Posts tagged "antarctica"

No Claim For Damages For Antarctic Oil Spill

Rising out from cornflower waters is the badly wounded orange hull of a cruise ship reminiscent of a monument that marks the end of Antarctica’s end of innocence. Penguins happily perch on the overturned cruise ship not knowing that the glistening oil in the water’s surface spells trouble. More diesel fuel is leaking gradually even as most of the tens of thousands of diesel fuel spilled out of the wreckage.

There is no stopping time from changing at the final frontier of this planet. Countries interested in reinforcing their claims to a portion of the Frozen Continent, they send in numerous bulldozers, amphibious trucks and even ships or aircraft. New bases and research projects are being launched with nationalistic fanfare. The austral summer sees hundreds of well heeled travelers arriving from cruise ships, military planes or supply vessels contracted by specialized travel agencies each week. You’ll get further resources on affordable antarctica tours by visiting there.

Even private yachts and polar skiing expeditions are venturing into the last place on Earth where no passport is needed. Accidents occur as what had happened to the cruise ship that sank , making the poor animals around Antarctica pay a high price with growing political, legal and environmental questions being thrown the way hazardous icebergs sprout throughout the uncharted seas of this frozen continent. As per the Antarctic Treaty regulation, not one country owns this continent so it is bound by no laws.

The pact was signed in 1961 by 12 countries who agreed to put territorial claims on hold for at least 30 years and reserve Antarctica for peaceful research. With 8 countries joining the pact and given full voting ability, 18 more of them only held status of observers but nevertheless agreed to abide by all the governing laws. Every two years, these treaty nations meet. A document that enables the strictly regulated exploration and exploitation of Antarctica’s vast mineral resources has been drafted by the organization.It comes as a shock that it now has to answer to many challenges thrown its way such as concerns on base proliferation, indemnification, marine and air safety, as well as facilities for medical and rescue operations.

With the arrival of the austral summer season, 30 ships or even more aiming to make a call to Palmer usher in, at each occasion, about 100 travelers.Tourism is surprisingly uncontrollable to the point of being a wild entity. The Science Foundation did not succeed in totally deterring tourists from coming in last year, who they believe to slow down the research operations. However, the ban was inhibited when influential citizens in the US demanded to learn how exactly their tax dollars are appropriated. If you need more details on antarctica vacations visit there.

Among the staff of the station is a medical corpsman who mans a small clinic that can be used to treat up to two to four dozen individuals situated at the base. Maritime tragedy management is most certainly not its prime strength. Station men know that fair weather alone can prevent any catastrophes from taking place. The sunken cruise ship had lifeboats which were just open rafts sans the oars and motors it should have. Working with the calm day, this can be towed back to shore without much hassle with plain work boats from the station. But laborers are optimistic about it, sharing that things would have been worse if the vessel gets overturned or blown out to sea by the cruel temper of Antarctic weather.

To quickly address the oil catastrophe, navy and civilian pollution containment team were dispatched by the National Science Foundation taking with them 52 tons of specialized equipment to carry out the missionThe worth of the mission went beyond 2 million dollars. Sent to perform clean up missions are the navies from Chile and Argentina. The cleaning task only lasted until mid March, but was still insufficient in addressing the problem for the submerged vessel holds 63,000 gallons more and such can’t be reached or siphoned out safely and we can just stare as the toxic waste continues to seep out as the wrecked vessel disintegrates or perhaps torn during a winter storm that means more poison coming out. Getting the wreckage out would be very pricey, states experts.

The home of skuas, penguins, cormorants, Arctic terns and many other birds might be affected by the massive oil spill. Through the bay, lots of whales and seas pass through. According to most science experts, indirect evidence on deaths of birds and penguins due to oil spill poisoning have been gathered but then as to the extent of the damage, they still have to do more efforts. To gain in depth knowledge on the environmental repercussions from the spill, a special team of 15 people from America, Argentina and Chile are brought in. It will take years to complete, yet there is no way a claim for damages can be made.

No rights on the property at or around Palmer Station belong to the United States, which means that they do not possess any legal grounds to fight for any form of compensation on the venue where the accident struck and the countries that have the claim to it would be the Antarctic Peninsula, Argentina, Chile along with Great Britain. Chile proclaimed recently that during the next Antarctic Treaty, each nation will be tasked to contribute financially when another threat to nature comes their way. Pressing for agreement on cost sharing for the clean up missions along with forming an international coordinating office for emergencies is something being planned by the Science Foundation.

Antarctic Continental Shelf Rich Source Of Natural Gas

From the Antarctic is where two scientists want to find uranium. For a project that can be detrimental to the cooperation among nations, much controversy is present. In 1961, international scientific research was what the continent of Antarctica was set aside for. The cooperation among nations has been strained as they pursued increasing the interest over resources that are not only guarded by freezing weather but also a perilous snow situation.

