White Continent Research Articles

Intrinsic value, sovereignty rights, and sentient animals in Antarctica

ABSTRACT Two things central to the Antarctic Treaty System fill the minds of ethicists and political theorists the more often they reflect upon them: territorial sovereignty (AT, IV.2) and the intrinsic value of Antarctica (Protocol, art.3). Regarding its intrinsic value, in the first half of the paper I argue that to give adequate consideration to the different morally significant constituent parts of Antarctica, it is necessary to recognise sentient animals as a fundamental source of intrinsic value. In the second part of the paper, I look at the implications this interpretation would have particularly, but not only, for those States with sovereignty claims over the continent. The conclusion I draw is twofold. On the one hand, State sovereignty in Antarctica would have to become conditional to acting on the continent in ways that are consistent with the respect owed to wild sentient animals. On the other hand, claimant States and State parties would be required to revisit and amend domestic policies that generate direct harm or unreasonable risk to wild animals in the white continent, even when performed far away from Antarctica.

Chemical composition and trajectories of atmospheric particles at the Machu Picchu Peruvian Antarctic scientific station (62.09º S, 58.47º W)

Antarctica is a remote and relatively pristine region, but the regional transport of aerosols may be a source of pollution, especially in the Antarctic Peninsula. Few studies have characterized atmospheric aerosols and evaluated the contribution of their emission sources. The Peruvian Antarctic research station Machu Pichu (ECAMP, by its Spanish acronym) is located on King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. During February 2020, atmospheric particulate mass (PM10 and PM2.5) was sampled and analyzed to characterize its elemental composition and was supplemented by measurements of equivalent black carbon and aerosol size distributions. Chemical elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), multivariate techniques, and enrichment factors. The most abundant elements in PM10 and PM2.5 were Na, Fe, Mg, and Si, with the most important local sources being marine (Na, Mg, Mn, Ca) and crustal (Fe, Al, P). Sources of weathering (Ba and Si) from glacial thawing and sources of combustion linked to the use of oil (V) and emission of black carbon were recorded. Air mass back-trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model helped identify external sources of particulate matter in the air masses reaching the ECAMP site. Overall, this study supports the growing evidence of the anthropogenic impact of distant and local sources on the white continent.

A 7-year record of vertical profiles of radar measurements and precipitation estimates at Dumont d'Urville, Adélie Land, East Antarctica

Abstract. Studying precipitation falling over Antarctica is crucial as snowfall represents the main water input term for the polar cap. However, precipitation observations still remain scarce – and, more particularly, in the atmospheric column – due to numerous experimental issues related to the white continent. This paper aims at helping to close this observation gap by presenting 7 years of Micro Rain Radar (Metek MRR-2) data at the Dumont d'Urville station in coastal Adélie Land, East Antarctica. Statistics are calculated on three radar variables (equivalent reflectivity, mean Doppler velocity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)) to outline the main characteristics of the radar dataset. Seasonal and interannual variabilities are also investigated, but no significant temporal trends are detected, except for the seasonal mean Doppler velocity, which is higher in summer and lower in winter. We then use the snowfall rate (S) data from a collocated snow gauge to estimate the MRR precipitation profile from the radar equivalent reflectivity (Ze) through a locally derived Ze–S relation. We find the relation Ze=43.3S0.88. The processing method used to obtain this relation, data quality and uncertainty considerations are discussed in the paper. In order to give an example of application of the dataset, a brief statistical comparison of the MRR precipitation rate along the vertical with model data from the ERA5 reanalysis and the LMDZ climate model is performed, which notably shows that models underestimate heavy precipitation events. All datasets are available on the PANGAEA database with the associated DOI: https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.962727 (Wiener et al., 2023).

