Is this the begining of the end for Antarctica?
The once pristine wilderness, Antarctia - will it eventually fall prey to man's Greediness and destructive capabilities, like the rest of the continent?
20 years, 3km of ice... and Russia hits lake
Moscow - Russia said on Wednesday it had pierced through Antarctica's frozen crust to a vast, subglacial lake that has lain untouched for at least 14 million years hiding what scientists believe may be unknown organisms and clues to life on other planets.
Sealed deep under the ice sheet, Lake Vostok is one of the world's last unexplored frontiers. Scientists suspect its depths may reveal new life forms and a glimpse of the planet before the ice age.
Comments (22)
Then also, years ago, there was some kind of law that all people visiting Antarctia would do so under stringent sanitation conditions, similar to those of the Galapagos islands - there are ver rare breeds of animals and fauna, that then couldn't be continimated and decimated by accident.
- Well, from what I can tell, the beaches there aren't very inviting.
I think the science is fascinating! They struck water (not oil) so I'm not concerned about commercial interests (who might not be as careful as scientists) getting involved.
I agree with spdspd... I don't see this as leading to bad things for Antarctica.
Shows which country has claimed which section of Antarctia.
Parti ~ that's what I'm afraid of - The grubby paws! And I'm not talking about the polar bears!
But yes, hopefully we have learned restraint and will resist digging Antarctica up like a bunch of gophers.
I don`t want write more because of my bad English, but I`m sure you understand what I want to tell you.
Spd(x2) ~
Parti ~ would it help if we nominated Australia as custodians of Antarctia as they're closest?
Kidding aside, I thing it would be better to let those things be left untouched and unharmed.
Spd, love your new hair.
Shay ~ the ice will be there for a long time still! Although a large chunk of Ross Shelf broke away recently. Can you imagine a piece of ice bigger than the country of Belgium?
I have expressed interest more so because a few reasearch ships come to our ports to fuel up and stock up supplies before they go to Antarctia & I've seen & spoke to a few of the crew! They give facinating accounts of their journeys......
Very cool topic...and getting cooler...ouch too cool brrr
The ice can (and earth as Spd said) can recover if we (current generation) change our attitudes towards pollution & a "green style of living".........
I too fear our individual greed (moreso the Corporate greed) will have a negative effect on this pristine area. However to truly believe that we are the cause of the ice melting is arrogance on a universal scale. The cyclical history of our planet is responsible and although we should clean up our act, we have very little to do with the warming of our planet. It's just another info spin to generate money for the already too rich corporations. I applaud global consciousness in all areas that we can control but let's get a hat with a real tight head band here...we are miniscule in comparison to mother nature. She will let us go so far and then bring on another ice age to scour her planet clean and begin again.
Let's all hope that we learn as we go.