Many nations that are active in Antarctic research have published future research priorities. Although the United States currently possesses the human capital, financial resources, and logistic strength to be able to take part in all segments of Antarctic. Many new nations entered into Antarctic research in the s, driven in part by interest in Antarctic mineral resources, national pride, and the chance to join an exclusive club of nations leading the world in scientific research.
Antarctic science publications have been growing more quickly than publications in other areas of science, tripling between and Figure 4.
Although U. Australia and Germany held their own, while countries like Italy, Spain, China, and Argentina increased their shares. In short, there is a greater diversity of nations participating in Antarctic science. There is also noteworthy growth in partnerships: collaboration within European Union EU countries has increased from 27 to 35 percent, between scientists in the EU and other nations from 12 to 24 percent, and among non-U.
International collaboration in Antarctica has produced spectacular results. One example is the joint drilling and analysis of the Vostok ice core by scientists from France, Russia, and the United States that led to publication in of a ,year record of proxy temperatures and carbon dioxide CO 2 and methane CH 4 concentrations. This was one of the most important climate research results of the past decade. Other examples of successful international collaborations include the following:.
The organization of Antarctic research within countries can facilitate collaboration. In many nations, the presence of a central institute with responsibility for both logistics and science makes for rapid decision making once the case for cooperation has been accepted. Most nations engaged in Antarctic research need to collaborate to tackle large scientific questions.
The U. Specifically, collaboration can benefit U. Antarctic science; and. Increasing international collaboration can be achieved without moving funds across national borders. Sometimes, nations can contribute in-kind portions of the total needs for a project, such as one nation supplying the aircraft and another supplying the fuel.
The most important factors in increasing international collaborations are sufficient will to increase such collaborations and flexibility in meeting the needs of the science.
As explained in Chapters 2 and 3 , science in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is increasingly tied to research questions that cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries. A good example of this is the growing perspective of Earth system science that incorporates a wide set of the physical sciences, and the concept of ecological change.
Of course, the changes in the physical systems affect the ecology, so these two broad realms of work are increasingly pulled together as well. As the policy implications of environmental change become apparent—the changing nature of fisheries in the Southern Ocean, for example—it becomes increasingly important to understand all aspects of the phenomena in question because mitigation strategies often have serious economic and social consequences and trade-offs.
It is rapidly becoming unacceptable to ask policy makers to make difficult choices without good information on the consequences of their decisions. Discovery, as well, is increasingly interdisciplinary, where even seemingly disparate fields come together around some projects.
For example, the IceCube neutrino detector required the drilling of many deep holes in ice, and, as discussed elsewhere, drilling remains a major area of engineering investigation.
Similarly, IceCube is highly dependent on cyberinfrastructure, as are most other areas of scientific inquiry, and research and development in cyberinfrastructure are important areas of cross-disciplinary inquiry. Given the extensive logistical support typically required to do research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, the successful execution of interdisciplinary scientific work in this region often requires successful international collaboration.
Addressing many of the future science questions in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean will benefit from integrated research projects and programs that are both international and interdisciplinary. The private sector plays an important role in scientific research, and that role has been evolving and increasing in recent decades. The private sector makes major investments in scientific research: pharmaceutical companies, agricultural chemical and seed suppliers, automobile manufacturers, and many other kinds of companies invest heavily in research to create or improve products and services.
As of now, the private sector does not perform much scientific research of its own in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, but that may change in the future. Similarly, the private sector is a primary supplier of materials and equipment for scientific research of all kinds, including chemical reagents, laboratory animals, and special instruments used in research.
As one example, more than 50 companies are listed as suppliers to the biotelemetry. Historically, scientific work in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean was largely a public-sector affair. During the early days of U. Navy provided most of the logistics support for U. This has evolved over time to the point where logistical support is provided by contract with private companies.
This is one example of the interaction of the private sector with research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. There are undoubtedly challenges associated with opening the activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean to more private-sector involvement. The committee does not make a specific recommendation about the role of the private sector here; we simply note that this role is already changing and that it is doubtful that the situation will be reversed.