Where the White Continent Is Blue: Deep Learning Locates Bare Ice in Antarctica

AbstractIn some areas of Antarctica, blue‐colored bare ice is exposed at the surface. These blue ice areas (BIAs) can trap meteorites or old ice and are vital for understanding the climatic history. By combining multi‐sensor remote sensing data (MODIS, RADARSAT‐2, and TanDEM‐X) in a deep learning framework, we map blue ice across the continent at 200‐m resolution. We use a novel methodology for image segmentation with “noisy” labels to learn an underlying “clean” pattern with a neural network. In total, BIAs cover ca. 140,000 km2 (∼1%) of Antarctica, of which nearly 50% located within 20 km of the grounding line. There, the low albedo of blue ice enhances melt‐water production and its mapping is crucial for mass balance studies that determine the stability of the ice sheet. Moreover, the map provides input for fieldwork missions and can act as constraint for other geophysical mapping efforts.

Environmental Signals Act as a Driving Force for Metabolic and Defense Responses in the Antarctic Plant Colobanthus quitensis.

During evolution, plants have faced countless stresses of both biotic and abiotic nature developing very effective mechanisms able to perceive and counteract adverse signals. The biggest challenge is the ability to fine-tune the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. The Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis has managed to survive the adverse environmental conditions of the white continent and can be considered a wonderful example of adaptation to prohibitive conditions for millions of other plant species. Due to the progressive environmental change that the Antarctic Peninsula has undergone over time, a more comprehensive overview of the metabolic features of C. quitensis becomes particularly interesting to assess its ability to respond to environmental stresses. To this end, a differential proteomic approach was used to study the response of C. quitensis to different environmental cues. Many differentially expressed proteins were identified highlighting the rewiring of metabolic pathways as well as defense responses. Finally, a different modulation of oxidative stress response between different environmental sites was observed. The data collected in this paper add knowledge on the impact of environmental stimuli on plant metabolism and stress response by providing useful information on the trade-off between plant growth and defense mechanisms.

Multiple identities of an Antarctic station through the appropriation of the inhabited space

ABSTRACT This paper presents an anthropological study of the Dumont d’Urville Station, Antarctica, and its objective is related to the recognition of identities through an ethnographic method. As human activities on the white continent intensify, this research focuses on the inhabitation strategies of an Antarctic station of an overwintering crew for the development of identity. This ethnographic study was conducted for 15 months, with one overwinter and two summer campaigns. The analysis of the material collected demonstrates, through the prism of station appropriation, not only the multiplicity of changing identities, but the interdependence of these identities. An Antarctic station can be studied as a whole, but it can also be divided into several subgroups. The two main categories in this article are the campagnards (the summer staff) and the overwinterers, who occupy a habitat that does not belong to any of them. The transmission of historical and cultural heritage, professional kinship and the circulation of overwinterers in the station are factors that contribute to this appropriation and that also emphasise the existence of identity subgroups even among an overwintering crew.

Machine Learning Pinpoints Meteorite-Rich Areas in Antarctica

A new algorithm suggests that only a small fraction of meteorites present on the White Continent’s surface have been recovered to date.

South American claims in Antarctica: colonial, malgré tout

ABSTRACT Argentina and Chile, known in the world of Antarctic politics as the ‘South American claimants’, have shown themselves since the inception of their interests in the White Continent as standing alone and in opposition to the advances of the colonial powers of the North – especially the United Kingdom. As Shirley Scott has suggested, while the UK was busy staking claims over Antarctica and treating it as terra nullius, Argentina and Chile ascertained what they took to be their historical rights to the continent, inherited from the time when they were Spanish colonies. In this article, I support Argentina’s and Chile’s contention that the attitude and procedure followed by the other claimants to the continent was unequivocally colonial, but I reject their contention that theirs was not. I examine four sites where their colonial spirit is revealed: their use of the geographic doctrines of continuity and contiguity, and of the sector principle; the appeal to historic rights inherited from the time when they were Spanish colonies; their expansion to Antarctica through the establishment of military settlements, and their underlying economic and strategic interests, no different from their ‘Northern’ counterparts. I then point to some specific and general implications of reinterpreting their story in this light.

