Antarctic Research What Is Japan Monitoring in Antarctica? State of Conservation in Antarctica
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Antarctic Research What is Japan monitoring in Antarctica? State of Conservation in Antarctica Antarctic observations have been Specially Protected Areas, and entry To understand Antarctica is conducted under the fundamental without permission is prohibited. policy to protect the precious The Treaty also prohibits the natural environment. Based on the introduction of non-native plants Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on and animals to Antarctica, so the Environmental Protection to the dog sleds once necessary for Antarctic Treaty, various conducting observations can no to decipher the Earth's future. environmental measures have been longer be used. Extreme caution is taken around the globe and exercised to protect Antarctica's restrictions have been placed on natural environment. Not only is it human activity in Antarctica. illegal to transport plants, animals Regions of the continent that are and minerals out of Antarctica, extremely environmentally valuable there are also restrictions on animal are designated as Antarctic approach distances. Permanent Research Stations and Japan's Research Stations in Antarctica (as of 2009) Maitri Station (India) Neumayer Station (Germany) Novolazarevskaya Station (Russia) Orcadas Base (Argentina) SANAE IV Troll Station Syowa Station (South Africa) (Norway) The Future of Antarctica is the Future of Bernardo O'Higgins Station (Chile) Asuka Station Esperanza Base (Argentina) Humankind. Marambio Base (Argentina) Halley Station Antarctica. Nearly two centuries have passed Captain Arturo Prat Base (Chile) (UK) Mizuho Station since humans first set foot on this icy continent. Palmer Station (USA) In the past, Antarctica was an explorer's dream, a Vernadsky Research San Martín Base (Argentina) Mawson Station Base (Ukraine) Belgrano II (Argentina) (Australia) stage where nations put their pride at stake, and at times, the subject of territorial disputes. Now, Dome Fuji Station came together to sign the Antarctic Treaty, an Rothera Research with the help of humankind, researchers are Station (UK) agreement that deemed Antarctica as a common exploring the continent's natural phenomena to heritage of humankind, deferred all territorial Mizuho Station Zhongshan Station (China) both learn about the Earth's past and attempt to Progress II (Russia) claims on the continent and banned military forecast its future. Because of almost no human Davis Station (Australia) operations there. Based on this, a system activity, Antarctica is a rare place where the Permanent Stations allowing scientists to freely conduct observations 2 on King George Island Earth's environment can be accurately and research at any time was created. Since 3 Jubany Base (Argentina) monitored. The countries of the world must Comandante Ferraz South Pole Mirny Station (Russia) signing the Antarctic Treaty as one of the Base (Brazil) Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station (USA) cooperate with each other to conduct Professor Julio original signatories, Japan has played a major Escudero Base (Chile) observations and research and monitor the Vostok Station (Russia) role in promoting scientific research, Presidente Eduardo global environment based on the results of these Frei Base (Chile) international cooperation and environmental Estación Marítima Antártica (Chile) efforts. To do this, Antarctica has to be preserved Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin conservation in Antarctica. Airfield (Chile) as a common heritage of humankind that belongs Great Wall Station (China) to no one. As of 2010, 28 countries maintain research King Sejong Station (Korea) Henryk Arctowski Station (Poland) stations on Antarctica, and it is a commonplace Concordia Station (France / Italy) Bellingshausen Station (Russia) for scientists to visit each other bases freely and Artigas Base (Uruguay) Antarctica: The Borderless Continent. Casey Station conduct in joint research. The environmental McMurdo Station (USA) (Australia) In 1957 and 1958, 66 countries joined forced to data observed in Antarctica does not only affect Scott Base (New Zealand) launch the International Geophysical Year (IGY) certain countries, it contributes to all of the project. Japan's participation marked the countries and all of the people on the Earth. beginning of its Antarctic observations. Several Antarctica may be a faraway frozen continent, The continent of Antarctica is about 37 times the size of Japan. of these countries reaffirmed the importance of but the research activity there is closely linked to Dumont d'Urville Station (France) Antarctica with this international campaign and our daily lives in Japan. Jezek,K.,and RAMP Product Team.2002.RAMP AMM-1 SAR Image Mosaic of Antarctica. Fairbanks,AK: Alaska