A totally inhospitable place, a white desert, the risk of facing blizzards and cold. Very cold! This will be the scenario that the professor at the Unicamp Geosciences Institute, Alessandro Batezelli, will face on his first expedition towards Antarctica. At the end of November he will embark with a team of researchers coordinated by Alexander Kellner, paleontologist at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. The team includes paleontologists and geologists from the Museum, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) and the University of Contestado (UnC).
At the invitation of the National Museum team, the Unicamp researcher is part of a project of the Brazilian Antarctic Program (ProAntar), which aims to rescue fossils (extinct organisms) from the upper Cretaceous, which encompasses the period from 65 to 140 million years (the age of dinosaurs). Batezelli had already gone into the field with colleagues from this team for geological studies at several paleontological sites in Minas Gerais and São Paulo, to remedy deficiencies in the area of sedimentology and stratigraphy, since these animals are found fossilized in sedimentary rocks. There was also a need for a more detailed study of these rocks to understand what the landscape and climate were like.
On the expedition to Antarctica, while the paleontologists will collect the fossils, the Unicamp professor will describe the rocks where these beings were found. The intention is to make environmental interpretations. “When we analyze a fossil, we have information about their anatomy that reflects their habits and the environment where they lived. According to the anatomical features of the paws, the shape of the upper limbs, or teeth, it is possible to identify locomotion and feeding habits. By analyzing the rock in which this being was fossilized, it is possible to identify sedimentary processes that allow a reconstruction of the landscape where the animal lived”, points out Batezelli.
The group, which is scheduled to return to Brazil in February 2019, will initially stay at the Brazilian temporary base - Estação Comandante Ferraz, whose headquarters was destroyed by a fire a few years ago and should be reopened soon. The research site is an island called Vega, located about 200 km from the Brazilian base. At the research site there is no sign of communication other than a satellite phone in case of an emergency. They will arrive on the island via the Brazilian Navy ship Ari Rongel, and will remain isolated for around a month. On this island, in addition to dinosaur fossils, there are other fossilized beings such as shells, crocodiles and trees. The group will literally be camped in the middle of the Antarctic desert.
To achieve this, it was necessary for the Unicamp professor to undergo specialized survival training in Antarctica, following strict safety standards. As the weather is very unstable, in the seven-day training held at the Navy Base on Marambaia Island, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, there was great concern with planning the trip, including methods for setting up the camp and moving to the collection points and description of fossils and rocks. Safety procedures, such as always being accompanied and always following the camp leader's recommendations, will be a priority.
During the training, situations that they will encounter on the frozen continent were simulated, such as setting up camp under storm conditions, specific food, emergency situations on land and water, and first aid classes. “I couldn’t leave anything loose. The instructor said, 'if it was in Antarctica, the wind would have blown your tent away by now,'” he said. They then learned to anchor them well, always being careful not to leave any gaps open, thus preventing the entry of water and ice.
Upon disembarking on Vega Island, the first activities will consist of assembling individual tents, which will follow a preferential arrangement according to the direction of the winds in the selected area – the idea is to prevent turbulence from dismantling them or tearing them off the ground during heavy snowfall. There will also be a larger tent that will be the kitchen – with a stove, gas, generator, food boxes, tables, chairs –, everything to try to make the time in which they will be isolated as comfortable as possible. There is also a tent that will be the bathroom. Waste produced in Antarctica will be brought to Brazil, as nothing can be left there, following the rules of the Antarctic Treaty to which Brazil has been a signatory since 1982.
The team leader will be the climber from the Associação Paulista de Alpinismo (APA), Yoshimi Nagatani, accredited by the Brazilian Navy, accustomed to expeditions in Antarctica and other parts of the world. “For those who are not used to it, this specialized knowledge from the leader is extremely important. Everyone has to help each other, as any mistake compromises not only themselves, but other colleagues as well,” said Batezelli.
According to the teacher, there was no specific psychological preparation, just lectures on extreme conditions and stressful situations. There will, however, be a doctor and a nurse from the Navy to meet the needs of the teams, as well as researchers working in the field of psychology and stress. Being isolated from the world for days, in an inhospitable place and far from family in the middle of Christmas will not be an easy task. In fact, this is one of Alessandro's concerns, who will spend the holidays at the end of the year away from his family.
Physical training was not necessary, but medical exams were requested to prevent, for example, someone from suffering a heart attack there. A dentist will also be part of the team for emergency cases. The expedition will take place during the summer to mitigate more adverse situations, with mild temperatures and clear days at all times.
Territory demarcation
“Studies in Antarctica are extremely important, especially for us Brazilians. Our climate is directly controlled by that continent. All cold fronts that arrive in the country come from air masses there. It is a place, from a strategic point of view, that is very important for the whole world”, points out the professor. Russia, for example, has nine research stations, China is building the fifth, Chile has five, Argentina has four and the United States has the largest, with capacity for 1300 people. Brazil has one. For the Treaty of Madrid, there cannot be any environmental impact, that is, no type of exploration is authorized for at least the next 30 years. The territory, however, is rich in deposits of metals, such as gold, silver, copper, coal, as well as oil.
Results
The results will be worked on as a team, that is, all geological and paleontological interpretation will be the basis for the publication of scientific articles. The idea is to reconstruct a piece of history in Antarctica, more specifically from the Cretaceous period. “My scientific intention is to make a general reconstruction of the landscape 80 million years ago, covering the entire South American continent and Antarctica”, he informed.
Personal expectation
Alessandro believes it will be a unique experience, which he will try to share through Diário de Bordo, in Jornal da Unicamp. “Being isolated, being in a place that few people have had or will have the chance to know, will, in my opinion, be an incredible opportunity. In addition to professional and scientific growth, I believe that this experience will make me reflect on many things, making me a better person”, he concludes.
