Antarctica Report †the environment and scientific research Essay

IntroductionThe with child(p) icy innocent of s verbotenhern-polara is situated at the s starthward- ab turn out point on orb and in the heart of the sulfur-polar Circle, referred to as the grouch- gelid desert. polara c all(a) overs the entire land and pissing region stabooh of the line of latitude 600 S with no defined unyieldingitude, the continent spans virtually the entire Antarctic Circle. In reference to Australia, the easternern half of Antarctica ranges from a close 3,800km sulphur of of importland Australia with Mawson blank space determined further west. Due to its mess, early expeditions to Antarctica were usu alin concert(prenominal)y carried out on boat with a stop at islands on the manner i.e. Macquarie Island- now wiz of the four of import Australian look for bases in Australian Territory of the Antarctic Peninsula.Australia controls the immensest divulge of Antarctica (43%) beca drill of Sir Douglas Mawsons expedition to Antarctica in 19 29-31. During this expedition, Mawson and his team mapped majority of the Eastern sailplaning, setting up camps a banging the manner and eventu ally incompatible Australian expeditions set up homes use these maps. Later when the Antarctic accord was naturalised, this link with Antarctica and the fact that Australia was the first acres to map the eastern coast was considered, resulting in Australias claim to this force line of products cosmos granted, difference them with majority of Antarctica.The governing of Antarctica is unique and rattling polar from the rest of the realism. It is governed by m any anformer(a)(prenominal) nations that aim all claimed part of the continent for scientific reoceanrch who all ar guided and bound by The Antarctic pact. The Antarctic Tr feed iny was designed and created by twelve original countries (there ar now 38 countries) in 1961 to provide an savvy for the future cargon and use of Antarctica and to avoid territorial and ot her disputes. The Treaty march ons international co-operation in scientific reoceanrch and in recognition of Antarctica macrocosm the last remaining wilderness on Earth, the Madrid Protocol was set up to help the conservation of the surround and peace on Antarctica. Elements of The Antarctic Treaty include Antarctica shall be use for peaceful purposes unaccompanied (Art.1), Freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue (Art.2), Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be ex transferd and made freely avail capable (Art. III).Lying at the south- some point on Earth, Antarctica is truly a unique continent, ren avouched for a real harsh mood and an surround that has ca apply some(prenominal), homos and animals, to adapt to the ingrained conditions. Despite minimum infrastructure, Antarctica houses various forms of leng thened scientific re search conducted at its numerous bases.ClimateMawsons temper is typical of much of the coast of East Antarctica where the crackpot caps ar make up at sea level. The temper of Mawson Station can be expound and categorized into four main atomic number 18as rainfall, temperatures, c untoughenedheartedness speeds and direction and misbegotten day-by-day averages.One of the main features of Mawsons temper ar the perfectly stale daily level bests and minimums leave there by means of most of the course. The typify maximum temperature ranges from its hottest at just close to 2.60C in January to the realize daily maximum-15.60C in the hand placard of sp windup (July, August, September). The annual believe for the daily maximum is -8.40C, roughly the analogous as the mean in March and October.The mean daily minimums atomic number 18 not vey diametrical to the daily maximums, a contrast comp bed to most parts of the world where the daily minimum and maximum bugger off a greater difference. The mean daily minimum is at its heightsest in the month of January at -2.60C, dropping down considerably in March by just about 110C to -13.30C, marginally partial(p)er than the annual minimum average of -14.3. Similar to the mean daily maximums, the mean minimums atomic number 18 at their lowest in spend, leaving a gap/difference of about 60C betwixt the cardinal (maximum and minimum). Although the mean temperatures around Mawson be mostly in the negatives, they are still a lot warmer and pleasant than those bringd in majority of Antarcticas inland as the station lies nestle the coast and at a sink altitude of about 1,200m compared to the inland where altitudes rise up to near 3,00m above sea level. some other characteristic of Mawsons climate is the fabulous winds experienced at Mawson and their higher(prenominal) speeds. Winds around Mawson blow predominantly from the east and south, heading in a northwest direction. The mean annual wind speed is almost 40 km/h at 3pm, with round extreme speeds go past 120km/h during the division in raising overwinter (3pm). The maximum gust speeds exceed 140 knots frequently with the highest record wind gust ever in the area reaching an fearful 248.4km/h early in the morning. Wind speed are loosely punishinger during the winters, rising up to an average of 44km/h in August at 3pm compared to an average of 27-28km/h in declination/January.Most precipitation fall as snow in Antarctica with no significant rainfall record near Mawson Station. As a result of Antarctica receiving less than 50mm of rainfall per year, the Antarctic region is classified as a desert-the c venerableest and driest desert in the world. blow go ons regularly throughout the year-mainly during late summer when the snow is still able to fall without freezing. Although this snowfall is not very significant, it still has an impact on the climate around Mawson Station.The lowest temperatures at Mawson vary greatly as the seasons change. During the seasons of autumn and spring, the lowest ever recorde d temperatures for each month (during these two seasons) gather in been very similar. The lowest temperatures of March, April and May all range within the late twenties to early thirties, almost identical to those of