National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

21.12.2017

Belarusian polar explorers open season in Antarctica

Aleksey Gaidashov, Head of the Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (BAE), reported to the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on successful air transportation operation for unloading the BAE material and technical support and the beginning of the season in Antarctica.

As is known, the tenth Belarusian Antarctic expedition had a solemn start at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on November 8, 2017. Seven participants went to the ice continent to continue the construction of the station and carry out scientific research within the framework of the state program tasks on the development of Antarctica. The expedition of the 2017-2018 season includes the following participants: Alexey A. Gaidashov, Head of the expedition, participant of all previous BAE, born in 1959; Maxim A. Gorbatsevich, radar opeator, born in 1993; Alexey A. Zakhvatov, mechanical engineer, "a jack of all trades", born in 1988; Pavel V. Shablyko, geophysicist, born in 1990; Artur G. Ivashko, master in maintenance and reliability engineering, born in 1985; Vladimir M. Nesterovich, specialist in building maintenance services, and Dmitry V. Kovko, doctor of a surgical profile. Four of them had already visited Antarctica earlier; others are newcomers. They will have to install the modules, render them operational, and carry out a large range of scientific research in accordance with the program. Thus, they are to study the state of the Antarctic environment and monitor it; to examine the state of the ozonosphere, ultraviolet radiation, climate and other natural parameters of Antarctica; to investigate in detail Antarctic terrestrial and marine biological resources in order to assess the prospects for their further use; to test equipment developed specially for Antarctica (radiometers, magnetometers, lidars, etc.) to study snow and ice cover, water, atmosphere, rocks, etc.; to conduct geological, geophysical, geochemical and other research of the land surface and the seabed off the coast of Antarctica in order to assess its mineral potential.