Conguer antarctica

Former writer for the sensational and widely discredited tabloid World Weekly News. Whilst colossal squid certainly exist in the Southern Ocean, the extreme conditions in such a subglacial lake, including the lack of sunlight and extremely cold temperatures, make it highly unlikely for such complex organisms to survive. Microbial life was discovered in Lake Vostok, however, and continues to be found across Antarctica in places previously thought to be devoid of life, so never say never!Mysteries of Antarctica: The Disappearance of Carl Robert DischCompared to other continents, Antarctica doesn’t really boast that many deaths and disappearances: a reflection of how relatively few people spend much time down in this grand polar wilderness. But they’ve happened, for sure: not only due to the harshness of the Antarctic environment, especially in winter, but (in a handful of instances) some cabin-fever crazies within the pressurized confines of a research station.There are unsolved vanishings here on the White Continent, too. A notable example is the case of Carl Robert Disch, a physicist with the U.S. National Bureau of Standards who, in the winter of 1965, was working out of Byrd Station in West Antarctica.On May 8th, he left the radio noise station, presumably to follow the handline linking that structure with the main station complex some 7,000 feet away. This was a commute he’d done many times before. But he never showed up at the main Byrd Station complex.Search parties picked up traces of footprints, which didn’t show any unusual hastened or otherwise panicked-seeming stride. Bad weather, underway when Disch set out from the radio noise station and continuing thereafter, hampered search efforts. No other trace of the young scientist was ever found. Memorial services were held in Antarctica as well as in Disch’s hometown of Monroe, Wisconsin.Perhaps the dark, blizzardy conditions caused Disch to lose his way along the handline. We’ll never know.Other Antarctica Secrets, Mysteries, & Strange PhenomenaWe’ve really only scratched the surface when it comes to Antarctica mysteries and oddities, but fear not: We’ve got more for you to explore on this murky front! Read about, for example, the “ghost ship” Mar Sem Fim here; the crimson outflow of Blood Falls here; and the decidedly unsettling Ice Finger of Death here. Disclaimer Our travel guides are for informational purposes only. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, Antarctica Cruises makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information in our guides or found by following any link on this site.Antarctica Cruises cannot and will not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom, including any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the display or use of this information.

The Madrid Protocol, in effect since 1998, prohibits mining in Antarctica for 50 years. But what will happen in 2048? ©Candice Gaukel AndrewsAntarctica is the Earth’s only continent without a native human population, and no one country can claim to own it. Unique in the world, it is a land dedicated to science and all nations.However, that could soon change. With the 2048 renewal date for the Madrid Protocol fast approaching, there are already signs that countries may be vying for possession of territory there. Complicating this issue is that as the climate continues to rapidly warm, oil and gas deposits that Antarctica may have—first hinted at in the 1970s—might finally be able to be extracted.The energy needs of the world are increasing. Is thinking that a whole continent can remain dedicated solely to science now unrealistic?Tourists are allowed in Antarctica, if their national programs approve their expeditions. ©Candice Gaukel AndrewsThe Antarctic TreatyBy the 1940s, Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom had all claimed sections of Antarctica—although the Argentine, Chilean and British claims partially overlapped. In the 1957-1958 International Geophysical Year, Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the U.S.S.R. (now Russia), the United States and the original claimants met. On December 1, 1959, these 12 countries signed The Antarctic Treaty. In part, the treaty stipulated that:Antarctica is to be used for peaceful purposes only; no military measures are permitted (the treaty does allow, however, some commercial activity: fishing is permitted in certain areas of the Southern Ocean and tourists can visit Antarctica, as long as their expeditions are approved by their national Antarctic programs).Nuclear explosions or dumping of radioactive wastes are banned.There is complete freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation.[optin-monster slug=”cklysp4prnt2xgd9n1kg” followrules=”true”]Claims are “frozen”; no new or enlarged claims are permitted (15 percent of Antarctica is still unclaimed). It does get tricky here: while the original claimants are the only nations allowed to have claims, they can’t assert them. So if, for example, Sweden wants to build a base, it can go to the treaty nations as a whole to present a proposal.A decision-making role is held only by nations carrying out substantive scientific research activity.Today, more than 45 nations are signatories.The management of Antarctica’s biodiversity is addressed in the Madrid Protocol, which will be up for renewal in 2048. ©Candice Gaukel AndrewsPenguins and ice shelvesIn 1991, the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (also known as the Environmental Protocol or Madrid Protocol) was adopted. It entered into force in 1998, and it is the main instrument concerning conservation and management of biodiversity in Antarctica. Notably, it prohibits mining. If requested, however, in 50 years time a review conference could decide to modify the mining

