Science and Stewardship in the Antarctic (1993) / Chapter Skim
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Introduction
Introduction
Pages 6-21
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From page 6... ...
Compelling scientific rationales now exist for conducting research in the Antarctic regardless of political imperatives (Weller et al., 1987~. At the same time that antarctic science has evolved, political imperatives have changed with the end of the Cold War.
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From page 7... ...
Such observations included not only the obvious, such as snow and ice cover, indigenous life forms, and weather, but also the less obvious such as cosmic ray and geomagnetic field measurements (the latter was of considerable practical importance to navigation)
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8 Science and Stewardship in the Antarctic UJ o o to co .m _ ~ ' c c dog u,` ~ c,= _ co 0~ o r 46 C' In C)
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From page 9... ...
> 1800 (7 1~ 90°E— AUSTRALIA FIGURE l.lc Map of the southern latitudes showing Antarctica in relation to surrounding islands. Sixty degrees south latitude, which demarks the Antarctic Meaty System area, is shown.
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From page 10... ...
The West Antarctic ice sheet is the only existing ice sheet grounded below sea level and is thought to be more vulnerable to climate change than either the Greenland or East Antarctic ice sheets. Its stability is important because its disappearance would lead to a worldwide sea level rise of about 5 meters.
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From page 11... ...
It is hypothesized that, during the current warm period the West Antarctic ice sheet could collapse again, leading to a catastrophic five meter rise in sea level. The testing of the rift hypothesis and study of ice dynamics in West Antarctica are closely linked to the development of a better understanding of the stability of the marine ice sheet.
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From page 12... ...
Permafrost and lake bottom sediments also contain key records of past changes. Lee polar regions have become a focal point for global change studies in scientific disciplines, including ecology, atmospheric science, oceanography, glaciology, and geology.
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From page 13... ...
The processes by which cryptoendolithic bacteria are able to grow in porous rocks in the dry valleys provide clues to life forms that might have existed on Mars in the distant past. The lakes and streams are also excellent research sites because of the dominance by microorganisms.
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From page 14... ...
Where the field lines from Antarctica intersect northern hemisphere land regions, measurements can be made at both ends of a field line, providing even more definitive information. Because the northern hemisphere has few such regions, particularly at geomagnetic latitudes greater than 75 degrees, Antarctica represents an important location for studying Earth's space environment.
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From page 15... ...
The funneling of the geomagnetic field lines into the polar regions enables measurement of lower energy cosmic rays than at lower latitudes. The long, highly reliable time series of data that has been obtained provides important information on the time dependence of incident cosmic ray radiation, as influenced by the sun and the solar cycle.
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From page 16... ...
Especially promising new astronomical investigations take advantage of the reduced atmospheric thermal emissions in the antarctic interior. At a wavelength of 2.4 microns is a unique gap in airglow emissions that may provide a background for telescopic measurements that is two orders of magnitude lower than can be achieved at other sites on Earth, approaching the sensitivities achievable on a space telescope that might be designed for this frequency region.
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From page 17... ...
The astronomical observatory at South Pole Station depends on the dry, unpolluted atmosphere for the viewing conditions that make it the best place for certain observations other than a satellite observatory. The antarctic ice sheets are central to the role of the continent as Earth's most important heat sink, lo the dynamics of the atmosphere, and to climatic variability.
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From page 18... ...
Synthesis of previous scientific results can provide a knowledge base for stewardship and indicate research needed to fill gaps that are identified. Scientific understanding also provides the basis for designing a monitoring program to track how the system is changing and how key pollutants associated with the human presence are being introduced, transported to, and modified in the environment.
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From page 19... ...
accompanied by an adult male (right side of the picture) on an ice flow in the annual pack ice region.
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From page 20... ...
Approach and Technology Antarctic scientists have learned how to execute research activities, and their experience could greatly contribute to the success of specific stewardship activities, such as maintenance of a monitoring program. In addition to sharing this experience in execution, scientists involved in antarctic research could evaluate and review aspects of the environmental program to help keep its approach sound and the methods up-to-date.
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From page 21... ...
Because the interactions between science and stewardship are dynamic and will evolve over time, flexibility in the implementing legislation is desirable. BOX 1.2 THE FUTURE OF ANTARCTIC RESEARCH BALLOONING The study of antarctic meteorology dates back to the days of Admiral Byrd, who personally collected the first winter of meteorological data on the ice shelf and nearly died in the endeavor.
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