Antarctica Should Remain a Natural Reserve - Essay Example

Running Header AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON ANTARCTICA SHOULD REMAIN A NATURAL RESERVE, DEVOTED TO PEACE AND SCIENCE Antarctica should remain a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Introduction Antarctica is a continent located in the south pole of the earth (Verheyen, 2005). The knowledge about the importance of Antarctica to the rest of the world began emerging from mid twentieth century (McGonigal, 2009). The continent is 98% covered by ice and snow with high mountain peaks and a few other bare rocks being the only parts which make up visible land. The continent has extreme whether conditions characterized as being the coldest, driest, windiest and highest among all the world continents. The continent is surrounded by the stormy waters of Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. A few insects and small plants are capable of withstanding these harsh conditions even though many animals thrive in the surrounding water. The fauna and flora species found on this continent are unique but vulnerable wildlife species (Gillett, et al. 2008). The continent experience prolonged periods of darkness and freezing temperature making it a hard tussle for its inhabitants to strive to survive (Smith & Pol, 2007). The continent is known as the white desert due to its taintless beauty and nearly without signs of human pollution. Antarctic treaty The scientific knowledge about Antarctica comes from studies carried out during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957-58. Things that were studied during this year include earthquakes, magnetism, oceans, gravity and solar activity (Verheyen, 2005). During IGY, complete weather charts of Antarctica were completed and the thickness of the ice cap and the shape of land were studied (McGonigal, 2009). The cooperation and goodwill witnessed during IGY led to negotiation of Antarctic treaty which was put into effect in 1961. The treaty has been one of the most successful treaties in the world (Nagtzaam, 2009). The treaty was aimed at protecting Antarctica and it deals with issues related to the future of Antarctica and recognizes that: “it is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue to be used for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or subject of international discord” (Rubin, 2008). According to the treaty, nations who agree to the treaty have open access to Antarctica for scientific research. In addition, the treaty prohibits any building of military bases on the continent. Testing or dumping of nuclear weapons or nuclear waste in Antarctica is also prohibited by the treaty (McGonigal, 2009). The treaty also spells out that no ownership claims are recognized or denied and no new ownership claims can be made. More countries have signed this treaty since its inception and more laws have been enacted to protect the flora and fauna of Antarctica (Kachel, 2008). The treaty was strengthened in 1991 by the Protocol on environmental Protection which defined Antarctica as a “natural reserve devoted to peace and science”. Thus there is need to continue upholding Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science Antarctica has remained one of few places on earth where war has never been experienced and where scientific research has priority. The interaction between Antarctica and the rest of the world is becoming clearer (Verheyen, 2005). The thinning of ozone layer and its screening out of harmful ultraviolet radiation was discovered in Antarctica in 1980s. Much of the world’s whether is generated in Antarctica (McGonigal, 2009). In addition, meteorological research and data has been an important component of polar science to the rest of the world (DeConto, & Pollard, 2003). thus in order to continue using this continent for generation of such data and research in meteorology there is need to continue conserving the continent in its natural form. Many studies are being carried on the impact of global warming and climate change on Antarctica (Kachel, 2008). It is estimated that if the ice cap of Antarctica melts, it can raise the oceans of the world by sixty meters. From research that have been conducted since 1950s by Australian glaciologists shows that melting of the ice cap of Antarctica is not foreseen the short or long term since the continent is roughly in balance (Nagtzaam, 2009). However, it is not easy to calculate the effect of global warming on Antarctic sea ice. There has been doubling of ice on the Antarctic sea around its costs. This is a reflection of light and heat into the Antarctica stratosphere and holds heat held in other polar seas which are comparatively warmer (McGonigal, 2009). Thus an increase in the world temperatures by even a few degrees can result tremendous impact on the sea ice and can contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect increase. Thus, Antarctica is a vital component in the study of climate change and ought to be conserved for peace and scientific research. According to Protocol on Environment Protection of 1991, Antarctica is designated as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science and mining on the continent is prohibited (Verheyen, 2005). However, the protocol do not spell out clear procedures on conservation of rich marine resources like krill and Patagonian toothfish found in the seas surrounding Antarctica (Kachel, 2008). This has led to wide spread poaching of endangered species such as toothfish and illegal fishing (Steig et al., 2009). Given the potential of these rare species in scientific world there is need for their conservation by ensuring that Antarctica remains a natural reserve for peace and