by Rae Collins
The realization that there is most likely to be a North West Passage from Greenland, across the top of Canada has intrigued explorers for well over 40 years.
This concept grew in the late 15th century with the voyages of John and Sebastian Cabot, who made the first recorded landfalls on the North American continent since the Norse voyages of the 11th century. The Cabots established that a passage through or round America would be necessary if the dream to find a short route to get to the ‘treasures’ of the Orient was realized.
Since then many explorers have attempted to find this elusive passage. Along the way many landmarks, rivers and other geographical features have been charted and named after these people.
Exploring, in particular in such extreme conditions as these, was not without its stories. The explorations are dotted with tales of mutinies, abandonments, political interventions, including wars, and illness.
Between 1576 and 1631 there was much explorative activity, when areas such as the Hudson and Baffin Bays were discovered.
Fro the next 100 years or so, apart from some fur trading there was very little activity in the area. Some people, including Captain James Cook, visited but were blocked by Ice.
About this time, the British Admiralty, in particular John Barrow, took a major part in organizing future expeditions, as it felt threatened by Russian interests in the area.
Then in 1818, John Ross rediscovered Baffin Bay, and the dream of a possible passage was rekindled.
Much surveying was completed during this time, and while the actual passage was never discovered, there was enough proof to establish that such a passage existed.
The adventures of these people are outlined by Glyn Williams in his book Voyages of delusion: the Northwest Passage in the Age of Reason.
Probably the most notable Explorer in the 1800’s was John Franklin, who made two extensive land exhibitions and one by sea. The purpose of his last voyage was to prove for once and for all, that there definitely was a North West Passage. However tragedy struck when his ships became ice bound over most fierce winters, he and many of his crew became ill and died, while others perished trying to find a way out. The fascinating story of this disaster, including the ominous events leading to it, are outlined in a very good book “Ice Blink” by Scott Cookman.
In spite of all the explorations and charting of the area, everyone who attempted the navigation was turned back by ice.
The Passage would not be successfully navigated until the twentieth century when, in 1903-06, Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian, made the full transit by sea in the Gjöa. Even though he was the first to make the voyage, he always acknowledged the work of the British Explorers who made the feat possible.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Great Debate – what is going on in the Arctic?
by Rae Collins
Any changes in the Arctic seems to affect the climate of the whole earth, earning the area the name the “Earth’s Air conditioner.” Today there is much concern because the Far North is reportedly experiencing the” second biggest ice melt in history. The biggest apparently ever, took place last year.
However, even though satellite recording of the North Pole and Artic area which commenced in 1978, has told us much about the climatic activities in the area, there is still much debate about Climate Change/Global Warming and its impact on the Arctic and the world at large.
Here are some headlines and comments, which are currently circulating in the medias:
‘”Situation In Arctic Ice Affects Many Things Including Weather” states the www.eontarionow.com website. This article talks about the impact on wildlife and the concern that, because of receding ice in the far north, predatory species may move into new habitats and overtake resident species.
“No matter where you look at it, Arctic Ice in many areas appears to be in a death spiral,” Dr Mark Serreze says in this article.
A scientist with the National Snow and Ice Data Center located in Boulder Colorado, the agency in the United States that closely monitors and tracks the condition of Arctic ice in the far north, he is especially concerned about the ice melt in the Chukchi Sea. Situated immediately north of the Bering Straight between Alaska and Siberia, the area is home to the world’s largest population of Polar Bears. More drowning by polar bears have been reported in recent years, presumably because they have to swim further to their food sources.
The Online National Geographic Magazine states that “North Pole May Be Ice-Free for First Time This Summer” Further reading of this article suggests the writer means by between 2013 and 2030. The ‘new’ ice, which covers the sea at present, is expected melt very quickly.
“Arctic ice refuses to melt as ordered.” Steven Goddard, in an article on www.theregister.co.uk challenges the data presented by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). He says the area of the Arctic sea ice is increasing. He states that
“The Arctic melt season is nearly over for this year. And none of these dire predictions have come to pass. Yet there is, however, something odd going on with the ice data.” His article has sparked some lively debate about the accuracy and origins of data and subsequent conclusions.
