...The reading states that around 15 million years ago, Antarctica was warmer and it supported much richer ecosystems and provides three arguments of support. However, the professor states that this is unconvincing and refutes each of the authors' arguments. First, the reading states that pollen grains from two types of trees dating to 15 million years ago have been found on the coast of Antarctica. The professor opposes this point by saying the pollen grains might not come from Antarctica. The professor states that pollen grains are very light, so they can be carried to thousands of kilometers. The professor adds that the pollen grains might be carried by ocean water or they might be carried by the air movement from the South America and...
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...Schroeder Case-In-Point Analysis Antarctica is certainly the most pristine environment left on the earth. Unfortunately this is no longer the case because of multiple human activities that have led to environmental issues and concerns such as pollution, ozone layer thinning, global warming etc. Human impact is a serious threat to ecosystem and food chain of Antarctica. In the last few decades, various marine species of Antarctic ecosystem have been brought close to extinction because of human activities in various forms such as pollution from sewage and other contaminants, overfishing and other mixed activities and interference like global climate change caused by human emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, ozone layer depletion, global warming etc. This all leads to damage of food web and ecosystem of the Antarctica. Another serious impact of emission of carbon dioxide is ocean acidification, which is serious damage to the marine ecosystem of Antarctica. These activities are the main causes of disturbed environment of marine ecosystem of Antarctica. Another factor contributing to Antarctica's ecosystem disturbance is the commercial aspect of human activities. Human are harvesting krill to feed their animals and fishes which is negatively affecting the ecosystem of Antarctica. It is affecting the volume of krill and other fishes which are important source of food chain of Antarctica. Because of less krill, food chain of Antarctica is getting disturbed. Researches...
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...Is Antarctica Melting? 01.12.10 The continent of Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice per year since 2002. Larger Image There has been lots of talk lately about Antarctica and whether or not the continent's giant ice sheet is melting. One new paper 1, which states there’s less surface melting recently than in past years, has been cited as "proof" that there’s no global warming. Other evidence that the amount of sea ice around Antarctica seems to be increasing slightly 2-4 is being used in the same way. But both of these data points are misleading. Gravity data collected from space using NASA's Grace satellite show that Antarctica has been losing more than a hundred cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice each year since 2002. The latest data reveal that Antarctica is losing ice at an accelerating rate, too. How is it possible for surface melting to decrease, but for the continent to lose mass anyway? The answer boils down to the fact that ice can flow without melting. The Antarctic ice sheet. East Antarctica is much higher in elevation than West Antarctica. Larger Image Two-thirds of Antarctica is a high, cold desert. Known as East Antarctica, this section has an average altitude of about 2 kilometer (1.2 miles), higher than the American Colorado Plateau. There is a continent about the size of Australia underneath all this ice; the ice sheet sitting on top averages at a little over 2 kilometer (1.2 miles) thick. If all of...
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...is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile (1.6 km) in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Climate hthis is 11 °C (20 °F) colder than subliming dry ice. Antarctica is a frozen desert with little precipitation; the South Pole itself receives less than 10 cm (4 in) per year, on average. Temperatures reach a minimum of between −80 °C (−112 °F) and −90 °C (−130 °F) in the interior in winter and reach a maximum of between 5 °C (41 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F) near the coast in summer. Sunburn is often a health issue as the snow surface reflects almost all of the ultraviolet light falling on it.[44] Wildlife The wildlife of Antarctica are extremophiles, having to adapt to the dryness, low temperatures, and high exposure common in Antartica. The extreme weather of the interior contrasts to the relatively mild conditions on theAntarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands, which have warmer temperatures and more liquid water. Much of the ocean around the mainland is covered by sea ice. The oceans themselves are a more stable environment for life, both in the water column and on the seabed. There is relatively little diversity in Antarctica compared to much of the rest of the world. Flying birds nest on the milder shores of the Peninsula and the...