Macroalgae metal-biomonitoring in Antarctica: Addressing the consequences of human presence in the white continent

Marine ecosystems in the Arctic and Antarctica were once thought pristine and away from important human influence. Today, it is known that global processes as atmospheric transport, local activities related with scientific research bases, military and touristic maritime traffic, among others, are a potential source of pollutants. Macroalgae have been recognized as reliable metal-biomonitoring organisms due to their accumulation capacity and physiological responses. Metal accumulation (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Se, and Hg) and photosynthetic parameters (associated with in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence) were assessed in 77 samples from 13 different macroalgal species (Phaeophyta; Chlorophyta; Rhodophyta) from areas with high human influence, nearby research and sometimes military bases and a control area, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Most metals in macroalgae followed a pattern influenced by rather algal lineage than site, with green seaweeds displaying trends of higher levels of metals as Al, Cu, Cr and Fe. Photosynthesis was also not affected by site, showing healthy organisms, especially in brown macroalgae, likely due to their great dimensions and morphological complexity. Finally, data did not demonstrate a relationship between metal accumulation and photosynthetic performance, evidencing low anthropogenic-derived impacts associated with metal excess in the area. Green macroalgae, especially Monostroma hariotti, are highlighted as reliable for further metal biomonitoring assessments. In the most ambitious to date seaweed biomonitoring effort conducted towards the Austral pole, this study improved by 91% the overall knowledge on metal accumulation in macroalgae from Antarctica, being the first report in species as Sarcopeltis antarctica and Plocamium cartilagineum. These findings may suggest that human short- and long-range metal influence on Antarctic coastal ecosystems still remains under control.

Political Islam, European Muslim and Terrorism Issues: A Reflection

In the period 2014-2015, the European Union was shaken by the influx of migrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans (Eastern Europe) who increasingly flooded the western region of the white continent. In a March 2015 report, UNHCR said the conflicts in Iraq and Syria brought the number of asylum seekers in Western countries in 2014 to the highest level in 22 years. There were an estimated 866,000 asylum seekers in 2014. That number is a 45 percent increase compared to 2013. And, during the 2014-16 refugee crisis from the Middle East and Africa, millions of refugee flows from the Middle East and Africa were rejected. In this regard, Olivier Roy sees that in Europe itself there is a danger of radical Islamism, a Muslim terrorism movement that undermines European peace and undermines Western trust on Muslim communities and political Islam. This paper explains Roy's perspective and Islamic radicalism in Europe which does not benefit the position and image of Muslims in Europe and the West in general.

Tierra de nadie, tierra de todos. Unidad y naturaleza en las figuras culturales de península Antártica y alrededores

Este trabajo estudia la historia del territorio antártico disputado por Argentina, Chile y Reino Unido en el contexto de procesos que culminaron con la reciente resignificación “edénica” del continente blanco: la atribución de valores positivos a su condición de espacio prístino, el consecuente desistimiento de actividades de explotación comercial, la promoción de su preservación y de la minimización de cualquier impacto. Como espacio “compartido” en su historia se articulan variados procesos de incorporación a imaginarios colectivos y territorios nacionales con aspiraciones que mueven el quehacer de cada país en el entramado de acciones, reacciones y valoraciones territoriales en que se busca ahondar. En lo que concierne a una dimensión morfológica, se plantea que los anhelos de cada uno motivaron proyectos de integración del espacio reclamado, se vincularon con escenarios de competición internacional y se asociaron con nociones de unidad territorial mayormente catalizadas por momentos críticos de la historia. En lo que concierne a una dimensión valórica, se estima que esta depende de cómo se interpretó la naturaleza de la Antártica en visiones de futuro que se estructuraron básicamente en dos aspectos. Uno de estos dice relación con la percepción de su virginidad, entendida como fuente de recursos a extraer o “Edén” a preservar. Otro dice relación con quienes deberían beneficiarse de ella, si comunidades nacionales, internacionales o globales. Las distintas etapas de los procesos de incorporación se analizan a partir de proyectos de arquitectura, infraestructura, estrategias geopolíticas y cartografías o incluso novelas y fotografías. Tratando de superar el paradigma de una separación conceptual entre transformaciones y representaciones del territorio, estos se entienden como “figuras”, manifestaciones culturales y fragmentos de discursos subyacentes a los procesos de incorporación: un conjunto de elementos variados, pero leídos de manera transversal a través de nociones de unidad y valores de la naturaleza que conllevan.