scientific research. Scientific research in the area of microbiology has benefited a lot from Antarctic organisms. This is because organisms in this continent have developed in isolation from the rest of the world. Thus each sample soil from this continent has a great microbiological potential. Research conducted by a PHD student from Hobart’s Cooperative Research Center in 1993 for the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Environment resulted in isolation of seventy new bacterial strains from six separate Antarctic soil samples (Chen, Wilson, Tapley, Blankenship, & Young, 2007). Half of these isolates were found to produce antibiotics. Some phytoplankton in Antarctica have been found to be capable of developing their own sun screens against the increased radiation caused by the ozone layer that is increasingly being depleted. This has caused excitement among microbiologists. Research has also found that Antarctic fish have anti freeze chemicals which enable them to live in extremely cold water that prevent freezing of their blood and tissues (Verheyen, 2005). This finding has attracted the interests of doctors who are researching on how to freeze human tissues for transplant without damaging their biological functions. Given the potential of flora and fauna of Antarctica in the study of microbiology and medicine at large, there is need to retain Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. Polar medicine is another area of interest to researchers. Currently NASA is using Antarctica and ANARE communities as an analogue for space travel (Kachel, 2008). Some phenomena like why all those who visit Antarctica suffers a drop in immune system efficiency are still unexplained. Thus they are still being investigated (Nagtzaam, 2009). Thus, in order for such scientific research of potential human use to continue being carried out, there is need to continue conserving Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. However, mass tourism to the continent is threatening the natural wilderness of Antarctica according to conservation groups. Most of these tourists use large cruise ships which crash through the ice and wildlife colonies hence disturbing the flora and fauna found here (Verheyen, 2005). In addition, most tourism activities involve activities such as sky diving and helicopter flights to pristine wildlife sites. The ice free sites on the continents are the most visited sites and most visitors come during the sensitive penguin and seal breeding season (McGonigal, 2009). This compounded with increasing marine pollution and fuel emissions are increasingly disrupting the continent as a natural reserve. In addition, there is concern that some people carry with them plant seeds and other non native species to Antarctica. This is bound to change the continent as a natural reserve due to interference brought about by these foreign species on the continent. Furthermore, the Antarctic seas are being over fished. Given that all these activities disrupt natural resources found on the continent there is need for their regulation. Conclusion Antarctica is a home to many unique but vulnerable flora and fauna of substantial use in research. The continent has also been instrumental in the research and understanding of whether conditions in other regions of the world. Furthermore, the continents isolation has enabled discovery of microorganisms and other organisms with unique features that can transform human medicine and microbiological studies in addition to space studies. The continent is also the basis of better understanding of global warming and climate change in the world. However, these benefits may be negatively affected if human activities such as increased tourism, pollution, poaching, over fishing and introduction of foreign flora and fauna species to the continent are not restricted. Even though the Antarctic treaty has helped address some of these activities, there is need for more laws to be enacted to conserve this continent with great potential. Therefore, Antarctica should remain a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science in order to be able to preserve the unique value for scientific research of the continent. Reference Chen, J.L., Wilson C.R., Tapley B.D., Blankenship D., & Young D. (2007). Antarctic regional ice loss rates from GRACE. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 266: 140–148. DeConto, RM., & Pollard, D. (2003). Rapid Cenozoic glaciation of Antarctica induced by declining atmospheric CO2. Nature (421): 245–249. Gillett, N.P., et al. (2008). Attribution of polar warming to human influence. Nature Geoscience 1: 750. Kachel, M. (2008). Particularly sensitive sea areas: the IMO's role in protecting vulnerable marine areas. London: Macmillan Publishers. McGonigal, D. (2009). Antarctica: secrets of the Southern Continent. Washington, DC.: Frances Lincoln ltd. Nagtzaam, G. (2009). The making of international environmental treaties: neoliberal and constructivist analyses of normative evolution. London: Edward Elgar Publishing. Rubin, J. (2008). Antarctica, 4th Ed. London: Lonely Planet. Smith, ND., & Pol, D. (2007). Anatomy of a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Hanson Formation of Antarctica. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (4): 657–674. Steig E.J., Schneider D.P., Rutherford S.D., Mann M.E., Comiso J.C., & Schindell D.T. (2009). Warming of the Antarctic ice-sheet surface since the 1957 International Geophysical Year. Nature 457 (7228): 459–462. Verheyen, R. (2005). Climate change damage and international law: prevention, duties and state responsibility. London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 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