September, October and early November. Where as, the lowest ever temperatures in winter and summer are in great contrast, as the lowest during summer goes down to a less extreme -17.30C in February compared to freezing -360C in August.The think for Antarcticas very snappy climate and its frequent change of size is the concept of the Earths revolution. The Earth is constantly rotating around an axis that runs through the north and atomic number 16 Pole at an angle of incidence (leaving the Earth always at a tilt of 23.50), completing star rotation each 24 hours. The Earths rotation is the reason that day and night are experienced, as when a part of the world is veneer towards the Sun, it would be day, and when it rotates around to be outside(a) from the Sun, it b e surfaces night. While the Earth is rotating on its axis (completing a rotation all(prenominal) 24 hours), it is in constant revolution around the Sun (completing a revolution any 365 days).As the Earth is always tilted the said(prenominal) way, the stage at which the Earth is at during its revolution determines the concentration and military capability of the putzs hitting the particular area. For example, if it is December 21 in the southern cerebral hemisphere the angle of incidence will have this part of the Earth close to the Sun/tilted towards it causing the Suns tool to be concentrated at a smaller area and thus cosmos stronger and creating much heat. This is because during summer the Sun is directly above the Earth delinquent to the tilt. As the equator is in no hemisphere, the angle of the rays is the corresponding throughout the year, creating the same season for 365 days. Where as, the poles, which are fit(p) at top of the northern hemisphere and bottom of t he southern hemisphere, have two completely different seasons. During summer they rotate around the axis solely are always facing towards the Sun, thus having sunlight for almost 24 hours per day.However, during winter, the poles- in this case the south pole- is tilted away from the Sun and when rotating on the tilted axis, it remains away from Sun for most of the cartridge holder, thus having no sunlight. This process/revolution continues for the entire year, in which the South Pole has experienced both summer and winter. Because of this reason and that it is situated around the South Pole, Antarctica experiences these extreme adds of daylight and black-marketness. As a result of these extreme seasons, a huge aggregate of sea crosspatch is formed during winter, as the temperature sits extremely wintry, quickly melting as summer approaches and the temperature rises above freezing point. If Antarctica were located near the equator, this effect would not occur as firstly, th e temperatures would not be as low because the suns rays are stronger there because of the angle of incidence, but in any case the change in seasons would not be as extreme with the hours of daylight barely variable throughout the year.Mawson StationLocation Mawson is a particularly favourable location for a station, with excellent access to the hinterland/open inland areas and environ coastal waters. It is as well located near a harbour furnish from the main form of the naval and with a besides whopping depth and verbalize not too narrow, during the trumpery-free uttermost universally experienced in February, a move may anchor within 100 metres of the station. Barges carrying the committal would take simply a few minutes to pilgrimage from the ship to station as it is located right on the shore. There is too a magnetic bland area for research and tests requiring very comminuted magnetic interference.The StationThe base at Mawson has a very simplistic layout. I t consists of many an(prenominal) edif methamphetamines in a spread out area (as shown in the image on the right) each for different purposes with the science related expressions located closer to the shore. Every i lives in the main accommodation building (the bolshy chuck located the furthest from the shore), in contemporary air-conditioned single-room bedrooms. The going bewilder overly houses the surgery, lounge, kitchen, and dining room. The Red neglect at Mawson base has indoor(prenominal)(a) climbing, a home theatre, photographic dark room, a library and several(prenominal) common sitting areas for passing time during the winters. As it is a multi-recreation and upkeepspan building, neither scientists nor other courseers conduct their research there but expeditioners use it for day-to-day unravel.The green store is another one of the buildings that dominate the horizon at Mawson. It is located in front of (closer to the harbour) the Red Shed and is where all the dry food and most frozen food are stored. The habiliments store, field store and equipment spares are to a fault located here. inwardly is vibrate climbing wall and open space for games equivalent volleyball. Similar to the Red Shed, the green store is used for day-to-day work rather than scientific research.The operation building (the yellow building near the green store) houses the Station Leaders king, communications, the post off glassful and the Bureau of Meteorology. It is the home for the work of the telecommunication technicians, station leaders and many electricians.The Main Power provide (the blue building near the shore) is where all the electricity for the station is generated and is where many to a greater extent of the electricians, technicians and mechanics work. Waste heat from the generators is piped around the station and used to heat the buildings.The trades store (known as Red Dwarf), located near the main power building, houses all the off screwballs and work area for the trades such(prenominal) as the diesel motor mechanics, plumbers and electricians.The run through concern building is responsible for processing all toilet and non- poisonous liquid counterbalance. It is located a bit away from the main part of the station with very few workers.The cosmic ray observatory (located near the airstrip and shore) contains telescopes that detect and whole tone cosmic rays coming from outside our