In 2023, the world's largest in Antarctica.iceberghas begun to leave the continent due to melting (seenote 1(See Figure 1.). This iceberg is4,000squarekmThis is about the size of Luxembourg, which is about the area of Luxembourg.1.5times that of the previous year. This event is the result of a rapid temperature increase in Antarctica. In addition, the increase in temperatures is, depending on the location, about the same as that of the Earth's equalfive timesThe first two are the following.

Antarctica, with its serious environmental problems, exists in a harsh natural environment. However, it is an important region for understanding the world's climate and nature, and is the subject of research by many countries. Antarctica is also a territory without indigenous peoples, and there are no armed conflicts over the territory. It can be said that peace continues thanks to the cooperation of countries around the world. However, this state of peace does not necessarily last forever, and various problems have arisen in addition to environmental issues.

This article will give an overview of Antarctica, its place in the world, and then analyze what problems have arisen and how Antarctica will change in the future under such conditions.

Bearded penguins walking on ice (photo:Reeve Jolliffe / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED])

Geography of Antarctica

Antarctica refers to the continent of Antarctica, as well as the surrounding seas and islands, and is strictly defined as south latitude66.5Degrees below.Antarctic Circleand below 60 degrees south latitude.Antarctic regionWe will call it "the We will first describe the geographical conditions of this region. The Antarctic Circle is a huge region covering 20% of the Southern Hemisphere and includes not only the Antarctic Continent but also the Antarctic Ocean. The area of Antarctica isApprox. 14 million square kilometerswhich is twice the size of the Australian continent. The Antarctic Ocean is about20 million square kilometers The closest country to Antarctica is Argentina. The country closest to Antarctica is Argentina, which is approximately1,000 kmin the United States. However, from the nearest major city6,000 kmIt is about 2.5 kilometers away from the city and is a land isolated from humans.

The region is characterized by low temperatures and the consequent ice cover over the entire area. In Antarcticaatmospheric temperaturevaries greatly between coastal and inland areas. In coastal areas, winter7Minus around May.40°CThe temperature drops to1around the month of June10°CIn the interior, on the other hand, the temperature rises to minus in winter. In the interior, on the other hand, it is minus in winter.80°Cand minus in the summer.30°CThe temperature is said to rise to as high as Hence, Antarctica's98% is covered with ice even in summer, and even the surrounding ocean freezes over in winter. The ice covering Antarctica at this time is calledglacierand ... andice sheetand the sea is frozen in winter.sea iceIt is called. Also,ice shelfThe ice is also known as "ice sheet ice," which remains at sea after glaciers and ice sheets on land have been pushed out to sea.

And Antarctica is very dry, with snowfall averaging about150mmIt is about the same size as the world's largest iceberg. Thus, although it may be hard to imagine from the ice-covered landscape, the world's largestdesert(*2).

However, the ice is covered with numerous microorganisms, krill, jellyfish, and other organisms that live under the ice, making Antarctica a rich and diverse place.ecosystemThe Antarctic Ocean is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. The Antarctic Ocean is also considered to be one of the most biodiverse places on earth, with large amounts of plankton and microorganisms other than whales and otherexistenceThe company is doing so.

Antarctic History and Antarctic Treaty

Antarctica is far from human habitation, and because of its harsh nature, indigenous peopleDoes not exist.but after the continent was discovered, it was used and managed to a certain extent by humans. Let us look at how this situation came about.

