CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Antarctic Treaty

Did you know…? Antarctica Day 2019 – 60 years of peace

November 29, 2019
Did you know…? Antarctica Day 2019 – 60 years of peace
Figure 1: Scientists fly the flags for the school children who designed them for Antarctica Day [Photo credit: UK Polar Network].

December 1st 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic treaty. To celebrate the signing of the treaty, ‘Antarctica Day’ now occurs each year on December 1st. But what is the Antarctic Treaty? How do people celebrate? This week’s blog post will tell you everything you need to know, just in time for celebrations! Antarctic Treaty The Antarctic Treaty was originally signed by 12 ...[Read More]

Image of the Week – Antarctica Day

December 1, 2017
Image of the Week – Antarctica Day
The International Geophysical Year hut at Halley Bay, 1957. [Credit: L. W. Barclay. Copyright L.W. Barclay. Reproduced courtesy of the British Antarctic Survey Archives Service. Archives ref. AD6/19/X/25/11 ]

Today, 1st December 2017, marks the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The Antarctic Treaty was motivated by international collaboration in Antarctica in the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-1958. During the IGY over 50 new bases were established in and around Antarctica by 12 nations- including this one at Halley Bay which was maintained for over a decade b ...[Read More]

Image of the Week — Where do people stay in the “coolest” place on earth?

August 19, 2016
Image of the Week — Where do people stay in the “coolest” place on earth?
The 82 research stations in the Antarctic. The world map below shows which countries are operating a station in Antarctica. Source: COMNAP Antarctic Facilities (Updated February 2014) - [Credit: Sophie Berger]. Click here here to enlarge the image.

What word would you use to characterise the Antarctic ? White? Windy? Remote? Empty? Inhospitable? Wild? Preserved? While all of these are true it may surprise you to find out that the Antarctic is occupied by humans all year round with almost half of its 82 research stations operating 365.25 days a year! Just a few hours before the launch of the biennial Antarctic meeting held by the Science Comm ...[Read More]