{"id":117884,"date":"2026-08-07T18:10:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=117884"},"modified":"2026-08-07T18:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:40:19","slug":"antarctica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/antarctica\/","title":{"rendered":"Antarctica, Geography, Climate, Biodiversity, Resources, Role"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Antarctica<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is <\/span><b>Earth\u2019s southernmost continent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, centred on the <\/span><b>South Pole<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and almost entirely covered by a vast ice sheet. It is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on Earth and plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, ocean circulation, sea levels and biodiversity. Although it has no permanent human population, Antarctica is one of the world\u2019s most important regions for scientific research and international cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Antarctica<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Antarctica<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a unique continent protected under an international treaty system dedicated to peace, science and environmental conservation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Antarctica<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the <\/span><b>fifth-largest continent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, covering about 14 million km\u00b2, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nearly 98% of the continent is covered by ice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>containing about 90% of the world\u2019s ice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and nearly 70% of Earth\u2019s freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/arctic-region\/\" target=\"_blank\">Arctic<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is an ocean surrounded by land, <\/span><b>Antarctica is a landmass<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> surrounded by the Southern Ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica has <\/span><b>no permanent residents<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; only scientists and support personnel live at research stations throughout the year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The continent experiences polar day during summer and polar night during winter due to the Earth\u2019s axial tilt.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geologically, Antarctica was once part of the <\/span><b>Gondwana Supercontinent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, explaining the presence of coal and other mineral deposits beneath its ice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica is governed under the <\/span><b>Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which reserves the continent for peaceful purposes and scientific research.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Antarctica Physical Geography<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica\u2019s geography is dominated by massive ice sheets, glaciers, mountains and frozen deserts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Location and Extent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica lies almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle (66\u00b033\u2032 S) and surrounds the South Pole.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is completely enclosed by the Southern Ocean, which connects the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During winter, expanding sea ice almost doubles Antarctica\u2019s effective area.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Climate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica has the harshest climate on Earth because of its high latitude, thick ice cover and high elevation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the <\/span><b>coldest continent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>temperatures falling below \u201380\u00b0C<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the interior during winter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lowest natural temperature ever recorded on Earth (\u201389.2\u00b0C) was observed at Vostok Station.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica is also the <\/span><b>driest continent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, receiving less precipitation than many hot deserts, making it a polar desert.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong <\/span><b>katabatic winds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, produced by cold dense air flowing downhill from the interior, make it the windiest continent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coastal regions are relatively warmer and receive more snowfall than the interior.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Antarctic Ice Sheet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest single mass of ice on Earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is divided into the <\/span><b>East Antarctic Ice Sheet <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the <\/span><b>West Antarctic Ice Sheet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, separated by the <\/span><b>Transantarctic Mountains.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger and relatively more stable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is more vulnerable because much of it rests below sea level and is exposed to warming ocean waters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complete melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet could raise global sea levels by about 58 metres over geological timescales.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Major Relief Features<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Transantarctic Mountains divide Antarctica into East and West Antarctica.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mount-vinson\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Mount Vinson<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (4,892 m) is <\/span><b>Antarctica\u2019s highest peak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and one of the Seven Summits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lake Vostok<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, buried beneath the ice sheet, is one of the world\u2019s largest subglacial freshwater lakes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Major Ice Shelves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ice shelves are floating extensions of glaciers that help slow the movement of inland ice into the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ross Ice Shelf is the world\u2019s largest ice shelf.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ronne\u2013Filchner Ice Shelf is the second largest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Larsen Ice Shelf has experienced repeated collapse due to rising temperatures, making it an important indicator of climate change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Thwaites Glacier (\u201cDoomsday Glacier\u201d)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the most closely monitored glaciers because its instability could significantly accelerate future sea-level rise.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Antarctic Oceanography<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is central to Earth\u2019s climate and marine ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Southern Ocean<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica and extends south of 60\u00b0 South latitude.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It links the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans into a single marine system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It absorbs vast amounts of atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide, helping regulate the global climate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It supports one of the world\u2019s richest marine ecosystems despite extreme conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Antarctic Circumpolar Current<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the <\/span><b>world\u2019s strongest ocean current.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It flows continuously from west to east around Antarctica without obstruction from land.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It prevents warm tropical waters from reaching Antarctica and connects the world\u2019s major oceans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It plays a major role in the global transport of heat, nutrients and carbon.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctic Bottom Water forms when sea ice freezes and rejects salt (brine rejection), creating cold, dense water that sinks to the ocean floor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It drives the global thermohaline circulation, influencing climate and ocean conditions worldwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Antarctic Convergence (Polar Front)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Antarctic Convergence is the boundary where cold Antarctic waters meet warmer sub-Antarctic waters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It creates nutrient-rich conditions that support abundant marine life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Sea Ice<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctic sea ice forms from frozen seawater and expands in winter before retreating in summer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It reflects solar radiation through the albedo effect, helping regulate Earth\u2019s temperature.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides essential breeding and feeding habitats for penguins, seals and other Antarctic wildlife.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Antarctica Biodiversity\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Antarctica has an extreme environment, it supports a unique ecosystem adapted to freezing conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vegetation mainly consists of <\/span><b>lichens, mosses, algae and fungi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while only Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort are native flowering plants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most Antarctic wildlife depends on the nutrient-rich Southern Ocean, which supports <\/span><b>penguins, seals, whales, seabirds and fish.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/keystone-species\/#\" target=\"_blank\">keystone species<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Southern Ocean food web, sustaining <\/span><b>whales, seals, penguins and seabirds.