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...continent, Antarctica contains 90 percent of all of the ice on the planet in an area just under one and a half times the size of the United States. Let's take a look at one of the world's most desolate regions. Lying in the Antarctic Circle that rings the southern part of the globe, Antarctica is the fifth largest continent. Its size varies through the seasons, as expanding sea ice along the coast nearly doubles its size in the winter. Most of Antarctica is covered with ice; less than half a percent of the vast wilderness is ice free. The continent is divided into two regions, known as East and West Antarctica. East Antarctica makes up two thirds of the continent, and is about the size of Australia. Ice in this part of the continent averages 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) thick. West Antarctica, on the other hand, is a series of frozen islands stretching toward the southern tip of South America, an extension of the Andes Mountains prominent on the warmer continent. The two regions are separated by the Transantarctic Mountains, a range that stretches across the entire continent, although sometimes covered by ice. The ice of Antarctica is not a smooth sheet but a continuously changing expanse. Glaciers inch across the continent, cracking and breaking the ice. Crevasse fields with cracks hundreds of feet deep span the continent, hidden by only a shallow layer of snow. Icebergs fall along the coast, where shelves and glaciers break off into the sea. Despite its thick ice, Antarctica is classified...
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...[4]Religious movements were among the earliest cultural forces to globalize, spread by force, migration, evangelists, imperialists and traders. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and more recently sects such as Mormonism have taken root and influenced endemic cultures in places far from their origins. On average, Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Since there is little precipitation, except at the coasts, the interior of the continent is technically the largest desert in the world. There are no permanent human residents. Only cold-adapted plants and animals survive there, including penguins, fur seals, mosses, lichen, and many types of algae.The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by twelve countries; to date, forty-six countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists of many nationalities and with different research interests.Centered asymmetrically around the South Pole and largely south of the Antarctic Circle, Antarctica is the southernmost continent and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean; alternatively, it may be considered to be...
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...CASE STUDY: HOW HUMANS HAVE AFFECTED THE ANTARCTIC FOOD WEB Although the icy waters around Antarctica may seem an inhospitable environment, a complex food web is found there. The base of the food web consists of microscopic, photosynthetic algae present in vast numbers in the well-lit, nutrient-rich water. A huge population of herbivores—tiny shrimp like krill—eat these marine algae. Krill, in turn, support a variety of larger animals. A major consumer of krill is the baleen whale, which filters krill out of the frigid water. Baleen whales include blue whales, humpback whales, and right whales. Squid and fishes also consume krill in great quantities. These, in turn, are eaten by other carnivores: toothed whales such as the sperm whale, elephant seals and leopard seals, king penguins and emperor penguins, and birds such as the albatross and the petrel. Humans have had an impact on the Antarctic food web as they have had on most other ecosystems. Before the advent of whaling, baleen whales consumed huge quantities of krill. Until a global ban on hunting large whales was enacted in 1986, whaling steadily reduced the number of large baleen whales in Antarctic waters. As a result, of fewer whales eating krill, more krill became available for other krill-eating animals, whose populations increased. Now that commercial whaling is regulated, it is hoped that the number of large baleen whales will slowly increase, and that appears to be the case for some species. However, the populations...
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...2012 Michael Eslinger, Ph.D. Case-In-Point Analysis Global warming and food web declines in Antarctica are affecting more than most would have thought. The krill population plays a major role in the cycle of life for many mammals in this area but also for migratory mammals. This paper will expose food web declination in relation to global warming as well as what could have prevented it. This paper will also expose current projects to assist in rectifying the damage done. Icy, frozen, and barren Antarctica seems like the last place humans could affect any food webs on this continent. Impossible as it seems, humans have created an unnatural ebb and tide. Beginning with the large-scale whaling in Antarctica that started in 1904, the overexploitation of whaling projects devastated the whale population in the area. Because whales are the primary krill-eating mammals, reducing their numbers increased the krill population. However, by increasing the krill population and reducing the whale population, other krill-eating mammals increased their numbers creating an unnatural ecosystem. Global climate change has also affected this Hoth like continent. The thinning the ozone layer has brought concerns that the ultraviolet rays are damaging the algae in the area. According to Raven, Berg, Hassenzahl, “Increased ultraviolet radiation is penetrating the surface waters around Antarctica, and algal productivity has declined, probably as a result of increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation...
