Journey to the end of the earth

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH

Textual Ques ans

 How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?

 Answer The geological phenomenon of separating various continents and water bodies from one compact landmass tells us about the age of existence of human race on the earth. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, no human race existed on the earth because the environment was not favourable. After the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out, the Mammals started existing and after the separation of landmass, the human race started flourishing on the earth.

Ques    What are the indications for the future of humankind?

Answer The future of the humankind can get in danger if the emission of carbondioxide and other poisonous gases go on in the same manner. These gases deplete the ozone layer and allow the ultra-violet rays of the sun to enter the earth’s environment. This causes the rise in temperature of the earth and giving rise to the phenomenon called global warming. Increased temperature can melt the ice of the Antarctica, and cause other environmental problems, thus jeopardizing the future of human kind.

 Reading with Insight

1.      ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?

Answer The study of this region of Antarctica gives us insight into the world’s geological history. It gives an idea, how the earth was like, before it drifted into continents and countries. It shows how slight changes in the climate can change the shape of the region. It gives the explanation how the climatic conditions of the earth were not favourable for life before and how slowly rising temperature made earth a place to sustain life. All secrets are embedded in the layers of ice in the form of half million year old carbon records

2.      What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?

 Answer Geoff Green took the high school students to one end of the world, to provide them the opportunity to develop the respect and understanding for the earth. He wanted to make the future policy-makers to experience how difficult it would have been for the earth to sustain life by rising its temperature. He wanted them to understand that any interference in nature can cause drastic mishappenings in the future when the students see the ice shelves melting and collapsing, they can estimate the kind of environmental troubles ahead in their future.

3.      ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?

Answer This statement has great relevance in the context of the Antarctic environment. A small change in the environment can give rise to drastic developments. Antarctica has a small biodiversity. The example of small grass called phytoplankton can be studied in this context. These microscopic grasses undergo the process of photosynthesis and serve as food for number of marine birds and animals. The author says if there is further depletion of the ozone layer, it will affect the phytoplanktons and the carbon cycle on the globe. This whole process can jeopardize the existence of all the marine birds and animals. So if we take care processes carried over by these small grasses are carried out properly, the bigger animals and birds will fall into the place on their own.

4.      Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?

 Answer Antarctica gives us an idea, how the earth would have been like millions of years ago and how it got divided into various earth masses. The melting and colliding ice masses also give us an insight into how our future is going to be, if we continue with interference in the working of the nature. Moreover, Antarctica holds into the depths of its ice halfmillion year old carbon records, which are helpful in understanding the past, present and future of the earth. Therefore, Antarctica is the place which reveals our past, shows our present and visualizes our future.

 Important Questions and Answers

 Que. What is Antarctica?

 Ans. Antarctica is southern continent of the earth. It is the driest, coldest and windiest continent.

Que. What is ‘Students on Ice? (Imp)

Ans. ‘Students on Ice’ is an educational journey to Antarctica. It takes high school students to show them the terrifying impacts of human activities in Antarctica so that, the students (future policy makers of the earth) will realize that the end of the earth is quite near and therefore something should be done to save the planet.

 Que. Why did Geoff Green decide to take high school students to Antarctica?

 Ans. Geoff Green didn’t find any good in taking curious celebrities to Antarctica until he thought of taking high school students. He believed the young enthusiasm in them would easily understand the seriousness of the threat that poses the earth by visiting Antarctica and they would act their bit to save the planet from further deterioration.

Que. Why is Students on Ice Program a success?

 Ans. When one stands in the midst of the calving ice-sheets and retreating glaciers and melting icebergs, he realizes that the threats to the earth are real. It is different from talking about Antarctica from the comfort zones of our warm countries and therefore being in Antarctica is a shocking realization.

 Que. Why are the youngsters called the future policy makers of the earth?

 Ans. The youngsters are called the future policy-makers because it is they who will steer the government-machine as they grow up. More than that, the more educated youth of today is the hope for the earth as many students are more informed and more aware of the weakening strength of the planet.

