Considered the “bottom of the world” by most, Antarctica is often perceived as a barren, desolate tundra where there is little to no possibility of sustaining life. Being the “coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth,” one could easily imagine living on the Antarctic continent being near impossible (CIA 2018). However, the opposite can be found true of the southernmost continent. Antarctica boasts around 75 active research stations around the continent to support hundreds to thousands of researchers and support staff for both year-round and austral summer seasons (Dag Jølle n.d.). Most permanent research stations and huts established by various countries around the globe are built on top of barren rock, due to majority of the continent …show more content…
Yet, it is extremely difficult to support and build the necessary structures for safe living in the unforgiving Antarctic. Most building that occurs on the continent is done with a ‘take-what-you-can-get’ attitude. As depicted in the image from the Earth from Above series, the buildings of McMurdo demonstrate how infrastructure of Antarctica is. Makeshift ‘streets’ of volcanic ash are found between buildings and almost all available space within the valley is being utilized, all while the Transantarctic Mountains are found contrasting in the background—reminding those at the station the dangers that lie toward interior of the continent. A commonality between most buildings in the McMurdo base is they are built within areas that are most stable, with the smallest variability or change to their environment. As detailed earlier, most of Antarctica is a continental ice sheet; which is prone to movement. Additionally, movement (more specifically driving) causes disturbances of both the volcanic ash from the island McMurdo is situated on and the “matrix of ice” (Madrigal 2017); which can lead to changes to the area’s topography which can become dangerous to the structures around the
When taking a quick look at the two expeditions, one led by Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica and the other led by Arlene Blum to climb Annapurna, a quick summation can be made that Blum succeeded in her expedition and Shackleton failed. But this is a shallow view, not considering the nuances and actual experiences of the trips. Ernest Shackleton set out with his crew in 1915 to be the first expedition to cross Antarctica, but in fact, he never set foot on the continent. While failing at his initial goal, he was a highly successful leader and kept his 28 men safe for close to two years, while they were trapped on the ice floe and then, after the ice gave way, when they were paddling hundreds of miles across open seas in small, wooden lifeboats. He then completed the treacherous journey across South Georgia Island to reach a town and resources necessary to rescue his other men. All of his men were rescued alive and safe and all were able to return home to their families. In comparison, Arlene Blum set out from the United States in 1978 with 9 of her teammates as the American Women's Himalayan Expedition – the first all-woman group to attempt to climb Annapurna. Though their expedition was too often hazardous, it didn’t have the same level of urgency, because at any point during their climb, the group was at liberty to descend. Blum struggled with her role as the leader of this group of highly independent women. She too often hesitated and showed her lack of confidence, which in turn led to many problems within the group and with the hired Sherpas. On October 15th, 1978, two members of the expedition, along with two Sherpas, reached the summit of Annapurna, fulfilling the goal of the group. However, two days later, on Octobe...
Recent studies based on satellite monitoring by NASA reveals that melting ice from both the poles has been responsible for a fifth of the global rising sea levels since 1992 (11 mm). Antarctica and Greenland are now contributing three times as much ice to sea levels as they were 20 years ago. Although the Greenland ice sheet is only about...
In 1914, a great leader began a great expedition, unbeknownst to him that instead of being known as great explorers, they would be known as some of the greatest survivors. This man was Sir Ernest Shackelton and he was determined to be the first to cross the Antarctic. Little did he know, his biggest challenge would end up being his ability to lead his team to survival. He also had no idea that their tale of strength, determination, and courage to survive would influence people well into the 21st century, and the book detailing their stories would be used as a model of leadership. As our group read this book, it was evident that Shackleton was a truly motivated and successful leader as we have come to understand him to be.
The ice caps are the most extreme climates on earth. They are located at the north and south poles. These poles are
The Arctic Tundra The Tundra is located in the northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. as well as a few regions of Antarctica. The Tundra is the second largest vegetation. zone in Canada. It can be divided into three different sections: the High Arctic Tundra, the Low Arctic Tundra and the Alpine Tundra.
To many outsiders the Arctic is pictured as a deserted, blank piece of land with no life. Little did they know that the Arctic Region is actually inhabited by many native Alaskan groups, and that still to this day continue practicing their subsistence lifestyle. Native Alaskan groups such as the Gwich'in Indians, Inupiat Eskimos, Yup'ik and Aleut still depend on the geographic features of the Arctic. For not only their subsistence lifestyle, but also the preservation of their culture.
The ice sheet extends from about 60° to 83°N over a distance of 2,400 km in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ice sheet covers 1.71 million km2 , or roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It consists of a northern dome and a southern dome, with maximum elevations of 3,230 m and 2,850 m, respectively, linked by a long saddle with elevations around 2,500 m. Its total volume is about 2.85 million km3, which, if it were to melt entirely, would raise global sea level by about 7.2 m. The ice sheet has an average thickness of 1,670 m and reaches a maximum of 3,300 m in the center. The bedrock surface below the ice sheet is an extensive flat area near sea level, which would rebound by as much as 1,000 m if the ice sheet were to be removed (Figure 1). Precipitation over Greenland generally decreases from south to north, ranging from about 2,500 mm per year in the southeast to less than 150 mm per year in interior northeastern Greenland. The southern high precipitation zone is largely determined by the Icelandic low and the resulting onshore flow which is forced to ascend the surface of the ice sheet. In contrast to Antarctica, summer temperatures on Greenland are high enough to cause widespread summer melting. This results in an ablation zone with negative mass balance all around its perimeter. Ablation rates are highest over the southwestern part of the ice sheet where...
Amos, Jonathan. “Deep Ice tells Long Climate Story.” BBC News. BBC News. 9/4/2006. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
Isolation, loneliness, desertion-these synonymous attributes describe the scene of Antarctica. White blankets of ice and snow laid as far as the eye can see, with nothing else in sight. “Antarctica was a desert...Much of it was was still unexplored. There were no cities.” (pg 301). Although the term desert completely contradicts Antarctica, Laura Van Den
Orlove, Ben. "Glacier Retreat: Reviewing The Limits Of Human Adaptation To Climate Change." Environment 51.3 (2009): 22. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
As the world becomes continually warmer, the effect of climate change in the arctic regions becomes more intense. Within the past 50 years, arctic regions in Canada have experienced warming of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius (Fergal & Prowse, 2007). One of the most important areas in the Canadian arctic is the Cryosphere (Appendix A), which is the area consisting of season snow cover, permafrost glaciers, and sea ice (Fergal & Prowse, 2007). This area is significant because it has provided a stabilized surface for building pipelines, as well as provides access to northern communities (Fergal & Prowse, 2007).
A Desert is defined as a region that has less than 254 mm (10 in) of
Nodvin, Stephen C. “Antarctic Ice: An 800,000-Year Record of Climate Change.” Paragraph Title: Temperature, carbon dioxide and methane. Encyclopedia of the Earth. 2012. Web. May 10, 2015. http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150101
Global warming is a serious problem with two major effects which are increasing in sea level and degradation of wild lives. Increase in sea level is affecting the entire landmass of the earth. According to NASA, the polar ice cap is melting at the alarming rate of nine percent per decade. Arctic ice thickness has decreased 40 percent since the 1960s (Oskin). The amount of water is more than the land in our planet. If this global warming continues at this pace, soon there will be no ground left on earth. The terrestrial animals will be exterminated from the earth if glo...