Geography and History of the World © 2010 Indiana Edition

Chapter 34: The Region Today: Australia and Oceania


Today's scientists may follow the paths of Antarctica's early explorers, but present-day goals involve scientific research rather than exploration. The Antarctic ice cap holds a vast storehouse of information about world climate. In this lesson you will learn about research in Antarctica, the information that ice cores contribute to scientific knowledge, and the work of one expedition from the United States.

Destination Title: Secrets of the Ice

Start at the home page of the Secrets of the Ice Web site.
  • Click on the title, "Secrets of the Ice," and read the introduction to the site.
  • Click on "Explore Antarctica," and follow the links to pages about climate. Browse through these and the following pages, taking notes as you read.
  • Click on "Ice Core Research" and "Scientific Expedition." You may click on other links on these pages such as "Drilling Ice Cores" to complete your research.


What vital part does Antarctica play in the earth's ecosystem?
How would you rank the three U.S. weather stations shown in the weather graphs, based on harshest to least harsh environment?
What are the changes that occur to snow as it becomes part of the Antarctic ice cap?
Why are scientists on this expedition drilling ice cores that represent only the past 200 years?
Imagine that you are part of the U.S. research team in Antarctica. Using the information from this site, write a report for your hometown newspaper about your daily activities. Include an explanation of your research tasks as well as details of daily life in a harsh environment.
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