Modern studies of Antarctica. Studies of Antarctica in the 21st century

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 have given humanity a lot of opportunities to expand its knowledge of the world around us. The largest scientific activity was conducted in Antarctica in the middle of the last century, but today the ice continent is not deprived of attention.

Arrangements

Modern studies of Antarctica are carried out by several countries at once. A document on the special interaction of different states on the territory of the ice continent was formed in 1959. Then twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, according to which, within the sixth continent, it is forbidden to conduct military operations, bury poisonous and other wastes, and also for some time freeze any territorial claims. To date, 33 countries have joined this treaty. As a result, Antarctica studies in the 21st century are often of an international nature. In addition, since 1991 the ice continent has been declared a world natural 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, still did not reach the level that was during the Soviet Union. However, every year the situation is getting better. Permanent expeditions of Russian polar explorers are engaged in studying a variety of issues related to geological, geographic, climatic and other features of the continent.

Areas of interest

Modern studies of Antarctica are conducted in several main areas:

• Fundamental study of Antarctica;
• Scientific and applied research and development;
• Collection of data on the natural environment of the Southern Polar Region;
• Environmental protection;
• Material and technical support for research, contributing, inter alia, to increasing the capacity of Russian stations and the comfort of arriving at them.

Microcosm

Antarctica - the geography of its landscape, the population of living organisms, the peculiarities of climate - seems to have been thoroughly studied. However, in each of these areas there are gaps. For example, the attention of scientists is increasingly attracted by the microcosm of the continent. The various bacteria and fungi that exist here differ from their counterparts from other continents in the skills of adapting 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 the opinion that some microbial communities should be established on the icy continent. There they will acquire the properties and signs 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 discover in an ice-covered pond. Lake Vostok, named so in honor of the nearby Russian station, is located at a depth of about 4 thousand meters. Its uniqueness in the absence of contact with the earth's atmosphere for several million years. The ecosystem of the lake is "conserved" and can contain many amazing microorganisms. The proposed "inhabitants" of the lake must be able to withstand high pressures, very low temperatures, an oxygen concentration 50 times higher than that in drinking water, and feed on inorganic carbon. So far, such organisms are not known to science.

To explore the lake in the 70s of the last century it was decided to start drilling. However, the surface of the East reached quite recently, in 2012. In the then and later samples, 3507 unique DNA sequences were found. Most of them, about 94%, belong to bacteria, in second place mushrooms - their four percent. Also in the samples were found two sequences belonging to the archaeans.

Lake research continues today, as it is necessary to obtain samples of water from its bottom, as well as confirm or deny previous results. The attitude towards them in the scientific world is ambiguous. Someone predicts the discovery of even such large organisms as fish. Their opponents say that probably part of the DNA was brought in with the drill, the other is the remains of long-extinct creatures.

A bunch of

The East is not the only subglacial continental lake. Today, 145 reservoirs are known, presumably being similar formations. In addition, modern studies of Antarctica are concentrated to some extent around the open lakes of the continent. Some of them are filled with fresh water, others are mineralized. "Residents" 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 be released only once every few years.

Overhead

Land in Antarctica, more precisely the surface of the continent and its internal structure, is not the only thing that is interesting to researchers. At the center of the study often lie 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, suggest that soon the hole will "overgrow". Some researchers in this regard hold the view that the phenomenon itself is not anthropogenic in nature, as previously thought, but natural.

Far, mysterious, icy, southern - Antarctica since the appearance in Antiquity of the first assumptions about its existence has received a lot of epithets. And she fully corresponds to all of them. The modern stage of development of the sixth continent differs from the previous ones in the best preparation of technology and specialists. The comfort of arriving at stations improves, methods for selecting polar explorers are being improved (according to studies, the psychological climate proves to be much more important than weather conditions). The technical support of expeditions is constantly improving. In short, all conditions are created for further study of the secrets and mysteries of the ice continent.