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...Table of Contents Analysis of the Endurance expedition: 3 Was the exploration a success or a failure?: 5 Relentless pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled”: 5 Analysis of the Endurance expedition: The expedition of E. S in 1915 can be analyzed as a scientific endeavor, as an entrepreneurial venture and as well as an imperial opportunity. Scientific Endeavor: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the world was eager to know the unknown parts of the world. England was not behind that race. They wanted to accumulate the fullest information about the great unexplored and little known areas of Earth’s surface. Explorers had it in their mind that the exploration ought to be conducted on scientific methods. The quest for scientific knowledge drove many explorers and their supporters to go for polar expedition. Ernest Shackleton’s journey was also considered as a scientific quest. Though the South Pole was already discovered in 1911, and it looked like he had nothing new to discover. Yet he wanted to go beyond the South Pole. The thrust of knowledge to see beyond that point is of course considered as a scientific endeavor. It is considered as an endeavor because, it was not easy to pursue. Collecting money, gathering the right crew, putting together the right nutrition for the crew members, managing in the proper way and most importantly surviving in the challenging weather were not very easy to achieve. Entrepreneurial Venture: At...
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...N I N E In Cold Blood: The Tale of the Icefish In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. -Aristotle It was a long way just to go fishing. The us-foot converted wooden sealing boat Norveg/a put to sea out of Sandcford Harbor, Norway on September 14,1927. Its primary destination was perhaps the most remote piece of land on the planet. Tiny Bouvet Island, a speck in the vast Southern Ocean, lay more than six thousand miles from Norway, sixteen hundred miles from the tip of Africa, and more than three thousand miles from South America. In the mid-1920S, commercial invention whaling was booming. The Norwegian of factory ships allowed greater numbers of animals to be taken without relying on shore facilities. Finding new stocks of whales was a priorHCllRE 9.1 The Non'egia a/ Bouvet Island. Photo (rom F;1I1gstOg Forskning r Sydish,lVct by Bjame Aagaard, Volume "N)le Tider." Published bv Cyldelldai Norsk Foriag, Oslo. 1930. ity for the entrepreneurs 2, who went to sea, and establishing tory and w.llers was a priorit) for the countries government claims to terri- involved. The Norwegian wanted to stake a claim to this icc-covered volcanic rock with 167 168 PART IV EVOLUTION IN ACT CHAPTER ON FIGURE 9.2 DitlefRlIstad 011 the Norvegia foredeck. Photo from Fangst Og Forskning I Sydishavet h)' 13,Clme i\C1gclClrd,volume "Nye Tider." Published by Cyldendal Norsk Forlag, Oslo, 1930. 9 ...
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...beyond the scientific method. Unintended consequences There are multiple human activities that have led to environmental problems. The first is the thinning of the ozone layer. This is the cause of man-made compounds, such as halocarbons. The Global Climate Change and Ozone Layer Protection (2005) website states “Halocarbons are formed when halogen gases such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine become attached to carbon. The smaller halocarbons turn into a gas quite easily and are the prime suspects in ozone depletion (What causes Ozone Layer Depletion?, para. 2). The depletion to the ozone layer leads to a global climate change. Raven, P., Berg, L., and Hassenzahl, D. (2010) explain: “As the water has warmed in recent decades around Antarctica, less pack ice has formed during winter months. Large numbers of marine algae are found in and around the pack ice, providing a critical supply of food for the krill, which reproduce in the area” (How humans have affected the Antarctic food web, para. 5). Because there is less krill, this causes the food chain to be disturbed. As the years pass with a lowered amount of krill, other animals are reproducing less. A third human activity leading to unintended consequences is the commercial aspect. Humans are collecting...
