How does Tishani Doshi describe her journey from Madras to the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent ?
Doshi says that the journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator in Madras. It involved crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least three ecospheres. She had to travel over 100 hours in combination of car, aeroplane and ship.
How did the author feel when she first set foot on Antarctic continent ?
(Or)
How did Antarctica amaze the writer when she first saw it ?
(Or)
What were the writer’s feelings on reaching Antarctica ?
The writer’s first emotion was that of relief and amazement. It was relief at the sight of Antarctica’s expansive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon. Then she was amazed at its immensity and isolation. She wondered how there could have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.
What information does the author give about Gondwana ?
Six hundred and fifty million years ago, Gondwana was the southern supercontinent. It centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. Humans had not yet arrived on the global scene. The climate was much warmer. There was a huge variety of flora and fauna.
For how long did Gondwana thrive, and when did it separate into various countries ?
Gondwana thrived for about 500 million years. It separated into various countries around the time when the dinosaurs disappeared from the earth. It was when mammals had begun to appear.
What is Drake Passage ? How was it formed ?
It is a 1000-km-wide strait that connects the southern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a cold circumpolar current that goes round Antarctica. It was formed when India and South America separated from Gondwana and drifted northward.
How were the Himalayas formed ?
About a million years ago, India used to be a part of the southern supercontinent — Gondwana. Somehow it was pushed northward. It jammed against Asia. Its crust got buckled and thus the Himalayas were formed.
What does the author say about the life of human civilizations ?
Human civilizations have been there for about 12,000 years. But on the geological clock, this time comes to a few seconds only. However, in this short time, man has created much ruckus. He has dominated nature.
What has been the result of rapid increase of human populations ?
The rapid increase of human populations has resulted in many problems. Natural resources have become limited. Thus a battle with other species has started. Limitless burning of fossil fuels has created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. It has increased the average global temperature.
Why is a visit to Antarctica important to realise the effect of global warming ?
A visit to Antarctica can show us the reality of receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves. They can give us an indication of the horrible future. They can tell us how real the threat of global warming is.
What is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time and why ?
Climate change is one of the most hotly contested topics. The climate of our globe is changing gradually. It is growing warmer and warmer. As a result, the polar ice caps will start melting. The danger of floods will thus increase.
How can a visit to Antarctica be an enlightening experience ?
A visit to Antarctica can tell us how our globe took its present-day shape. It can tell us how there was a time when India and South America used to be a part of the southern continent. Thus a visit to Antarctica can be an enlightening experience.
How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change ?
The climate of the globe is changing gradually. And if this continues, it is finally Antarctica that is going to determine the future of the earth. The polar ice caps will start melting and there will be floods everywhere. Thus Antarctica is a crucial element in the debate on climate change.
What is unique and typical about Antarctica ?
Antarctica is the only place in the world which never had any human population. It remains pristine in this respect. Secondly, it holds half-million-year-old carbon records. They lie trapped in its layers of ice.
What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme ?
Its aim was to take high school students to the ends of the world. Thus they could get inspiring educational opportunities. Through their experiences, they could develop a new understanding and respect for their planet. Thus as future policy-makers, they could help to save the planet from the present dangers.
What are the indications for the future of humankind ?
There are ominous indications for the future of humankind. The average global temperature is slowly but surely increasing. The threat of global warming is very real. These grave indications don’t augur well for the future of humankind.
Why is Antarctica and its understanding important for the survival of the world ?
The study of Antarctica tells us of the effect of global warming on the world. Due to global warming, glaciers are receding. If this continues, the polar ice caps will start melting and there will be floods everywhere. This will bring about the end of the world. Thus Antarctica and its understanding is important for the survival of the world.
How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind ?
Geological phenomena can help us to know where we have come from and where we are possibly heading. They tell us how the different continents were formed. Similarly, the melting of the polar caps can tell us where possibly we are heading.
In a short span of twelve thousand years, man has managed to create a ruckus on this earth. How ?
Man has dominated nature everywhere. He has dominated each and every corner of land and sea. He has explored all the mineral wealth of the earth. Thus it is quite appropriate to say that man has managed to create a ruckus on this earth.
How can you say that the ‘Students on Ice’ programme has been successful ?
The aim of this programme was to make the younger generation aware of the dangers of global warming. Those who visited Antarctica under this programme, saw for themselves glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing. Thus they realised that the threat of global warming was very real.
What do you know about ‘phytoplankton’ ?
They are single-celled plants. They are grasses of the southern ocean. Through the process of photosynthesis, they supply food and oxygen for all the marine animals and birds of the region. But global warming can affect the activities of these plants and the life of all creatures depending on them.
How is Antarctica different from the place you live in ?
