International Research in the Antarctic

The continent, seas, and atmosphere of the Antarctic constitute one of the greatest natural laboratories for modern science. The research undertaken in the Antarctic is concerned with topics as diverse as solar wind, plasma physics, radio research, ocean circulation and mixing, glaciation, climate history, weather phenomena, the study of a range of organisms (including krill, whales, fish, seals, birds, and lowly plants), the survival of life forms at low temperature, and the impact of man on a pristine environment. SCAR, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, was established as a direct result of the great success of the International Geophysical Year in the late 1950s. Its object is to co-ordinate effectively the research programmes of the many nations active in the region. This book is based on special reports from SCAR's many working groups.