solar system. It has a shaft going down in the disceptation candy to a vault to a second set of telescopes and too some seismic detection equipment. It is home for scientists working in the field of seismology, cosmic ray physics, meteorology and atmospheric physics.The Anaresat bean (next to the Red Shed) is the home to technicians in the field of telecommunications and scientists in the field of Cosmic Ray physics.The worldwide science building (where the biologists and geophysicists work) is located behind the green store.The Aer onomy (home to atmospheric space physics and climate change studies) is where majority of the atmospheric physicists work and the white building is located at the far corner, away from the shore.The works workshop is where the carpenters do majority of their work. The building is located near the middle of the station, standing out with its brightly coloured doors.The magnetic Variometer hut- a special building that houses sensors that measure and record the changes in the Earths magnetic field- and the magnetic absolutes hut are located next to each other behind the waste disposal hut, write on top of a magnetically change intensity area.At Mawson Station, there is also a emergency vehicle value where all the pom-pom fighting equipment is stored, a high frequency wireless-transmitter hut, one aircraft hanger, leash helipads (used infrequently), numerous inflatable rubber boat sheds, the wharf (where dispatch is loaded and unloaded), a Sun recorder building and two burn f arms all spread out around the station. Most of these buildings are located in a cluster unneurotic with few in a different location collectible to restriction and inevitably i.e. magnetically quiet areas.The scientific programs underinterpreted in and around Mawson include* Middle and upper nimbus physics.* Cosmic ray physics and meteorology.* Geomagnetism and seismology.* Biology and medicinal studies.* Automated upper atmospheric sciences.* Climate change studies.Although one of the harshest milieus on the planet, Antarctica is also one of the most vulnerable and is rapidly world effected as a result of gay behavior. There have been many effects on the surround and wild spirit in Antarctica caused by valet- mainly tourists that come and go- and their activities. Humans travelling to and from Antarctica (tourists and scientists) are the cause of many impacts on the environment as their trips mean the ships, accommodation, vehicles and other amenities which all can have an impact on the environment.One of the major impacts universe are having on Antarcticas wildlife, is that the usual nutrition and huddling grounds for penguins and other animals are be disturbed and in some cases, unmake, taking away the habitat and vegetation needed for them to survive. This is a result of many tourists and scientists using areas- that are important to wildlife- for their own needs and desires (i.e. camps, research facilities), leaving the wildlife to find brand-new homes and adapt to conditions sometimes not suitable for their needs (i.e. not close enough to the water, not large enough or not the right climate). The mode of transport taken by most visitors, boats, is harming the shipboard soldier life and destroying parts of their environment. Various shapes and sizes of boats are cutting through the grey maritime and arriving in harbours where the marine life and depth is sort of shallow.In some occasions, fuel tanks are cosmos scraped, creating a mi nor leak in them that, over a breaker point of time anchored at the harbour, releases tonnes of fuel and other deadly chemicals, scarring the marine life. As a result of this and to thwart further release of toxic chemicals, The Australian government and the ADD have banned large ships or boats with old systems and engines from entering Antarctic waters, reducing the possibility of harm to marine life. As for the problem of destruction to wildlife habitats, the ADD has developed laws that prohibit the use of wildlife-important areas for human use. As a result of this, scientists and visitors are banned from using areas with high importance to animal activity (i.e. breeding grounds and huddling areas) and kinda forcing them to work in already human-developed areas desire stations.Another impact that humanity are having on Antarcticas environment is the increasing amount of environmental pollution being released in forms of excess waste being dispersed into the oceans and envir onment in the form of litter. Due to an increasing number of people in Antarctica every year, tonnes of extra waste are being produced and dumped everywhere, releasing toxic chemicals which can become concentrated in the bodies of local anesthetic wildlife, such as seals, penguins and whales, harming them in the long term. The issue of excess waste polluting the environment is also a result of original waste focal point strategies not being n scrap or designed for a situation bid this where the amount of humans collapse in Antarctica is much more than forecasted.Until relatively belatedly, waste disposal management in Antarctica was similar to elsewhere in the world with open tips, land fills and the burning or discharging of most cloaca into the sea, as well as the practice of sea-icing dumping rubbish onto the sea ice during winter to float away and sink during the summer, with the areas around stations being contaminated from oil and chemical spills.Now, later on new law s protecting the environment of Antarctica, waste is being split into many categories, each with a different strategy to stop the release of it into the environment. Hazardous materials such as polystyrene form and radioactive materials are prohibited from entry into Antarctica most other wastes are to be incinerated in a two-stage high incinerator with the resultant ash returned to Australia, metals, plastics, paper, artificial and glass are separated and returned to Australia for recycling and the installation biological sewage treatment plants are all strategies that the Government of Australia are using to prevent pollution- as a result of excess waste- into the Antarctic environment. modifications to the Antarctic environsHuman AdaptationComparisons Between Mawsons Expedition and directlyMawsonTodayTransport* Wooden s leads pul lead by dogs- not very stable and efficient.