It is interesting to note that a series of Arctic underwater volcanoes have erupted in violent explosions in the past decade. Hidden 2.5 miles (4,000 meters) beneath the Arctic surface, the volcanoes are up to a mile (2,000 meters) in diameter and a few hundred yards tall. They formed along the Gakkel Ridge, a 1,800 kilometers crack in the ocean crust between Greenland and Siberia where two rocky plates are spreading apart, pulling new melted rock to the surface.
It has been well documented through history, that volcanic explosions can have a huge but temporary impact on the world’s climate. For example, it is noted on the www.foxnews.com website, that over 400 years ago, a massive volcanic explosion from Huaynaputina in Peru may have been responsible for the worst famine in Russia’s history, from 1601 – 1603, exceptionally cold winters in Switzerland, Estonia and Latvia, and the wine harvest in France was late as were the blossoming of peach trees in China.
Other volcanic explosions have also been known to affect the world’s climate, including Indonesia’s Tambora in 1815, and the explosion of Lake Taupo, New Zealand in 186 AD. The ancient Romans and Greeks noticed darkened skies from this explosion.
So if explosions above the water affect the earth’s climate, how does the impact underwater volcanic activity affect it?
Alongside the concern of the rapid ice melt, there are some positive aspects.
For example, the famed, and elusive North West Passage opened for navigation, for the first time since satellite records began in 1978 (see the North West Passage Article).
And visitors may now visit a variety to destinations on cruise ships through to ice breakers. A popular but restricted destination is the Franz Josef Archipelago, the northernmost set of islands in the world. Originally used as the last post before going to the North Pole, and for scientific and wartime observations, tourists visit to observe, at extremely close hand, dozens of curious polar bears and walruses.
Students may also visit the Arctic. Every year The Cape Farewell Youth Expedition brings together 28 like minded international students, teachers, scientists and artists to study the Artic and act as ambassadors for the area.
And now it is possible to circumnavigate the North Pole for the first time ever. Soon we might be able to sail over the North Pole….
However, the debate remains. Will we, in our lifetime, see an iceless North Pole? Sooner or later? Will it be a result of Global Warming, Climate Change or something else? And what will be the impact on the rest of the world? Watch this space…..
Any changes in the Arctic seems to affect the climate of the whole earth, earning the area the name the “Earth’s Air conditioner.” Today there is much concern because the Far North is reportedly experiencing the” second biggest ice melt in history. The biggest apparently ever, took place last year.
However, even though satellite recording of the North Pole and Artic area which commenced in 1978, has told us much about the climatic activities in the area, there is still much debate about Climate Change/Global Warming and its impact on the Arctic and the world at large.
Here are some headlines and comments, which are currently circulating in the medias:
‘”Situation In Arctic Ice Affects Many Things Including Weather” states the www.eontarionow.com website. This article talks about the impact on wildlife and the concern that, because of receding ice in the far north, predatory species may move into new habitats and overtake resident species.
“No matter where you look at it, Arctic Ice in many areas appears to be in a death spiral,” Dr Mark Serreze says in this article.
A scientist with the National Snow and Ice Data Center located in Boulder Colorado, the agency in the United States that closely monitors and tracks the condition of Arctic ice in the far north, he is especially concerned about the ice melt in the Chukchi Sea. Situated immediately north of the Bering Straight between Alaska and Siberia, the area is home to the world’s largest population of Polar Bears. More drowning by polar bears have been reported in recent years, presumably because they have to swim further to their food sources.
The Online National Geographic Magazine states that “North Pole May Be Ice-Free for First Time This Summer” Further reading of this article suggests the writer means by between 2013 and 2030. The ‘new’ ice, which covers the sea at present, is expected melt very quickly.
“Arctic ice refuses to melt as ordered.” Steven Goddard, in an article on www.theregister.co.uk challenges the data presented by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). He says the area of the Arctic sea ice is increasing. He states that
“The Arctic melt season is nearly over for this year. And none of these dire predictions have come to pass. Yet there is, however, something odd going on with the ice data.” His article has sparked some lively debate about the accuracy and origins of data and subsequent conclusions.
It is interesting to note that a series of Arctic underwater volcanoes have erupted in violent explosions in the past decade. Hidden 2.5 miles (4,000 meters) beneath the Arctic surface, the volcanoes are up to a mile (2,000 meters) in diameter and a few hundred yards tall. They formed along the Gakkel Ridge, a 1,800 kilometers crack in the ocean crust between Greenland and Siberia where two rocky plates are spreading apart, pulling new melted rock to the surface.
