He said none of the country operators had ever tried something as big or holistic as this expedition, which had been bigger than any of the national programmes. The mission that involved polar institutes from seven countries and covered air, land and marine research, seems to have set out from the start to smash silo thinking and break down barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, he said, they must get to work \u201cto make sure the data we get is properly calibrated and controlled and its accessibility is organised in an efficient manner\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paulsen agreed, saying that only by joining forces could the different countries succeed in gaining a better understanding of the region, which was \u201cnot only desirable but crucial\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is still much to be done.\u201d<\/p>Polar expedition ends in steaming hot Cape Town<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nCape Town, March 19<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a night of very high winds that reportedly saw Cape Town harbour temporarily closed on Saturday the Russian research vessel Akademik Treshnikov sailed into a still and steaming Cape Town on Sunday, marking the end of the Antarctic circumnavigation expedition (ACE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vessel departed from Cape Town three months ago with 50 scientists from around the world aboard on an intensive multi-disciplinary research mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early information about the results suggests a wide variety of findings. The skeptics’ fears will be confirmed, for example, in evidence of micro-plastic pollution in even the most remote places. However, there is hope too, for example, in the discovery of pockets of air that is cleaner than the purest man-made environments, \u201cwhite rooms\u201d in laboratories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first results will be released on Monday when the Swiss Polar Institute runs a mini conference of presentations by scientists at a pavilion set up alongside the vessel at Jetty 2 at the V & A Waterfront. Attendance at the conference is by invitation only but a pavilion showcasing some of the work will be open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExcitement about the findings from the groundbreaking research trip, which included a total of nearly 150 scientists representing 73 scientific institutions over the three months, goes well beyond the scientific community. The expedition included a wide and diverse group of skills and experience. It was the first time such a wide range of disciplines \u2013 from biology to climatology to oceanography \u2013 had worked together to enhance understanding of Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, according to information from the Swiss Polar Institute, a better understanding of the continent is critical, not just for its preservation, but for the whole planet. The poles, which play a key role in regulating the world\u2019s climate, are affected by climate change more than any other region on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scientists filmed and took samples under ice shelves and as deep as 3000m, completed 3D mapping of some of the 12 island groups they visited, and took the first ice cores from others. They took 18,968 individual samples of any sort on their 30,720km journey, which was completed over three stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will the jury still be out once polar results are in?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Cape Town, March 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There has been a sense for some time now that climate change denialists are living on borrowed time \u2026 one suspects the clock will tick with new intensity once the results of the Antarctic circumnavigation expedition (ACE) are released starting on Monday March 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Swiss Polar Institute announced on Friday that scientists would be releasing preliminary results of the three-month expedition on Monday at a pavilion at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA showcase of some of the work will be open to the public on Tuesday March 21 and Wednesday 22 at the ACE pavilion on Jetty 2 in front of the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many a heart will sink at the idea of evidence being found of the dreaded micro-plastic pollution in even the most remote places around Antarctica. News of air that is cleaner than in the purest man-made environments, \u201cwhite rooms\u201d in laboratories, will give a reason to breath out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The groundbreaking research trip, which included a total of nearly 150 scientists representing 73 scientific institutions, ends when the Russian research vessel Akademik Treshnikov sails into Cape Town harbour on the morning of Sunday March 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scientists filmed and took samples under ice shelves and as deep as 3,000m, completed 3D mapping of some of the 12 island groups they visited and took the first ice cores from others. They took 18,968 individual samples of any sort on their 30,720km journey, which was completed over three stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expedition included a diverse group of scientists from around the world, the first time such a wide range of disciplines \u2013 From biology to climatology to oceanography \u2013 had worked together to enhance understanding of Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Swiss Polar Institute said a better understanding of the continent is critical, not just for its preservation, but for the whole planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The poles, which play a key role in regulating the world\u2019s climate, are affected by climate change more than any other region on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antarctica is rare on earth in that it has never been affected by war and remains protected from many of the causes thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Antarctic Treaty, which has signed by countries that represent about 80 percent of the world\u2019s population, has ensured that this has continued and will continue for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Antarctic Treaty, the first version of which came into effect in 1961, the continent is dedicated to peaceful scientific investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exploration for oil and other minerals is banned under the agreement, which also pledges to keep Antarctica demilitarised and nuclear free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n