dorset.
The work will increase the safety of seafarers sailing through the region at a time when maritime traffic is increasing rapidly.
Between 2011 and 2020 the number of voyages to Antarctica almost doubled from 234 to 408.