It is a Portuguese scientific project that aims to study climate change in Antarctica and until the end of January .
A team of Portuguese scientists affiliated with the University of Lisbon , led by researcher Gonçalo Vieira , associate professor, and researcher IGOT - ULisboa CEG in the physical geography of the polar regions , are embarking on a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise about 20 housand euros for the acquisition of an unnamed aerial vehicle ( UAV ) to study the permafrost layer on the Antarctic Peninsula .
The drone will carry detailed topographic surveys and aerial photography of great detail, which will then be orthorectify for analysis. The advances in this technology will be huge, because according to the scientist , " in regions where is not suitable work surveying and is extremely expensive and difficult to fly helicopters to perform aerial photography".
The Antarctic campaign was divided into two phases :
The first will be held in February to March 2014 , with the aim of carrying out preliminary tests on the ground in Barton Peninsula ( King George Island ) . This phase will also depend on we can acquire the UAV until mid February 2014.
Then between January and February 2015 , detailed surveys will be carried out in Livingston, Deception and King George islands . The UAV will also be used later for " surveys of detail in the Serra da Estrela, in summer 2014 and in the Canadian Arctic as part of a project taking place in July 2014 . Due to the logistical possibilities, we extend the application of UAV to all permafrost observatories in the Antarctic Peninsula region, between Palmer and King George Island, in subsequent years, " he concludes.
The Polar Group of Lisbon brings together three research teams ( CEG / IGOT , CERENA - CQE - IST and IST ) that have extensive research experience in the land of permafrost in the Arctic and Antarctic . The main areas of study are permafrost and climate change, remote sensing and contaminants. The team also coordinates the Portuguese Polar Programme, responsible for putting on the ground every year , about 20 national scientists and supporting transport of about 100 scientists and technicians partner programs .
So help and contribute to this cause, for the planet and the scientific research for these Portuguese teams .