Que. What lessons are we able to learn from Antarctica?

 Ans. While in Antarctica, we can ice-sheets breaking, water level rising, seals taking sun bath on the icefloes. We can also walk on the thin layers of ice and feel the life under our feet. We can see icebergs as big as a small country. We will be shocked to hear that these ice sheets were many times bigger than their present size a few years ago. You will see a green patch of phytoplankton – a microscopic grass that feeds the entire marine life. Last of all, if you dig a bit, you will be lucky to see the fossils of half a million year old animals, plants and birds that got killed in the previous ice-age. From all this, we are able to learn the lesson of the death of the planet earth.

Que. What are phytoplanktons? How are they important for the earth’s survival? What does the parable of phytoplankton teach us? (Imp)

 Ans. Phytoplankton is a single-celled grass that feed the entire southern ocean’s marine life. These micro organisms require a low degree of temperature for their survival. But due to the overheating and the depletion of ozone layers, their existence is threatened. The message for the humans is to take care of the small things so that the bigger things will also fall in place.

Que. How is Antarctica significant in climatic debates?

 Ans. Antarctica is a continent that has a landmass with miles deep ice, layers over layers. In each of those layers lie millions of years old carbon records of the organisms that existed since the beginning of the earth. While pondering over the issue of the future of the earth, these carbon records will shed light on the past and enable the scientist to co-relate the past, present and future.

Que. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?

 Ans. Geological phenomena certainly help us to know about the history of humankind. A giant southern supercontinent- Gondwana did exist 650 million years ago. The climate was much warmer. It had a huge variety of flora and fauna. Gondwana thrived for 500 million years. Finally, it broke to separate countries as they exist today. It was the stage when dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of mammals started. Que. What are the indications for the future of humankind? Ans. Rapid human population growth and limited resources exert pressure on land. Burning of fossil fuels has only helped in increasing the average global temperature. Melting of ice-caps, depletion of the ozone layer and global warming are the real and immediate dangers for mankind. They will affect the lives of all the marine animals and the birds of the region.

Que. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica: How is the study of this region useful to us? (Imp)

Ans. The study of Antarctica shows that India and Antarctica were part of a supercontinent named Gondwana. This supercontinent exists 650 million years ago. To The climate of Gondwana was much warmer. It fostered a huge variety of flora and fauna. Then about 150 million years ago, dinosaurs were wiped out. The age of mammals started. Gondwana was forced to separate into countries. The globe was shaped much as we know it today. A cold circumpolar current was created. It made Antarctica frigid. Thus, we can say that the world’s geological history is really trapped in Antarctica.

 Que. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past And future? (Imp)

Ans. Introduction: If we want to study and examine the Earth’s present, past and future, there is the only place that is Antarctica. Reason: To visit Antarctica is to be a part of the earth’s past history. We come to know that about 650 million years ago there was a giant super-continent in the south. It was called Gondwana. India and the Antarctica were parts of the same landmass-Gondwana. Things were quite different then. Human had not arrived on the earth. The climate of Antarctica was much warmer. It had a huge variety of flora and fauna. Dinosaurs became extinct. The age of mammals started. The landmass was forced in to be separated into countries as they exist today. The study of Antarctica also helps us to understand the earth’s present and future as well. Geological history is trapped. Here in Antarctica we can study the earth’s past. About 90 percent of the earth’s total ice is stored here. There are no trees, buildings or other human settlements in Antarctica. Here we see glaciers melting and ice-caps falling. We can relate them to the results of global warming. Antarctica also warns us for the future. It warns the end of the world if the west Antarctica ice sheet melts entirely, and the Gulf Stream ocean current is disrupted. What will happen if the global warming results in constant melting of icebergs? It will bring disastrous results. The further depletion (decadence) of ozone layer will affect sea animals, vegetation (plants and trees) and humans very adversely (undesirably). Conclusion: There is no place in the Earth except Antarctica where we can find the records of present, past and future. Thus, Antarctica is the perfect place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and the future.