Short are the Antarctic summers and so it was decided upon by the scientists and their West German colleagues to go over the snow free valleys via helicopters allowing them a bird’s eye view of the amazing scenery of the land. Such helicopter rides were not as pleasing for the gentlemen. As much as possible, the radioactivity detector needed to be within range from the cliffs.It is recommended that you visit this site for resources on Antarctic Cruises.

Aside from the uranium, valuable resources can be obtained from the continent. It will not be an easy task when it comes to locating such resources but there is little doubt that this will be increasingly practical in a decade or so.

One large Polish fleet is involved in the study of krill harvesting techniques, it is a shrimp like creature that is found in the Weddell Sea and is a cheap protein source. When Soviets were here they found high grade iron ore in a mountain. A research vessel from America found ethane and methane in the Ross Sea in 1973. Other than being possible sources of natural gas, these could also be signs for oil deposits.

About 45 billion barrels of oil and 115 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be carried by Antarctica’s continental shelf according to the US Geological Survey. Here is a difference of eight times for oil and six times for natural gas when compared to the yearly US consumption. This year, the National Science Foundation is supporting two teams of geologists who are surveying a region called the Dufec Intrusive. This area is similar to one of South Africa’s mineral rich areas, the bush veld, and may contain deposits of chromium and platinum. If you’re looking to learn about Great Antarctic Cruise, visit their site for more details.

Most of the participating nations that were present during the International Geophysical Year celebration agreed to the Antarctic treaty prompted by America. Other than conducting open scientific research and not pursuing any territorial claims, part of the agreement included using the continent for peaceful purposes and preserving its environment and wildlife. Doing this was a matter of American bases being instituted by the National Science Foundation.

Thoroughly discussed was the issue of resource exploitation when it came to the Oslo meeting of treaty nations.Unanimous decisions allow for changes to be made. When it comes to valuable resources, searches from other countries are also serious issues. From the continent’s resources, a multitude of information should be obtained according to the scientists. The majority does agree that the most severe test of international cooperation comes with resource development efforts in the Antarctic.

Antarctic Trips Inspire Tired Travelers

An ever-increasing enterprise in the U.S., is arranging vacations to off the beaten path places, for disenchanted travelers. US citizens have grown tired of visiting the usual locations like Mexico and Monte Carlo. The Caribbean no longer draws those who have cruised there before. They?d like to go somewhere unusual and odd. The trips that are the most off the beaten path are those to Antarctica.

It is easier than ever to get there. Your travel will include a 24 hour airplane ride out of New York, followed by a three day ocean journey leaving from Ushuaia’s little port on South America’s southernmost tip. Because the US Navy has a presence in Antarctica, many tourists feel more safe. Beginning in 1957, the US has held an active base on Antarctica. Several other countries do also. Whether the US Navy is pleased with the great increase in tourism is debated. However, it is a certain fact that knowing the sailors are there in case of emergency calms many tourists? fears. Detailed Antarctic Cruising Tours resources can be found there.

What can travelers do in Antarctica? A great deal of the attraction of Antarctica is the opportunity to take pictures of and study the wildlife of the continent. Seabirds, whales, seals and penguins are among the fascinating creatures you might see on a voyage to Antarctica. There is also some spectacular and unique scenery, including a twelve thousand foot active volcano, whose ice cone spews forth picturesque and photogenic white smoke plumes. This sight alone easily trumps other volcanoes as tourist fare.

It takes a special kind of tourist who’s willing to shell out the $5,000 it takes to reach Antartica by plane and boat.Many who visit are scientists or doctors. However, normal married couples are also known to join in. There have even been a few adventurous grandmothers on some trips. A travel agency spokesperson said there is a huge increase in interest in Antarctica of late. He went on to say that the travel to Antarctica has been so improved that almost anyone could enjoy the splendor now, as opposed to the past, when few explorers could actually experience the continent.

The spokesperson for the USNavy says the only regulations place on tourists is that they need to take safety precautions, be self-reliant, and follow the international rules set for preservation and conservation of Antarctica. Scientists and conservationists are worried about this. Tons of tourists could swarm the continent, littering and harassing the wild life. They could destroy the few historical monuments there. Expert resources on antarctic tours are located on that site.

among these historic places is a the hut at Cape Royds that was the 1907 winter home of one famous explorer and his group which remains just as it was left by them. There are still canned goods in fine shape on the shelves, clothing hanging in the closets and portraits of Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII hanging on the walls. An open edition of a notable European city newspaper can yet be found on the table.

One tourist destination in Antarctica is a hill that gives a magnificent view of the Antarctic Mountain range, which is 900 miles distant but visible with crystal clarity as it looms over the South Pole. Early explorers who reached the south pole were greeted by miles of trackless icy crust. Today, a silver reflective ball tops an eight-foot pole there. The pole has orange and blue stripes like a barber pole.