Antarctica is a critical region for curbing global warming and maintaining unique ecosystems. However, resource exploitation can lead to serious problems, including glacier decline, ozone depletion, extreme weather and international conflict, and requires careful consideration and conservation.
If you look at a globe, you’ll see Antarctica painted white. You’ve probably seen it on TV at least once, with white glaciers floating by and families of emperor penguins strolling leisurely around it. Antarctica is located at 90 degrees south latitude, the southernmost point of the Earth’s axis, and covers an area of about 14 million square kilometers, including the continent and its adjacent islands and ice shelves. While the geography of Antarctica has been explored by many explorers since the late 18th century, it was one of the last uncharted continents on Earth. Before World War II, Antarctica was barely outlined, and the continent’s interior was only partially understood. Today, however, many countries have sent research teams to Antarctica, built research complexes, and conducted a variety of studies, including geological and oceanographic surveys. In addition, Antarctica is believed to contain significant oil and mineral resources, and has attracted much attention worldwide.
In 1819, British captain William Smith became the first person in human history to reach Antarctica, discovering the South Shetland Islands, which are located north of the South Pole. Another historic event occurred in 1911, when Norwegian Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911. This was the moment when many people became fascinated by Antarctica. However, the first systematic scientific study of Antarctica took place during the Geophysical Year of 1957-1958. The 12 nations that participated in the Antarctic observations signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, agreeing that the region should be used only for peaceful purposes and should not be a stage or target for international discord. Today, 29 countries – the United States, Russia, Japan, Argentina, South Korea, China, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and New Zealand – have built a total of 75 scientific stations in Antarctica, 39 of which are open year-round. The rest are only open in the summer.
Many people think that Antarctica is home to only a few species, such as penguins. Although the number of species is small, it is believed to be home to an enormous number of individuals, such as krill shrimp. Of course, land life is very limited, and only a few species have adapted to Antarctica’s extreme conditions. However, Antarctica’s marine life has undergone unique evolutionary processes not found elsewhere, maintaining its diversity and creating a unique ecosystem. The value of this biological research is enormous, and many countries are interested in exploiting Antarctica’s resources. It is estimated that Antarctica contains enough oil and rare earth resources to supply the world for 100 years, making it an important source of resources in a world with limited oil resources. In addition to oil, mineral resources are also predicted to be significant. For example, in the Prince Charles Mountains region of East Antarctica, a 400-meter-thick arc iron formation has been discovered, which is considered to be an important resource with significant economic value.
Antarctica’s resource potential is so compelling that countries are rushing to develop it. Icebreakers are entering Antarctica to break through the ice, drilling exploration is underway, and economic assessments are being made. However, this process is raising many issues. Let’s take a second look at Antarctica’s development and consider the many reasons to preserve it.
First, Antarctica’s massive glaciers reflect the light that hits the Earth, which helps keep the average global temperature from rising. If they were to disappear, the planet’s greenhouse effect would accelerate. The rate of Antarctic glacier retreat was recently measured at 22.25% between 2016 and 2022, and the rate of glacier retreat is still at a dangerous level. If large-scale infrastructure is built to exploit Antarctic resources, it will accelerate the temperature rise in Antarctica and exacerbate the global warming problem.
Second, it could accelerate the destruction of the ozone layer in the polar regions. There is currently a huge ozone hole over Antarctica, which is likely to get worse as organic emissions from Antarctic development increase. Although Antarctic development is not the only cause of ozone depletion, the release of chlorine compounds into the atmosphere from emissions and garbage burning during development will reduce the density of the ozone layer.
Third, development in Antarctica could alter the flow of deep ocean bottom currents, which could lead to extreme weather. Warming caused by greenhouse gases is disrupting the ocean current circulation system, which has a major impact on climate change. If Antarctica’s glaciers shrink rapidly due to rising temperatures, the planet’s heat transfer will be impaired, leading to more frequent droughts and heat waves.
Fourth, it increases the likelihood of conflict over Antarctic resources. Although Antarctica is currently a neutral territory that does not belong to any country, countries are competing for its resources. This competition could turn Antarctica into a disputed territory, which could lead to international instability.
Fifth, the exploitation of Antarctic resources is likely to reduce interest and investment in alternative energy development. Once Antarctica’s resources are exploited, the pace of renewable energy development will slow down, which could have a negative impact on global warming.
Sixth, overexploitation could lead to the destruction of Antarctica’s ecosystems. Antarctica has a unique ecosystem and is considered to be of great scientific importance. However, icebreakers and oil drilling are severely damaging Antarctica’s ecosystems and could have a devastating impact on the life that lives there.
In conclusion, Antarctica is an important ecosystem not only for its scientific value, but also for its role in curbing global warming and supporting a wide variety of life forms. However, development in Antarctica can be detrimental to humanity and needs to be carefully and meticulously analyzed and gradually halted.
