Antarctica

The effects of human industrialisation and pollutants on our planet

Antarctica contains three major climatic regions. They are the Antarctic Peninsula, the interior and the coastal areas. The ice shelves of Antarctica are Ronne Ice Shelf, Ross Ice Shelf, Amery Ice Shelf, Ruser-Larsen Ice Shelf, Getz Ice Shelf, Larson Ice Shelf, West Ice Shelf, Shacletor Ice Shelf and Fimbul Ice Shelf.

The continent contains 70% of the world's fresh water, mostly in a frozen state. Ongoing research is important to monitor the effects of human industrialisation, pollution and global warming so that we can take steps to preserve Antarctica and the planet before it is too late.

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is of particular concern. If the sheet were to break off due to global warming, sea levels would rise by up to 6 metres or more with catastrophic effects on the coastal areas of the rest of the planet. If all of the ice on Antarctica were to melt, sea levels could rise by 60 metres!

The 27 million km² hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica is believed to be caused by chlorofluorocarbons emitted by human products. CFCs were banned in the Montreal Protocol of 1989 and it is possible that the hole will close in about 50 years.