Antarctica 1 Introduction to a continent Antarctica p

Antarctica 1: Introduction to a continent

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

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

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

First Antarctic winter Cape Adare 1899 Carstens Borchgrevink 1864 -1934

The Heroic Era(1900 -1920)

Pre-1957 p Richard E. Byrd n n n 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 1957/58 p Largely Meteorology and Atmospheric physics p Saw the US, NZ, UK, Australia etc. establish permanent bases, including at the South Pole

International Polar Year 2007/08

History of Antarctica

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

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

The Antarctic Treaty p Article 1 – Peaceful purposes only n p p p 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 ice shelves south of 60 degrees Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place

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

Antarctic Biology p. A long history the first marine samples collected by Cook (18 th C) n the first terrestrial samples collected in late 19 th C n p Biology was a major goal of many of the heroic era expeditions

Habitats in Antarctica p Terrestrial Nunataks n Coastal areas n Oases and Dry Valleys n

Habitats in Antarctica p Marine n ‘Normal’ range of marine p p p n Special habitats p p p Benthic Pelagic (Some) intertidal Beneath ice shelves and sea ice Associated with platelet ice Freshwater n n n Streams Lakes Ponds

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