Antártida: Infierno blanco. Una aproximación desde la literatura.

Literary fictions about unknown territories date back to antiquity, being that these empty spaces on the maps have been a source of inspiration and projection of archaic fears and desires. Antarctica was the last territory to be discovered on Earth since it was not until 1819 that human biengs set foot there. Therefore, in modern literature, the expedition to the unknown south has a rich tradition, mixing great adventures, horrors, and omens. In this article, I analyze five texts in which the journey to the white continent is imagined as a catabasis—travel to hell—as well as a provocation (hybris) to universal order: “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (1798) by ST Coleridge, The Narrative of AG Pym (1838) by EA Poe, The Sphinx of the Ice Fields by J. Verne (1897), At the Mountains of Madness (1936) by HP Lovecraft, and The Conquerors of Antarctica (1945) by the Chilean F. Coloane. A comparative reading of these works shows structural and symbolic repetitions that account for a critical key: the power of wild nature over the human record and the catastrophe to which the spirit of conquest and domination can lead.

РОЛЬ ВІКОВИХ ВІДМІННОСТЕЙ ІНДИВІДУАЛЬНО-ТИПОЛОГІЧНИХ ОСОБЛИВОСТЕЙ УКРАЇНСЬКИХ ЗИМІВНИКІВ У ПРОЦЕСІ АДАПТАЦІЇ ДО ЕКСТРЕМАЛЬНИХ УМОВ

The article considers the individually-typology features of Ukrainian winterers and its role in the process of adaptation to extreme living conditions. The relevance of the article is based on the fact that Ukraine for 26 years has the opportunity to explore the White Continent at the Ukrainian Antarctic Station “AcademicianVernadsky”. Wintering of the Ukrainian polar explorers is related to the protracted stay on a limit territory that requires adaptation to the social isolationsensory and psychological deprivation in wintering. The aim of the article is to present psychological studies the individually-typology features in wintering people in Antarctica as a prerequisite for psychological adaptation of personality. The scientific developments of domestic and foreign researchers dealing with the problem of adaptation to life in extreme conditions are analyzed. The concept of psychological adaptation to life in extreme conditions is specified; the individually-typology features of winterers are determined; some main methodological tools of psychological research are presented. The main accentuations that are characteristic of winterers are highlighted, and the peculiarities of personality behavior with different types of accentuations are described. Age groups of Ukrainian winterers are defined. The role of age differences in individual-psychological characteristics of winterers are shown in the example of ten Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions. It is proved that the most adapted is the average age group – a person at the age of 35-45. Such results allowed to determine new criteria of psychophysiological and psychological forecasting, and also confirmed necessity of application of psychological researches of Antarctic winterers.

The black carbon dispersion in the Southern Hemisphere and its transport and fate to Antarctica, an Anthropocene evidence for climate change policies.

Black carbon (BC) has been measured in Antarctica's air, and its global warming effect can potentially speed up the ice melting in the most solid water reservoir of the planet. However, the primary responsible sources are not well evidenced in this region. The dispersion of black carbon emissions from the Southern Hemisphere was conducting using atmospheric chemical transport model and we compared the results with satellite registries from March 1st to April 30th in 2014. The emission inventory considered the anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions from global datasets. The largest and most populated cities in Southern Hemisphere showed the higher emission of BC. As a result, the average daily concentrations of atmospheric BC were around 4ng/m3 in most regions of Antarctica according to its pristine characteristics. We analyzed fifteen relevant sites in coastal zones of Antartica and some peaks registered by the satellite records were not replicated by model outputs and it was mainly associated with the lack of emissions. Finally, we made simulations in the same period without biomass burning emissions and we observed decreased concentrations of BC in the range of 20-50%. As a result, we show that the black carbon transportation from the continental land to the polar region took place in 17-24days during the Austral summer and the biomass burning emissions were the primary source. Black Carbon deposition in Antarctica is not permanent, but the uncontrolled emissions from Southern Hemisphere can increase its transportation to the white continent and make its accumulation during the period when the weak polar vortex occurs.

