The discovery and exploration of Antarctica is one of the greatest events in history. The discovery of the sixth continent and the further study of its features gave mankind a lot of opportunities to expand their knowledge of the world around them. The most large-scale scientific activity was carried out in Antarctica in the middle of the last century, but even today the icy continent is not deprived of attention.
Agreements
Modern exploration of Antarctica is carried out by several countries at once. The document on the special interaction of different states on the territory of the icy continent was formed in 1959. Then twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, according to which within the sixth continent it is forbidden to conduct hostilities, bury poisonous and other wastes, and also freeze any territorial claims for some time. To date, more have joined this treaty33 countries. As a result, exploration of Antarctica in the 21st century is often international. In addition, since 1991, the icy continent has been declared a world nature reserve.
The position of Russia
Our country officially has no territorial claims. Russian researchers work in many national sectors of Antarctica. The scale of scientific activity, however, has not yet reached the level that it was during the Soviet Union. However, every year the situation is getting better. Permanent expeditions of Russian polar explorers are busy studying a variety of issues related to the geological, geographical, climatic and other features of the continent.
Regions of interest
Modern exploration of Antarctica is carried out in several main areas:
- fundamental study of Antarctica;
- applied research and development;
- collection of data on the natural environment of the South Polar Region;
- environmental protection;
- material and technical support for research, contributing, in particular, to increasing the capabilities of Russian stations and the comfort of staying at them.
Microworld
Antarctica - the geography of its landscape, the population of living organisms, climate features - seems to be fully studied. However, there are gaps in each of these areas. For example, the attention of scientists is increasingly attracted by the microcosm inherent incontinent. Various bacteria and fungi that exist here differ from their relatives from other continents in their ability to adapt to the extremely harsh conditions of Antarctica. If you do not take into account the coastal zones, the temperature here does not rise above -20 ºС, the air is dry, strong winds are constantly blowing.
Many modern studies of Antarctica are associated with the identification of the characteristics of microorganisms. Their adaptive abilities are planned to be used for medical purposes. Scientists have an opinion that some microbial communities should be brought to the icy continent. There they will acquire the properties and characteristics necessary for survival, and then on their basis it will be possible to create more effective medicines.
Lake Vostok
One of the most interesting communities of microorganisms, scientists expect to find in a subglacial reservoir. Lake Vostok, named after the nearby Russian station, is located at a depth of about 4,000 meters. Its uniqueness is in the absence of contact with the earth's atmosphere for several million years. The ecosystem of the lake is "conserved" and may contain many amazing microorganisms. The proposed "inhabitants" of the lake must be able to withstand high pressure, very low temperatures, oxygen concentrations up to 50 times that of drinking water, and feed on inorganic carbon. So far, such organisms are unknown to science.
To explore the lake in the 70s of the last century, it was decided to start drilling. However, the surfaces of the East have reachedas recently as 2012. In the samples obtained then and a little later, 3507 unique DNA sequences were found. Most of them, approximately 94%, belong to bacteria, in second place are fungi - their four percent. Also, two sequences belonging to archaea were found in the samples.
Research on the lake continues today as it is necessary to obtain water samples from its bottom, as well as confirm or refute previous results. The attitude towards them in the scientific world is ambiguous. Some of the researchers predict the discovery of even such large organisms as fish. Their opponents say that it is likely that part of the DNA was brought with the drill, the other is the remains of long-extinct creatures.
Many
Vostok is not the only subglacial lake on the continent. Today, 145 reservoirs are known, presumably being similar formations. In addition, modern research in Antarctica is concentrated to varying degrees around the open lakes of the continent. Some of them are filled with fresh water, others are mineralized. The "inhabitants" of such lakes are all the same microorganisms, scientists have not been able to detect the presence of fish or arthropods. Some of the lakes located in the so-called oases and on the subantarctic islands are annually freed from ice. Others are always hidden. Still others can only be released every few years.
Overhead
The land in Antarctica, or rather the surface of the mainland and its internal structure, is notthe only thing of interest to researchers. The focus of study is often on atmospheric and climatic processes. In 1985, an "ozone hole" was discovered over Antarctica. Since then, it has been constantly under the scrutiny of scientists. Data collected by researchers at Russian stations suggests that the hole will soon “overgrow”. In this regard, some researchers are of the opinion that the phenomenon itself is not of an anthropogenic nature, as previously assumed, but of a natural one.
Distant, mysterious, icy, southern - Antarctica since the appearance in Antiquity of the first assumptions about its existence has received a lot of epithets. And she fits all of them perfectly. The current stage of the development of the sixth continent differs from the previous ones in the best training of equipment and specialists. The comfort of staying at the stations is increasing, the methods of selecting polar explorers are being improved (according to studies, the psychological climate is much more important than weather conditions). The technical support of expeditions is constantly improving. In a word, all conditions are being created for further study of the secrets and mysteries of the icy continent.