The possibility of more collaboration across the public and private sectors can be viewed as an opportunity, and serious exploration of opportunities for and consequences of more public-private collaboration in the region is warranted. The Blue Ribbon Panel, which NSF has convened to look in detail at logistical issues, has an opportunity to evaluate the current approach of using a single large private contractor to support U.
The Blue Ribbon Panel can affect the future of science in significant ways by reconfiguring U. The rapidly evolving nature of the scientific questions facing society today demands this.
Scientists working in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean want more direct input into the planning and conduct of logistics. Although many of the positive efficiency aspects of shifts in logistical support in the past two decades have been obtained by moving from military to commercial operations, the Blue Ribbon Panel has an opportunity to consider how to improve logistical support so it enhances and expands science research and discovery capacities.
The three U. The Blue Ribbon Panel also has the opportunity to look into the places where the United States has fallen behind e. There is great future potential in emerging and innovative ways of conducting research, such as autonomous vehicles underwater and airborne , miniaturization of sensors, development of novel sensors, engineering innovations for deep drilling systems, and innovative sampling strategies e.
Improvements in communications, especially data transmission and continent-wide connectivity, will be crucial to support successful science in the future from the operational needs of field parties to the movement of large quantities of data northward to U.
Considerations for how to enhance the efficiency, flexibility, and user friendliness of Antarctic logistical support should include discussions of appropriate relaxation of rigid fieldwork rules and fostering morale in field and base scientists. Overall, the Blue Ribbon Panel has an opportunity to examine these issues in looking to the future of logistical support for science in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
There are significant opportunities related to energy, technology, and infrastructure that can facilitate the scientific research effort in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and bring cost efficiencies to allow a greater proportion of funds to be used to support scientific research projects directly. This section highlights a few examples of major emerging technologies; Appendix C provides a longer list of new technologies that can potentially enhance scientific research in the coming two decades.
During the winter the continent is frequently icebound, and severe storms and darkness prevent most air operations and make lighting and heating for personnel a primary challenge. The Antarctic Treaty System and its Environmental Protocols require that much of what is brought to Antarctica be shipped home, so supply chain and waste management requires significant effort. Science operations in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean are energy intensive, a fact long understood by explorers and scientists.
As a result, managers in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are always looking for innovations related to energy production and use. For example, during the s a small nuclear plant was built at McMurdo Station in an attempt to provide more reliable electric power generation.
Note that the Antarctic Treaty does not prohibit peaceful uses of nuclear science or nuclear power. Unfortunately, the 1. Naval Nuclear Power Unit, Although this particular innovation did not last, Antarctica has been and can continue to be an important testing ground for future energy innovations.
Currently, most of the energy for Antarctic science is provided by combustion of fossil fuels, primarily jet fuel and gasoline treated to withstand the low temperatures. These fuels are consumed for transportation, electric power generation, space heating, desalination and melting ice for potable water, washing, and other needs at both the field camps and the permanent stations. The fuel pipeline for much of the continent starts at McMurdo, where the station receives most of its annual 5.
Fuel is then transferred from McMurdo to airstrips and helioports via a flexible hose. Aircraft annually move over , gallons of jet fuel and gasoline to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to power diesel generators, provide heating, and fuel vehicles.
Palmer Station has no permanent fixed-wing landing facilities and receives all its fuel via ship. In addition to cost, combustion of fossil fuels pollutes the air, and storage and transport can leak fuel into the water, ice, or ground. Looking to the future, innovation in energy continues to be an active concern in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
For example, a new overland traverse route using tractors and sleds promises to reduce the cost of fuel transport from McMurdo to South Pole Station. In another example, in Antarctica New Zealand and the U. The wind power generation system was integrated with the McMurdo and Scott power distribution network and has proven highly reliable despite the extreme weather conditions at McMurdo.
