Antarctic Freeze [Site Set in Ice]
Ben Rambadt – Diplomacy Thesis
Arch 660 – Fall 2011
The physical conditions of the site are very real and indeed extremely cold most periods of the
year. During the winter months here in the northern hemisphere, Antarctica (as you get closer to
the south pole) can experience nearly 6 months of continuous daylight.1
The continent of the Antarctic is a place of a final frontier that rivals past periods of explorations
and claims of land; much like the great western migrating pioneers of the quickly expanding United
States.
The continent of Antarctica is itself the defining boundary with the exception of ‘claims’ by nations
for specific slivers of land.2
There are two specific areas of Antarctica I am currently interested in: (A) the region surrounding
the Bentley Subglacial Trench (-2540m) on the Marie Byrd Land section, and (B) the portion of
land between the South Pole and the Norwegian Claims ‘undefined’ land.
The overall size of the continent is roughly 5,100,021 sq miles and has an average temperature
range of 40˚ - 94˚ F.3
In 2009 Antarctica was a tourist attraction for over 37,000 visitors. There is technically no
population other than the scientists who occupy the varying research facilities that countries have
set up on their claims and territories.4
There is no official language or currency and no capital city.5
“Today it has active territorial claims submitted by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New
Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. (Many of these claims are not recognized by some
countries and remain in a constant disputed status)”6
The only legal instrument governing Antarctica is the Antarctic Treaty System established in 1959
and the enforced in 1961 by the 12 original signing nations: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile,
France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union (now Russia), the United
Kingdom and the United States.7
1
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
2
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
3
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
5
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
6
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
7
Wikipedia – Antarctic Treaty System. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System October 23, 2011
4
The relevant conditions of the site are purely for research. Not even military activity can take
place on the continent, unless it is to assist in the efforts and benefit research going on.8
Persons of a represented nationality in Antarctica are subject to the laws of their nation. Since
Antarctica has no permanent population there is no permanent citizenship and hence no
government to govern the whole continent, resulting in that each nation is responsible for anyone
of their nationality. The United States has taken precautions and stationed specialize U.S.
Marshals to the United States bases to act as an enforcement.1
The existing players on the site of Antartica are 48 nations, all of whom have varying territorial
rights and claims. “Currently, there are 48 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 18 acceding.
“Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as
national territory. The 21 non-claimant nations either do not recognize the claims of others, or have
not stated their positions.(Antarctic Treaty System – Wikipedia)”9
Current relations are that some nations do not explicitly recognize the ‘claims’ or slivers of territory
by original signing nations from 1961.
Complications of current relations have begun to escalate over environmental and economical
restrictions and violations according to an article from the Sydney Morning Herald by Donald
Rothwell (January17, 2008), “This week's ruling by the Federal Court that Japan's so-called
scientific whaling program in the Southern Ocean violates Australian law is something of a doubleedged sword for the Rudd Government. Coupled with the detention of two Sea Shepherd activists
on a Japanese whaler, these events demonstrate how volatile the whaling issue has become. If the
dispute escalates Australia's Antarctic claim could be placed in jeopardy - because of the threat
that is ultimately posed to the Antarctic Treaty regime, which has successfully governed Antarctica
and the Southern Ocean since 1961.”10
8
Wikipedia – Antarctic Treaty System. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System October 23, 2011
9
World Atlas. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm October 23, 2011
Rothwell, Donald. Sydney Morning Herald, “Dispute threatens Antarctic claim.”
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/dispute-threatens-antarctica-claim/2008/01/16/1200419882499.html October 23,
2011
10
B
A
Claims by Nation
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Chile
Claims by Nation
France
New Zealand
Norway
United Kingdom
List of Parties
Country
Entry into force
Consultative status
Environment Protocol
CCAS
CCAMLR
Argentina
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Australia
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Austria
25 Aug 1987 Belarus
27 Dec 2006 15 Aug 2008 Belgium
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Brazil
16 May 1975 27 Sep 1983 14 Jan 1998 X X Bulgaria
11 Sep 1978 05 Jun 1998 21 May 1998 X Canada
04 May 1988 13 Dec 2003 X X Chile
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X China
08 Jun 1983 07 Oct 1985 14 Jan 1998 X Colombia
31 Jan 1989 Cuba
16 Aug 1984 Czech Republic
14 Jun 1962 24 Sep 2004 Denmark
20 May 1965 Ecuador
15 Sep 1987 19 Nov 1990 14 Jan 1998 Estonia
17 May 2001 Finland
15 May 1984 20 Oct 1989 14 Jan 1998 X France
