Indigenous Plants and Animals
The Department
of Science and
Technology has
declared June 2009
as Antarctica Month to
make South Africans aware of the unique and exciting research done
by our scientists on this frozen continent and the sub-Antarctic islands.
Exploring a crevasse
Testing a wind turbine
A
ntarctica, the continent at the South Pole,
remains the most mysterious continent
on Earth. It is less than 200 years since the
first person set foot on Antarctica. Since then,
small numbers of explorers and scientists
have been visiting the world's coldest
continent. No-one lives there permanently.
Who owns Antarctica?
The Antarctic continent does not belong to
any state or government. South Africa and
44 other member nations belong to the
Antarctic Treaty, which determines how the
area is managed. Countries who sign this
treaty undertake to ensure that the Antarctic
region will only be used for peaceful and
scientific purposes and to protect and
Among the
preserve the environment.
visitors have been several
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and
thousand South Africans, working
driest place on Earth. It is almost entirely
on and studying the continent and
covered in ice. The lowest temperature
the surrounding Southern Ocean islands:
measured was -88 degrees Celsius.
Prince Edward Island and Marion
In the interior, wind speeds reach up
Island, which are two peaks of a volcano
to 350 km/h. The annual rainfall is
that belong to South Africa; and is home to
about 50 mm inland and 35 mm
a large variety of bird and animal species.
along the coast (South Africa's
Gough Island, a British protectorate,
average annual rainfall is 464 mm,
which is largely uninhabited except for
and the world average is 857 mm).
the eight to ten South Africans and British
During summer, Antarctica has
nationals who maintain a
24 - hour days and no nights.
meteorological station
During winter, Antarctica has
there for making weather
24 - hour nights and the sun
observations that
never rises for about
are essential for
one month.
South Africa’s
weather predictions.
Although the
f
f
Antarctica is a hostile environment and
most of the plants and creatures in South
Africa will not survive there. Lichen – a plant
composed of fungus and algae – is found
on the rocky outcrops. Invertebrates
(animals without backbones) such as ticks
and mites are also found there. Larger land
animals include penguins and seals.
The surrounding ocean is the home of
whales, which feed on krill and
sometimes seals and penguins.
A few bird species are also
found on Antarctica.
South Africa in Antarctica
South Africa's involvement in
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
islands dates back to the earliest
voyages of discovery, due to the
then Cape of Good Hope's
position as a stop-over for
explorers, whalers and
sealers (people hunting
whales and seals).
A permanent weather
base was established
on Marion when South
Africa annexed the
Prince Edward
islands in 1948.
In 1959, the first
South African
National Antarctic
Expedition (SANAE)
was undertaken.
The expedition
established a
permanent presence
for South Africa on
Antarctica that is
still there today.
The South Africans
took over an
abandoned
Norwegian base
on the edge of the
ice shelf, some
4 000 km south
of Cape Town.
This base was replaced
several times, because a base
built on the ice shelf drifts out to
sea with the ice with time and is
eventually covered with snow.
The most recent South African
base, SANAE IV, is located 170 km
inland built on a rocky
outcrop peeping out of
the white snow.
f
f
Downloading air
and ground
temperature data
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region is harsh
and very few
people live there,
it is very vulnerable. Much of
the South African researchers'
work in the Antarctic and Southern
Ocean islands region is aimed at
protecting the fragile environment.
The mission of the South African National
Antarctic Programme (SANAP) is to
increase our understanding of the natural
environment and life in the area
through appropriate research, science
and technology and to use the unique
vantage point Antarctica provides for
Space Weather observation.
Antarctica is so
cold because it is:
• surrounded by an ocean
with cold currents;
the windiest place on Earth;
completely covered with snow.
Since snow is white, it reflects rather
than absorbs the Sun's rays; and
situated at an extremely high
altitude (average 2 500 m).
•
•
•
MiniMag
MiniMag
The new base was completed in 1997.
The frame of the base is made of steel and
the outer layer is rigid, pre-constructed foam
and fibreglass panels. The base is built on
stilts to allow for wind and snow to flow
underneath the base and to thus prevent the
accumulation of snow on top of the base. The
roof and bottom panels are painted bright
orange which makes it easier to
see the base from the air.
The living quarters
are heated by the
heat exchangers
of the electric
power generators.
Fresh water is obtained
by melting snow.
The SA Agulhas, ready to
load in Antarctica.
The Aurora Australis or
“southern lights”
(Photo: Morgan O’Kennedy)
How To Get There:
Antarctica is about 4 000 km away from
South Africa. It takes 10 - 15 days to travel
there by ship, the time depending on how
much ice there is along the way. It can only be
reached between November/December and
April/May. The SA Agulhas is the South African
government's research and supply ship which
is used to transport people and cargo to its
three bases in Antarctica and on Marion and
Gough islands. Other countries also charter
the SA Agulhas to assist with their Antarctic
programmes. Research is conducted,
weather observations are made and
weather buoys are released from the ship.
Science in Antarctica
The South African National Antarctic
Programme plays a big role to conserve
Antarctica, which is considered a living
laboratory. Studies done in Antarctica help
us understand the entire Earth system.
