Antartica Report – Mawson Research Station Essay Example

waste disposal are prohibited. The Australian Antarctic Division operates under the "Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities" and manages the Australian Antarctic Program with goals of advancing Australia's strategic, scientific, environmental, and economic interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Their efforts involve protecting, governing, researching, and maintaining a presence in both the Australian Antarctic and Subantarctic territories while recognizing the significant impact that these regions have on regional and global climate.

The rise in global temperature is expected to cause significant alterations in Antarctica, which will have an impact on the planet's climate. The Southern Ocean and Antarctica are predicted to be the first regions to exhibit these changes. Despite being overlooked by the media, it is evident that climate change is already leading to unfavorable outcomes on this continent.

The effects of climate change on West Antarctica are varied and include rapid warming, uneven impacts, changes in sea ice levels (both increases and decreases), the transformation of peninsulas into islands, and glaciers that are quickly retreating. Winter temperatures have risen by a significant 11ºF since 1950, making it a leader in extreme temperature fluctuations. In addition to these changes, West Antarctica experiences six months of daylight followed by six months of darkness every year.

Antarctica is well-known for its extreme weather conditions characterized by sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, and occasional blizzards. Even during the warmest months, the temperature seldom exceeds freezing point, particularly along the coastline where unpredictable climate changes occur frequently. Winter is notably unforgiving with temperatures dropping as low as -40ºC. Moreover, perpetual darkness coupled with high altitude makes this continent the coldest place on Earth.

Antarctica is notorious for its harsh

environment featuring extreme katabatic winds and blinding storms. Its reputation as the windiest and most hostile area on earth is well-deserved, as those who visit face endless dangers such as blizzards and temperatures that pose a devastating threat to their existence. In fact, summer temperatures do not typically exceed -18ºC.

Antarctica holds the record for the highest wind speed ever registered at 327km/h, which matches New Hampshire's Mount Washington worldwide total wind speed. The temperature span in Antarctica is extreme, with a low of -89.2ºC and a high of 14.6ºC. Its position near the South Pole leads to limited exposure to sunlight during Earth's revolution around it, resulting in half-year periods with no sunlight and corresponding severe temperatures.

Mawson Station is situated in East Antarctica where it serves specific objectives. Due to the polar climate, the station encounters extremely frigid and arid conditions resulting in a frozen desert landscape. Additionally, it confronts katabatic winds that involve the flow of cold air down steep slopes from the higher regions of the continent's interior.

Mawson Station is located in a region where the annual wind speed typically reaches around 40km/h, although occasionally it can exceed 240km/h. Due to Antarctica's low latitude, the region receives little sun and experiences darkness for six more weeks in June and July than areas above the Arctic circle. As a result, less heat is distributed in this region. The temperature drops from January and reaches its lowest point in August before gradually rising towards December. The location of Mawson Station was likely chosen because of its coastal accessibility for boats.

. Mawson Station's location grants exceptional access to the continent's interior, offering access to many

scientific programs and structures. The cosmic ray observatory, for example, houses telescopes capable of detecting and measuring cosmic rays from beyond our solar system.

Antarctica's exposure to hours of sunshine can be measured through the use of an outdated equipment called the sunshine recorder. This instrument functions by directing sun rays via a glass sphere onto a card, which gets marked by the sun's apparent movements in the sky (AAD 2011, p. 1).

Maintaining these stations is crucial for the study of the effects of climate change on the polar region and arctic animals. Without these stations, scientists would not be able to study creatures in the Arctic food chain and better understand the environmental impact of humans. In particular, the Mawson Research Station is home to a variety of scientific research programs, including studies on cosmic rays, meteorology, aeronomy, geomagnetism, and conservation biology, particularly the nearby Auster rookery where Emperor and Adelie Penguins breed (Scott, Keith 1993, p. 29-31). Pollution is a global problem that continues to significantly impact the world.

To avoid the negative consequences on wildlife in Antarctica caused by global warming, urgent measures must be implemented to prevent pollution. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions available as increased shipping activity has led to a rise in the frequency of oil spills within Antarctic waters.

Even though it is ideal to refrain from oil extraction, the possibility of it happening is high. In the absence of a feasible substitute, the ozone layer in Antarctica could worsen and eventually become unsupportive of life. Mawson Station, managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), is located on a rocky formation at the border of the Antarctic plateau alongside

other research stations. The station's name was given after Sir Douglas Mawson, an explorer.

According to Antarctica.gov.au (2011), Mawson Station is the longest continuously operating station south of the Antarctic Circle and the first continental station in Australia. The distance between Australia and Antarctica is around 7,014 kilometers, and a plane traveling at 500mph would take approximately 8 hours and 43 minutes to make the journey.

Australia's closest major city to Antarctica is Hobart, which is located 3,575 miles or 5,754 kilometers away. There are a total of 23 permanent research stations on the continent, with one station being shared by Italy and France. These stations have all been built on either rock or ice that is stationary, and are maintained by various countries.

