The General Directorate of Maps under the Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Naval Forces Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography Department participated in the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition and made measurements to determine the coordinates from the sea and land on the continent, following Piri Reis.

Within the scope of the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition carried out under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and under the coordination of the TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, geodynamic measurements made on Horseshoe Island by the General Directorate of Maps and the Global Positioning Satellite Systems (GNSS) station on Dismal Island. contributed to the earth sciences literature.

The Turkish Naval Forces Department of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography also made bathymetric measurements in the Gulf of Lystad, located to the west of Horseshoe Island.



In the footsteps of Piri Reis…

While Piri Reis created the closest lands belonging to Antarctica on the world map dated 1513 by drawing the southernmost regions of the South American continent, Turkish scientists have been carrying out scientific studies in the region since 1967.

Continuing their work in the field of cartography in the footsteps of Piri Reis, the General Directorate of Maps under the Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Naval Forces Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography Department also participate in the expeditions to Antarctica every year, developing and updating the maps they make in the sea and terrestrial area.


“We perform static GNSS observations at geodynamic points”

Engineer First Lieutenant Faruk Yalçın, who participated in the expedition on behalf of the General Directorate of Mapping, reminded that there are 8 GNSS observation points and a fixed GNSS station in Antarctica, and said:


“We carry out static GNSS observations at geodynamic points during the expeditions to the Antarctic continent. At the same time, we transfer the data stored by our fixed GNSS station on Dismal Island within 1 year, and we carry out the maintenance and repair works of our station.”



“We contribute to the Antarctic earth sciences literature”

Explaining that they combined the GNSS observation data they made at geodynamic points with the data they received from fixed GNSS stations, Yalçın said, “As a result of data analysis based on some parameters, we have information about the annual geodynamic activity of the region in millimeters. It is also important in terms of contributing to the Antarctic earth sciences literature,” he said.


“This navigation map can also be used all over the world”

First Lieutenant Deniz Çiçek from the Department of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography of the Turkish Naval Forces said that they collected all the necessary data for mapping the Gulf of Lystad by working 12-13 hours a day on Horseshoe Island during the expedition, and continued as follows:

“We are very excited, we are very proud. We were able to come this far by sacrificing even our daily meals and making a great effort. We collected coastline data by walking 4-5 kilometers with centimeter precision. When this coastline data is combined with bathymetric data, a navigation map will be formed and this navigation map will be created. It will also be used all over the world. It will be a safe map that the floating and diving elements of the whole world can use here. In this sense, we are very proud if we contribute to our country.”

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