To temperatures that touch their -30 points Celsius in the Arctic, Professor Dr. Michalis Tsamados places altimeters on the sea ice, measuring its thickness in a vast white landscape. The Greek researcher, loaded with specialized instruments, works on the spot for weeks, attempting to collect valuable data on a key area in understanding climate change.
Six years earlier, in September 2019, Dr. Tsamados participated in the historical mission Mosaicthe largest polar exploration that has been carried out, gathering scientists from 20 countries to investigate the rapidly changing Arctic. Immigrant from his childhood, today holds a position Associate Professor at UCL (University College London) and operates at the Polar Observation and Modeling Center, while maintaining links with Greece and the small Pond Inuit community in Canada.
His research work focuses on studying ice in Arctic and Antarctic, utilizing satellite data and cutting -edge technologies. As he explains, the scientific community now knows that sea ice has shrunk dramatically over the last four decades: “He has lost about 3/4 of his volume and half of his total area”. At the same time, the area is heated four times faster than the rest of the planet. These changes are clear warnings about the future, as they influence – gradually but inevitably – the whole planet.
As Dr. Tsamados, his main aim, is to understand and quantify the rate at which ice melts, improving the accuracy of climate models and meteorological forecasts in the short and long -term horizon.
The Arctic at the heart of the global impact of climate change
As he explains, the changes in the Arctic have universal consequences. “What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic”he emphasizes characteristics. Ice loss acts as a catalyst for atmospheric phenomena that affect Europe’s climate and weather conditions, since the Arctic is essentially the “Refrigerator of the World”. The disintegration of this mechanism brings up turmoil with increasing frequency and intensity.
The experience of the 2019 mission marked a turning point for the Greek scientist, paving the way for close cooperation with the Pond Inlet. Using drones and satellite data, he records, along with his team, shifts and ice instability, helping locals to move more safely. “Inwitt are reminiscent of Greeks; sailors who have been traveling in rough seas for thousands of years”he points out.
The rapid rise in temperature – a message for the future
Traveling repeatedly to the Arctic over the last six years, Dr. Tsamados finds obvious changes: “In areas like the Barents Sea, average temperatures have risen over 5 degrees in the last 40 years. This is a complete change of scenery – places that were constantly covered with ice, today in the winter they stay without ». The period when the Inuites can be at risk of ice is constantly decreasing, while the warm period extends.
Ice melting is directly linked to human activity. ‘For every tone of CO2 We broadcast 3 square meters of sea ice in the summer. A plane trip can correspond to 10 square meters of melted ice – a sample of the immediate impact of our actions »notes.
In addition, extreme phenomena such as floods from ‘Daniel’but also the increase in Medicanesare directly related to rearrangements in the Arctic Circle.
Challenges and Innovations in Polar Research
Scientific missions under such extreme conditions are accompanied by many challenges – from the excellent cold and the need for a good organization, to the high cost of transporting equipment to isolated areas such as the Pond Inlet. Lack of data from polar zones makes it difficult to understand climate, making cooperation with indigenous INuites, as well as the use of satellite technologies, necessary.
“Greece at the forefront of climate change”
Dr. Tsamados highlights the importance of adapting her Greece In the new climate reality, given its geographical location. “Utilizing smart solutions and investing in technology by governments is the only way to build durability”he says. Europe, after all, pioneers in the analysis of satellite data through the program Copernicuswhich makes it possible to more effectively adapt societies.
The contribution of artificial intelligence and advanced climate models
The research team of Dr. Tsamadou, in collaboration with European organizations such as Met Office and Meteo France, utilizes modern weather forecast models. With the contribution of artificial intelligence and applications such as Deepmind, these new tools offer more accurate and faster predictions over time. “Soon, such technologies will be accessible from every citizen through smartphones and laptops, covering reliably parameters such as temperature, drought or risk of fire”appreciates the Greek professor. It encourages Greece and Europe to invest and lead in this new field, ensuring strategic benefits to future generations.
Ioanna Kardara
Attached photos granted to RES-EIA by Mr. Michalis Tsamados: Michalis Tsamados
Source: Skai
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