Antarctica For Your Viewing Pleasure

Antarctica is the coldest and most inaccessible continent on Earth. With little chance of being able to support much human activity, it was decided that Antarctica could be shared. But, as the world's natural resources have started to run out, more nations are looking towards Antarctica to replenish their stocks.

What was seen as a land of penguins, whales and lots of ice is now seen as a source of oil, iron and coal. The region may become the subject of international confrontation and resource exploitation and cease to be a region of international cooperative scientific research as it is today.

At the main U.S. Antarctic base, scientists and officials talk of decades of tranquil research and sharing among nations.

Some believe that the high level of cooperation is due to the hostility of the environment around them and also the common passion they have for their scientific studies.

The McMurdo Headquarters of the National Science Foundation, which runs the U.S Antarctica operations have a small park located nearby which is dedicated to the work and dreams of Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd.

He was the first to ever fly over the South Pole and led five expeditions in the Antarctic. Byrd envisioned the Antarctic as a place where nations could work together peacefully for the common cause of science and that it should be a region that set an example of successful international cooperation. But are such noble ideas likely to remain as the world becomes more dependent on the Earth's minerals and the need for energy increases?

As a region of mineral resources the full potential of the Antarctic is not yet known, but there is a strong interest growing. The Antarctic has changed from being a benefit to science to more of a political benefit. Perhaps, under the full depth of the ice that covers 98 percent of the area and under the deep, icy seas there is a large source of essential minerals and oil.


Areas in and around Antarctica geologically resemble parts of other continents where oil, gas and minerals exist in abundance. Small scale offshore drilling by the United States has hinted at the possible presence of hydrocarbon deposits. Coal is already known to be present as are deposits of tin, titanium, cobalt, lead, nickel, gold, chromium and uranium.

Recently the exploitation of the Antarctic has become more achievable economically and the harsh conditions are no longer acting as a form of protection. The technology that exists today can make the process of exploitation considerably easier and with the increasing costs of resources it is now more economical and this is worrying Antarctica's scientists.

The idea of mineral exploitation in the region is one of great concern to environmentalists throughout the world due to the continent being one of the few regions left that are untouched and unpolluted by humans. The Sierra club and the International Institute for Environment and Development are aware of the likelihood of a conflict between the exploitation of the region and the environment.

They want to see studies carried out to assess the risks to the environment caused by the exploitation of the region at the same time as any exploration which is needed to confirm exactly the resources the region holds. However they are worried the results of any studies will actually encourage development. What raises most concerns is drilling for oil due to the chances of a spill.

Much of Antarctica's wildlife is concentrated along the coasts and could be seriously affected. Oil is known to not degrade or break up as easily in colder climates than in warmer ones, so a spill would be more damaging there than anywhere else.

Most of what goes on in, and about, Antarctica is tied to a landmark 1959 treaty that set the continent aside as a scientific preserve. The treaty was signed by twelve nations and they administer activities in the region and have ensured that the region is free of militarization and the dumping of nuclear waste. Great Britain, Argentina, New Zealand, France, Norway and Chile all have territory claims in Antarctica but the treat managed to side step these land claims.