What is "Antarctic Chronicles"?Antarctic Chronicles is a project that aims to speculate on the evolution of Antarctica's ecosystems, envisioning how this barren land will transform into a vibrant continent teeming with life, developing a unique biota. The project is divided into chapters, each dedicated to describing and illustrating the fauna and flora of a particular period. The project is expected to conclude when Antarctica eventually collides with another continent, marking the end of its prolonged isolation and the uniqueness of its biota. This collision is projected to occur at least 180 million years from the present, bringing significant changes to the continent's ecological landscape.What about the rest of the world?The project is completely focused on Antarctica; anything that happens outside is not of our interest. We don't know how animals and plants are evolving elsewhere, unless they manage to reach our icy continent. However, their evolutionary history will remain a mystery for us.How much speculative the project will become?While I like iper-speculative works, I prefer to maintain my project as plausible as possible, limiting improbable body plan and avoiding highly sapient species.How do you create your illustrations?Some illustrations are created from zero while others are taken from real images/artworks, which are then modified with Photoshop. For example, the dusk herdstalker was created by modifying the skeletal of Kelenken (Bertelli et al., 2007).Why Antarctica?Antarctica is special: thanks to its geographical isolation and defaunated ecosystem, it's a perfect place for speculative worldbuilding, acting like a seeded world. It's not a small island

America” around the bottom of the medal.National Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal was established on 18 October 1991. It may be awarded for both active and reserve service. There is no known document that explains the rationale for the award. Apparently, it was first established to recognize all service members who served during the Korean War including those who did not serve in the war zone.It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between:27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 (Korea)1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974 (Vietnam)2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 (Persian Gulf)11 September 2001 to a date to be determined (Global War on Terrorism).Antarctica Service MedalThe Antarctica Service Medal was established in 1960. These awards are issued in the name of the U.S. Department of Defense. It is awarded to any person who, after 2 January 1946 and before a date to be announced, meets any of the following qualifications: Personnel must train or serve ten days stationed on the Antarctic continent, or aboard vessels in Antarctic waters, defined as south of 60 degrees latitude. Flight crews performing transport missions to Antarctica qualify for one day of service for each flight mission performed within a 24-hour time period.Civilians who work in a research facility or on a research vessel are also eligible to receive the Antarctica Service Medal through the National Science Foundation, provided that they also remain south of 60 degrees latitude for a cumulative period of 10 days, or 30

Days if prior to October 10, 2008.The Antarctica Service Medal is a circular bronze medal that is ​1 1⁄4 inches in diameter. The front side features a polar landscape view and standing figure in Antarctica clothing facing to the front between the horizontally placed words, “ANTARCTICA” to the left and “SERVICE” to the right.On the back side there is a polar projection with geodesic lines of the continent of Antarctica. The words “COURAGE”, “SACRIFICE”, and “DEVOTION” cross the continent horizontally. This design lies within a circular decorative border of penguins and marine life.Armed Forces Expeditionary MedalEstablished on 4 December 1961, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be awarded to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved, where a foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action was encountered.The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a circular bronze medal that is 1 ¼ inches in diameter. The face of the medal features an eagle, with wings addorsed and inverted, standing on a sword loosened in its scabbard. The eagle is superimposed on a radiant compass rose of eight points. This is surrounded by the circumscription “ARMED FORCES” above and “EXPEDITIONARY SERVICE” below. There is also a sprig of laurel on each side. On the back side, lies the shield from the United States Coat of Arms above two laurel branches separated by a bullet. This is surrounded by the circumscription “UNITED STATES

Prohibition, provided that “at least three-quarters of the current consultative parties to the Antarctic Treaty agree, a legal regime for controlling mining is in force, and the sovereign interests of parties are safeguarded.” That 50-year term expires in 2048.Unfortunately, disagreements between countries about commercial rights to the continent are bound to increase in the future. A study first published online in in 2012 in the sixth edition of the Nature Geoscience journal identified central West Antarctica as one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. The researchers presented a complete temperature record from Antarctica’s Byrd Station and stated that it “reveals a linear increase in annual temperature between 1958 and 2010 by 2.4 plus or minus 1.2 degrees centigrade.”Back in 2007, the United Kingdom made a submission to the United Nations for sovereignty of 386,000 square miles of seabed off Antarctica, some say in defiance of the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty. While it is too difficult to extract any useful minerals from that area at the moment, technological innovations and environmental changes due to climate change in the Southern Ocean could make drilling an economically viable activity within a few decades.Who owns Antarctica? As the Earth’s only continent without a native human population, perhaps the answer is that no one should.Recent events such as these have given rise to the fear that countries are subtly working to position themselves for that moment in 2048, when the consultative parties may revise the Madrid Protocol. They point to China, which has already built four Antarctic research stations and has scouted the construction site for its fifth. And the United Kingdom and Argentina continue to have diplomatic tensions over the Falkland Islands.Who owns Antarctica? Right now, it could be said, that the penguins and the ice shelves do. But that might soon change.Do you think that Antarctica should or even can continue to be the Earth’s only continent unowned and dedicated solely to science? Or will the Antarctic Treaty and its Madrid Protocol need to be updated to reflect our current economic times? Here’s to finding your true places and natural habitats,Candy