It has been well documented through history, that volcanic explosions can have a huge but temporary impact on the world’s climate. For example, it is noted on the www.foxnews.com website, that over 400 years ago, a massive volcanic explosion from Huaynaputina in Peru may have been responsible for the worst famine in Russia’s history, from 1601 – 1603, exceptionally cold winters in Switzerland, Estonia and Latvia, and the wine harvest in France was late as were the blossoming of peach trees in China.
Other volcanic explosions have also been known to affect the world’s climate, including Indonesia’s Tambora in 1815, and the explosion of Lake Taupo, New Zealand in 186 AD. The ancient Romans and Greeks noticed darkened skies from this explosion.
So if explosions above the water affect the earth’s climate, how does the impact underwater volcanic activity affect it?
Alongside the concern of the rapid ice melt, there are some positive aspects.
For example, the famed, and elusive North West Passage opened for navigation, for the first time since satellite records began in 1978 (see the North West Passage Article).
And visitors may now visit a variety to destinations on cruise ships through to ice breakers. A popular but restricted destination is the Franz Josef Archipelago, the northernmost set of islands in the world. Originally used as the last post before going to the North Pole, and for scientific and wartime observations, tourists visit to observe, at extremely close hand, dozens of curious polar bears and walruses.
Students may also visit the Arctic. Every year The Cape Farewell Youth Expedition brings together 28 like minded international students, teachers, scientists and artists to study the Artic and act as ambassadors for the area.
And now it is possible to circumnavigate the North Pole for the first time ever. Soon we might be able to sail over the North Pole….
However, the debate remains. Will we, in our lifetime, see an iceless North Pole? Sooner or later? Will it be a result of Global Warming, Climate Change or something else? And what will be the impact on the rest of the world? Watch this space…..
Monday, June 9, 2008
Exciting discovery made on the South Pacific Ocean's Macquarie Ridge
During their month long research trip to the Macquarie Ridge recently, scientists aboard the Research Vessel Tangaroa of New Zealand’s National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), discovered an seemingly unlikely colony of starfish-like echinoderms called brittlestars living at the summit of a huge seamount. These critters take advantage of the dramatic 4km/hr ocean current of the dramatic 4km/hr ocean current at the summit, capturing prey as it is blown over the seamount. According to Dr. Mike Willams of NIWA, “This current is estimated to be 110 to 150 times larger than all the water flowing in all the rivers of the world.”
The Macquarie Ridge extends southwest of New Zealand and then curves southeast before ending at around 58 degrees south. Running along the Macquarie Fault Zone, a major right lateral-moving transform fault along the seafloor of the south Pacific Ocean, and also the tectonic plate boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate to the northwest and the Pacific Plate to the southeast the ridge is the result of the two abutting plates. Macquarie Island, along the ridge, was formed from the thrusting of the two plates. It does not have large-scale sediment, was not formed by a volcano and does not have suffered from glacial activities. The age of the rocks forming the island is extremely young geologically and there is much interest from scientists and geologists to study the island, the ridge, the trenches alongside it, and the life it supports.
Very few of the 100,000 seamounts which rise higher than 1km above the sea have been explored. It was originally thought that only corals and sponges covered the seamounts, so the discovery of the brittle stars was an exciting and significant find.
The Census of Marine Life seamount programme, CenSeam, hosted the trip. The voyage was largely funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
Sources
www.survivalmachine.org
http://censeam.niwa.co.nz
This ten year old organizations, mission is “to determine the role of seamounts in the biogeography, biodiversity, productivity, and evolution of marine organisms, and to evaluate the effects of human exploitation on seamounts.” A detailed account of the Tangaroa is on the site, along with similar expeditions and their outcomes. Very interesting reading, about the trips,t he people, and life on board.
The Macquarie Ridge extends southwest of New Zealand and then curves southeast before ending at around 58 degrees south. Running along the Macquarie Fault Zone, a major right lateral-moving transform fault along the seafloor of the south Pacific Ocean, and also the tectonic plate boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate to the northwest and the Pacific Plate to the southeast the ridge is the result of the two abutting plates. Macquarie Island, along the ridge, was formed from the thrusting of the two plates. It does not have large-scale sediment, was not formed by a volcano and does not have suffered from glacial activities. The age of the rocks forming the island is extremely young geologically and there is much interest from scientists and geologists to study the island, the ridge, the trenches alongside it, and the life it supports.