Several countries have built seismic monitoring stations around the globe. Ukraine has constructed one, while the USA has ownership of four separate stations. Uruguay has also built one, whereas Argentina leads with the most, having constructed six stations. Russia, Chile, and India each have four stations. Australia has three, while France and Italy share one. Japan, China, and the UK each have two. Poland and South Korea each have one station, and Germany has two.

Several countries including Pakistan and Belgium have built polar research stations recently. Additionally, South Africa, Bulgaria, New Zealand, and Norway each have a station. It is crucial to maintain these stations because they provide insights into the impact of climate change on the polar region and enable scientists to study Arctic creatures at the bottom of the food chain to better understand human environmental impact. The Mawson Research Station hosts various scientific research programs such as underground cosmic ray detection

and long-term meteorological aeronomy and geomagnetic studies. It also supports conversation biology studies, particularly of the nearby Auster rookery where Emperor and Adelie penguins breed. (Scott, Keith 1993, p.)

Located in East Antarctica, Mawson Station is characterized by a polar climate, resulting in extremely cold and dry conditions and an icy desert environment. The station also experiences katabatic winds, which involve the downward movement of cold air from higher elevations of the continent's interior along steep slopes from the ice sheet.

The East experiences an annual wind speed of approximately 40km/h, with occasional gusts reaching up to 240km/h. Mawson Station receives minimal sunlight throughout the year and remains in darkness for an extra six weeks in June and July, even after the sun rises over the Arctic circle. This is due to Antarctica's low latitude, which makes it difficult for sunlight to reach, resulting in a decrease in temperature throughout the year, hitting its lowest point in August before gradually rising towards December.

Mawson Station uses Volkswagen Beetles for ground transportation, but poor road conditions, caused by constant winds blowing snow onto them, limit their effectiveness. Moreover, the roads cannot withstand the severe weather. McMurdo Station, the US research station, is the only harbor on Antarctica. Additionally, most stations have their own offshore anchorages. Transportation on Antarctica mainly occurs through airplanes and helicopters because the continent has 20 airports; however, none of them are open to the public.

The infrequent use of the helicopter pad in Mawson Station is attributed to the site's accessibility via boats on the coastal area. Additionally, the location of the station allows for convenient access to the continent's interior, hence the existence of

numerous scientific programs and buildings on-site.

Telescopes housed within buildings like the cosmic ray observatory can identify and gauge cosmic rays originating from beyond our solar system. Moreover, these structures also incorporate a sunshine recorder, which is an ancient device that calculates the amount of time Antarctica is exposed to sunlight. As per AAD (2011), the instrument utilizes a glass sphere to focus the sun's rays, generating a trace on a card that reflects the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky.

1). Human adaptation has resulted in the continued use of most past equipment. However, modern equipment has been improved in terms of insulation and durability. For instance, the old snow boots lacked safety standards compared to the current boots. The old boots were not well insulated and were not suitable for wet conditions. In contrast, modern snow boots are thicker and tighter, effectively shielding feet from severely cold conditions.

Without the change, individuals working in Antarctica may have experienced the same illnesses that affected individuals in earlier years. In 1966, safety standards were not as rigorous, resulting in individuals being diagnosed with Peripheral neuropathy and Raynaud's phenomenon. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by exposure to cold temperatures.

Freezing temperatures can result in an injury to the nervous system, leading to Raynauds phenomenon which may cause severe nerve damage or fatal outcomes if not diagnosed. Additionally, exposure to cold may cause Raynauds phenomenon which restricts blood flow but is generally harmless unless it leads to tissue damage.

It is crucial to wear more clothing and ensure all clothing has good insulation and water resistance, as without these safety features there is a

risk of disease and death. This is particularly important in Antarctica, where medical equipment is frequently used to tackle disease. As an Emperor penguin in Antarctica, surviving the freezing temperature while raising a chick is challenging, regardless of gender. During this time, the mother travels to collect food for the hatching chick, leaving the father to care for it alone.

The male penguin is faced with a challenging situation as he needs to care for his egg, while also waiting several months before being able to eat. To survive in the harsh Antarctic climate, Emperor penguins rely on behavioral adaptations such as huddling together with other members of their species. By forming one large group, they take turns standing on the outside and in the middle to prevent any one bird from being blown away or frozen by the wind. The Emperor penguins breed in Winter so that their chicks can grow sufficiently during the summer's abundance of food.

The emperor penguin has adapted to the harsh conditions of Antarctica with features like four layers of scale-like feathers for wind protection and a thick layer of fat for insulation, resulting in a serene atmosphere in this unique and isolated location.

Antarctica is home to unique and threatened species. Due to the absence of land mammals, reptiles, or amphibians and six months of equal day and night periods, the continent features a distinct selection of animals including penguins, fish, birds, seals, squid, and whales that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.

Once an untouched land of magic and myth, Antarctica has now been affected by human activity, with pollution and global warming taking their toll. Without urgent action,

the continent's population will continue to decline and irreparable damage may occur.

The significance of preventing global warming cannot be overstated as shown by the perilous state of several endangered species in Antarctica, which is a direct result of our failure to act.