Why do science in antarctica

Changes in Antarctica will drive global sea level rise, ocean circulation and weather patterns. At a high level, these are grouped into:. Cl imate, C r y o s phere, Atmo s phere an d L itho s phere Improved understanding of the past and current state of Antarctica, its significance and implications of the role of Antarctica in global change, and implications of global change for Antarctica.

Marine Sys tem s Improved conservation and resource management of the Antarctic marine environment. The science that Antarctica New Zealand supports is closely aligned with this strategy.

Firstly, it is a place of peace, international cooperation and is fully protected for the use of science and research only. In , the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 nations to ensure that there will be freedom and collaboration for science and complete security from war, political disputes or nuclear waste.

Since then, the treaty has been re-signed by 54 signatories, continuing the efforts for the future. Secondly, the environment of the Antarctic is so special. Freezing cold, dark for half the year, the driest and windiest place on Earth, but home to over species of animal.

There have been many scientific findings and discoveries of world importance, such as the ozone hole, monitoring ice loss and sea level rise and discoveries of dinosaur fossils. There are glaciers, mountains, expanses of flat land, rough winds and even rougher seas.

It is also inspirational. Every year, thousands of scientists leave their comfy homes and families to live on the ice continent for months on end, sometimes in the depths of winter, all in the name of science. Before us, the first explorers risked their lives to find out what lay at the bottom of the map.

Replacing the gearbox on a star tracking device. Ice core drilling at a Berkner Island drilling site. Why is science an important part of the Antarctic Treaty? Science in Antarctica What scientific activities are carried out in Antarctica Connect the statements in this quiz to find out what scientists are doing in Antarctica to aid global understanding of our planet.

Cold facts Scientists work on research stations. January on Bird Island January has been a very busy month for science here. Student activities Science on Antarctica is for the good of mankind and the planet.

Activities Environmental Impact. Activity 1: What a waste We all produce a lot of waste. Food waste like banana skins, packaging for our sandwiches, paper or used pens at school and of course human waste.

Write a list of all the waste you produced yesterday. Activity 2: Brainstorm Producing waste in Antarctica is much more serious than at home. Waste is dealt with in a variety of ways.

Imagine you are a scientist on Antarctica and have been asked to develop an action plan to deal with waste at the research station. Brainstorm in groups ways you could reduce and deal with the amount of waste produced e.

Activity 3: Waste management Research and prepare a short presentation for the rest of the class on one or two of the following methods of waste management on Antarctica: Human waste. What do they study? On the whole, scientists use their time in Antarctica to gather samples and make measurements to be studied closely later on, when they return to their laboratories.

Throughout these series of news on the research conducted this year at the station, you will discover a whole range of different things that are sampled and studied in Antarctica by scientists with very different backgrounds. Click on the links in the text to discover pictures, videos, interviews and complementary articles.

Taking samples in Antarctica is often a feat in itself, and field trips can be dangerous. Before heading into the field, scientists thus have to complete field training and are accompanied by a field guide when in the field to avoid accidents. Lead by glaciologists Frank Pattyn and Jean-Louis Tison , this project studies the interaction between the ocean and the ice-sheet. Between November and December , two teams worked in the field.

The first one, lead by Frank Pattyn, measured ice thickness and tried to understand the ice flows near "ice rises". The second team went on a three-week field trip near the coast to study the ice movement through beaconing.