site.btaHead of Varna Naval Academy: 33rd Bulgarian Polar Expedition Will Map Antarctic Seabed

During the 33rd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica, scientists will continue to map the seabed in the area as there are still white spots, the head of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna Flotilla Admiral Prof. Kalin Kalinov, told BTA. The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) will set sail on November 7 from Varna for its third polar expedition.

On this voyage, the focus will gradually shift from logistical support for Bulgaria's Antarctic base to scientific research. The balance between the ship's tasks is beginning to even out, and the goal is for research to begin to dominate in the foreseeable future, Kalinov said. 

In 2023, a base-laboratory for Bulgarian scientists was built on Livingston Island, Kalinov recalled, adding that this was made possible after the necessary materials were delivered on the RSV 421.

Scientists will continue to conduct geological research throughout the 33rd expedition. They will take samples from the waters, the shelf and the bottom of the sea. Bathymetry in particular may prove to be a challenge for the seamen, as the region's seabed is yet to be reliably mapped. While mapping it would benefit the ships there, combining bathymetric studies with ortho-photogrammetry of existing glaciers could help study the rate of climate change and its nature.

The expedition will also facilitate an indicative study of marine fauna. It will be conducted in four regions of the world ocean - in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Antarctic region. Tissue samples will be taken from marine inhabitants in order to determine whether there is elevated fish pollution in the Black Sea. This will indicate whether the inhabitants of the Black Sea have been impacted by the war and destruction in Ukraine. The main gold is to look for indications of heavy metals.