antarctica 1: introduction to a continent. antarctica area = usa + mexico highest continent ...
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Antarctica
1: Introduction to a continent
AntarcticaArea = USA + MexicoHighest continentDriest ContinentWindiest continentColdest ContinentLast inhabited continentDark 50% of the year
Fabian Gottlieb von BellingshausenJanuary 28, 1820
Nathaniel B. PalmerNovember 17, 1820
Edward BransfieldJanuary 30, 1820
James Clark Ross 1839-1843 Antarctic
Expedition HMS Erebus HMS Terror
Sailed as far south as Ross Island, Ross Ice Shelf in the Ross Sea…
First Antarctic winterCape Adare 1899
Carstens Borchgrevink1864-1934
The Heroic Era(1900-1920)
Pre-1957 Richard E. Byrd
Admiral, US Navy Private and US-funded
expeditions Meteorological research First flight to South Pole Commanded post-war
Operation High Jump and Operation Deep Freeze
International Geophysical Year 1957/58Largely Meteorology and
Atmospheric physicsSaw the US, NZ, UK, Australia
etc etc. establish permanent bases, including at the South Pole
International Polar Year 2007/08
History of Antarctica
Antarctic glaciationFirst full-scale ice sheet ~ 34 MaReached maximum ~15 MaSome fluctuations since then
e.g. at LGM Ross Ice shelf covered approx. 3x current area
Extinctions Almost all terrestrial flora and
fauna
The Antarctic Treaty in effect June 23 1961Governs activities in AntarcticaSubsidiary treaties govern flora
& Fauna, Seals, Marine Living resources the Environment
The Antarctic Treaty Article 1 – Peaceful purposes only
Military personnel and equipment allowed, but only for peaceful purposes
Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation
Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel
Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims, prevents new claims.
Article 5 - No nuclear explosions or radioactive waste;
Article 6 - all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees
Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic treaty In force 1998Article 7:“Any activity relating to mineral
resources, other than scientific research, shall be prohibited.”
Antarctic BiologyA long history
the first marine samples collected by Cook (18th C)
the first terrestrial samples collected in late 19th C
Biology was a major goal of many of the heroic era expeditions
Habitats in AntarcticaTerrestrial
Nunataks Coastal areas Oases and Dry Valleys
Habitats in Antarctica Marine
‘Normal’ range of marine Benthic Pelagic (Some) intertidal
Special habitats Beneath ice shelves and sea ice Associated with platelet ice
Freshwater Streams Lakes Ponds
Major issues in Antarctic BiologySurvival of environmental
extremesResponses to climate changeOrigin of the flora and faunaSustainable use of marine
resources
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