In the middle of an active volcano on the bottom of the world dozens of fur seals in the bubbles wet snow. They are Most of the time not displaced from their two -legged guests.
Around them around them are iron tanks and wooden boats from a whaling settlement from the early 20th century, so that they are almost absorbed by the black sandy beach. Traces of Chilean and British bases appear just as humble.
On the surface, the Whalers Bay of Deception Island is still the biggest impression of humanity in Antarctica outside of its approximately 80 research stations.
But a climate researcher could say something else.
Studies on this fragile continent have documented how temperatures, glaciers, oceans and wild animals react to the heat sequences of emissions of fossil fuels. A place where this remote control and isolated a perfect laboratory for grasping the past, present and future of the earth climate is, according to many scientists who have been drawn in Antarctic.
It is a case study with high missions, says Natural Resources Canada scientist Thomas James, who heads the first all-Canadian expedition to the region.
“What happens in the Antarctic does not stay here,” he said, when he recently went the beach in Whalers Bay, as a scientist rehearsals from sand, snow and air around him.
The climate shifts the ripple beyond the Antarctic
It is understood that climate change does not recognize politically drawn borders. But James explains that the ice and the cold oceans of Antarctica play an oversized role in regulating our climate.
Only this month, Researchers identified The melting of fresh water from the glaciers of the Antarctic changes the water chemistry of the southern ocean. They assume that the changed salt content will slow down the vital circumpolar electricity by 20 percent by 2050. The strongest current of the earth, the influence of the ACC extends to the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian oceans, pumps water, heat and nutrients around the world.
The current also protects the ice sheets of the Antarctic masses on land ice-in front of warmer northern waters and prevent the increase in sea level, which would affect the coastal communities around the world.
“We know that the Antarctic ice shield is potentially unstable and could provide larger amounts of sea level changes than the current models that are currently predicting,” said James. “It’s a huge reservoir made of fresh water.”
He studied Antarctic for more than 30 years, but his field work was mainly in the northern polar region. This is only James’ second time in Antarctic.
“We believe that it is very important for Canadians to understand the antarctic ice shield and the effects on sea level changes for some time.”
It’s not just ice sheets that melt. Meereis (frozen sea water) has on the poles Achieved records Three months in a row.
“The fact that we now see a reduction in the sea ice of the Antarctic sea ice is really just one of many, many indicators that global climate change takes place,” said James. “It happens in all facets of the environment and seems to accelerate in many cases.”
Team of strangers contribute to climate resorts
James’ team of 15 scientists – many of them before this expedition – cross numerous science disciplines. They not only examine the ice cream ceiling, but also the melt, the sea floor, contamination such as microplastics and sea water itself.
On board the HMCS Margaret Brooke, they are supported by the Royal Canadian Navy, which leads the winds, cranes and boats to help the scientists collect a mass of samples around the south -shetland islands in front of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
It is part of the larger RCN OperationsTo circle South America, strengthen alliances with other southern navy and gain experience in the southern polar region.
Military can only enter the borders of Antarctic, if they support scientific research, a rule that is defined in the Antarctic Treaty that rules the continent.
The Arctic and the offshore patrol ship will cover only a small fraction of the continent for four weeks of maritime transits from the Chiles Punta arenas, but travel and science work requires enormous effort.
From the early morning trips to zodiac boats to glaciers from coasts to a deep water collection with a detailed crane, wind and boom system, which was designed in Halifax, the science team notes for a long time to maximize their rare access to the Antarctic.
Otherwise Brent is one of the scientists to examine the chemical properties of the ocean.
“It turns out that oceans absorb a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said the researcher of the University of Calgary. “If you look back over time since industrialization, you will probably have about 40 percent of all emissions that add people into the atmosphere via the equivalent. That gives us a big break in climate change. What will continue to do, will the oceans continue to do so?”
Due to its cold temperatures, the south cushion can have the ability to sink carbon at considerable depths – and to keep it out of the atmosphere hundreds of years.
“It is really important that we understand what is going on in Polar -Oceans, especially because they change the fastest,” said otherwise. “In an area like the Antarctic, when we start melting more ice sheet, this will bring more fresh water into the South Police. And that could have an impact on how all these things interact with each other.”
Canadian scientists examine the connections between Schmelzeisen and increasing global sea level and say what happens in Antarctica on the ancient deception of the Antarctic.
That is why the interdisciplinary approach of this expedition is so advantageous.
“Most science is naturally incremental. And what we do contributes to this knowledge, said James.
The team will withdraw thousands of samples for analysis in the coming weeks and months. Many of them will go to other researchers at home in Canada.
James spoke about the groundbreaking expedition: “It feels important.”