Undecided dreams: France in the Antarctic, 1840–2021

Abstract This paper traces France’s role in the Antarctic from 1840, when explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville discovered the slice of the white continent he named Terre Adélie, to the present day. Since World War II, Terre Adélie has been the site of a host of performances of sovereignty: the French have built bases, drawn maps, conducted scientific investigations and erected plaques. But France’s commitment to Terre Adélie has been tested and has fallen into crisis several times. The history of France in Antarctica is a tale of ambition, ambivalence, trade-offs and political strategy. This paper aims to elucidate this story, focusing on the concept of sovereignty and the nexus of scientific and political interests. I argue that France’s relationship with the Antarctic has been characterised by continual tension, by peaks and troughs and by brinkmanship on the part of actors with their own stakes. While there is broad agreement that Terre Adélie serves a fundamental national interest, I show that France’s ambitions on the white continent are far from decided. With its focus on France, which has largely been left out of the growing body of literature on the Antarctic, this paper contributes to building a robust historical understanding of Antarctic claims.

Ahab and Ishmael in Antarctica: How Charles Wilkes's White Continent Gave Rise to the White Whale

The U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838–1842) was the first global voyage of exploration launched by the United States government. News of the Expedition's discovery of the Antarctic continent commanded especially intense public interest, setting a precedent for monumental cultural ambitions in the new nation. The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (1845)—penned by the Expedition's controversial leader Charles Wilkes—was early identified as a significant source for Melville's novels, with Wilkes as a model for Captain Ahab. Yet the Narrative's Antarctic passages, whose incidents most closely prefigure Moby-Dick, have received almost no attention. An examination of Wilkes's attempt to conquer the indomitable Antarctic reveals resonances with both Ahab and Ishmael, and shows how Antarctic ambiguities helped shape the ontologically mysterious White Whale. By dividing Wilkes's qualities and rhetoric between two complementary characters—Ahab and Ishmael—Melville explores the nonhuman sublime, its power to test human physical and epistemological limits, and the driving ambition it provokes. In the process, Melville extends Wilkes's image of the "icy barrier" around Antarctica. This wall, barrier, or mask becomes an origin point for the ambitions—Ahabian, Ishmaelian, Wilkesian and even Melvillian—that energize epic endeavors, including those of the young republic's nascent expansionist imperialism.

The Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly - Diplomacy and Science

Dolan, P and Millwood Hargrave, M., The Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly - Diplomacy and science. Geoscientist 30 (6), 24, 2020 https://doi.org/doi: 10.1144/geosci2020-094, Download the pdf here Peter Dolan (FGS) and Martyn Millwood Hargrave report on the inaugural Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly, held in Westminster in December 2019 The inaugural Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly was hosted by the UK government in London on 2 and 3 December 2019 to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty and to discuss the future of the ‘White Continent’. Left: First year ice off the Royal Society Range, Scott Coast, Antarctica c. Martyn Millwood Hargrave Parliamentarians from 13 signatory countries, including most of the seven who claim sectors of Antarctica and other interested parties such as China, issued a final conference statement and press release, available at https://www.antarcticparliamentarians.com/download The meeting featured presentations on climate change, natural resources (primarily fishing), scientific research, geopolitics and tourism. (Since first drafting this report, COVID-19 is, of course, likely to severely limited tourism in the short to medium term.) But what were the ‘takeaways’? Global impact Despite its remote location, Antarctica has a global impact. This is partly because circum–Antarctic deep sea currents are connected to those in other oceans, affecting their path and nature. Changes in circulation in the south are, for example, predicted by fisheries experts to have a very negative impact on fish stocks in northern polar areas in years to come. Antarctica is both a victim and engine of change. These ocean currents contribute to climate change which in turn is driving the anomalous and rapid temperature increases being witnessed in West Antarctica. The melting of huge glacier systems (e.g. Thwaites and Pine island) and calving of ice shelves as a result of currently escalating CO2 emissions and global temperature increases are virtually certain to lead to global sea level rise of 30cm to 50cm over the next few decades. But here, Antarctica’s influence on the rest of the world arises again: whatever the sea level rise, it will be greatest in northern latitudes due to the gravitational pull of northern hemisphere landmasses. Coastal cities such as London, New Yorkand Shanghai, beware. So what to do? The parliamentarians and their advisors had no ‘silver bullets’ to offer. Their final statement “Noted with concern …the profound effects of climate change on Antarctica’s ecosystems and the potentially catastrophic effects of Antarctic ice loss on global sea level.” They agreed to: Uphold the Antarctic Treaty System. Establish the Assembly as a biennial gathering. Protect and conserve the Antarctic environment. Promote and support international scientific collaboration Ensure effective management of activities in Antarctica. Enthusiasm and concern We left enriched by the enthusiasm of the participants and the science but concerned at the inevitability of severe impacts from global sea level rise over our children’s lifetimes. There are many geoscience contributions we can make to mitigate the underlying drivers of climate change, and our profession and community should work hard to push these areas: CC(U)S, geothermal, facilitating efficiencies in the necessary harvesting of natural resources, etc. In the meantime, the buzzword from the environmental engineers was on increasing coastal resilience. It looks like we will all need it.

