Expert Emphasizes Increasing Need for Obtaining Real Time Data from Antarctica

The need to obtain scientific data from Antarctica in real time is becoming increasingly important, and this is now possible, electrical engineer Dr. Petar Sapundjiev said in an interview for BTA.

Dr. Sapundjiev is taking part in the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions for the eighth time this year. In the 34th expedition, he is participating as a logistician, while at the same time working on his own projects and actively collaborating on the projects of scientists from the United Arab Emirates, Badr Al Ameri and Ahmed Al Kaabi.

"A large part of the research work at our base is related to measurement equipment that monitors processes in the atmosphere, on land, and in the ocean, and collects data about these processes. This data is later used by projects and scientists who analyze the processes, and we gain knowledge accordingly about what is happening on our planet," Dr. Sapundjiev explained. He added that the previous practice was to install the equipment in the field and collect the data the following year.

According to him, there is an increasing need for this data to be received not once a year, as was previously the case, but in real time, on a daily basis. In addition, with the expansion of research activities here, there is a growing need for larger volumes of data. Until recently, however, that was not possible.

"The only communication we can use here to transmit data is satellite communication. Satellite communication is very demanding in terms of energy supply. This means that if we want to leave satellite communication operating continuously throughout the year, so that it can survive the low temperatures, harsh conditions, and long dark winter months, we would need to provide a battery bank larger than a house, which is practically impossible," Dr. Sapundjiev noted.

Nevertheless, he has contributed to solving the problem with a project to create an energy-efficient satellite system.

"Although economically this still does not completely solve the problem, we designed specific electronics that very precisely manage all components of the system. This includes the communication part, the network and devices, the computers, and the measurement unit," he said. "All of this is switched on in a specific order and at specific times of the year. We gain access to the system and the data, download our data, after which the system goes back into hibernation mode. This way consumption is reduced and the demands on the power supply system are lowered. This makes it much more reliable during the long, dark, and cold winter months."

As a result, the entire system fits into a single sealed case, and this year, for the first time, scientists have had access to the Bulgarian base throughout the year.

"We received footage and data, and this project is just beginning to expand, because once all researchers learn that such an opportunity exists, they place greater demands on the data they want to receive from their equipment while we are not here," Dr. Sapundjiev noted.

So far, the system has delivered meteorological data, including parameters of the atmosphere, wind, and solar radiation. One of the team’s future goals is to integrate the system into seismic projects so that dozens of gigabytes of information can be received even during the winter.

Over the years, Dr. Sapundjiev has participated in several projects within the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions, most of which have focused on ensuring the reliability of measurement equipment and providing year-round access to it.

"The previous project studied how much energy we can obtain from solar power throughout the year on different surfaces, which is of great importance for the equipment we install in the field,” he said. “We often do not have unlimited opportunities to deploy our solar systems in the field. The terrain is rocky, and by knowing in detail what we can receive at any given moment during the year, we can very precisely define our needs and what we obtain as solar energy. In this way, we can calculate and design the equipment so that it has sufficient energy for the entire year."

At the Bulgarian base, there is a multi-year continuous record of solar energy, and every scientific project uses this information. Each subsequent energy system at the base has been designed using this data.

In the past two years, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute has been working in close cooperation with the National Center of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Researchers from the UAE came here with the intention of launching long-term studies of atmospheric processes. Within two years, we installed two meteorological stations, one tide gauge station, and one seismic station. In designing the installations, we used all the data we have accumulated so far about the reliability of this type of installation, and as a result, this expensive and modern equipment operates continuously," Dr. Sapundjiev explained.

He added that the data is valuable for specific studies related to sea level, water parameters such as salinity, conductivity, and temperature, as well as seismic activity.

"The plans are to accumulate more and more information about ocean processes. This includes installing increasingly complex and modern equipment in more and more locations in the region," Dr. Sapundjiev concluded.

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed for Antarctica from Varna (on the Black Sea) on November 7, 2025. After a month-long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the ship arrived at the Argentine naval base in Mar del Plata on December 13.

BTA has had a national press club on board the ship since 2022 and another on Livingston Island since February 2024. BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said they exist thanks to the generous support of RSV 421 and Bulgaria’s St Kliment Ohridski Base, which provide the necessary facilities. These two press clubs are added to the news agency’s other 41 national press clubs (33 in Bulgaria, seven abroad in neighbouring countries and in nations with large Bulgarian communities, and one mobile National Book Press Club).

The news items of BTA's special correspondents on RSV 421 and Antarctica are freely available in Bulgarian and English on the agency's website. They can be used free of charge by all media, with attribution to BTA.