Turkish research team on 8th national Antarctic expedition finishes stop at Dismal Island

By Sebnem Coskun

ANTARCTICA (AA) - A Turkish science team traveling as part of the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition has completed their research activities on Dismal Island, the last stop before reaching the science camp on Horseshoe Island in Antarctica.

Under the presidency and the Industry and Technology Industry, with coordination by the Turkish-based TUBITAK MAM Polar Research Institute, seven scientists from the expedition arrived at Dismal Island, the largest among the archipelagos opening into the Southern Ocean.

The team, located 40 nautical miles from Horseshoe Island, did maintenance and repair work on Türkiye's first permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) station located outside Turkish borders.

They also downloaded the data stored by the station over the past year.

Ersan Basar, the expedition’s deputy leader, told Anadolu that Dismal Island is part of an archipelago in the Southern Ocean.

"We’re doing maintenance on the GNSS station we established four years ago and backing up the data stored on it. It's a snowy day on Dismal Island today, with skua birds accompanying us. After finishing our work here, we will continue to Horseshoe Island," Basar said.

The team plans to leave Dismal Island and reach Horseshoe Island within a day.