Very few of the 100,000 seamounts which rise higher than 1km above the sea have been explored. It was originally thought that only corals and sponges covered the seamounts, so the discovery of the brittle stars was an exciting and significant find.
The Census of Marine Life seamount programme, CenSeam, hosted the trip. The voyage was largely funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
Sources
www.survivalmachine.org
http://censeam.niwa.co.nz
This ten year old organizations, mission is “to determine the role of seamounts in the biogeography, biodiversity, productivity, and evolution of marine organisms, and to evaluate the effects of human exploitation on seamounts.” A detailed account of the Tangaroa is on the site, along with similar expeditions and their outcomes. Very interesting reading, about the trips,t he people, and life on board.
245 Million-year-old Burrows of Land Vertebrates found in Antarctica
June 2008. For the first time paleontologists have found fossilized burrows of tetrapods (land vertebrates with four legs or leglike appendages) in Antarctica dating from the Early Triassic epoch, about 245 million years ago.
The fossils were created when fine sand from an overflowing river poured into the animals' burrows and hardened into casts of the open spaces. The largest preserved piece is about 14 inches long, 6 inches wide and 3 inches deep. No animal remains were found inside the burrow casts, but the hardened sediment in each burrow preserved a track made as the animals entered and exited. In addition, scratch marks from the animals' initial excavation were apparent in some places, said Christian Sidor, a University of Washington assistant professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the UW.
"We've got good evidence that these burrows were made by land-dwelling animals rather than crayfish," said Sidor, who is lead author of a paper describing the find, which is being published in the June edition of The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Co-authors are Molly Miller, a geology professor at Vanderbilt University, and John Isbell, a geosciences professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Fossils of tetrapod bones from later in the Triassic period have been found in a section of Antarctica called Victoria Land, but the fossil burrows predate those bone fossils by at least 15 million years, Sidor said. The fossilized burrows were collected in 2003 and 2005-06 from the Fremouw Formation at Wahl Glacier and from the Lashly Formation at Allan Hills, both toward the outer edges of Antarctica.
Pangea
Despite the absence of fossil bones, the burrows' relatively small size prompted Sidor to speculate that their owners might have been small lizardlike reptiles called Procolophonids or an early mammal relative called Thrinaxodon. Burrows, some containing tetrapod bones, have previously been excavated in South Africa, which is considered to be perhaps the world's richest fossil depository, and those burrows are nearly identical to the fossils unearthed in Antarctica. During the Triassic period, Antarctica and South Africa were connected as part of a supercontinent called Pangea.
Because even at that time Antarctica was substantially colder than South Africa, and because sea levels likely were higher than today, it is much rarer to find fossils there that date from as far back as the Early Triassic.
"Everywhere has a spotty fossil record, but Antarctica has an extremely spotty fossil record because it is difficult finding exposed rocks amid all the ice," Sidor said.
Ice free Antarctic
At the time the burrows were dug, Antarctica would have been ice free. However temperatures still would have been quite cold, since both areas where the burrows were found are within the Antarctic Circle and so experience at least one day a year of complete darkness.
"We have documented that tetrapods were burrowing, making dens in Antarctica, back in the Triassic," Sidor said. "There are lots of good reasons for burrowing at high latitudes, not the least of which is protection from the elements."
The fossils were created when fine sand from an overflowing river poured into the animals' burrows and hardened into casts of the open spaces. The largest preserved piece is about 14 inches long, 6 inches wide and 3 inches deep. No animal remains were found inside the burrow casts, but the hardened sediment in each burrow preserved a track made as the animals entered and exited. In addition, scratch marks from the animals' initial excavation were apparent in some places, said Christian Sidor, a University of Washington assistant professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the UW.
"We've got good evidence that these burrows were made by land-dwelling animals rather than crayfish," said Sidor, who is lead author of a paper describing the find, which is being published in the June edition of The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Co-authors are Molly Miller, a geology professor at Vanderbilt University, and John Isbell, a geosciences professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
Fossils of tetrapod bones from later in the Triassic period have been found in a section of Antarctica called Victoria Land, but the fossil burrows predate those bone fossils by at least 15 million years, Sidor said. The fossilized burrows were collected in 2003 and 2005-06 from the Fremouw Formation at Wahl Glacier and from the Lashly Formation at Allan Hills, both toward the outer edges of Antarctica.