The existence of Antarctica,1820For the first time in the yearconfirmationThe following is a list of*3). Later, expeditions were sent from various countries to explore the Antarctic. And1911In 1949, an expedition led by Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole for the first time. And20As the value of Antarctica's use was recognized in the 19th century, countries began to claim territorial rights to the region. First.1908In 1949, the United Kingdom was the first to claim part of Antarctica.claimThe company was then Afterwards,1950By the year 2000, New Zealand, France, Australia, Norway, Argentina, and Chile followed suit, totaling7The territory was claimed by several countries. However, some of the areas claimed by each countryareaoverlapped and could have resulted in a territorial dispute.1948In 2006, the U.S. was trying to ease tensions in Antarctica by the U.N.7countries' trusteeship proposal, and Chile's claim to the territory.5Since the year10They proposed to freeze the program for two years, but none of them could come to an agreement. And1950In 1949, the U.S. again proposed a governance plan that froze territorial claims and mandated scientific cooperation, but the Soviet Union rejected the proposal because it excluded the Soviet Union. Subsequently, the United Kingdom brought the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJThe issue was disputed in the United Nations (UN) and various countries tried to discuss it in the UN.

of the stagnation of this discussion.flowis switched from one to the other.1958It was the year In this year,International Year of Earth Observation (IGY)Countries began to build observation bases in Antarctica under a research program called the In this trend, the Soviet Union established the farthest from the sea and the most difficult to reachobservation baseThe United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a Cold War at the time. At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a Cold War.antagonistic structureThe U.S. viewed this action by the Soviet Union as a show of force and was concerned that the U.S. would deploy its military power in Antarctica. As a result, the U.S. military was of the opinion that a territorial claim should be made, and the State Department disagreed with the military, arguing that a show of force in Antarctica would be pointless in defeating the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the State Department's opinion was adopted, and the U.S. joined other countries in discussing the use of AntarcticadecisionThe U.S. had And the U.S. claimed the territory.7countries and participated in the IGY.4The countries were invited to participate in the conference. The result,1959The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1949.

The Ceremonial Pole, one of the signs marking the South Pole (photo:NSF/Josh Landis, employee 1999-2001 / Wikimedia Commons [public domain])

The Antarctic Treaty is a multilateral treaty that provides for the peaceful use of the Antarctic region, cooperation for research, and a territorial freeze.1959at the beginning of the year12Countries (*4) concluded, but,2024As of the year 2000.56The two countries have concluded the agreement. The scope of application is the Antarctic region, and therefore, the South Latitude60It applies to all areas below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This Antarctic Treaty is explained in more detail below.

First, the Antarctic Treaty statesordinal1counter for long thin thingsThe peaceful use of the Antarctic region will be defined in the Therefore, military activities are prohibited in Antarctica. Military activities here mean the construction of military bases and the use of weapons. However, it is possible to use military equipment for scientific purposes and other peaceful uses.

ordinal2,3counter for long thin thingsThe Antarctic Treaty of Antarctica (Antarctica Antarctica Antarctica) guarantees freedom of scientific exploration, cooperation between countries, and the exchange and free use of the research results obtained in Antarctica. Therefore, Antarctica has a total of29Countries have research institutes, with a total of70The observation base has been established in the area. This29left-wing faction (of the political party)member states of the Antarctic Treaty Counciland actively conducts scientific research and holds regularConference of the Parties to the Antarctic TreatyThe decision-making authority in the

ordinal4counter for long thin thingsstates that territorial claims in the Antarctic region will be frozen while the Antarctic Treaty is in effect. Therefore, the initial territorial claims7The claim will be waived by both the new country and any new country that tries to make a claim. These firstone articlefrom the first to the second4Article 3 is a typical provision of the Antarctic Treaty.

Palmer Station in the United States, where radionuclides are studied (Photo:The Official CTVTO Photostream / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0 DEED])

In addition to these, the Antarctic Treaty contains various other covenants. The most significant of these is the denuclearization of Antarctica. This is because Antarctica is the first region in the world to be designated as a nuclear-free zone. In the Antarctic Treaty, denuclearization isArticle 5.The Antarctic Treaty prohibits all nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste. In the Antarctic Treaty, the original discussion was that nuclear explosions for scientific research would be allowed. However, Argentina decided that all nuclear explosions should be banned.claimThe United States opposed this claim, but eventually agreed to it in order to eliminate the possibility of the Soviet Union expanding its power by introducing nuclear weapons into Antarctica. The U.S. opposed this claim, but eventually agreed to eliminate the possibility of the Soviet Union expanding its nuclear power in Antarctica, and nuclear weapons were completely eliminated in Antarctica.prohibitionThe first of these was the "Municipalities of the World" (MUW).