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Emperor Penguin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, making it highly dependent on stable sea ice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica\u2019s biodiversity provides valuable evidence of changing ocean conditions and the impacts of climate change on polar ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Antarctica Resources\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Antarctica possesses significant natural resources, international agreements strictly regulate their use to protect its fragile environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Freshwater<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica stores nearly 70% of the world\u2019s freshwater in the form of ice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fisheries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Southern Ocean supports valuable fisheries, particularly Antarctic krill and Patagonian toothfish, managed under international conservation measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mineral Resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Coal, iron ore, copper and hydrocarbons are believed to exist, but commercial mining is prohibited under the Madrid Protocol (1991).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scientific Resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica serves as a natural laboratory for research on climate change, glaciology, geology, astronomy, oceanography and biodiversity, with Antarctic ice cores preserving Earth\u2019s climatic history for hundreds of thousands of years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Antarctica and Climate Change<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and changes occurring here have far-reaching consequences for global sea levels, weather patterns and marine ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accelerating Ice Loss<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Antarctic Ice Sheet, particularly the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is losing ice due to rising air and ocean temperatures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Thwaites Glacier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The \u201cDoomsday Glacier\u201d is retreating rapidly and is considered one of the greatest long-term threats to global sea-level rise because it supports large parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ice Shelf Collapse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The collapse of ice shelves such as the Larsen Ice Shelf reduces the natural barrier that slows glaciers, allowing them to flow more quickly into the ocean.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sea-Level Rise<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Melting Antarctic land ice is a major contributor to global sea-level rise, threatening coastal cities, islands and delta regions worldwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Southern Ocean Warming<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Southern Ocean is absorbing excess atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide, affecting ocean circulation, marine ecosystems and the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Declining Sea Ice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Recent years have witnessed record-low Antarctic sea-ice extent, reducing Earth\u2019s albedo and affecting the habitats of penguins, seals and other marine species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Threat to Biodiversity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Changes in sea ice and ocean temperature are reducing Antarctic krill populations, disrupting the Southern Ocean food chain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global Climate Regulator: Antarctica reflects large amounts of solar radiation and drives global ocean circulation, making its stability essential for Earth\u2019s climate system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ozone Hole<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica experiences a seasonal ozone hole caused by ozone-depleting substances. The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/montreal-protocol\/\" target=\"_blank\">Montreal Protocol (1987)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has significantly reduced these substances, and scientific assessments indicate gradual recovery of the ozone layer, making it a successful example of global environmental cooperation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>India\u2019s Antarctic Programme<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is an active participant in Antarctic research and governance through a long-standing polar research programme.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India launched its first Antarctic Expedition in 1981.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India became a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, enabling participation in Antarctic decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme is coordinated by the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-centre-for-polar-and-oceanic-research-ncpor\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Goa, under the <\/span><b>Ministry of Earth Sciences.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has established <\/span><b>Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012), with Maitri and Bharati currently operational.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major research includes climate change, glaciers, geology, oceanography, biodiversity, atmospheric sciences and the Indian monsoon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indian Antarctic Act, 2022<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is India\u2019s first dedicated law governing Indian activities in Antarctica. It aligns domestic law with the Antarctic Treaty System, regulates expeditions through a permit system and strengthens environmental protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Antarctic Treaty System governs Antarctica through international cooperation, ensuring that the continent remains dedicated to peace and science.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Antarctic Treaty (1959)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signed in 1959 and entered into force in 1961.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally signed by 12 countries; today it has 50+ Parties, including about 29 Consultative Parties with decision-making powers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reserves Antarctica exclusively for peaceful purposes and scientific research.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prohibits military activities, weapons testing and nuclear explosions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guarantees freedom of scientific research and encourages international cooperation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freezes territorial disputes without recognising or rejecting sovereignty claims.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Territorial Claims<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven countries have territorial claims in Antarctica: United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, France and Norway.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Antarctic Treaty suspends these claims, preventing sovereignty disputes from affecting peaceful cooperation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Madrid Protocol (1991)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designates Antarctica as a \u201cNatural Reserve devoted to Peace and Science.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prohibits commercial mineral exploration and mining.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requires environmental impact assessments for all activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Includes a review clause after 2048, making future governance an important geopolitical issue.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>CCAMLR<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) regulates fisheries in the Southern Ocean using an ecosystem-based approach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its headquarters are located in Hobart, Australia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>SCAR<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) coordinates international scientific research and advises Antarctic Treaty meetings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Protected Areas<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Madrid Protocol provides for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMAs) to conserve ecologically and scientifically important regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Importance of Antarctica<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antarctica is vital for Earth\u2019s environmental stability and global scientific research.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Global Climate Regulator<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica reflects solar radiation and helps regulate global temperatures through the albedo effect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sea-Level Stability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Antarctic Ice Sheet stores most of the world\u2019s freshwater, making its stability essential for preventing rapid sea-level rise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Driver of Ocean Circulation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Formation of Antarctic Bottom Water powers global thermohaline circulation and influences climate worldwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Climate Archive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctic ice cores preserve records of Earth\u2019s climate extending back hundreds of thousands of years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Biodiversity Hotspot<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Southern Ocean supports unique marine ecosystems centred on Antarctic krill.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scientific Laboratory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica provides unparalleled opportunities to study climate change, geology, astronomy, glaciology and marine ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indian Monsoon Research<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctic climate and ocean processes influence global atmospheric circulation, improving understanding of the Indian monsoon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>International Cooperation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Antarctica remains one of the world\u2019s best examples of peaceful scientific collaboration among nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read about Antarctica, its geography, climate, biodiversity, resources, Antarctic Treaty System, India&#8217;s Antarctic Programme, and role in global climate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":117007,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[9370],"class_list":["post-117884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-antarctica","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117884"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117908,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117884\/revisions\/117908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}