Signals that researchers pick up in
Antarctica tell us more about global changes
in the past, as well as possible future
changes. The following are some interesting
research projects that are being undertaken in
and by South Africans in Antarctica.
The SANAE IV base
(Photo: Daleen Koch)
Collecting mites
EasyScience is produced by the South African Agency
for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA),
an operational unit of the National Research Foundation.
SAASTA’s mission is to promote the publics understanding,
appreciation and engagement with science and technology
among all South Africans.
Visit the website: www.saasta.ac.za for more information.
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“Maudheimia wilsoni”, a micro
arthoropod that is only a few
millimetres in size.
Physical Science
Physical science is the study of
non-living things, and is focused on
geomagnetic and space weather
related observations. It includes
physics and chemistry.
Physical science research is
conducted all year round in
Antarctica. Experiments include a
network of high-frequency radars
used to study the Earth's ionosphere;
observing geospace (the area of
space that surrounds Earth) from Earth;
research on cosmic rays (very high energy
charged particles from the cosmos); and
observations of the magnetosphere.
Daleen Koch is an electronic engineer,
from Hermanus Magnetic Observatory,
who worked as a space weather
researcher in Antarctica for 14 months.
This research is important because
space weather affects our daily life,
without most of us even knowing it exists.
Space weather is the interaction between
the Sun and the Earth's ionosphere.
The Earth is protected by the
magnetosphere. The solar
wind, which is high energy particles
coming from the Sun, strikes the
magnetosphere and causes electric
currents in the upper ionosphere.
This interferes with satelite
communication and gps
signals and can
overload power
lines and power
transfromers, causing
major power failures.
It can also be dangerous
to astronauts in space.
Studying the Oceans
Oceanography is the scientific study of
oceans, including their chemistry, biology
and geology. Studying the oceans south of
Africa contributes to our understanding of
the weather and climate of southern Africa.
Biodiversity in Antarctica and the islands
and the Southern Ocean provide exciting
research opportunities.
An example of oceanographic research
in the oceans surrounding Antarctica is
that of Dr Isabelle Ansorge of the
Oceanography Department at UCT.
She studies the importance of the main
current that flows around Antarctica
– called the Antarctic circumpolar
current – and how it changes
in temperature, salinity,
and density. Her team
also studies the effect
of this current's
movement and
velocity on
the Prince
Edward Island
ecosystem.
Engineering Science
Engineers do research into how
South Africa can ensure a sustainable
presence in Antarctica.
They study energy generation and
waste management, solar and wind
energy, reducing air pollution, heating
and ventilation of the bases, and
improving the living conditions
at the bases.
Professor Thomas Harms of the
University of Stellenbosch is a
mechanical engineer who, together
with his team, research engine fuel
The atmosphere is a band of gas surrounding
consumption and the power needs of
the Earth. The atmosphere is held close to the
the SANAE IV base.
Earth by gravity. It is divided into various layers:
study the heating and ventilation,
f The troposphere in which we live and where They
energy and waste management of the
nearly all the clouds, rain and snow occur; it
base, renewable energy
extends up to 10 km above the Earth.
systems and the impact
f The stratosphere which extends up to
and cost of diesel
50 km above the Earth. Aircrafts usually fly in
engines which are
this layer above the weather. The ozone
used to generate
layer is between the stratosphere and
electricity and power
the mesosphere;
vehicles in Antarctica.
f The mesosphere extends to 85 km above
His team is also
the Earth;
developing better
support systems for
f Above the mesosphere lies the
thermosphere. It includes a lower part, the
SANAE IV, which is
ionosphere, which reflects some radio waves
vulnerable because of the
back to the Earth, and the exosphere, which
snow that accumulates
fades away into space from 500 km further up.
around the base.
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MiniMag
Biological Science
There may not
seem to be much
biological activity
in Antarctica,
until one takes
a closer look.
An example of
research done
on the “wildlife”
of this continent
is that of
Dr Jennifer Lee
from the
Centre for
Invasion Biology
of Stellenbosch
University.
She studies the
effect of humans on
the micro arthropods
(animals that have
segmented bodies
and jointed, hollow
legs such as
spiders, insects and
crustaceans) of Antarctica.
Weather
The South African Weather
Service collects data on
weather and climate in
Antarctica and the Southern
Ocean islands, and have
weather offices at
SANAE IV, Marion Island
and Gough Island.
They also gather data on
ozone levels at SANAE,
which can be used to study
trends in ozone depletion.
Comments From a Few Who
Have Been There
“Antarctica is one of the most interesting and
spectacular laboratories in the world”.
Prof Don Cowan, Microbiologist, University of the
Western Cape.
“I did not have to wear a suit.”
Lukhanyiso Vumazonke, Aquatic Biologist, SA Institute for
Aquatic Biodiversity.
“In summer we have 24 hours of daylight –
which is pretty weird the first time you
experience it!”
Zama Magogotya, SHARE Radar Scientist 2007.
“Despite living so isolated for 11 months, there
was not a lot that I missed back home.”
Dineo Matsapa, Assistant Meteorologist.
EasyScience is produced by the South African Agency
for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA),
an operational unit of the National Research Foundation.
SAASTA’s mission is to promote the publics understanding,
appreciation and engagement with science and technology
among all South Africans.
Visit the website: www.saasta.ac.za for more information.
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