King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has marked a historic achievement by leading Saudi Arabia’s first scientific mission to Antarctica.
This milestone follows the Kingdom’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty in May 2024. The expedition took place between February 11 and February 27, 2025.
KAUST’s research team collected samples from Antarctica to study how the recovery of whale populations contributes to mitigating climate change by enhancing carbon sequestration. The study focused on whales due to their key role in marine ecosystems.
The movement of whales redistributes essential nutrients, which in turn feed phytoplankton—a key player in carbon capture.
Even after death, whale carcasses sink to the ocean floor, isolating large amounts of carbon for hundreds or even thousands of years, keeping it out of the atmosphere.
Saudi Arabia’s First Scientific Mission to Antarctica
According to economists, whales contribute over $1 trillion in economic value through their impact on carbon sequestration.
KAUST’s research team analyzed ocean samples to quantify the role of whales in storing carbon. Their findings aimed to assess the economic benefits of whale conservation and anti-whaling policies.
Antarctica was chosen as the ideal research site due to its history of extensive whale hunting in the 20th century, which severely reduced whale populations.
Saudi Arabia Joins the Antarctic Treaty
KAUST is the only institution in the Middle East and Asia to have successfully joined the Antarctic Treaty in May 2024, making Saudi Arabia the 57th signatory nation.
During the expedition, the team examined the impact of overhunting, which reduced whale populations to just 10% of their historical levels.
By analyzing whale samples containing isotopes, chemical markers, and DNA, researchers aimed to reconstruct whale population dynamics over the past 400 years.
The research utilized satellite imagery, computational modeling, and field studies to understand how oceans regulate carbon levels. The key objectives of the study included:
Investigating the relationship between whale population decline and recovery.
Assessing the impact of whales on carbon sequestration and krill (marine crustacean) density.
Understanding the link between ocean productivity and whale presence.
This pioneering mission underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental research and sustainability, reinforcing the global impact of KAUST’s scientific contributions.
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