Satellite Facility, in association with the National Snow and Ice Data Center,Boulder,CO.Digital media. Data on Antarctica Antarctic Treaty and Environmental Protocol Area: About 13.88 million km2 Avg. ice thickness: 1,860m Applied to all of the land and ice effect in 1961. It comprised 14 sovereignty claims (37 times the size of Japan) Max. ice thickness: 4,776m shelves south of 60° S latitude, the articles, including the following Article 5: Prohibition of nuclear Avg. altitude: 2,010m Antarctic Treaty was initially four: explosions and disposal of Ice volume: About 25.4 million km2 ratified in 1959 by 12 signatories Article 1: Limit of usage to radioactive wastes Highest point: 4,892m (90% of Earth's ice) — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, peaceful purposes (military The Treaty reached its initial Avg. temp.: -10.5°C Precipitation: 50mm/year at South Pole Chile, France, Japan, New usage prohibited) 30-year expiration date in 1991, Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Article 2: Freedom of scientific but no country has demanded it (Syowa Sta./annual avg.) (same as a desert) the Soviet Union (now Russia), investigations and promotion be revised or abolished. As of Lowest temp.: 89.2°C Distance the United Kingdom and the of international cooperation 2010, the number of member (at Russia's Vostok Station) from Japan: About 14,000km United States — before going into Article 4: Suspension of territorial states stands at 48. The flags of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty are a symbol Regular international meetings are held of peace on the continent (at South Pole). in accordance with the Treaty. Diverse Natural Environment in Antarctica Antarctica holds many clues The icy continent's natural since 1957. environment is rich with Deception Island, a submarine diversity. One case in point are its volcano, is a breeding ground for volcanoes. Two of the most penguins. The island is a well-known volcanoes are Mt. horseshoe-shaped caldera that to understand how the Earth Erebus (3,794m) and Deception wraps around a bay which is also Island. The United States' home to hot springs. Deception McMurdo Station and New Island last erupted in 1970, and Zealand's Scott Base are located at today only plumes of volcanic has evolved since its born Volcanic smoke from Mt. Erebus the foot of Mt. Erebus, and they smoke can be seen on occasion. It have been observing the volcano is also a famous tourist attraction. Evidence of the Ancient Continent of Gravity Anomalies Around Syowa Station 38° 40° 42° 44° Gondwana 36° 46° Approximately 200 million years ago, Antarctica was part of Gondwana, a supercontinent that -65° -65° incorporated present-day Africa, South America, Australia, India and other land fragments. -66°° -66- ° Antarctic Gondwana began to break up about 180 million Ocean years ago. At that time, Antarctica was warm, Coastline 7° forest-covered land near the Equator where -67° -67°-6 dinosaurs roamed. There are massive coal-bearing strata in the Transantarctic -68°68° -68°-68 Mountains which are proof of the existence of 4 large forest at one time. Syowa Station -69°69° -69° 5 Secrets of Gondwana under the Ice and -70° -70° the Ocean The force of attraction and rotation create a centrifugal force that acts on the Earth. How did the supercontinent of Gondwana form -71° -71° Gravity is a combination of these two forces, and and break apart? The answers to these questions scientists can understand the Earth's inner structures by lie deep under Antarctica's thick ice. Since Antarctica measuring gravity anomalies, -72° -72° scientists cannot directly explore the bedrock Yamato the difference between gravity Mountains that is theoretically calculated under the ice, they explore the internal structures and that which is actually measured. The red and blue of the Antarctic continent and the Antarctic -73° 73°- sections on the map correspond to topographically Ocean by beaming radio waves from aircraft and high and low areas. Since 50 researchers cannot extract generating artificial earthquakes to analyze data directly from the ice -74° -74° under Antarctica, they gravity anomalies. measure gravity anomalies in an effort to gain insight into 6° 38° 40° 42° 44° Antarctica still holds many clues to understand 3 6°4 how continental plates shifted and the ice sheets fluctuated how the Earth has evolved. in the past. Sør Rondane Mountains Syowa Station Geological Diversity in Antarctica Rubies and Sapphires from Antarctica Napier Complex Africa Western Geology in Antarctica is truly Earth's crust initial formed. The Rayner Complex If Antarctica was connected to are renowned for the gem Syowa Station and the Mt. Riiser-Larsen North diverse, ranging from 3.8 billion Rayner Complex, which encircles surrounding areas the other continents at one time, minerals they produce, and in America India year Archean terrain to currently