journey to the end of the earth

'if we want to study and examine earth's past present and future,Antarctica is the place to go' Explain    7




Ans: Antarctica is the place to understand earth's past present and future because it holds half million year old carbon records in its thick layers of ice sheets. Due the great tectonic shifts, Antarctica separated from the Gondwana land and was pushed to the bottom of the earth,near the south pole. Frigid and desolate it remains the only place that has never sustained a human habitation and continue to be pristine and unsullied. Therefore Antarctica is the key to the earth's geological history and evolution,it is here that one understands the significance of cordillian and pre cambrian granite shields. It has the vestiges( evidence) of the earth's formation which is essential in the study of the earth's past and possible future.

Antarctica is equally crucial for the earth's present because of its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity which makes it a perfect place to study how even a small change on earth can lead to grave consequences. Doshi makes it clear in the parable of phytoplankton, where the depletion in the ozone layer not only affect the acitivities of phytoplankton in making photosynthesis but also the marine animals and birds and hence the global carbon cycle. The present day unpredictable floods and frequent famines along with the other natural disasters can be attributed to such imbalances in the natural cycle.

The future of the earth can be predicted with the rapidly melting ice sheets in Antarctica especially the western ice sheet spelling a doomsday for the earth unless the humans retrace their carbon footprint.This is also the aim of the students's on ice programme.