Pangea
Despite the absence of fossil bones, the burrows' relatively small size prompted Sidor to speculate that their owners might have been small lizardlike reptiles called Procolophonids or an early mammal relative called Thrinaxodon. Burrows, some containing tetrapod bones, have previously been excavated in South Africa, which is considered to be perhaps the world's richest fossil depository, and those burrows are nearly identical to the fossils unearthed in Antarctica. During the Triassic period, Antarctica and South Africa were connected as part of a supercontinent called Pangea.
Because even at that time Antarctica was substantially colder than South Africa, and because sea levels likely were higher than today, it is much rarer to find fossils there that date from as far back as the Early Triassic.
"Everywhere has a spotty fossil record, but Antarctica has an extremely spotty fossil record because it is difficult finding exposed rocks amid all the ice," Sidor said.
Ice free Antarctic
At the time the burrows were dug, Antarctica would have been ice free. However temperatures still would have been quite cold, since both areas where the burrows were found are within the Antarctic Circle and so experience at least one day a year of complete darkness.
"We have documented that tetrapods were burrowing, making dens in Antarctica, back in the Triassic," Sidor said. "There are lots of good reasons for burrowing at high latitudes, not the least of which is protection from the elements."
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Recent discoveries about Antarctica
Global Warming Not Responsible for the Collapse of Larsen B
Welsh Scientists have discovered that the sudden collapse of the ice self Larson B (the event which triggered the current International Polare Year) was not due to global warming. The demise of long fringing shelf, based in the north west of the Weddell Sea, was presumed to be the latest of a long line of events because of the Antarctic summer heat waves linked to Global warming.
In truth, a number of factors led to the collapse, including oceanic, atmospheric and glaciological. Apparently the ice shelf had been in distress for decades.
For more information go to the International Glaciological Society web page, http://www.igsoc.org. The New Zealand Branch of the Society is called the Snow and Ice Research Group http://www.sirg.org.nz/. It also has an association with the NZ Antarctic Research Centre http://www.victoria.ac.nz/antarctic.
The Antarctica Continent is Not Actually Melting!
In spite of the recent measured rate of ice loss at 75 percent, 14 years of radar mapping of the continent in a new study by a University of California at Irvine has established that the continent is not melting. In fact, warmer ocean temperatures around Antarctica, likely aided by shifting currents, are causing ice to flow more quickly to the ocean from the continent's interior.
The study also reveals the complicated effects of global warming.
"When the ice enters into contact with the ocean around the periphery of Antarctica, there's a lot of melt from underneath the ocean," glaciologist Eric Rignot said.
The whole continent is not actually warming – some areas, including the centre are still very cold. However, according to Rignot, the Antarctic Peninsula is warming up at four to five times the global average.
The findings show that even within a single continent, the simple picture of climate change - hotter temperatures equal more glacial melting - one must yield to a more nuanced understanding as to why some places warm up, some cool down, and the connection to planetary warming.
The study, published online in the journal Nature Geoscience, relied upon data from several satellites, which used radar with a high degree of precision to measure ice movement.
First Evidence Of Under-ice Volcanic Eruption In Antarctica discovered
According to a report on the January 2 2008 Science Daily, The first evidence of a volcanic eruption from beneath Antarctica's most rapidly changing ice sheet has been reported. The volcano, located on part of the Hudson Mountains beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet erupted 2000 years ago (325BC) and remains active. With today’s scientific techniques, including airborne ice sounding radar it has been possible to date and measure the power of the eruption. Apparently it was the biggest eruption in Antarctic in the last 10,000 years. It blew a huge hole in the sheet and spurted gas and ash 12 kilometers into the air. Scientists believe that this discovery will help determine the future of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Along with the study of other extinct and live volcanoes, including Mt Erebus, a better understanding the interaction between the volcanoes and ice will come about.
From the February online edition of Nature Geoscience.
New Species Discovered in the Southern Ocean
Dinner plate sized sea spiders, and squid with 6 meter long tentacles have been among the many spectacular new creatures discovered in the Southern Ocean by a fleet of 3 ships, organised by Ceamark.
