An extreme mission, Chulalongkorn researchers travel to the Antarctic To Investigate the Impacts of Global Warming and Microplastic Waste 

Prof. Dr. Suchana Chavanich, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University journeys to the Antarctic to survey the global warming conditions and microplastic waste that’s believed to cause higher polar temperatures.  This has been the cause of melting polar ice caps, high sea pressure, emerging diseases, and changing fish behavior which has had ripple effects around the world, including Thailand. 

Finally, the “cool season” that many people have been waiting for has arrived. For most of January 2025, many areas almost all over Thailand saw lower temperatures.  In some areas, the temperature has dropped to 1 degree Celsius, and Bangkokians have experienced the coolest weather in 40 years! 

Although many people are ecstatic about the incoming cold winds, they feel uncertain what the upcoming summer is going to be like since last year’s temperature was unusually high. 

“Now, the climate has become so extreme on both ends of the spectrum – either extremely cold or extremely hot.  What’s happening right now is something that should happen in the next 100 years,” Professor Dr. Suchana Chavanich, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, and Deputy Director of the Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University said with concern before traveling to explore the South Pole for 28 days with the expedition team in the Polar Research Project to research microplastics and climate change.

“The North and South Poles are the first areas to let us know the state of our planet. Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere will gather at the poles, and so does marine waste. The poles are like receptacles for waste from rivers and seas.” 

Although Thailand is more than 11,000 kilometers from the Antarctic, environmental problems happening at the Poles will surely come to Thailand. 

“We cannot say that this matter is irrelevant to us! or that the Poles are too far away! Is it important for Thai people to be aware of global warming and to what extent? ”said Prof. Dr. Suchana. 

Polar Research Project Showcases the Potential of Thai Scientists 

The Polar Research Project falls under the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for Thai researchers to participate in polar science research studies to keep the country’s polar science know-how on par with other countries worldwide. 

“Participation in the project shows that Thailand gives high priority to global warming which is a worldwide problem. A study by a team of Thai researchers will be like a piece of the jigsaw puzzle that, when combined with research from other countries, will provide us with a bigger picture of the situation’s impact on the world at the moment.  This will be beneficial in preparing ourselves for the impending climate change,” Prof. Dr. Suchana explained. 

The Polar Research Project has received both national and international cooperation. At the international level, the project has signed a memorandum of understanding on polar science cooperation with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NTSDA) of Thailand and the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA). At the national level, the project has drawn a memorandum of understanding with five Thai agencies, namely the NTSDA, Chulalongkorn University, Burapha University, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand.

In the past 10 years since the inception of the polar research project, Thai researchers have been sent to study the polar regions in many fields, such as oceanography, geology, astronomy, as well as atmospheric and environmental studies. Prof. Dr. Suchana said that the study must continue to cover all areas of impacts which may take between 10 to 20 years. 

Polar missions anticipate extreme global warming impacts 

For the 2025 South Pole expedition, Prof. Dr. Suchana has joined the Chinese antarctic expedition team along with two researchers from Thailand, Assistant Professor Dr. Sujaree Burikul, Professor of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chula, and Mr. Nipat Pinpradet, Assistant Researcher, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Burapha University. 

At the end of January 2025, the research team departed from Bangkok for the southernmost city of Chile, Punta Arenas, and then flew to the Antarctic. The team will be staying at the Great Wall Station for 28 days (between January 29 and February 28, 2025). 

Prof. Dr. Suchana recalls the weather and living and working conditions at the South Pole, “The lowest temperature in the Antarctic is -93 degrees Celsius.  It is permanently uninhabited, with only about 3,000 – 4,000 scientists per year who conduct surveys there.”   

The survey teams from Thailand and China will have to walk for 5-6 hours to collect pictures, video footage, and soil and fish specimens. 

“We want to collect as many soil and fish specimens as possible, but it may be difficult due to the weather conditions. Getting a 50% success rate when you work in the Antarctic is already excellent,” Prof. Dr. Suchana said. In addition to exploring the ecological impacts of global warming, marine waste, and microplastic, Prof. Dr. Suchana was specially assigned to collect data for the publication of books and documentaries about Thailand’s polar research studies to commemorate the auspicious occasion of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 70 birthday and the 50th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations. 

Global warming increases the likelihood of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) 

Prof. Dr. Suchana has already traveled to survey the Antarctic twice in 2009 and 2014 and has found worrying changes to the fate of the planet and aquatic life that will certainly affect humans at the top of the food chain. 

“Global warming affects marine ecosystems. Fish behavior changes as the ice melts. The water temperature rises and their eating habits change. They’ve become more insatiable in their hunger and keep eating more and more, resulting in more parasites in their bodies. This indicates that when the earth’s temperature rises, new diseases emerge, i.e., an increased number of parasites in fishes.  This results in the higher death rate of penguin chicks and seal pups whose survival rate is only at 10%.”   

As for the microplastic waste, Prof. Dr. Suchana explained, “The waste that fish eat will stick in the stomach, causing cancer and affecting the growth of the fish.” 

Getting rid of the garbage found in the polar regions is daunting, Prof. Dr. Suchana said, “The chances of proper disposal of those waste is only at 10%” 

This third trip is almost 3 years from the last one. Prof. Dr. Suchana anticipates that “this Antarctic expedition would see more extreme impacts and increased amount of microplastic waste.” 

Melting polar ice caps will push sea level rise 

Prof. Dr. Suchana said that the temperatures on Earth should not fluctuate beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, but in recent times, the polar average temperature has reached 4 degrees Celsius, causing the polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise. 

“Scientists predict that if the North Pole ice melts completely, it will cause the sea level to rise by 5 meters, and if the earth warms up, and the South Pole ice caps melt completely, the sea level will rise to 50 meters, equivalent to the height of the Victory Monument. How will we survive?” 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had vaccines, but with global warming, if nature had changed, no vaccine would have helped us bring nature back.” 

Awareness of the global warming issue and its consequences is important that Prof. Dr. Suchana thinks Thai people need to understand and monitor. She wants to share the direct experience from the South Pole with the Thai people. “If possible, I would like to livestream back so Thais can witness the real picture and situation.” 

Help reduce global warming before it’s too late 

Global warming is an urgent issue that everyone in the world needs to focus on and work together to solve. 

“Change in nature comes from human hands. Whether it’s greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, or dumping waste in the sea, it’s all man-made. We should help make nature better or not lose more.” 

“We must realize that we are part of nature. If nature is affected, we will also be affected. It’s only a matter of time,” Prof. Dr. Suchana concluded. 

The polar situation echoes the meaning of the phrase, “Pick a flower on Earth and you move the farthest star.” Any one action will always cause a ripple effect on other things. The problem of global warming and microplastic waste in the polar regions will affect the whole world. We can begin to stop the impact by preventing the destruction of the environment from now on before it’s too late. 

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