Extreme events in the sub-Antarctic

Abstract

Extreme physical events, excluding meteorological events, can be divided into two broad categories — endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous phenomena include earthquakes, landslides, tsunami, volcanic or gas hydrate eruptions that occur within the region but may have both local and distant impacts; the 2011 Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic eruption, and the frequent major earthquakes along the Chile margin or near Macquarie Island are examples. Exogenous events are those originating outside the area but influencing it. These include the terminal Cretaceous asteroid impact, asteroid/meteorite impacts, such as the major Eltanin Asteroid impact 2.5 million years ago, and extraterrestrial-sourced radiation from extreme solar/galactic or extra-galactic events in which the effect is not confined to the sub-Antarctic but is global.