Editorial

Abstract

Antarctica plays a key role in the functioning and dynamics of global natural systems, especially in the southern hemisphere. In a context where the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, Antarctic science is of strategic importance for understanding this phenomenon and its implications. After more than 40 years of research supported by the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR), Brazil has established itself as a leading player in the study of the region's terrestrial ecosystems, with an emphasis on research on soils and permafrost. This section aims to present the state of the art of research conducted in Antarctica in different areas of geosciences, highlighting methodological innovations, unresolved challenges, and future prospects. The section is coordinated by professors Fernando Nadal Junqueira Villela (USP), Márcio Rocha Francelino (UFV), and Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer (UFV/UFRJ).