A Thai research team has found alarming levels of melting Antarctic ice during a recent expedition, reports the website newswise.

The team, which is part of the Royal Polar Research Project, visited the Great Wall station in Antarctica. There they found a significant increase in ice melt compared to previous years.

The Thai expedition was supported by the Information Technology Foundation under the patronage of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindorn. The foundation aims to study the impact of climate change on Antarctica. The team began its research by conducting ice melt studies and collecting sediment samples.

The Thai team is part of the 41st China Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 41) of the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC). The expedition reached Antarctica in late January 2025.

The Chinese expedition aims to study the impact of climate change, microplastics and marine litter on Antarctic ecosystems. Their research includes collecting soil samples as well as various excrements from Antarctic animals such as penguins and seals. The team has also made measurements of air pollution in the region. 

Commenting on the results, Dr. Suchana Chavanich of the Department of Marine Sciences at Chulalongkorn University and Deputy Director of the Institute of Water Resources Research, says, "We expected that global warming would have a significant impact on the ice and snow here, but to still closely observe the extent of ice loss was shocking. Even when snow did fall during our stay, it melted almost as soon as it reached the ground, indicating that temperatures in Antarctica are warmer than usual." | BGNES