Part of the International Census of Antarctic Marine Life project organised by the Australian Antarctic Division, this recent expedition is one of up to 16 planned research voyages to Antarctica as part of the International Polar Year. The census will survey all aspects of biodiversity in Antarctica, and establish a baseline dataset from which future changes can be observed.
Robotic Observatory Opens on Antarctic Plateau
By Bill Christensen
posted: 07 February 2008
04:40 pm ET
A robotic observatory — PLATO short for PLATeau Observatory) — has been completed on one of Earth's most remote locations —on Dome Argus on the Antarctic Plateau and the highest point of Antarctica. With temperatures that drop to minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit, at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the automated facility is an 18-day journey from existing research stations.
The Antarctic Plateau is considered one of Earth's prime viewing locations. The air is extremely dry; it also features relatively low wind speeds and less atmospheric turbulence.
The purpose of PLATO is to continuously observe an area of the sky over the pole as the Earth rotates. The automated observatory is powered by solar panels and by small diesel engines during the lightless winter.
PLATO has a total of seven telescopes and equipment from China, the U.S. and the U.K. It was assembled by a team at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The expedition was led by the Polar Research Institute of China and the observatory will begin sending data back by satellite in a few weeks, when darkness returns to Antarctica.
From www.space.com, and http://mcba11.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mcba/plato/.
Potato Chips to become Extinct?
A tiny Marine Snail, the Pteropod, is likely to become extinct if our southern oceans become warmer and more acidic, according to Gretchen Hofmann at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
An essential food item for many fish, seals and penguins, the Pteropods may find it more difficult to make their shells in the future. The demise of these ‘potato chips would have a catastrophic impact on the food chain.
Apparently the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing more of the gas to dissolve in the oceans, resulting in a build up of acidity. Today this process is apparently faster than it ever has been and the impact will last for centuries, according to Doney Scott of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Now people can fly direct from Australia to Antarctica
Thanks to the January, 2008 completion of the Wilkins Runway in West Antarctica, Australian Scientists can fly direct to Antarctica from Australia. Until recently, they had to undertake a 10-day journey by ship from Hobart, Tasmania.
The official opening on January 11, 2008 was celebrated by the arrival and landing of the first ever flight of a corporate airbus jetliner. Named after the adventurer and aviator Sir Hubert Wilkins, who made the first flight in Antarctica 79 years ago the AUD $46 million dollar runway is carved into glacial blue ice, approximately 65 km (40 miles) from the Australian base at Casey Station.
The idea to have a runway on Australian Antarctic Territory was first suggested in the 1950’s but strict political and environmental issues meant that construction of the single runway did not commence until 2004. To keep it at runway standard eight people are required to maintain the level and friction of the runway before each landing.
Unfortunately, for most of us, we will not be able to do the nine-hour return trip from Hobart, as the Antarctic summer flying schedules cater for scientists only.
Welsh Scientists have discovered that the sudden collapse of the ice self Larson B (the event which triggered the current International Polare Year) was not due to global warming. The demise of long fringing shelf, based in the north west of the Weddell Sea, was presumed to be the latest of a long line of events because of the Antarctic summer heat waves linked to Global warming.
In truth, a number of factors led to the collapse, including oceanic, atmospheric and glaciological. Apparently the ice shelf had been in distress for decades.
For more information go to the International Glaciological Society web page, http://www.igsoc.org. The New Zealand Branch of the Society is called the Snow and Ice Research Group http://www.sirg.org.nz/. It also has an association with the NZ Antarctic Research Centre http://www.victoria.ac.nz/antarctic.
The Antarctica Continent is Not Actually Melting!
In spite of the recent measured rate of ice loss at 75 percent, 14 years of radar mapping of the continent in a new study by a University of California at Irvine has established that the continent is not melting. In fact, warmer ocean temperatures around Antarctica, likely aided by shifting currents, are causing ice to flow more quickly to the ocean from the continent's interior.
The study also reveals the complicated effects of global warming.
"When the ice enters into contact with the ocean around the periphery of Antarctica, there's a lot of melt from underneath the ocean," glaciologist Eric Rignot said.
The whole continent is not actually warming – some areas, including the centre are still very cold. However, according to Rignot, the Antarctic Peninsula is warming up at four to five times the global average.
