Description
The Antarctic is unique, geographically, politically, and scientifically. It is the most remote, hostile, and dangerous continent, while at the same time it is the most pristine and least developed. Antarctica is the only major part of the Earth's landmass not directly governed by one nation, but under the control of a Treaty, with a multitude of acceding nations.
The Encyclopediaof the Antarctic brings together large quantities of information on the wide variety of factors, issues and individuals influencing and relating to the Antarctic. No comparable book currently exists for this region.
The Encyclopedia of the Antarcticdiscusses scientific activities and topics, but the 'human element' is also a significant part of the work, with entries on history, politics, legal issues, national research programs, scientific bases, historic huts, the United Nation's 'Question of Antarctica,' compliance with the Environmental Protocol, and tourism.
Table of Contents
Atmosphere and Climate Climate Change. Climate Modelling. Climate Oscillations. Ozone and Polar Stratosphere. Temperature. Wind. Teleconnections. Weather Forecasting. Antarctica as a Component of the Earth System. Geology Plate Tectonics. Gondwana. East Antarctic Shield. Meteorites. Vertebrate Fossils. Invertebrate Fossils. Volcanoes. Opening of the Drake Passage. Geological Evolution and Structure of Antarctica. Coal, Oil and Gas. Glaciology Ice Sheet Mass Balance. Ice-Core Analysis Techniques. Sub-Glacial Lakes. Ice Ages. Ice Shelves. Lake Vostok. Ross Ice Shelf. CryoSat. Snow Chemistry. Detection of Pollution Levels from Antarctic Snow. Birds Albatrosses. Diving Physiclogy. Emperor Penguin. Seabirds at Sea. Southern Giant Petrel. Seabird Conservation. Seabird Populations and Trends. Crested Penguins. Introduced Species. Skuas. Petrels. History Scott, Robert Falcon. Byrd, Richard E. Sealing, History of. Whaling, History of. Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–17). Dogs and Sledging. Scurvy. United States Exploring Expedition (1838–42). Chronology of Exploration. History of Antarctic Science. Photography, History of. Geopolitics of the Antarctic. Terrestrial Biology Conservation. Diseases, Wildlife. Dry Valleys. Terrestrial Biogeochemistry. Cold Hardiness. Polar Desert. Vegetation. Exobiology. Heated Ground. Insects. Tardigrades. Marine Biology Fisheries and Management. Marine Trophic Level Interactions. Biology of the Polar Front. Deep Sea. Zooplankton and Krill. Toothfish. Squid. Phytoplankton. Gigantism. Benthic Communities. Marine Debris