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Germany
05 Feb 1979 03 Mar 1981 14 Jan 1998 X X Greece
08 Jan 1987 14 Jan 1998 X Guatemala
31 Jul 1991 Hungary
27 Jan 1984 India
19 Aug 1983 12 Sep 1983 14 Jan 1998 X Italy
18 Mar 1981 05 Oct 1987 14 Jan 1998 X X Japan
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Korea (DPRK)
21 Jan 1987 Korea (ROK)
28 Nov 1976 09 Oct 1989 14 Jan 1998 X Monaco
30 May 2008 31 Jul 2009 Netherlands
30 Mar 1967 19 Nov 1990 14 Jan 1998 X New Zealand
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X Norway
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Papua New
Guinea
16 Mar 1981 Peru
10 Apr 1981 09 Oct 1989 14 Jan 1998 X Poland
23 Jun 1961 29 Jul 1977 14 Jan 1998 X X Portugal
29 Jan 2010 Romania
15 Sep 1971 05 Mar 2003 Russian
Federation
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Slovak Republic
01 Jan 1993 South Africa
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Spain
31 Mar 1982 21 Sep 1988 14 Jan 1998 X Sweden
24 Apr 1984 21 Sep 1988 14 Jan 1998 X Switzerland
15 Nov 1990 Turkey
24 Jan 1996 AT Database Report
Page 1 / 2
Portugal
29 Jan 2010 Romania
15 Sep 1971 05 Mar 2003 Russian
Federation
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Slovak Republic
01 Jan 1993 South Africa
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Spain
31 Mar 1982 21 Sep 1988 14 Jan 1998 X Sweden
24 Apr 1984 21 Sep 1988 14 Jan 1998 X Switzerland
15 Nov 1990 Turkey
24 Jan 1996 Ukraine
28 Oct 1992 04 Jun 2004 24 Jun 2001 X United Kingdom
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X United States
23 Jun 1961 23 Jun 1961 14 Jan 1998 X X Uruguay
11 Jan 1980 07 Oct 1985 14 Jan 1998 X Venezuela
24 Mar 1999 Source: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (www.ats.aq)
AT Database Report
Page 2 / 2
National Architecture Claims to Antarctica
By Andrew Blum
April 19, 2010
12:00 pm
Wired May 2010
Cold Comforts: Antarctic Research Bases Are Seriously Self-Sustaining
Princess Elisabeth (Belgium)
Length: 72.2 feet, Width: 72.2 feet,Height: 27.9 feet
The new Princess Elisabeth station is the delicate flower of Antarctic buildings:
small, beautiful, efficient, and blooming only in summer. Designed to be the first
carbon-free facility on The Ice, the station employs a sophisticated energy-
management system that makes the most of the limited power generated by its
52-kilowatt solar array and 54-kilowatt wind-turbine cluster. The station assigns a
priority level to every piece of equipment and electric outlet in the building. Lifesupport systems and research gear trump dishwashers and portable electronics.
In other words, don’t plug in your iPod without asking the station’s brain first.
Photo: International Polar Foundation/René Robert
By Andrew Blum
April 19, 2010
12:00 pm
Wired May 2010
Cold Comforts: Antarctic Research Bases Are Seriously Self-Sustaining
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (USA)
Length: 407 feet, Width: 148 feet, Height: 39.4 feet
Though it confronts the coldest temperatures on the continent (dipping below
-100°) and the longest supply chain this side of Dune, the US base is the largest
in the Antarctic interior. Home to 150 scientists and support staff, AmundsenScott was built to last. It took 12 Antarctic summers to complete the project,
and all the construction materials were delivered in the cargo bays of LC-130
Hercules aircraft. Sitting 10 feet off the ground on 36 stilts, the station is shaped
like an airplane wing. Wind accelerates underneath and discourages snow from
piling up. When drifts get too high, hydraulic lifts can raise the building another
two stories in 10-inch increments.
Photo: Keith Vanderlinde/National Science Foundation
National Architecture Claims to Antarctica
By Andrew Blum
April 19, 2010
12:00 pm
Wired May 2010
Cold Comforts: Antarctic Research Bases Are Seriously Self-Sustaining
Halley VI (UK)
Length of module*: 64.6 feet, Width: 33 feet, Height: 33.1 feet
This is the first of several modules of varying sizes that will be linked end-toend. Researchers have occupied this site continuously for 54 years, creating an
invaluable scientific record. (The man-made hole in the ozone was first identified
here, so the coordinates are crucial in tracking the state of the atmosphere.) But
staying put is not easy. The Brunt Ice Shelf moves as much as half a mile a year,
like a conveyor belt built to toss tea-drinking scientists into the icy sea. So the
old station is being abandoned as it moves toward the abyss. This new base,
however, is more like an RV than an A-frame: Several ski-shod pods get towed
back to their original positions as the ice shelf moves.
Photo: British Antarctic Survey
By Andrew Blum
April 19, 2010
12:00 pm
Wired May 2010
Cold Comforts: Antarctic Research Bases Are Seriously Self-Sustaining
Sanae IV (South Africa)
Total Length*: 576.44 feet (all three together), Width: 48.6 feet, Height: 33.6 feet
This station is comprised of three buildings with slightly different dimensions.
The research station of the South African National Antarctic Expedition,
completed in 1997, is the oldest of this new generation. But what it lacks in
technology it makes up for in location. The base rests dramatically on top of an
outcropping, known as a nunatak, some 800 feet high. The void below acts as a
subzero maelstrom, sucking in snow and keeping it from burying the station up
above. Furthermore, Sanae’s position about 100 miles inland, off the ice, and
situated on solid rock makes it ideal for sensitive seismological studies and GPS
research. Teams of up to 10 scientists, engineers, mechanics, and doctors do
15-month stints perched here. Call it a lab with a view.
Photo: Beneke de Wet