Journey to the End of the Earth

Overview

Presented by: तुषण दोषी
The lecture discusses the journey to Antarctica on a Russian research ship, focusing on the educational "Students on Ice" program.
Key aspects covered: journey experience, learning outcomes, and environmental insights.

Started from 13.09 degrees North of the Equator in Madras.
Travel involved multiple modes: car, plane, and ship.
Traveled on the Russian vessel "Shakti."
100-hour journey through various travel modes.
Reaches Antarctica, experiences serenity and peacefulness due to the vast, white landscape.

Pangaea Theory: Originally, there was one supercontinent named Pangaea.
- Pangaea gradually drifted apart, forming Laurasia and Gondwana Land.
- Continents' current distribution explains the jigsaw-puzzle fit.
- Warmer climate and diverse flora and fauna existed before human emergence.
Antarctica offers an understanding of Earth's past, present, and future.
- Visible impact of melting glaciers and retreating ice sheets demonstrates climate change.

Population and Resources: Rapid population increase stresses resources.
- Limited resources are stretched thin by growing human activity.
- Burning fossil fuels covers Earth in CO2, raising global temperatures.
- Antarctica shows visible impacts of these activities.

Pristine and untouched due to extreme conditions where humans cannot sustain life.
Environment remains largely unexploited compared to other regions.

Educational Initiative: Led by Jeff Green, targets high school students, not celebrities.
- Future policymakers gain firsthand experience of environmental issues.
- Students absorb knowledge and act accordingly in future plans and policies.
- Direct exposure to pristine environments influences students' perspectives on climate change.
Example: Microscopic phytoplankton producing food via photosynthesis in Southern Ocean.
- Disruption in sunlight affects entire aquatic food chain, exemplifying small changes causing significant impacts.

Ship stops between the Taft Pole and Peninsula; group walks on ice.
- Realization of the delicate balance beneath their feet—thick ice and salty water.
- Promotes understanding of Earth's varying ecosystems.
Future Reflection: Experiences influence future decision-making and policies.