Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1.21
International Polar Year logo.
diversifying into new
fields as the infrastructure and transport
were improved. The Scienti
c Committee on Antarctic
Research (SCAR) provided a forum for discussing
international collaboration and soon plans were hatched for
ice drilling, ice thickness measurements, compilation of all
the cartographic information, international symposia on
Antarctic geology and biology and so on. As the momentum
grew new challenges were recognised. The possibility of large-scale commercial
harvesting of Antarctic krill highlighted how little was known about this key species.
SCAR organised a major international programme
-
Biological Investigation of
Marine Antarctic System and Stocks
with coordinated cruises, standardised
methods and data sharing, which provided the basis for future management of the
biological resources of the Southern Ocean. SCAR also provided a forum for the
logistics people to plan together and exchange ideas, a forum that eventually
developed into a separate organisation, the Council of Managers of National
Antarctic Programs.
Working closely with the Antarctic Treaty, SCAR provided a continual
-
flow of papers on science, conservation and environmental management,
stimulating the development of most of the provisions now part of the Treaty
law. As Antarctic science became more visible internationally, more countries
began to show an interest in participating. Slowly, at
first, new countries joined
the original 12 until numbers swelled to 50 in the Antarctic Treaty (of whom 28
are currently active in the Antarctic) and 31 full members of SCAR, with a further
six associate members. The Treaty Parties in total now represent around 65% of
the global population, a clear majority by population even if they account for
only a quarter of the nation states.
Antarctic science in the twenty-
rst century is marked by the same
international collaboration that began 50 years ago. Indeed, to mark this and to
encourage other countries to take part in polar research a new International Polar
Year (IPY) was declared from March 2007 to March 2009. Over 40 000 scientists
took part in projects in the Arctic and the Antarctic. This time an even wider range
of disciplines were involved, ensuring not only that those who live in the polar
regions had their interests taken into account but also that polar research could
continue to make an increasing contribution to our understanding of how the Earth
itself functions.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search