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Antarctica

Antarctica. 1: Introduction to a continent. Antarctica. Area = USA + Mexico Highest continent Driest Continent Windiest continent Coldest Continent Last inhabited continent Dark 50% of the year. Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen January 28, 1820. Nathaniel B. Palmer November 17, 1820.

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Antarctica

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  1. Antarctica 1: Introduction to a continent

  2. Antarctica • Area = USA + Mexico • Highest continent • Driest Continent • Windiest continent • Coldest Continent • Last inhabited continent • Dark 50% of the year

  3. Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen January 28, 1820 Nathaniel B. Palmer November 17, 1820 Edward Bransfield January 30, 1820

  4. 1839-1843 Antarctic Expedition HMS Erebus HMS Terror Sailed as far south as Ross Island, Ross Ice Shelf in the Ross Sea… James Clark Ross

  5. First Antarctic winterCape Adare 1899 Carstens Borchgrevink 1864-1934

  6. The Heroic Era(1900-1920)

  7. 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 Pre-1957

  8. International Geophysical Year 1957/58 • Largely Meteorology and Atmospheric physics • Saw the US, NZ, UK, Australia etc etc. establish permanent bases, including at the South Pole

  9. International Polar Year 2007/08

  10. History of Antarctica

  11. Antarctic glaciation • First full-scale ice sheet ~ 34 Ma • Reached maximum ~15 Ma • Some fluctuations since then • e.g. at LGM Ross Ice shelf covered approx. 3x current area • Extinctions • Almost all terrestrial flora and fauna

  12. The Antarctic Treaty • in effect June 23 1961 • Governs activities in Antarctica • Subsidiary treaties govern flora & Fauna, Seals, Marine Living resources the Environment

  13. 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

  14. Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic treaty • In force 1998 • Article 7: • “Any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research, shall be prohibited.”

  15. Antarctic Biology • A 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

  16. Habitats in Antarctica • Terrestrial • Nunataks • Coastal areas • Oases and Dry Valleys

  17. 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

  18. Major issues in Antarctic Biology • Survival of environmental extremes • Responses to climate change • Origin of the flora and fauna • Sustainable use of marine resources

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