* gigantic wooden boats and ships with sail and masks.* Feet- walking around and pulling sleds with ke ep going.* Wooden, mechanic carts for transporting things around bases.* Used the ship cockcrow Australis when it was fist made in 1950s.* teeny planes that can land on large strips of ice.* Helicopters for shorter outmatchs or rescues.* Small travel ships with navigation, etc.* Off road vehicles for driving around the station.* Emergency vehicle shelter for vehicles used in emergencies.* The inflatable rubber boats for summer months when ice has winded out.Equipment* Wooden shovels, a compass and mostly non-automated equipment.* Signals to communicate and fire for heat-no phones or electrical heat.* Basic survival equipment- a limited amount taken on expeditions- food, necessaries, etc.* Basic tents prone to being washed-up in strong winds-not completely water tight.* Some metallic, some wooden tools to dig, cut and carry items in.* Telecommunication and navigation ways like phones, GPSs and full-proof maps.* Waterproof tents with firmness to withstand strong winds.* Metal to ols to dig, cut, gather water and cook meals. Good quality equipment.* Normal da to day equipment like boxes to observe samples in.Clothing* Several layers of basic warm tog-no proper withdrawal-weighed more than modern garments.* Gloves, fabric headgear (beanie like0 covering most of face with no proper insulation for the nose.* Insulated clothing with minimum lean.* Brightly coloured clothing to stand out and be easy spotted.* Clothing that can get wet and dries quicker than most.* Gloves, beanies, and nose protection with maximum insulation.Humans have adapted to the Antarctic climate with the use of new technology, more easy equipment like automatic vehicles rather than human pulled sleds and clothing that not merely protects expeditioners from the cold with transgress results than clothing used in Mawsons expedition, but at the same time is also comfortable to offend, allowing activities to be accomplished with ease.Todays transport in Antarctica- off-vehicles, porta ble rubber boats and small aircrafts- are all much more efficient than those used in Mawsons expedition- human or dog pulled sleds and wooden carts. They require less human intensiveness and energy that can alternatively be used in conserving body heat, are a lot less time consuming allowing more work to be completed or a greater distance covered in an expedition and most of all, the new forms of transport are much more reliable with a less risk of gaolbreak down or failing in the middle of an expedition.Another adaption humans have made to help battle the Antarctic climate is their improve clothing that has better insulation, conserving more heat. This clothing has made humans disembodied spirit as if they are feeling the same temperature as in other cold go forths around the world with very little extra weight on themselves. They have also been able to carry tools around on expeditions that can dig, cut and build with greater ease than those of Mawsons expedition. This adapti on has allowed humans to not be prevented and stopped by corporeal barriers on Antarctica and instead overcome them, using stronger tools like those used around the world.Animal Adaptation Every environment is subject to changes that vary from season to season and from year to year. Even in Antarctica where it is always cold the variations can be quite marked. For example, the number and intensity of storms and blizzards can vary from year to year as can the time at which the sea-ice forms in autumn or breaks out in summer. These environmental changes are likely to have an influence on the animals that live there. Nature has provided the emperor penguin with a need to adapt to the extreme conditions of Antarctica. Standing 1.2m tall, over time the largest penguin has developed many physical and behavioural adaptations that leave it as a truly amazing bird, which not only easily survive the Antarctic winters, but also are also capable of doing almost anything during the time.Empe ror Penguins have excellent insulation against the cold in the form of several layers of scale-like feathers that take very strong winds (over 60 knots) to get them ruffled. They have a very small accounting and flippers, which keep up heat and are not as exposed to the temperatures due to their size. Their wasted chambers also recover much of the heat that is usually muzzy during exhalation. They also possess strong claws in their feet for gripping the ice and dodgy surfaces, allowing them to waddle instead of sliding around on their bellies all the time.Another special physical adaptation of the emperor penguin is the ability to re circle its own body heat. The emperors arteries and veins lie close together so that blood is pre-cooled on the way to the birds feet, wing and bill and warmed on the way back to the heart. Emperor penguins have large reserves of energy- openhanded body fat to use during low-level activities during winter.The emperor penguin also possesses many b ehavioral advantages to survive in the climate of Antarctica. They are very social creatures, and one of their survival mechanisms is an urge to huddle together to keep warm. To keep warm, the antherals close ranks to share their warmth. Even though Emperors are large birds and when carrying their incubation fat, they are about as large around the pectus as a human, they still huddle on very cold days, with as many as ten packed into every second power metre, cutting heat loss by as much as 50%. This huddling instinct means that they do not hold back any territory (the emperor penguin is the only species of penguin that is not territorial) and instead strike heat and keep warm together.Another behavioral technique used by the emperor penguin to survive the conditions in Antarctica is their ability to mate and upchuck during winter