Since the Antarctic Treaty was signed, several regulations concerning Antarctica have been enacted. Among them.1991Signed in 1949.Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection（The Madrid Protocol (Madrid Protocol) is a provision that introduces the concept of environmental protection, a concept that was lacking in the Antarctic Treaty. Specifically, it prohibits the mining of mineral resources other than for scientific research, and requires that any activity in Antarctica must be accompanied by an environmental assessment of the impact of the activity on the environment.surveyThe Act also mandated the protection of Antarctic flora and fauna, and the prevention of marine pollution. Other provisions include the protection of Antarctic flora and fauna and the prevention of marine pollution.

in addition1972In 1949, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) (*5(1) is defined, and (2) is not,1982In 2006, the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources ((CCAMLR)(in Japanese history)*6The Antarctic Antarctic Council (AAC) was established in the 1960s, and it is clear that new regulations and organizations were created in Antarctica as needed.

Icebergs glowing blue due to underwater light (Photo:NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED])

Antarctica's Economic Value, and Conflict

As noted above, Antarctica is a region that has been kept relatively peaceful by treaty. However, the economic value of Antarctica is now being recognized and its geopolitical importance is increasing. So what economic value does Antarctica have? We discuss them below.

First, there are mineral resources in Antarctica.possibility(*7)The Madrid Protocol prohibits the mining of these mineral resources. Under the Madrid Protocol, mining of these mineral resources is2048Although it is prohibited until 2006, scientific research to confirm the existence of mineral resources is not prohibited. In the future, if resources are found in the worldshortageThe Antarctic is considered to be a "natural resource". Currently, countries are seeking to develop a resource extractionpossibilityThe company is believed to have its eyes on Antarctica's mineral resources, and is actually conducting a survey of them, foreseeing thehome (i.e. hometown, home country)There are also If this situation continues, Antarctica's mineral resources could become the source of territorial disputes among nations.

In addition to mineral resources, the Antarctic region is rich in organisms that are considered marine resources. These include whales, seals, and krill. The capture of whales and seals in the Antarctic region is already19It began in the late 19th century, when overhunting by humans led to a large increase in the number ofdecreaseIt is believed to have done so. Currently.CCAMLRand ... andCCASThe capture of these organisms is limited by the Also,krillare considered a keystone of the food chain because they serve as food for a wide variety of animals. However, krill are not only food for fish and animals, but also a good source of protein and fat for humans, and in recent years they have become an important part of the fishing industry. In the Antarctic Ocean, krill are abundant.existenceSh,CCAMLRdue torestrictionThe krill fishery is also conducted within the As for the catchNorwayis the highest,China and RussiaIt is believed that other countries, including Japan, will also expand this industry. However, if the industry is expanded unnecessarily, overfishing of krill, or exploitation of marine resources, may occur, and the ecosystem may collapse.

Not only are there tangible resources in Antarctica, but it is possible to profit from them in a variety of ways. One of these is bioprospecting.bioprospectingThe "Antarctic Genetics Project" is a project to obtain genetic information from biological resources and utilize it in the development of medicines, agricultural products, cosmetics, etc. The Antarctic has not yet been explored. The Antarctic, which has remained unexplored so far, has not yet been provided with any information, and the newgrace (of God, Buddha, etc.)The biological resources that could beexistencedo. Thus, countries and firms may conduct such an industry.

