Call number:
AWI E3-92-0498
In:
Studies in Polar research
Description / Table of Contents:
Antarctica has long provided scientists with a unique window for the observation of the natural world. Most recently, atmospheric and other studies have provided valuable indicators of the possible effects of humankind's activities on the global environment, promoting the continent to a key position in the study of natural global systems and our potential to affect them.
This book is the first to describe the development of scientific activity in the Antarctic (as distinct from exploration) in all its aspects. Coverage spans three centuries, starting with Halley who laid the foundations of geophysics which was to be the principal driving force behind Antarctic science for most of its history. Although early researchers built up a picture of the main features of the Antarctic environment, the idea of science specific to the continent emerged only later. As the main disciplines of oceanography, earth sciences, the sciences of atmosphere and geospace, terrestrial biology, medicine, and conservation developed, the clear interactions between them within an Antarctic context led to the emergence of the holistic view of Antarctic science which we hold today.
For anyone with an interest in the history, conservation or politics of this special part of the world, or in the history of the development of science, this book will provide a mine of information and will act as a rich source of reference for many years to come.
Type of Medium:
Monograph available for loan
Pages:
XXI, 483 Seiten
,
Illustrationen
Edition:
First published
ISBN:
0521361133
Series Statement:
Studies in Polar research
Language:
English
Note:
Contents
Foreword by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, OM, PC, FRS
Preface
A note for the reader
1 Introduction
Endnote
2 The science of the early explorations
2.1 The scientific and technological background
2.2 Edmond Halley
2.3 Terra Australis lncognita and the theoretical geographers
2.4 The voyages of James Cook
2.5 The voyage of Thaddeus Bellingshausen
2.6 Explorations by sealers
2. 7 William Scores by: pioneer polar scientist
Endnotes
3 The national expeditions of 1828 to 1843
3.1 The scientific and social background
3.2 The United States exploring expedition
3.3 The French expedition
3.4 Geodesy and the visit of HMS Chanticleer to Deception Island
3.5 'The magnetic crusade'
3.6 The Antarctic voyage of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror
3.7 Comment on the mid-nineteenth century expeditions
Endnotes
4 Averted interest and consolidation
4.1 The mid-nineteenth century view of Antarctica
4.2 Maury's campaign for an expedition south
4.3 The rise of oceanography and Challenger's incursion into Antarctic waters
4.4 Neumayer and the growth of German interest in the Antarctic
4.5 Weyprecht and the First International Polar Year
4.6 Reconnaissances by whalers
4.7 Growing interest among scientists
4.8 The voyages of the Belgica, Valdivia and Southern Cross
4.9 Naval tradition versus science: the Discovery expedition
4.10 The Gauss expedition
4.11 The Antarctica expedition
4.12 Scientific expeditions in the first quarter of the twentieth century
4.13 The coming-of-age of Antarctic science
Endnotes
5 The modern period - logistics and materiel
5.1 The inter-related growth of science and technology
5.2 Development of organization: the polar institutes
5.3 The Byrd expeditions and the general introduction of technology
5.3.1 Ships
5.3.2 Electrical communication
5.3.3 Mechanized surface transport
5.3.4 Aircraft
5.3.5 Aerial photography
5.3.6 Laboratories
5.3.7 Techniques for living
5.4 Post-Second World War developments
5.5 Developments following the International Geophysical Year
5.6 Ships in the modern period
5.7 Building technology
5.8 The advent of satellites
5.9 The impact of equality of the sexes
Endnotes
6 The modern period - the involvement with politics
6.1 The dependence of Antarctic science on public money
6.2 Regulating of whaling and Antarctic research
6.3 Nationalistic and imperialistic influences up to the Second World War
6.4 The Antarctic in the Second World War
6.5 The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey
6.6 The assertion of American interest
6.7 The growing problems arising from territorial claims
6.8 The International Geophysical Year
6.9 The Antarctic Treaty
6.10 The Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research
6.11 National Antarctic research organizations and operations
6.12 Private expeditions
6.13 The politics of conservation
6.14 The problems of emergencies
Endnotes
7 The sciences of the Antarctic seas
7.1 The scope of the chapter
7.2 Physical oceanography at the beginning of the twentieth century
7.3 Marine biology and biological oceanography in the early twentieth century
7.4 The inter-war period and the Discovery Investigations
7.5 The impact of the Second World War on oceanography
7.6 Marine biology in the immediate post-Second World War years
7.7 Physical oceanography in the modern period: the advent of remote sensing
7.8 Studies on sea-ice and icebergs
7.9 Biological oceanography: productivity and the pelagic ecosystem
7.10 BIOMASS
7.11 Inshore marine biology
Endnotes
8 The earth sciences
8.1 The geological outlook at the beginning of the twentieth century
8.2 Geological reconnaissance
8.3 Geology during and after the IGY: the dry valleys
8.4 The continental drift theory and the tectonic structure of Antarctica
8.5 The ice-cap and the land underneath it
8.6 Glaciology
8.7 Climatic history and the records in ice-cores
8.8 Meteorites on the ice-sheet
8.9 Denudation processes
8.10 Soil
8.11 Physical limnology
8.12 The wider role of geologists in Antarctica
Endnotes
9 The sciences of atmosphere and geospace
9.1 The atmospheric sciences at the end of the nineteenth century
9.2 Heroic age meteorology 2
9.3 Meteorology from 1920 until the IGY
9.4 Meteorology during IGY
9.5 Post-IGY meteorology
9.6 Atmospheric chemistry: ozone
9.7 Energy balance and modelling
9.8 The beginnings of study of the upper atmosphere
9.9 The concept of geospace
9.10 Ionospherics up to the IGY
9.11 Ionospherics during the IGY
9.12 Geospace research since the IGY
9.13 Cosmic ray studies and astronomy in the Antarctic
Endnotes
10 Land-based biology
10.1 The natural history of the Antarctic
10.2 The development of Antarctic biology
10.3 The physiological ecology of plants
10.4 Invertebrate ecology and physiology
10.5 Microbiology
10.6 Limnology
10.7 Ornithology
10.8 Seal studies
10.9 Conclusions
Endnotes
11 Man and the Antarctic environment
11.1 Heroic age medicine
11.2 Medical research before and during the IGY
11.3 Medical and psychological research after the IGY
11.4 The International Biomedical Expedition
11.5 Sledge dog physiology
11.6 Introduced organisms
11.7 Conservation
Endnotes
12 Some concluding comments
12.1 The persistent features of Antarctic science
12.2 The contribution to science in general
12.3 Arctic and Antarctic
12.4 Internationalism
12.5 Antarctic science and politics
12.6 The effects ofbureaucracy on Antarctic science
12.7 Science and the humanist view of Antarctica
Endnotes
13 Postscript
Endnotes
References
Index
Location:
AWI Reading room
Branch Library:
AWI Library
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