Following last year's expedition, Turkish scientists are returning to Antarctica for further study.

In a written statement, Minister of Science, Industry, and Technology Faruk Özlü informed that Turkish scientists will lead another scientific expedition in February and March 2018.

"In this expedition, we plan to complete the pre-feasibility study of the Turkish Science Base in Antarctica. Additionally, scientists will continue their study in the camp site that was previously assigned for Turkey."

To continue the polar expedition and studies steadily, the ministry has prepared a "National Polar Science Program and Strategy." In order to provide the necessary partnerships, the ministry will continue to engage universities and companies to continue with the expeditions to come.

In April last year, in a historic first, a team of 14 Turkish researchers, including medical doctors, botanists, survey and geological engineers, and oceanographers from seven Turkish universities, went to Antarctica on a scientific mission to study the impact of climate change.

Last year, the Turkish scientists in Antarctica covered 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) and completed a total of 17 topographic land surveys and made observations in 38 different spots. The scientists also collected samples from 45 different parts of the land and studied a total of area of 2,000,000 square meters.

Antarctica serves as a scientific preserve since the Antarctica Treaty was signed in Washington in 1959, of which Turkey is a party.

The continent is considered the coldest on earth. The lowest temperature there was recorded in 1983 at minus 89 degrees Celsius (minus 128 Fahrenheit). In the summer, temperatures rise to minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Turkey's first polar research center PolRec was established in 2015.

The mission of the center is to carry out research on the Antarctic and develop Turkey's visibility in the international scientific community.