Tourists heading to Antarctica by boat (Photo:Frans van Heerden / Pexels[.Pexels License]

Another industry that has been flourishing in recent years is tourism. Tourism to Antarctica is1950It began in the late 1950s. Initially, visitors to Antarctica were1It was only a few hundred people a year,2022Since the year2023During the year.105,331As many as 20 people have visited Antarctica for sightseeing. People choose Antarctica as a tourist destination because they want to see the magnificent nature and the bases of many countries in Antarctica. There are restrictions on tourism to Antarctica. This industry is1991The International Association of Antarctic Travel Agents, founded inIAATORegulated by the Antarctic Tourism Commission (ATA), this organization works to ensure that tourism to Antarctica is safe and environmentally responsible. In addition, visitors to Antarctica must comply with the Antarctic Treaty, the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on the Protection of the Environment (*8), for visitors to Antarctica.guidelineIt is said that it is necessary to follow such as This tourism, but which country will lead and benefit from tourism in which region of Antarctica?point of viewConflicts may arise in the

Thus, resources and industry in Antarctica are seen as valuable by many countries. And in recent years, even within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty, there is a possibility of tension in international relations over Antarctica.pointing outThere are And there is a movement to follow this situation.2018In 2006, the Australian government announced that the Australian-ownedDavis BaseThe plan is to build a large runway and associated infrastructure facilities near theannouncementThe runway (the runway) was built in the 1960s. This runway (note 9 (supplementary information)) would allow Australian planes to take off and land in Antarctica year-round. In addition, from Australia6It will be possible to reach Antarctica in an hour's flight. This will make it more convenient to dispatch personnel and supplies to Antarctica, and will also enable a significant increase in the number ofgrace (of God, Buddha, etc.)The company states that it is possible to obtain

However, he said that geopolitical strategies were behind the move.pointing outThe plan is being considered by the government of the United States as a "no-brainer" for research activities. This is because, given the negative impact of this plan on the natural environment of Antarctica, it is not a good idea to have a research activity that is notThey say it's counterproductive.how to look at something (e.g. noh, train schedule)The reason for this is that the airstrip will provide a convenient way to travel to Antarctica and transport supplies. In addition, the construction of the airstrip will increase the convenience of transportation to and from Antarctica, and scientists, who will benefit from the increased convenience in their research activities, will be able to use the airstrip for their research.planThe reality is that they are opposed to the

Despite these circumstances, the Australian government still wants to build the airstrip because of its growing research activities and increasing presence in Antarctica.Chinaand ... andRussiaIt has been pointed out that this may be to compete with And whatever Australia's objective, if this airstrip is built, other countries may compete to build huge infrastructure like the airstrip. This would ultimately destroy the natural environment of Antarctica.

As mentioned above, there are various resources and industries in Antarctica. On the other hand, if countries were to fight over the rights to these resources, conflicts would arise in Antarctica, which is supposed to be used in a peaceful manner.

U.S. government planes carrying supplies and people to the base (Photo:U.S. Department of State / Rawpixel [Free U.S Government Image])

Antarctica's Impact on Environmental Issues

Antarctica also faces serious environmental problems. Antarctica is particularly prominent in climate change, which affects the entire world.affectThe following section will discuss some of the environmental issues facing Antarctica. The following sections describe some of the environmental issues facing Antarctica.

Currently, temperatures in Antarctica are rising due to global warming. In the Antarctic Peninsula, among others, the past50Over the years, the average temperature3℃They have risen. As noted at the beginning of this article, the speed of this rise is the same as the global average offive timesIn the case of Antarctica, the temperature rises at a faster rate than in other regions of the world. This faster rate of temperature increase in Antarctica is due to the fact that there is more snow and ice in Antarctica thancauseThis is given as Snow and ice reflect more sunlight than ocean and land. On the other hand, land absorbs sunlight. On ice-free continents, most of the sunlight is absorbed by the land, but on Antarctica, there is so much snow and ice that sunlight is reflected, resulting in a smaller increase in ground temperature and air temperature. However, as the temperature rises and the ice and snow melt, the area covered by them decreases, and the land exposed to sunlight increases. Therefore, the land absorbs more sunlight, and the ground temperature and air temperature rise further. Also,2022than normal in 2006.39 degrees CelsiusHigh temperatureheat wavewas observed. This was the largest temperature difference from normal among heat waves observed on the earth.

