Portugal Reaffirms its Commitment to Antarctic Science with the 13th Portuguese Antarctic Flight on 16 January
On 16 January, a plane chartered by Portugal will transport 99 scientists and technicians from various nationalities between Punta Arenas, Chile, and the Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin airfield on King George Island, Antarctica. These round-trip flights, conducted on the same day, mark a key milestone in the 2024-25 Portuguese Antarctic Campaign, which runs until mid-March.
Among the passengers on this flight are five researchers involved in projects supported by the Portuguese Polar Programme (PROPOLAR) and 94 scientists participating in the polar programmes of Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
In addition to this flight, a second chartered flight, in collaboration with the Spanish Polar Programme, is scheduled for 8 February 2025. This reinforces Portugal’s contribution to scientific activities on the “White Continent” during the austral summer — the period of peak scientific activity in Antarctica.
Access to Antarctica
PROPOLAR flights serve as the primary means of access for scientists from Portuguese institutions to Antarctica, where they are hosted in research stations and aboard vessels operated by partner countries such as Bulgaria, Chile, Spain, and South Korea. In addition to these flights, other Portuguese research teams rely on logistical support from international partners, fostering a collaborative effort to enhance the impact of Antarctic science.
Projects and Objectives
The 2024-25 Portuguese Antarctic Campaign supports six research projects involving 15 scientists working in various regions of Antarctica, including:
King George, Deception, and Livingston Islands (South Shetland Islands);
Marine areas northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula, including the Bellingshausen Sea and the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits;
Marine areas off South Georgia Island.
These projects, coordinated by researchers from five national public research centres, focus on atmospheric, biological, cryospheric, environmental, and Earth sciences. Their main objective is to study the impacts of climate change on Antarctica.
Details of the Six Antarctic Projects
1. ANTWEB – Assessing Antarctic Marine Food Webs Structure and Contamination
Coordinator: José Xavier (MARE, University of Coimbra)
Work location: Marine areas off South Georgia Island (Southern Ocean).
2. APMAR-2025 – Antarctic Peninsula Surface Mass and Energy Balance: The Role of Atmospheric Rivers and Microworlds - 2025
Coordinator: Irina V. Gorodetskaya (CIIMAR, University of Porto)
Work location: King George Island.
3. BIOCRUST-2025 – Biocrust Biodiversity as an Indicator to Diagnose, Monitor, and Predict Climate Change Impacts in Antarctic Ecosystem Functioning
Coordinator: Paula Matos (CEG, IGOT, University of Lisbon)
Work location: King George Island.
4. HOLOTROPH – The Trophic Biology of Deep-Sea Holothurians: Implications for the Antarctic OM Cycling
Coordinator: Teresa Paula Fernandes Amaro (CESAM, University of Aveiro)
Work location: Bellingshausen Sea.
5. PHYTO-SHIFT – Understanding Phytoplankton Community Composition Shifts in the North Antarctic Peninsula
Coordinator: Ana Brito (MARE, University of Lisbon)
Work location: Northwest Antarctic Peninsula, including Bransfield and Gerlache Straits and the southern Drake Passage.
6. THAWIMPACT – Antarctic Peninsula Permafrost under a Changing Climate: Sensitivity, Fate, and Impacts
Coordinator: Gonçalo Vieira (CEG, IGOT, University of Lisbon)
Work location: Livingston, King George, and Deception Islands.
For more details on the projects, visit the PROPOLAR website.
About PROPOLAR
The Portuguese Polar Programme (PROPOLAR) is coordinated by the Centre for Geographical Studies/Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), University of Lisbon, and managed by a committee composed of members from five research institutions:
Gonçalo Vieira (Coordinator – CEG/IGOT, University of Lisbon),
Adelino Canário (CCMAR, University of Algarve),
José Xavier (MARE, University of Coimbra),
João Canário (CQE/IST, University of Lisbon),
Catarina Magalhães (CIIMAR, University of Porto).
The programme is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
PROPOLAR supports the advancement of Portuguese polar science by fostering international cooperation and providing the logistical conditions necessary for Portuguese scientists to access the Arctic and Antarctica. The programme encourages and supports multidisciplinary research to promote knowledge about polar regions and their role in Earth’s dynamics. Through its funding, PROPOLAR enables access for scientists and early-career researchers to polar regions, contributing to the publication of scientific articles in international journals.
Portugal is a member of the following international organisations, whose websites provide additional information:
Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research – SCAR
Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs – COMNAP
European Polar Board – EPB
International Arctic Science Committee – IASC
Forum of Arctic Research Operators – FARO
