Science on ice : discovering the secrets of Antarctica /
Meduna, Veronika.
Auckland, N.Z. : Auckland University Press,
2012.
Antarctica is very difficult and expensive to get to and a tough place to live and do scientific research. Nevertheless, over the last century, large numbers of biologists, physicists, geoscientists, and chemists have headed to Antarctica from all over the world and, in particular, because of our proximity, from New Zealand. Because Antarctica offers a peculiar environment ripe for tackling some of the biggest scientific questions, such as: Is there life on other planets? Life on the early earth evolved in extreme environments - very hot or very cold, with atmospheres and oceans full of weird chemicals. In the cold ice and hot undersea vents around Antarctica, scientists can study life in extremes and gain insight into how life began on earth and how it might have developed across the rest of the universe. Climate change. This is not driven evenly around the world. Instead, a few key phenomena seem to drive the weather - El Nino off South America, the Gulf Stream that keeps Great Britain warm, etc. Antarctica is one of these key climate drivers. As scientists watch glaciers retreat and icebergs break off the continent, they can begin to understand the extent and impact of climate change.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Antarctica is very difficult and expensive to get to and a tough place to live and do scientific research. Nevertheless, over the last century, large numbers of biologists, physicists, geoscientists, and chemists have headed to Antarctica from all over the world and, in particular, because of our proximity, from New Zealand. Because Antarctica offers a peculiar environment ripe for tackling some of the biggest scientific questions, such as: Is there life on other planets? Life on the early earth evolved in extreme environments - very hot or very cold, with atmospheres and oceans full of weird chemicals. In the cold ice and hot undersea vents around Antarctica, scientists can study life in extremes and gain insight into how life began on earth and how it might have developed across the rest of the universe. Climate change. This is not driven evenly around the world. Instead, a few key phenomena seem to drive the weather - El Nino off South America, the Gulf Stream that keeps Great Britain warm, etc. Antarctica is one of these key climate drivers. As scientists watch glaciers retreat and icebergs break off the continent, they can begin to understand the extent and impact of climate change.
Natural history