Naturally, as temperatures rise, Antarctic ice melts and decreases. This affects the Antarctic continent's inhabitantsflora and faunaIt is. This is because rising temperatures can reduce or increase the number of plants and animals, upsetting the traditional ecological balance. Specifically, the plants and animals endemic to Antarctica65%.and21They are threatened with extinction by the end of the century. For example, the Antarctic penguin, which is endemic to Antarctica, will find it difficult to create the environment necessary for breeding as the ice decreases, leading to its extinction.

The Antarctic environment is affected by more than just rising temperatures. It is the development of tourism. Tourism to Antarctica pollutes the environment for the following reasons When landing in Antarctica, it is basicallyshipare used. In doing so, fuel spills into the ocean or collides with marine lifecaseare. In addition, these vessels areblack carbonThese substances are then deposited on the ice to Antarctica, and are then released into the atmosphere.fusionIt is believed that the progress of the In addition, when a total of tens of thousands of people set foot on the Antarctic continent, they step on valuable mosses and plants, damaging them and affecting the animal ecosystem.ExampleThere are also Thus, while tourism generates economic benefits, it can also generate losses in the form of environmental destruction.

Tourists taking pictures of penguins (Photo:GRID-Arendal  / Flickr [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED])

Global Impacts of Climate Change in Antarctica

The Antarctic environment is severely damaged. At the same time, climate change occurring in Antarctica, or rising temperatures, is also having a major impact on the world as a whole. The following is a closer look at the effects of these changes.

The greatest concern about rising temperatures in Antarctica is that the ice covering Antarctica will decrease, causing sea level to rise. The Antarctic region has various forms of ice, including sea ice, ice sheets, glaciers, and icebergs, all of which will be affected by rising temperatures. Let's start with sea ice. Sea ice refers to the frozen state of the ocean and basically appears in winter. Sea ice returns to water in the summer, so its melting does not increase the amount of sea water on the planet, and does not directly contribute to sea level rise. Sea ice, however, prevents glaciers and ice sheets on land from melting and flowing into the sea.functionThere is a (*10) Therefore, the decrease in sea ice is attributed to the rise in sea level. Although sea ice has these characteristics, in Antarctica2023Its area was the smallest in the yearrecordand the effects of climate change areconcernThe company is said to have been

On the other hand, glaciers and ice sheets (*11) means that snow accumulates on the continent and hardens into ice, so when they melt, the amount of sea water increases and global sea level rises. The Antarctic ice sheet, which covers most of Antarctica1,200If all the ice sheets melted, the sea level on the earth would be60mThe ice sheet in Antarctica, especially in the west, has been shrinking rapidly. In Antarctica, the ice sheet has been shrinking rapidly, especially in the west, no matter how much people now try to combat global warming,21The first cup of the century.decreaseThey will continue to do so and eventually collapse. Likewise,icebergis large ice floating on the sea surface after being detached from the glacier, so melting of ice floating on the water surface increases the volume of sea water and causes sea level rise.

And sea levels have already begun to rise, affecting the world. And the damage, even if the rise in sea level is small, will be substantial.seriousIt is. Specifically, land erosion, inundation of wetlands, and soil contamination due to salinity. In addition, if the rise is large enough, low-lying islands themselves could be inundated, putting some island nations in danger of extinction. The risk of flooding in low-lying areas is already forcing migration of "climate refugees.peoplealso exist.

Sea ice in the Antarctic Ocean (Photo:Reeve Jolliffe / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED])

Rising temperatures in Antarctica are causing a variety of phenomena in addition to rising sea levels. First, rising temperatures will cause changes in ocean currents. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at the same level as now,2050In the 1950s, deep water circulation was about40%.It is said to slow down. Such changes in ocean currents would normally1,000The fact that it takes about two years to complete this cycle shows the anomalous nature of the current situation. Specifically, this circulation is in the Antarctic Ocean.deep circulationIt is said that the Antarctic Ocean Mediterranean4,000mThe change in the sea level is caused by the flow of oxygen-rich, nutrient-rich seawater into the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans and its rise to the sea level there. This change will first cause a major shift in the flow of nutrients in the seawater, and ecosystems around the world will be severely degraded.affectThe reason is that the supply of nutrients to organisms that rely on nutrients carried by the deep circulation is compromised. This is because the supply of nutrients to the organisms that depend on the nutrients carried by the deep circulation is disrupted.

