Poles and Space

Arctic and Antarctic Poles

Different Aspects:

  • earths magnetic fields in relation to the poles

  • earth’s processes

  • the layers of the earth like Crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, inner core

Antarctic

The driest, windiest, coldest, and highest continent on the planet

It was the last continent to be discovered, th

the least walked upon region in the world but also the most well mapped

  • a continent

  • has no indigenous population

  • only population is comprised of scientists living at readsearch outposts for a few months or years at a time

  • Numerous countries make territorials claims for research faciliites and territory

Climate

Extremely low solar radiation (sunlight)

Climate change is transforming the antarctic profoundly

polar amplification

permafrost thaw

species’ habitats destroyed

Physical and Human Geography

very extreme conditions

history of unequal gender balance in the poles, still has some effects

The Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Paradox Reflections

  • the most protected yet also the most threatened

  • Pillars of Understanding for Antarctica Include:

    • The maintenance of peace achieved through non-militarization and non-nuclearization

    • The agreement to “freeze”, though not relinquish, territorial claims

    • the emphasis on scientific collaboration as an important activity to be carried out in the continent

Antarctica the Laboratory Reflections

irony in the fact that countries doing climate change research in Antarctica aren’t concerned in their own undermining of the climate and their effects on the climate

In and Beyond Place

The Arctic

Focus Image: Greenlandic Fjord and Svalbard Global Seed Vault

  • Most often defined as areas north of the Arctic circle

  • area where the sun never sets for part of the summer and never rises for part of the winter

  • the area where the average temperature for the warmest month is below 50*F (10*C)

  • Population comprised of:

    • Indigenous populations well-adapted to the climate

    • Government workers and military personnel

    • workers in extractive industries

Themes

  • Climate change is transforming more profoundly at the poles than at any other place on earth

  • Military spending, mining, fishing, and hunting are long-time economic activities. (an ice-free Arctic will generate many new economic activities)

  • The polar regions are a growing source of conflict as multiple nations compete for control

  • Urban centers are few and far between and rural areas are depopulating

  • Populations are stable; a complex gender imbalance exists

Urban Life

  • Arctic urban centers are few and far between

  • rural areas are depopulating in the Arctic as people move to the cities or leave the region.

  • the largest cities (most are in Russia) are declining since the fall of the Soviet Union

  • Some smaller Scandinavia towns are growing because of increased interests

  • some cities were gulag camps

Globalization and Development

Arctic Ocean

  • will likely be ice free in the summer by 2030

  • international fishing will increase

  • the human population of the arctic will

Climate Change in the Arctic

the arctic is warming three times as fast as the global average-

  • climate change is profoundly transforming the Antarctic

  • polar amplification

  • permafrost thaw

  • species’ habitats are destroyed

đź’«Spaceđź’«

  • Asteroids

  • Space junk/debris

  • International collaboration/ communications

  • Gender Representation

Where is Space?

  • Interplanetary space: the space between the sun and planets a of our solar system

  • Interstellar space: the space between our solar systme and other in our Galaxy (Milky Way)

  • Intergalactic Space: the spce between our galaxy and other galaxies

Outer Space: the region between Earth’s atmosphere and all other objects in the Universe

The Karman line: 100km or approximately 62 miles above sea level

Satellites

A satellites is a machine, planet, and/ or moon that orbits a planet or a star. Focus: the machine satellites

Focus: Western Union

Satellites:

  • increase our knowledge of Earth about space through information collected

    • Remote sensing- gather a wide array of visual, photographic and electronic signal data

    • Communication satellites- used to extend the range of telephone, television, radio, Internet, and other communications signals that must travel long distances

    • Weather Satellites- assist in forecasting by monitoring cloud formations, temperature, and precipitation

    • Navigational Satellites- provide accurate latitude and longitude as well as elevation data

  • Clutter the geospace, complicates other space exploration

Environmental Issues: Debris on Space

Proliferation of human made satellites

  • Space Junk in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

    • An orbit in which satellites move relative to each other: this zone has a vast accumulation of defunct satellites and their associated parts

    • Gravity pulls some debris out of orbit and into the atmosphere where it burns up due to friction with air molecules. Some space junk reaches Earth intact

  • Kessler Scenario

    • a situation where so much space junk accumulates around the Earth that travel through low earth orbit becomes impossible or at least increasingly dangerous

  • Asteroid Risks

    • current strategies involve early warning systems

Geographic Themes

  • Human made satellites orbiting the earth enrich out understanding of earth and space but bring hazards that complicate further exploration

  • Commercial activity in space is increasing

  • No agreements define the rights of individuals or corporations to own property in space

  • Long-term human populations and urban settlements not on earth are a distant prospect because of hostile living environments

Manufacturing in Space

  • The zero- gravity makes some manufacturing processes easier

    • solar panels, fiber optic cables, 3D printed mammalian organs

  • High levels of UV radiation can break down toxic substances to inert forms

  • Microchip manufacturing can take advantage of cool environment

    • saves trillions in cooling liquid during manufacturing

Asteroids

Mining in space

  • more than 100mil asteroids in the solar system some with very precious metals

  • bringing large amounts of precious metals such as gold or platinum to earth could impact the global economy

  • Many countries are already developing plans to mine asteroids

    • Harvard Astrophysicist estimates there are only about 10 near-earth asteroids that are rich enough in valuable rare-earth metals to be worth the immense cost of mining

Power in Space

  • Outer Space Treaty of 1967

    • all spacefaring nations agree that bi parts of outer space can be claimed as national territory

    • rights of individuals or corporations to own property in space not yet decided (murky and untested)

  • Militarization of Space

    • space exploration shaped by competing military interests is occurring

Thinking About Ethics Down Here and Up Reflections

  • Labor Concerns: questions of indentured servitude

  • Health Concerns: 100 times the radiation exposition

  • Science/ emotional rationals: going to space because its “cool”