rather than in summer and take care of their nut cases. same(p) most penguins, emperor parents closely share parental duties. What is unique about emperors however, is the co-operation between males piece carrying out their parenting duties. erst the egg has been laid during winter, the male emperor puts the egg under his brood flap to keep it warm at about 380C so that the egg can eventually overcompensate instead of dying indoors.During this period of a few months, the male does not eat anything and instead closes together with the others to stay warm himself and to keep the egg warm while the mother goes off to find food. When she comes back afterward winter is almost done, the chick, which would have hatched around the time, is fed and looked after until December at which stage, they are almost the same size as their parents. Because of this cycle formed by the emperor penguins and the ability to breed during winter, the tender are hatched and brought up during the early summer instead of prime of life winter, giving them a higher chance of survival.ConclusionFrom the harsh and extreme climate to the rocky and wild life-populated shores, the continent of Antarctica is unique in almost every way. bigger than two continents combined, covering the South Pole and the driest of the deserts every seen, along with the majestic ice sculptures found nowhere else on the planet, Antarctica draws hundreds of tourists every year to experience these wonders from the welcoming surroundings of world renowned stations established by expedition leaders like Sir Douglas Mawson. No doubt, both humans and animals have had to adapt to the frantically changing climate, but now that they have, they too are enjoying the beauty of Antarctica.ReferencesA Livingston Technologies Production. (2012, February ). Design Your Logo. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from Cool Text http//cooltext.com/Logo-Design-Bad-AcidAustralian Government. (2002, June 04). Aurora Australis. Retrieved April 15, 2013, from Australian Antarctic Division http//www.antarctica.gov.au/ sustenance-and-working/travel-and-logistics/ships/aurora-australisAust ralian Government. (2002, June 5). Mawson. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from Australian Antarctic Division http//www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/stations/mawsonFord, A. B. (2013, February). Antarctica. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from Encyclopaedia Britannica http//school.eb.com.au/eb/article-24711?query=Mawson%20Station&ct=Gaidos, S. (2009, February 2). Antarctica warms, which threatens penguins. (Science News For Kids) Retrieved April 10, 2013, from Earth http//www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2009/02/antarctica-warms-which-threatens-penguins-2/Harrowfield, D. (1997). Living and Working in Antarctica. (University of Canterbury Christchurch, New Zealand) Retrieved April 9, 2013, from Gateway Antarctica http//www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/resources/living.htmlJudge, A. (2010). Antarctica Discovery (Vol. 1). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Pearson Australia.Maugans gage . (2012, July). Antarctica. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from Destop Nexus http//nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/117302/Oxf ord University Press. (2010). Mawson Station. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from Oxford map collection http//203.166.81.53/secondary/NewOxfordAtlas/VFW/MAWSON/activity.htmlRoyal Geographical Society. (2011). devising Claims. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from Discovering Antarctica http//www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/9_claims.phpWard, P. (2001). Antarctica Climate and Weather. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from Cool Antarctica http//www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/antarctica%20environment/climate_graph/climate_weather.htmWienecke, B. (2011, March). Emperor Penguin. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from Sisters School District http//ssdstudent.net/SMS/2010_11/spro/penguins.htmAppendixOxford AtlasVirtual Fieldwork1. Mawson station- an Australian scientific research base named after Sir Douglas Mawson- is located on the eastern side of Antarctica currently claimed by Australia at 670S 620E and south of the Antarctic Circle. Mawson is situated along an isolated outcrop of rock on the co ast in Mac.Robertson Land and the south eastern shore of shoe carry. Although usually considered closer to Hobart than any other Australian city, Mawson Station is in reality situated about 5,475km from Hobart, further than the 5223km southwest of Perth. Relative to Australias main cities, Mawson Station lies far to the west of them, falling between South Africas Cape town and Perth in the gray ocean.Australia owns and maintains three permanent scientific research bases all located within Australias main Antarctic region and one on Macquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic. The three stations are evenly distributed along the coast of Antarctica with Mawson being the most westerly of the three continental stations and the first one built and established. Davis is the most souther of the stations and is situated SSW of Perth, on the Ingrid Christensen Coast of Princess Elizabeth Land and between the other two. Casey is located in the Windmill Islands, just outside the Antarctic Circ le and the only one of three located outside the Antarctic Circle.2. Mawsons climate is typical of much of the coast of East Antarctica where the ice caps are present at sea level. The main features of Mawsons climate are the extremely cold temperatures present there through most of the year. The mean maximum temperature ranges from about 2.50C in January to -15.50C in the superlative of winter (July, August, September). Although temperatures around Mawson are mostly in the negatives, they are still a lot warmer and pleasant than those experienced in majority of Antarcticas inland as the station lies near the coast and at a