Two French adventurers, explorer Matthieu Tordeur and glaciologist Heidi Sevestre, have begun a daring three-month expedition across Antarctica on kite skis in search of ice dating back 130,000 years. The mission, titled Under Antarctica, aims to deepen understanding of how melting ice could affect global sea levels amid rising temperatures.
Speaking from Cape Town before departing for the Novolazarevskaya base, Sevestre described the mission as a blend of “ambitious science and adventure.” The pair will travel 4,000 kilometers in extreme isolation, enduring temperatures as low as -50°C, while hauling sleds packed with supplies and scientific equipment.
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Using ground-penetrating radars, they plan to locate ancient ice samples that can provide insight into how Antarctica reacted when Earth’s climate was around three degrees warmer — conditions scientists fear could return by the end of the century. “If we do not find ice older than 130,000 years, it means some parts of Antarctica collapsed when the planet was at +3°C,” Sevestre explained.
The expedition, supported by UNESCO, aligns with the COP30 climate summit in Brazil and seeks to raise global awareness about the urgent need to reduce fossil fuel use. “It is not too late to avoid the worst consequences of climate change,” Sevestre emphasized.