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...Introduction to Antarctica: Most people know that Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth, but did you know it is the worlds largest desert? or that a giant lake is locked beneath the ice? or that huge volcanoes can be found here? Antarctica is the fifth largest of the Earth's seven continents. It is the coldest continent located at the southern end of Earth. Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It's remote location and harsh climate of freezing weather and extreme winds makes it impossible for a permanent human population. The continent was circumnavigated by Captain James Cook in the 18th century, but he never saw it. In the early 20th century explorers were obsessed with reaching the South Pole and eventually it was Roald Amundsen who was the first to reach this point in 1911. History of Antarctica: Around 200 million years ago Antarctica was part of the super continent Gondwana. Joined with Australia, Africa, South America, India and New Zealand. Over time Gondwana began to break into pieces and slowly moved to their present positions. The word Antarctic comes from the Greek word 'Antarktos' meaning south of the bear or opposite north. Antarctica is the fifth largest of the Earth's seven continents. It has an area of nearly 14 million square kilometres. Antarctica was the last continent to be discovered. It was first sighted early in the 19th century, Scientific expeditions and seal hunters explored pieces of the Antarctic coast but had not made...
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...for their favorite food; such as rays, squid, octopuses, eel, large fish and small sharks. They can stay underwater for up to two hours. Elephant seals have an adequate amount of blood to allow them to obtain large amounts of oxygen for use during a dive. Though they were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800’s, predators are something elephant seal have no need to worry about. They carry very few if any predators at all. On land, they do need to look out for leopard seals because they will try to eat the baby elephant seals. Due to the fact that Antarctica is the driest place on earth, Elephant seals need to get moisture somehow. That being the case, as other animals in the surroundings exhale, the elephant seal absorbs the moisture given off. Relatively 40% of their body weight consists of fat, this helps them to stay warm. All in all, Elephant seals have made many adaptations to deal with the harsh weather of Antarctica. ...
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...the scientific method could have helped the problem. * Address any alternative solutions beyond the scientific method. * Format your analysis consistent with APA guidelines. * * * There are two forms of animals that are important in the environment of the Antarctic: microscopic photosynthetic algae (also referred as Marine algae) and herbivores, tiny shrimp-like krill. According to Raven, P, Berg, L., & Hassenzahi, D. (2010), there are some environmental problems associated to the case in point, “How Humans have affected the Antarctic Food Web”. Some of these environmental problems are with the thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, the hunting of whales, global climate change, and human harvest of krill. (p. 59). This paper is prepared to help to identify where humankind’s activities have been careless with the environment where they are unintended consequences. Also, explained is how scientific or technological activities are exacerbating or improving the existing situation, discussions on how a proper application of the scientific method could help the problem, and point out any alternative solution...
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...climate of Antarctica Science Understanding Verbal/Linguistic NAME: CLASS: DATE: In 2009 it was reported by the U.S. Geological Survey that the ice sheets in the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula (Figure 1) were disappearing and that the change in the amount of ice was significant. Since 1998 approximately 4000 square kilometres of ice has been lost from one area. This area of ice lost is about one and a half times the size of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This loss of ice is regarded as very strong evidence of the effects of global warming on the planet. [pic] Figure 1 This map identifies the main areas of Antarctica. However, in the same year it was reported by the Australian Antarctic Division that the ice is expanding in eastern Antarctica (see Figure 1) and parts of eastern Antarctica are becoming cooler. Ice core drilling in the ice off Australia's Davis Station in East Antarctica revealed that in 2008 the ice had a maximum thickness of 1.89 metres. The ice had not been this deep for 10 years. Since the 1950s, when continuous record began, the average thickness of the ice at Davis has been 1.67 metres. Data collected do not provide any evidence of large scale melting of ice over most of Antarctica. The loss of ice in the west over the last 30 years has been more than offset by increases in the Ross Sea Region which is just one part of eastern Antarctica. Over the past 30 years the area of sea ice around Antarctica has...
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