On January 11th, the #THAWIMPACT team departed for King George Island, boarded the Bulgarian Ship St. St. Cyril and Methodius, and sailed to Livingston and Deception Islands. Henrique Zilhão and Rodrigo Dias arrived at Hurd Peninsula (Livingston Island) and will collect soil samples to study contaminants and microorganisms at the St. Kliment Ohridski Station.

Bernardo Costa’s concise presentation on December 12 highlighted the Arctic’s accelerated warming trend since 1979. Focused on Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Canada, his emphasis on practical solutions involves local collaboration. The 2023 Expedition, a crucial part of his PhD, established a database for shoreline evolution. Using UAV and DGPS RTK surveys, the team gathered temperature data, installed cameras, and collaborated with local stakeholders for field surveys. Bernardo emphasized the urgency of addressing Arctic climate change, stressing community engagement for practical solutions. The Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula work serves as a significant example of addressing environmental challenges for indigenous well-being.