Antarctica is entirely different from the place we live in. It is the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world. There are no human signs. There are no trees, billboards or buildings. We lose all earthly sense of time there. Days go on and on for 24 hours.
‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of the region useful to us ?
The study of Antarctica can tell us how our globe took its present-day shape. It can tell us how there was a time when India and South America used to be a part of the southern supercontinent — Gondwana. Then about a million years ago, India pushed northward and jammed against Asia. Its crust buckled and formed the Himalayas. South America drifted off to join North America. The study of Antarctica also tells us that it is the only place in the world that never had any human populations. It remains relatively pristine in this respect. It has in its ice cores half-million-year-old carbon records. They are all trapped in its layers of ice. Thus if we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go to. Its receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves will tell us how real the threat of global warming is. Thus the study of the region can be very useful to us. It can help us to learn from our mistakes.
What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition ?
Geoff Green looks upon students as important and responsible members of our future generation. They are our future policy-makers. They have the ability to absorb, learn and act. That was why he included high school students in his expedition. By their visit to Antarctica, they could see for themselves how real the danger of global warming is. Receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves could tell them how the danger of floods was increasing day by day. Thus they could develop a new understanding and respect for their planet. And when they grow up, they will take steps to stop the harms that are being done to the earth. They will take steps to fight such problems as the rapid increase of human populations and unmitigated burning of fossil fuels. They will take steps to ensure that life continues to exist on this planet. It was for these educational reasons that Geoff Green included high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition.
‘Take care of 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 ?
The Antarctic environment has been affected by global warming. It is clear from receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves. But the danger of global warming starts from what appears to be a small thing. It starts from the burning of fossil fuels. No harm can come if we make a wise and judicious use of these fuels. But we have started using them carelessly. Their overuse has disturbed the global carbon cycle. The ozone layer has been affected. The very life on this globe has come in the danger of extinction. In other words, the neglect of a small thing has resulted in a terrible danger. This big danger can be averted only if we become careful about small things like the burning of fossil fuels and fast increase of population. The writer gives the example of phytoplankton which are single-celled plants. They are grasses of the sea. These tiny plants form the food chain for all the marine animals and birds of the region. Thus the writer shows how big things will take care of themselves if we take care of small things. If we take care of phytoplankton, all marine life of the Southern Ocean will take care of itself.
Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future ?
(Or)
If we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go to. Comment.
(Or)
How can we say that Antarctica is the best place to study and understand about Earth’s present, past and future ? Answer with reference to ‘Journey to the End of the Earth’.
Antarctica is really the place to go to if we want to understand the earth’s present, past and future. It can tell us how our globe took its present-day shape. It can tell us how there was a time when India and South America used to be a part of the southern supercontinent — Gondwana. Then, about a million years ago, India pushed northward and jammed against Asia forming the Himalayas. South America drifted off to join North America. The study of Antarctica also tells us that it is the only place in the world that never had any human population. It remains relatively pristine in this respect. It has in its ice cores half-million-year-old carbon records. Thus Antarctica tells us of the present state also. It can tell us the Earth’s past. Its receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves can give us an indication of the future also. They can tell us how real the threat of global warming is. Thus Antarctica is really the place to go to if we want to understand the earth’s present, past and future.
What are phytoplankton ? How are they important to our ecosystem ?
Phytoplankton are microscopic grasses of the sea. They form the food chain for the entire Southern Ocean’s marine life. These single-celled plants use the sun’s energy to assimilate carbon dioxide through the wonderful process called photosynthesis. Scientists warn us that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton. The harmful rays of the sun will enter the earth’s atmosphere and harm these single-celled plants. Their destruction will, in turn, affect the lives of all marine animals and birds of the region. Thus the phytoplankton grasses are very important to our ecosystem. By assimilating the atmospheric carbon dioxide, they serve a very useful purpose. Without them, the carbon dioxide level would increase to a harmful extent for all living things on the earth. Also a big source of food for marine life will disappear from the seas.
Why is Antarctica the place to go to for the scientists today ?
Antarctica is the only place in the world that never had any human population. It remains relatively pristine in this respect. It has in its ice cores half-million-year-old carbon records. Thus the study of Antarctica tells us about the present as well as past state of the earth. Its receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves can give us an indication of the horrible future of the earth. They can tell us how real the threat of global warming is. There can be floods and many low lands can go under water. Climate change is one of the most hotly contested debates of our time. And in this debate, Antarctica is a crucial element. This region is important for science because of its profound effect on the Earth’s climate. The study of this region can help the scientists in understanding the global environmental issues like — climate change, ozone depletion, sea level rise. A visit to Antarctica can warn us of the dangers arising from deforestation, excessive burning of fossil fuels and overpopulation.Thus Antarctica is really the place to go to for the scientists today. From their experience in Antarctica they can learn how to protect their earth from further damage.
