New PROPOLAR Program Campaign in Antarctica

The Portuguese Polar Program (PROPOLAR), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), began another campaign in Antarctica yesterday, January 19, with the participation of 19 Portuguese scientists.

The PROPOLAR 2016-17 campaign will provide transportation logistics for the Portuguese team, along with scientists and technicians from the Bulgarian, Chilean, Chinese, Spanish, and South Korean programs, totaling 122 people, between Punta Arenas in Chile and Teniente Marsh airfield on King George Island in Antarctica.

Logistics management and sharing are common between PROPOLAR and the polar programs of partner countries such as Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Spain, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, and Uruguay.

Since Portugal does not have permanent infrastructure in the Antarctic region, Portuguese Antarctic campaigns are based on strong international cooperation with similar programs, facilitating access to the excellent conditions of the polar regions for the development of cutting-edge research.

This campaign comprises seven research projects focusing on various areas of the Antarctic Peninsula, coordinated by six universities and public research centers in the fields of biological sciences, the cryosphere, the environment, and Earth sciences, with topics ranging from cartography to climate change.

PROPOLAR is an initiative coordinated by CEG/IGOT-UL (proposing institution), CCMAR-UALG, IMAR-UC, CQE/IST-UTL, and CIIMAR-UP, and operates in coordination with FCT.

(Image credits: IGOT-UL)