N.Z. achievements in Antarctic reviewed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33048, 16 October 1972, Page 15

N.Z. achievements in Antarctic reviewed

(By

R. B. THOMSON,

superintendent, Antarctic Division, D.SJ.R.)

Although 16 years have elapsed since New Zealand began its scientific activities in the Antarctic, there appears to be no end in sight to the worth-while discoveries being made there. Rather, the vast amount of accumulated knowledge over this period is leading scientists to numerous new and specialised fields of research. Today, for example, the majority of our research programmes on the continent were not even thought of 10 years ago, and now we are aware of many more scientific problems which will require thorough and often long-term investigation in the future. The emphasis is swinging away from basic scientific studies to meet the more specialised demands of men’s increasin gknowledge and so yield rewards of value to society. In spite of many changes and developments Antarctica has retained its status of the International Geophysical Year (1.G.Y.) as a unique natural laboratory for man to study the earth as a whole. It should also continue to be the last relatively undisturbed area on Earth from which we may also monitor the effects of man on the remainder of our global environment

International work Many of these developments and changes require very specialised people, equipment and support plus additional finance beyond the resources of any one country. This has led to increased international co-operation, support and co-ordination of the scientific programmes. New Zealand is currently closely involved with the United States in many of these international projects and our most ambitious plans for the future will almost certainly need to develop along

these lines of increased cooperation and in consonance with the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty. And what has New Zealand achieved during its 16 years of Antarctic exploration and research? It has completed a topographical survey of the Ross

Dependency (land area: 170,000 square miles) and this brought to an end the era of long and arduous traverses. The numerous maps produced as a result of this work have provided detailed geographic information, particularly important for subsequent field research programmes. It has completed a geological reconnaissance of the same area and in recent years it has been involved in specialised work which has provided evidence indicating that at some time in the past the southern land masses were linked together to form one vast super continent — Gondwanaland. Recent fossil discoveries in Antarctica, including land animals similar to those found in South Africa and Australia, also confirm the earlier theory that these lands were once linked. Oceanographic and paleomag-

netic researchers also add credence to these conclusions, for their studies show that continental dift has and is still taking place at a quite rapid rat eof about 3 to scm a year.

Revised opinions These findings have impelled scientists to completely revise their earlier ideas on the Earth’s history, the forming of continents, the causes of earthquakes, and the future physical changes to the surface of the Earth than can now be predicted with reasonable certainty. Detailed hydrographic charts of the Ross Sea area have been produced and considerable information on the ocean floor lying between New Zealand and Antarctica has been gained. Oceanographers and marine biologists have carried out intensive studies of the marine life of the Southern Ocean. Results show that the waters surrounding the Antarctic continent contain the richest marine life found anywhere—a great potential as a food source to provide for the future increasing human population. Our biologists have made extensive studies of the fauna and flora of Antarctica, enabling accurate assessments to be made of the likelihood of survival of various species and we now have a better understanding of how the many primitive life forms adapt and survive in the narrow life support zone of Antarctica. New Zealand scientists have contributed substantially to man’s knowledge of the ice budget of Antarctica —not only important to the study of Antarctica itself but necessary to our better understanding of the global climatic changes that have occurred and the present position of the earth in the cycle of ice ages. Ice knowledge We now know that Antarctica contains about 95 per cent of the world’s ice and that small changes in

this amount would have a significant if not catastrophic effect on the rest of the world and that this southern continent about 80 to 100 million years ago enjoyed a tropical climate and there have been warm periods more recently.

Continuing studies and monitoring of the upper atmosphere from Scott Base and other Antarctic stations have provided significant information which, when correlated with satellite and space vehicle data, has led to many new concepts of the sun/earth relationship. Practical application of some of this new knowledge has led to vastly improved methods of radio communication. The years of intensive studies of meteorology in Antarctica have improved our understanding of the significant part Antarctica plays in the world’s weather pattern —the balance of the world’s heat budget and the relationship between the atmosphere and oceans.

Changed methods The demands of more specialised fields of research coupled with the development and advances in technology, have resulted in large changes in the methods of supporting work in the Antarctic.

Transportation by ship between New Zealand and Antarctica used to take seven to 10 days, now flights take five to eight hours. Small fixedwing aircraft and most of the earlier types of heavy surface transportation have been replaced by the use of helicopters. In 1972 the United States Navy flew 340 helicopter hours in support of the New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme. Dog teams have been almost entirely replaced by motor toboggans to support small mobile field parties, and with the formation of metal and snow compacted! roads round McMurdo Station and Scott Base, tracked vehicles have been replaced; by the more conventional; I wheeled vehicles.