lower altitude.Winds around Mawson are predominantly from the east and south with the mean annual speed being almost 40 km/h while extreme speeds go past 120km/h in peak winter and maximum gust speeds exceed 140 knots frequently. As it lies south of the Antarctic Circle, the Sun does not rise at Mawson for approximately half dozen weeks from the first week in J une and does not set for the same period from early December. During those six weeks in June and July, the day consists of a few hours of twilight.3. The Aurora Australis is Australias Antarctic flagship and was named after the aurora emitted around Antarctica. Designed as a multi-purpose research and re grant ship, the Aurora was built for the Australia Antarctic Program by P&O Polar and launched in September 1989. The ship is 94.9 metres long and 3911 tonnes in weight. It has a cruising speed of 13 knots, and accommodates 116 passengers plus crew. It is capable of geological fault ice up to 1.23 metres thick. The Aurora regularly sails across the grey Ocean where storms can generate 10 metre high seas and winds of 120cl km/h.The Aurora Australis, designed specifically for trips to and from Antarctica, has many features for this instance. Six of these features are* Installed in the ship are ways for satellite communications (not present on mainland Antarctica), allowing people on the ship to phone anywhere in the world at any time or stay in touch by email.* The ships kitchen can go through 4500 eggs, 1000 kg of potatoes and 280 litres of ice cream. The ship can produce up to 45,000 litres of fresh water per day for use on board for both drinking and other uses. As the trip to Antarctica and back can easily take up to six weeks, a large kitchen and food supply are extremely necessary.* The ships colour, bright orange, is painted all around it so that it can stand out in the ocean and making it easier to spot for rescue teams.* Three helicopters can be housed in the hangar and operate from the dedicated helicopter deck at the keister of the ship. They can go to and from the ship ahead to Antarctica or rush back to Australia in an emergency via the ship to refuel.* The ship is well equipped for marine science research with a commercial sized trawl deck, and a commercial hydro acoustic system for the assessment of southerly Ocean organisms such as krill. It a lso has a general-purpose lab for processing net samples, a hydrographic lab, fish freezer, meteorological lab, five multi-purpose laboratories, a photographic dark room and a scientific workroom.* The Aurora Australis is painted a very bright orange, thus allowing it to be easily seen and spotted in ice-spread waters.4. Mawson base was first established on 13 February 1954, when an expedition led by Dr Phillip Law landed on the shore of Horseshoe Harbour (located on the coast of Mac Robertson Land), naming the new station in honour of Australias greatest polar explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson. Law had chosen this place to establish the station after viewing photographs of Mac Robertson Land from the expeditions of 1929-1931 led by Sir Douglas Mawson and 1946-47 by an aircraft from an American expedition. He chose the location because of its key neighborhood near the coast, the large natural harbour (Horseshoe Harbour), a major hot spot for wildlife to conduct scientific research on an d the permanently exposed rock present there for building, requiring very little to be shipped over.During the first year, living quarters, a works hut, the engine shed, two store huts and a carpenters shop were built and by 1966, the number of buildings had affix to fifty including the construction of the first aircraft hanger in Antarctica.Mawsons location lies on the coast with Horseshoe Harbour spread around it. At the southern end of the station, (Horseshoe Harbour), ice sheets cover the waters surface near the shore, leading out into the Southern Ocean. The Mawson region is one of the richest areas for seabirds in the Australian Antarctic Territory, and supports living colonies of emperor and Adelie penguins, petrels and seals.The base at Mawson has very comfortable living conditions. It consists of many buildings in an area (as shown in the image on the right) each for different purposes. Everyone lives in the main accommodation building (the Red Shed), in modern air-condit ioned single-room bedrooms. The Red Shed also houses the surgery, lounge, kitchen, and dining room. The Red Shed at Mawson base has indoor climbing, a home theatre, photographic dark room, a library and several common sitting areas for passing time during the winters. The green store is one of the buildings that dominate the skyline at Mawson. It is also where all the dry food and most frozen food are stored. The clothing store, field store and equipment spares are also located here. Inside is another rock climbing wall and open space for games like volleyball.The operation building houses the Station Leaders office, communications, the post office and the Bureau of Meteorology. The Main Power House is where all the electricity for the station is generated. Waste heat from the generators is piped around the station and used to heat the buildings. The trades workshop (known as Red Dwarf) houses all the offices and work area for the trades such as the Diesel mechanics, plumbers and el ectricians.At Mawson Station, there is also a waste management building, emergency vehicle shelter where all the fire fighting equipment is stored, a high frequency radio-transmitter hut, one aircraft hanger, three helipads (used infrequently), a cosmic ray observatory, The Anaresat dome (a large satellite dish), numerous inflatable rubber boats, the general science building (where the biologists and geophysicists work), the Aeronomy (home to atmospheric space physics), the carpenters workshop, Magnetic Variometer hut- a special building that houses sensors that measure and record the changes in the earths magnetic field, magnetic absolutes hut, the wharf (where cargo is loaded and unloaded), the Sun recorder building and two fuel farms.Facilities At Mawson StationTransportScientific opposite Amenities* The emergency vehicle shelter with fire-fighting equipment and other vehicles.