It seems likely that adoption and adaptation of smaller, energy-efficient technologies will add significantly to energy savings in the region over time. New science technologies discussed below will require energy. Remotely operated or autonomous sensor networks will play a critical role in data collection across a wide variety of scientific fields in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research. Energy is required for materials and personnel transport, facilities operations, and data collection, processing, storage, and transmission.
A strategy that relies exclusively on fossil fuels and combustion will probably not be efficient and cost effective over the long run. Overall the Antarctic and Southern Ocean region has the opportunity to continue to be an important testbed for new energy concepts for other extreme climates, such as the Arctic.
This also offers a potential opportunity for public-private partnerships in research and development. Previous chapters in this report have shown the need for observations to be made in more places and at more times in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
The conditions. The advancement of technology, both in the instruments that make measurements and in the platforms that support those instruments, can help to overcome those challenges.
In addition to overcoming challenges, the emergence of new technologies can open up new capabilities. One example is the emergence of miniaturized computers, which has allowed small instruments to be attached to diving animals. These instrumented animals have measured the conductivity, temperature, and depth of the ocean in some areas where ice cover had previously impeded such measurements by ship or mooring mentioned in Section 3.
This is one example out of many where the exploitation of new technology has led to a scientific advancement in oceanography and animal ecology and physiology. This means that the claimants have very limited capacity to exercise sovereignty in their territory. This effectively reduces their power to that of jurisdiction only over their own nationals. Read more: How a trip to Antarctica became a real-life experiment in decision-making. The sting in the tail is that conducting substantial scientific research activity in Antarctica — including the building of support infrastructure — is the pathway new states must take to achieve decision-making status.
This is only constrained by the legal requirement to undertake an environmental impact assessment of any activity prior to its commencement. Essentially, any country — whether a party to the treaty or not — can do whatever they like in Antarctica. Portsmouth Climate Festival — Portsmouth, Portsmouth. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in.
In Antarctica, many countries want a piece of the action. Julia Jabour , University of Tasmania. But they are also ideal for establishing covert surveillance networks and remote control of offensive weapons systems. The Australian government recently identified China's newest base as a threat, specifically because of the surveillance potential. It said: "Antarctic bases are increasingly used for 'dual-use' scientific research that's useful for military purposes.
Many governments reject Antarctica's status quo, built on European endeavour and entrenched by Cold War geopolitics that, some say, give undue influence to the superpowers of the past.
Iran has said it intends to build in Antarctica, Turkey too. India has a long history of Antarctic involvement and Pakistan has approved Antarctic expansion - all in the name of scientific cooperation. But the status quo depends on self-regulation. The Antarctic Treaty has no teeth.
Faced with intensifying competition over abundant natural resources and unforeseen intelligence-gathering opportunities, all it can do - like my penguin - is squawk, and patter off into the snow.
How to listen to From Our Own Correspondent :. Listen online or download the podcast. Argentine fury at Antarctic renaming. Antarctica's ice losses double. US ice-breaker to rescue stuck ships.
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A trip of a lifetime Avoiding footprints The future of tourism Acting responsibly Visit Antarctica Impacts and Management Environmentally friendly tourism Challenges Antarctica under pressure A treasure trove of resources Farming Antarctic waters Putting you under pressure Antarctica under pressure Sustainability Impacts of climate change Mineral resources Overfishing Future of Antarctica What future for Antarctica?
Which view of the future? You decide! Reporting on the future How is Antarctica governed? The Antarctic Treaty All agreed? In this section. Close Tab. A trip of a lifetime Avoiding footprints The future of tourism Acting responsibly Visit Antarctica Impacts and Management Environmentally friendly tourism Challenges Antarctica under pressure A treasure trove of resources Farming Antarctic waters Putting you under pressure Under pressure: Land Antarctica under pressure Sustainability Impacts of climate change Mineral resources Overfishing Future of Antarctica What future for Antarctica?
All resources. Science in Antarctica. Warm up Science is really significant in Antarctica because unlike most other areas of the world, it remains relatively untouched and all activities are carefully controlled and monitored.
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