The findings show that even within a single continent, the simple picture of climate change - hotter temperatures equal more glacial melting - one must yield to a more nuanced understanding as to why some places warm up, some cool down, and the connection to planetary warming.
The study, published online in the journal Nature Geoscience, relied upon data from several satellites, which used radar with a high degree of precision to measure ice movement.
First Evidence Of Under-ice Volcanic Eruption In Antarctica discovered
According to a report on the January 2 2008 Science Daily, The first evidence of a volcanic eruption from beneath Antarctica's most rapidly changing ice sheet has been reported. The volcano, located on part of the Hudson Mountains beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet erupted 2000 years ago (325BC) and remains active. With today’s scientific techniques, including airborne ice sounding radar it has been possible to date and measure the power of the eruption. Apparently it was the biggest eruption in Antarctic in the last 10,000 years. It blew a huge hole in the sheet and spurted gas and ash 12 kilometers into the air. Scientists believe that this discovery will help determine the future of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Along with the study of other extinct and live volcanoes, including Mt Erebus, a better understanding the interaction between the volcanoes and ice will come about.
From the February online edition of Nature Geoscience.
New Species Discovered in the Southern Ocean
Dinner plate sized sea spiders, and squid with 6 meter long tentacles have been among the many spectacular new creatures discovered in the Southern Ocean by a fleet of 3 ships, organised by Ceamark.
Part of the International Census of Antarctic Marine Life project organised by the Australian Antarctic Division, this recent expedition is one of up to 16 planned research voyages to Antarctica as part of the International Polar Year. The census will survey all aspects of biodiversity in Antarctica, and establish a baseline dataset from which future changes can be observed.
Robotic Observatory Opens on Antarctic Plateau
By Bill Christensen
posted: 07 February 2008
04:40 pm ET
A robotic observatory — PLATO short for PLATeau Observatory) — has been completed on one of Earth's most remote locations —on Dome Argus on the Antarctic Plateau and the highest point of Antarctica. With temperatures that drop to minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit, at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the automated facility is an 18-day journey from existing research stations.
The Antarctic Plateau is considered one of Earth's prime viewing locations. The air is extremely dry; it also features relatively low wind speeds and less atmospheric turbulence.
The purpose of PLATO is to continuously observe an area of the sky over the pole as the Earth rotates. The automated observatory is powered by solar panels and by small diesel engines during the lightless winter.
PLATO has a total of seven telescopes and equipment from China, the U.S. and the U.K. It was assembled by a team at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The expedition was led by the Polar Research Institute of China and the observatory will begin sending data back by satellite in a few weeks, when darkness returns to Antarctica.
From www.space.com, and http://mcba11.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mcba/plato/.
Potato Chips to become Extinct?
A tiny Marine Snail, the Pteropod, is likely to become extinct if our southern oceans become warmer and more acidic, according to Gretchen Hofmann at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
An essential food item for many fish, seals and penguins, the Pteropods may find it more difficult to make their shells in the future. The demise of these ‘potato chips would have a catastrophic impact on the food chain.
Apparently the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing more of the gas to dissolve in the oceans, resulting in a build up of acidity. Today this process is apparently faster than it ever has been and the impact will last for centuries, according to Doney Scott of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Now people can fly direct from Australia to Antarctica
Thanks to the January, 2008 completion of the Wilkins Runway in West Antarctica, Australian Scientists can fly direct to Antarctica from Australia. Until recently, they had to undertake a 10-day journey by ship from Hobart, Tasmania.
The official opening on January 11, 2008 was celebrated by the arrival and landing of the first ever flight of a corporate airbus jetliner. Named after the adventurer and aviator Sir Hubert Wilkins, who made the first flight in Antarctica 79 years ago the AUD $46 million dollar runway is carved into glacial blue ice, approximately 65 km (40 miles) from the Australian base at Casey Station.
The idea to have a runway on Australian Antarctic Territory was first suggested in the 1950’s but strict political and environmental issues meant that construction of the single runway did not commence until 2004. To keep it at runway standard eight people are required to maintain the level and friction of the runway before each landing.
Unfortunately, for most of us, we will not be able to do the nine-hour return trip from Hobart, as the Antarctic summer flying schedules cater for scientists only.
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