site.btaPenultimate Group of 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition to Include Four Scientists, Logisticians

Four scientists are part of the penultimate group of the 31st National Antarctic Expedition, which will depart Wednesday from Sofia Airport. The majority in the group, however, are logisticians, because there is a serious construction programme at the St. Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island, said Prof. Hristo Pimpirev, who heads the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute and the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions.

Pimpirev went to Sofia Airport to send off the participants in the group, who will depart on a flight to Rome. The Bulgarian News Agency's Director General Kiril Valchev also attended the departure of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition. 

The foundations will have to be laid of the new modern scientific laboratory of the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, which is why the Bulgarian military research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (NAVAL RSV 421) "is carrying tons of cement, which has been made specifically for the conditions of Antarctica," Prof. Hristo Pimpirev told BTA. He added that the foundations will be finished so that the next expedition can start the actual construction with the metal structure. That is why this group of the expedition consists mostly of logisticians, while the next group will include scientists, including ichthyologists, added prof. Pimpirev.

An ichthyologist will study the fish life in Antarctica, "which consists of big populations of a few species because the water temperature is 0C," explained Prof. Pimpirev. He recalled that Bulgarian scientists had discovered the so-called ice fish in a previous expedition and now it will be placed in an aquarium, together with other fish that inhabit these unique cold waters, and will be handed over to the Natural History Museum in Plovdiv, where these fish will be available for all visitors to see.

The scientific projects being carried out by the scientists of the 31st National Antarctic Expedition are related to the continuation of the research on the presence of gold and other precious metals by Chief Assistant Professor Ralitsa Sabeva, as well as on the bottom sediments for the study of the adaptation of endemic organisms to climate change by Assoc. Prof. Lyubomir Kenderov, and the extent of anthropogenic pollution by Assoc. Prof. Raina Hristova. 

Chief Assistant Professor Sabeva's is about the analyzing the gold that was discovered, as well as rare metals, which are extremely important for the construction of electric cars, for mobile phones and for the aerospace industry. These rare metals are being depleted on other continents and are now in great demand," explained Prof. Pimpirev. 

He said that scientists will work on another project with inflatable boats, while a tube will be lowered from the ship, which was provided by the Institute of Oceanology, to take bottom sediments. They may also contain organisms that will show how adapted they are to climate change. The scientists will also study whether anthropogenic pollution from other continents has already come to Antarctica, Pimpirev said, adding that "Antarctica is a natural laboratory".

RSV 421 is expected to arrive in Mar del Plata on 4 February, Pimpirev said. He added that, depending on the weather conditions, the ship is expected to reach the Bulgarian Base on Livingston Island around 12-13 February. The Bulgarian ship is expected to be there until 7 March and scientific research will also be carried out there, taking bottom sediments.

Rector of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, Flotilla Admiral Prof. Dr Boyan Mednikarov, also told BTA that the Bulgarian naval research ship is expected to arrive in Mar del Plata in the early hours of February 4, but this will also depend on the weather conditions in the area. "Our expectation is that an officer from the Argentine Navy, who will have experience of sailing in these conditions, will be on board the ship. Our expectation is that the Argentine officer will be on the Bulgarian ship from Mar del Plata to Livingston Island. Also two of our officers last year completed special training in Argentina for polar navigation," Admiral Mednikarov explained.

The Bulgarian base "St. Kliment Ohridski" on Livingston Island was opened for the current polar season in early December last year. Ten polar explorers are currently working there and are looking forward to the arrival of their colleagues with the first Bulgarian navy research survey vessel. 

BTA's Daily News editor Konstantin Karagyozov is the only member of the media who is traveling on board the ship to Livingston Island and back, and will cover the Bulgarian expedition on site throughout the stay in Antarctica.

The 31st Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition is expected to end in early March, when RSV 421 will head back to Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute said.