Furthermore, stagnation of the deep circulation will lead to a decrease in Antarctic ice. This is because a slowdown in the deep circulation will cause water temperatures in the deep Antarctic Ocean torisingThis is because the melting of the Antarctic ice will be further accelerated by the melting of the ice. This will further increase the melting of Antarctic ice. In other words, the effects of climate change are further promoting climate change, creating a vicious cycle.

Other deep circulations have also been used to create a climate outside of Antarctica.changegives. Specifically.seawater temperaturechanges in atmospheric moisture content, and shifts in precipitation zones.

Future Outlook

As we have mentioned, although Antarctica is said to be used peacefully, it is still a region with many problems, such as the possibility of conflict and the serious effects of climate change. In the midst of this situation, there is now a need for change in the Antarctic Treaty and other conventions and organizations surrounding Antarctica.pointing outThere are still unresolved to this day.territorial disputeThe Antarctic Treaty has been very effective in enabling the peaceful use of Antarctica without creating armed conflict in the midst of the Therefore, there is no need to change it.opinionThere are also However, the Antarctic Treaty was created about 60 years ago, and the actors then influencing Antarctica and the world as a whole are different from those today. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the current system will be able to protect the peaceful use of Antarctica when a new power grows in strength.honorific or passive form of the verb "suruThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

Scenery in Antarctica (Photo:Pedro Szekely  / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED])

In addition, the current Antarctic Treaty has too few provisions for addressing environmental issues.pointing outThere are also1991Although the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on the Protection of the Environment was signed in 1949, and the environmental protection perspective was incorporated, this provision is still not sufficient.opinionThere is a

And before the issue of Antarctic management, there is still much that is not understood about the environment and climate in Antarctica, and how they work, and that more research should be done.opinionThere are also

The Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on the Protection of the Environment areIn 2048.changewill be possible. By then, how will the forces for revision emerge? And what will the future of Antarctica look like? We would like to keep an eye on these trends.

1 This iceberg is1986It was cut off from Antarctica in 1949, but has never left the continent until now.

2 Annual precipitation250mmThe following lands are considered desert.

3 What is the existence of Antarctica?1820In 1949, expeditions led by Edward Bransfield of the United Kingdom, Nathaniel Palmer of the United States, and Phobian von Bellingshausen of Russia, respectively, were the first to confirm the existence of the Antarctic Continent.have beenThe,3Which of the three expeditions discovered Antarctica the earliest depends on the definition of discovery, and thereforevarious theoriesThere are.

*412Countries are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South America, United Kingdom, United States, and the Soviet Union.12be a country

*5CCASwill prohibit the capture and killing of some species of seals in Antarctica to protect the ecosystem.

*6CCAMLRis a commission established to prevent overfishing of Antarctic marine life and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem.

7 Mineral resources include iron, copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum.mineraland ... andoffshore oiland others are said to exist.

8 Travelers will also comply with the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on the Protection of the Environment to ensure that the scientific values of Antarctica are not undermined or the ecosystem is not destroyed by travelers.necessaryThe "Mere Old Man" is not a person who is a member of the "Mere Old Man". Specifically, they are required to protect wildlife and not to interfere with research.

9 Antarctica originally had an airstrip owned by Australia, but that airstrip was limited to takeoffs and landings in the summer and was further away from the base.

10 Sea ice around Antarctica is formed from glaciers and other ice that has been exposed to forces such as waves and wind.babysittingThis will further cool the atmosphere along the continental coasts and lower the temperature near the ice shelves.fusionpreventing the

*11ice sheetmeans vast glaciers, which, like glaciers, cause sea level rise.

Writer: Ayaka Takeuchi

Graphic: Yuna Miki

Follow @GNV_tweets