Emirati scientists hope research will 'help humanity' after Antarctica mission

Research in the South Pole could improve weather forecasting models around the world, experts say

Two Emirati researchers who have returned from Antarctica after participating in the National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM) first scientific expedition to the South Pole hope their work could improve weather forecasting models in the UAE and around the world, The National can reveal.

Teaming up with the Bulgarian Institute of Polar Research, Ahmed Al Kaabi and Badr Al Ameri underwent rigorous training to withstand the continent's extreme conditions. The pair installed two meteorological and seismic monitoring stations in a mission that ran from December 20, 2024, to January 20.

Mr Al Ameri, a senior applications engineer at the NCM, told The National it was an honour to take part in the mission, while Mr Al Kaabi, head of the NCM's meteorological and geophysical studies section, said he was looking forward to analysing the data over the next 12 months.

"To predict early warning signs you have to have data," Mr Al Kaabi said. "With the data, you can analyse the situation and from there you can help decision-makers to take action to help humanity. After one year, we will have to make sure of its accuracy and if it's showing a logical trend."

The seismic station set up by Mr Al Ameri will connect with others to create a wider analytical net of data pertaining to ice-sheet movement, as well as volcanic and seismic activities. The meteorological station set up by Mr Al Kaabi will analyse weather patterns.

Ahmed Al Kaabi and Badr Al Ameri returned from Antarctica on January 20. Ruel Pableo for The National

A day in the life of a polar researcher

Flying for 31 hours, it took the researchers a number of stops to reach a boat terminal that would take them on a three-day journey through the Drake Passage, notoriously rough waters between South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica.

On arrival, it was all hands on deck on the remote base, which is three days travel from the nearest medical centre. For the duration of the one-month trip, there were 34 researchers at the base, each having to take turns providing support in the kitchen, serving coffee and helping out where needed.

With tight deadlines and a task to achieve, all researchers were focused on the collective goal of completing their tasks within the time frame allocated and with the tools at hand.

"If you face a problem, you have to find the solution as quickly as possible, because you have very limited resources there and you have no options," Mr Al Kaadi said. "So you have to think quickly and act quickly to catch up. There's nobody to call and provide something for you. You're in Antarctica."

What next?

It was an intense, gruelling, mission at times for Mr Al Kaabi and Mr Al Ameri but that has not tested their resolve to take part in future projects. Going forward, they have proposed five more in areas such as understanding ozone concentration and dilution.

Ozone thinning is seen as an environmental issue because it raises the level of ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth's surface, which some research suggests can increase rates of skin cancer and immune system damage.

Antarctica is home to 90 per cent of the world's glaciers. In a recent interview, Dr Susana Hancock, global mountains director at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, told The National that by the end of the century glaciers could have lost as much as 80 per cent of volume on current trajectory.

The world's largest glaciers - in pictures

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  Fay Glacier, which feeds Moraine Lake in Canada. All photos: Unsplash

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  The Perito Moreno Glacier in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

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  The Rhone Glacier in Obergoms, Switzerland.

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  A glacier encroaching on farmland in Iceland.

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  Vatnajokull Glacier in Sveitarfelagio Hornafjorour, Iceland.

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  Furtwangler Glacier near the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

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  The Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland.

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  An iceberg in Sermersooq municipality, Greenland.

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  The Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand.

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  The Khumbu Glacier in Nepal.

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  The Aletsch Glacier on Bettmerhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps.

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  Icebergs in Jokulsarlon, Iceland.

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  Icebergs in Ilulissat municipality, Greenland.

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  The Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland.

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  The Ngozumpa Glacier in Nepal.

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  The Jade Dragon Glacier in China.