Four Principles to Justify Claims to Jurisdiction and to Natural Resources in Antarctica

Global pressure over Antarctic resources will mount in the course of the coming decades. Three factors are likely to motivate states to claim jurisdictional rights or rights to natural resources in Antarctica: climate change, dwindling natural resources in the rest of the world, and the fact that – by virtue of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty – the question of sovereignty remains unresolved. It is high time to think about the moral dimensions that should shape Antarctic claims in the future. Is there any state or group of states more entitled than others to make such claims? What does sound management of natural resources require? How should environmental concerns factor into decisions about jurisdictional control and appropriation of natural resources? With these broad questions in the background, in this article I examine four principles of justice that figure prominently in current theories of territorial rights and rights over natural resources in political philosophy: connection, capacity, fair distribution, and need. I show how these principles have been used by states, alone or in tandem, to justify claims to jurisdiction and claims to natural resources in Antarctica. After pointing to their main strengths and weaknesses, I suggest that they may be necessary, but insufficient to build a just framework for jurisdiction and appropriation of resources in the White Continent.

Análisis de hierro y polifenoles en macroalgas pardas y rojas de la Antártida

Antarctica, the White Continent, is the refuge of typical species, where temperatures range from -85 to 2 oC, UV radiation can penetrate 30 m depth and salinity reaches 32-34%. Among these species, brown macroalgae (Pheophytas) and red macroalgae (Rhodophytas) are mainly evaluated as potential food and health resources for mankind. The macroalgae collected in February 2019 were taxonomically classified into 6 species: Desmarestia confervoides, (hacer la consulta con el autor/IMARPE) Desmarestia antarctica, Himantothallus grandifolius, Palmaria decipiens, Gigartina skottsbergii and Curdiea racovitzae. This research determined organic matter ranging from 12 to 20%, iron (atomic absorption), polyphenols and flavonoids (quantitative methods). The results revealed that the content of iron ranged from 6.72 to 154 mg%, polyphenols from 22.4 to 78.4 mg% and flavonoids from 10.09 to 21.31 mg%. We conclude that this research allowed us to know the iron and antioxidant characteristics of 6 most common Antarctic species.

A continent of and for whiteness?: “White” colonialism and the 1959 Antarctic Treaty

AbstractThere are at least four ways in which Antarctic colonialism was white: it was paradigmatically performed by white men; it consisted in the taking of vast, white expanses of land; it was carried out with acarte blanche(literally, “blank card”) attitude; and it was presented to the world as a white, innocent adventure. While the first, racial whiteness has been amply problematised, I suggest that the last three illuminate yet other moral wrongs of the Antarctic colonial project. Moreover, they might be constitutive of a larger class of “white” colonialisms beyond the White Continent.