An expedition involving over 50 researchers from seven countries has uncovered the gradual deterioration of Antarctica, with findings of microplastics in water, ice melting, and decreasing salinity in the Southern Ocean.

The team discovered microplastics in both glacial ice and seawater, along with atmospheric 'rivers' carrying ash-laden air from Amazon forest fires to Antarctica, accelerating the ice and snow melting process.

The accelerated ice melting leads to increased freshwater entering the Southern Ocean, lowering salinity levels and impacting phytoplankton, crucial for the marine food chain.

Observations During the Expedition

Glaciers melting rapidly, moss fields expanding, and water streaming off ice shelves were among the climate change impacts noted by a team of 57 researchers during a 70-day voyage around the Antarctic coast aboard the Russian icebreaker Akademik Tryoshnikov. The expedition also revealed the presence of microplastics in Antarctica and the reduced salinity of the Southern Ocean due to melting ice.

Antarctica, Earth's fifth-largest continent, is a key climate regulator along with the Arctic region. Together, they redistribute heat absorbed in the equatorial zone, balancing thermal energy. The expedition, led by Brazilian glaciologist Jefferson Cardia Simões, aimed to understand how microbial life in Antarctica responds to climate change. Researchers collected snow, ice samples, and seawater during the International Antarctic Coastal Circumnavigation Expedition (ICCE) in 2024.

Findings and Implications

The team drilled into the ice to collect samples revealing the atmosphere's history and the presence of microplastics. They also observed plastic in liquid water, confirming the retreat of glaciers and the reduction of sea ice extent, impacting krill production, a crucial element in the Antarctic food chain.

Researchers noted the link between the Antarctic and Amazon regions through an atmospheric corridor, where air masses and moisture from the rainforest reach Antarctica, contributing to cyclone formation and ice melting. The presence of black carbon from Amazon fires settling on snow and ice accelerates melting and contributes to global warming.

Salinity level reduction due to glacier meltwater affects phytoplankton, essential for the ocean's food chain and carbon dioxide absorption. Changes in salinity also impact ocean circulation, altering the energy balance between the tropics and poles.

Interconnected Systems

Scientists emphasize the interconnectedness of the Amazon and Antarctica, warning that environmental focus on the Amazon overlooks Antarctica's vital role. Changes in Antarctica have global implications, affecting marine ecosystems, climate regulation, and carbon dioxide levels.

Antarctica, despite its remoteness, plays a crucial role in global climate regulation, with constant connections influencing climate dynamics.