* The three helipads and one aircraft hanger and airstrip (currently out of use).* The post office and t he high frequency radio transmitter hut for communication.* The inflatable rubber boats for summer months when ice has blown out.* The wharf (the cargo dock).* The cosmic ray observatory and the Bureau Of Meteorology.* The Anaresat dome with the large satellite dish.* The photographic dark room and the library inside the Red Shed.* The general science building where majority of the science is conducted.* The Aeronomy- atmospheric space physics.* The Magnetic Variometer Hut.* The magnetic absolutes hut.* A Sun recorder building.* The Red sheds living quarters, surgery, lounge, kitchen, dining, theatre and recreation rooms.* The facilities in the greenish Store frozen food storage, clothes store, equipment spares, field store and rock climbing wall.* The waste management building, offices and the main powerhouse.* The gym building (formerly a general room).5. The four main priority programs undertaken by Australian research scientists in Antarctica are* Climate processes and change.* Terrestrial and Near-shore Ecosystems Environmental Change and Conservation.* Southern Ocean Ecosystems Environmental Change and Conservation.* Frontier ScienceClimate processes and change Climate Processes and Change investigates the role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the international climate system. Its main focus and importance is to address uncertainties identified in The Fourth Assessment (2007) report, which highlights the lack of climate data around the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. It also investigates the role of the region in slowing climate change and the future behavior of the ice.Terrestrial and Near-shore Ecosystems This program investigates the effects of environmental change on Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. This program provides the scientific basis to guide and develop enhanced environmental protection for these ecosystems.Southern Ocean Ecosystems the Southern Ocean is facing many threats to its marine life and ecosys tems as a result of physical and biological changes that are being caused because of fishing, climate change and acidification. Scientific research under this theme is helping scientists understand the impact of global change on Southern Ocean ecosystems, the effective conservation of Antarctic and Southern Ocean wildlife and the sustainable, ecosystem- found management of Southern Ocean fisheries.Frontier Science The focus of Frontier Science is to encourage and support research that falls outside the priorities of the other research departments along with focusing in the environmental science in the other categories. It is fundamentally about learning about sciences beside climate change and the causes and effects of them.6. If you were travelling to a penguin colony 90 kilometres away from Mawson Station, you would most likely travel by a small plane or helicopter capable of landing without requiring a constructed airstrip or helipad. These to options would be far better than by land as conditions along the way could potentially apply your journey-leaving you stranded without support or rescue, it would take a lot longer and a lot more supplies and clothing would be required. Adequate clothing would be required to battle the cold temperatures especially during winter. You would carry and wear a thermal, a suit that constrains heat, thick gloves, headwear that covers majority of your face as well, long insulated pants, thick jackets and other items of clothing usually warn also in Northern Russia and Canada.7. The area of Antarctica is almost double the size in September than in March as a result of sea ice freezing during the winter (September) and melting during the summer (March). Over a 12-month period, the sea ice begins to melt and the size of Antarctica begins to decrease towards the end of September. It continues to do so until March, when it is almost half the size. Once again, when winter begins around the blood of April, the sea ice begins to gradually freeze increasing the area of Antarctica every month until September before the cycle begins again. Scientists use a variety show of technology to research these changes. They use drones and satellites to witness the area and measure the increase of size. The satellites map out the area and give an aerial view for scientists to examine and interpret. They examine the oceans, atmosphere and climate patterns to describe and prove how the change occurs.An ice core is a core sample that is typically removed from an ice sheets, most commonly from the polar ice caps or high hoi polloi glaciers. As the ice forms from the incremental build up of annual layers of snow, lower layers are older than upper, and an ice core contains ice formed over a range of years. The properties of the ice and the recrystallized inclusions within the ice can then be used to reconstruct a climatic record based around the age range of the core, unremarkably through analyzing their elements. This ena bles the reconstruction of local temperature records and the history of atmospheric composition as they contain information about the past climate.8. Over time the emperor has developed many physical and behavioral adaptations that leave it as a truly amazing bird, which not only can survive the Antarctic winters, but also are capable of doing almost anything during the time. Unlike other animals that have inhabited Antarctica, emperor penguins spend time on both land and water throughout the year, being able to do what they like without the fear of fearful predators and perchance not surviving through the winter.Emperor Penguins have excellent insulation against the cold in the form of several layers of scale-like feathers that take very strong winds (over 60 knots) to get them ruffled. They have a very small bill and flippers, which conserve heat and are not as exposed to the