The Belgica expedition proved to be a great scientific success and the crew was very resilient, especially during the winter season when the ship was trapped in the sea ice. During that time, there was much fear among the men that the ship would be crushed by the forces engendered by the moving of sea ice as well as the drifting of large icebergs that could eventually crush the ship. All worked endless hours, and at times spent many of the nights gathering data, even when outside temperatures were extremely low. Eventually, the ship drifted with the sea ice for close to 13 months before venturing into the open ocean. 

This was the first time that a ship and its crew spent so much time in Antarctic waters and the scientific observations made were unrivalled. 

Key observations and data gathering made during the expedition are highlighted below: 

In the Antarctic region: 

1. Continuous meteorological observations (air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind intensity and directions) lasted over 12 months, and this for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere. These were made by Henryk Arctowski. 
2. Observations of sea ice, snow formation and clouds were made over one year by Henryk Arctowski and Antoni Dobrowolski, except perhaps during the period of total darkness. 
3. Important oceanographic data were gathered that included water temperature profiles down to great depths. The thermometers were extremely well calibrated before and after the expedition. Sea water salinity was estimated in the laboratory on the ship by measuring water density. 
4. It is now clear that the ship and the sea ice drifted together and this was due to important undercurrents. The ship did not drift as a result of wind, except perhaps during the latter part of its entrapment when air temperatures were close to zero °C and the sea ice started to heat up. 
5. Definition for the types of icebergs were made and compared against those found in the Arctic Ocean. 
6. Ample observations were made of penguins, seals, and whales were made and these were based on many dissections of seals at all stages of their life. Many descriptions of these animals made by previous observers were proved to be incorrect. 
7. Many other animals were collected and described from all parts of the water column, including new fish species and many invertebrates. These relied on extremely well preserved specimens collected and curated by Emil Racovitza. 
8. A new passageway was discovered, mapped and described by Georges Lecointe. It is now called the de Gerlache Strait. 
9. Many important discoveries were made in the de Gerlache Strait. These included the description of the first insect inhabiting the Antarctic region, as well as two flowering plants. Numerous other organisms, especially plants were collected and eventually described by experts on return of eh expedition. 
10. Geological observations were made in the de Gerlache Strait by Henryk Arctowski, with rocks subsequently analysed in great detail. Arctowski also identified evidence of a past and extensive glaciation in the de Gerlache Strait and even postulated the air temperature required to facilitate such glaciation. 
11. Frederick Cook, the medical doctor, took extensive notes on people suffering from ‘polar anaemia’ and recommended as a remedy that people eat raw meat (penguins and seals) and stay in front a flame to regain good heath condition. Unfortunately, Cook’s medical report has not been found. 

In the Magellanic Straits and the Beagle Channel of Patagonia 

1. A great variety of flowering plants were collected, pressed by Emil Racovitza and eventually described by experts. 
2. Equally, numerous insects were collected a collected and carefully curated by Emil Racovitza and eventually described. 
3. Evidence of a former glaciation was found by Henryk Arctowski and his rock collections were also described in detail. 
4. Frederick Cook, at some stage was aided by Henryk Arctowski and Emil Racovitza on Dawson Island, made elaborate annotations on the First Nation People of Patagonia and provided some stunning photographs of those people. Unfortunately his detailed anatomical observations of these people have not been found. All three researchers believed that those people were soon to face extinction. 

It is now hoped that publication of this book with alert scientists of the great importance of the data collected during the Belgica expedition.

This is particularly important in line with the awareness that the area visited by the Belgica and its crew is now facing significant changes as a result of global warming. 

Already, in the Bellingshausen Sea where in the ship was trapped fin the sea ice for close to 13 months, there is no longer sea ice in Summer. This has important implications for the survival of the biota that lives there. The sea ice (banquise) which seals that rely on for breeding and raising young is now absent; krill – an important part of the diet of seals, penguins and whales – is decreasing in numbers. Seals will have to find new locations to breed. 

Hence, the data acquired by the Belgica scientists ought to form an important base line spanning some 125 yeas of observations. Importantly also, is that the French Charcot expedition that visited the same area where the Belgica had been some 10 years later – using similar instruments – ought to be re-examined and compared with the Belgica data against modern-day observations. Equally, on the other side of Antarctica, at Cape Adare meteorological data were obtained by the Southern Cross expedition in 1898-1900. 

It is worth investigating the genetic material preserved in some of the specimens collected during the Belgica expedition that are currently stored at the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium in Brussels to determine possible changes that may have occurred over 125 years in around the de Gerlache Strait and the Beagle Channel. 

There is also a need to monitor the ‘effects’ of tourist visitors, as well as scientists, in the Antarctic Peninsula to prevent the possible introduction of ‘pests’, as well as viruses such as the H5N1 strain of bird flu that could have devastating effects on the avifauna. For a good but alarming review, refer to Hughes et al. (2023) which documents many issues already at stake in the Antarctic Peninsula regions and adjacent islands, and it also gives ample references. Antarctic ecosystems are significantly at risk and the Antarctic Peninsula is part of an extreme and fragile environment that deserves much more monitoring and modelling for a better future. 

In addition, the impact on refractory black carbon (rBC), engendered by the long-range atmospheric transport of the bi-products of biomass fires in the southern hemisphere, as well as by local tourism and human (research) activities, was recently discovered to have an important impact on snow melt in the Antarctic Peninsula by Magalhães et al. (2024). These authors suggest that the use of low-sulfur fuels that produce less black carbon as well as biofuels which ships to be used by ships or filters on diesel particulate filters on chimney of ships would effectively reduce the emission of black carbon that otherwise cause rapid snow melt. Perhaps eco-tourists should insist on the ships that transport them to the Antarctic Peninsula to modify their destructive practices. It is urgent! 

The recently published study of Landsat satellite images by Roland et al. (2024) (see discussion in Chapter 7.5 in the book) that identified a significant expansion of moss fields on the Antarctic Peninsula resulting from global warming is like the ‘canari in a coal mine’: entire ecosystems on the Antarctic Peninsula are about, if not already, to change, These need monitoring assiduously and we must make sure that invasive plants and other organisms do not reach tis pristine environment, and ecotourists must be informed of the potential dangers they may cause. 

In conclusion, the very successful Belgica expedition was funded by Belgium, its government, its people, many of its cities and benefactors, and more importantly it was a truly international venture with people from Belgium, Norway, Poland, Romania and America.