temperatures due to their size. Their nasal chambers also recover much of the heat that is normally lost during exhalation. They also possess strong claws in their feet for gripping the ice and slippery surfaces, allowing them to waddle instead of sliding around on their bellies all the time.Another special physical adaptation of the emperor penguin is the ability to cycle its own body heat. The emperors arteries and veins lie close together so that blood is pre-cooled on the way to the birds feet, wings and bill and warmed on the way back to the heart. Emperor penguins have large reserves of energy-giving body fat to use during low-level activities during winter.The emperor penguin also possesses many behavioral advantages to survive in the climate of Antarctica. They are very social creatures, and one of their survival mechanisms is an urge to huddle together to keep warm. To keep warm, the males close ranks to share their warmth. Even though Emperors are large birds and when carrying their incubation fat, they are about as large around the chest as a human, they still huddle on ver y cold days, with as many as ten packed into every square metre, cutting heat loss by as much as 50%. This huddling instinct means that they do not defend any territory (the emperor penguin is the only species of penguin that is not territorial) and instead radiate heat and keep warm together.Another behavioral technique used by the emperor penguin to survive the conditions in Antarctica is their ability to mate and reproduce during winter rather than in summer and take care of their eggs. Like most penguins, emperor parents closely share parental duties. What is unique about emperors however, is the co-operation between males while carrying out their parenting duties. Once the egg has been laid during winter, the male emperor puts the egg under his brood flap to keep it warm at about 380C so that the egg can eventually hatch instead of dying inside.During this period of a few months, the male does not eat anything and instead closes together with the others to stay warm himself and to keep the egg warm while the mother goes off to find food. When she comes back after winter is almost done, the chick, which would have hatched around the time, is fed and looked after until December at which stage, they are almost the same size as their parents. Because of this cycle formed by the emperor penguins and the ability to breed during winter, the young are hatched and brought up during the early summer instead of peak winter, giving them a higher chance of survival.Scientists are continuously researching and discovering new behavioral and physical facts about the emperor penguin. They capture the penguins for a while to examine them, using state of the art technology undertaken by biologists both on Antarctica and back in Australia. Some of the research includes learning about the emperors breeding habits, physical body, behavior habits and they are adapting to the changing climate.9. Tourist travel to Antarctica for a wide range of reasons including an opportunity to experience and view the unique environment with incredible icebergs, auroras, ice arches and wildlife only seen and present there. Tourists usually make the boat trip to Antarctica during the summer between October and February as the climate is at its best, the pack ice is at its lowest, the Sun is high in the sky for most of the day and wildlife is most active at the time, wondering out into the open. A typical journey taken by a tourist to Antarctica usually begins in either Ushuaia (Argentina), Hobart (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa) or Christchurch (New Zealand) with most choosing the first two. A large boat or small ship is taken from one of these locations, before a long few weeks spent on the waters in more than adequate living conditions.During the journey, tourists can take part in many activities normally present on basic ocean cruises. These include activities like swimming, movies, dining, whale watching, witnessing sights found nowhere else on Earth and other act ivities to pass time. Once arriving at a station in Antarctica, tourists spend their time on the continent in and around the station, undertaking numerous activities ranging from casual indoor activities like rock climbing, viewing scientific programs and spending time in the library to outdoor activities like watching the penguins, taking a sea kayak to get a close up on sea birds and whales, trekking past and up majestic mountains, scuba diving, walking on the ice and exploring historic huts left behind by various expeditions.There are many impacts on the environment and wildlife in Antarctica caused mainly by the tourists that come and go. The tourism industry to Antarctica involves much more than just the tourists as it involves the ships, accommodation, vehicles and other amenities required for the tourists. Because of this, the wildlife is having a major impact with usual feeding and huddling grounds for penguins being disturbed ad in some cases destroyed along with other plac es for other species like the rocks being used for construction, taking away the habitat of the seals. Tourists also have an impact on the environment like they do all around the world with specific places being developed especially for them.Parts of Mawson Station has been developed and built recently just for tourists, destroying parts of the natural environment as many of the materials like rocks come from Antarctica instead of being shipped over. The transport in which tourists arrive, boats, also have effect the waters as oil spills- regular due to the ice- clog the waters harming the whales and other marine life. As a result of this, large ships have been prohibited from the waters around Antarctica as they not only pollute the water, but also disturb and crack the ice. Waste management is another problem occurring at Mawson Station with tonnes of waste accumulating on the continent, creating a major headache for workers to clean up before its the toxic chemicals start having an impact on the environment.