Summary of journey to the end of the earth 2
Answers
Answer:
Biginning of Journey- The narrator boarded a Russian research ship-The 'Akademik
Shokalskiy'. It was heading towards the coldest, driest and the windiest continent in the world,
Antarctica. His journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator in Madras (Chennai). He
crossed nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least three ecospheres. He
travelled over 100 hours in car, aeroplane and ship to reach there.
Southern Supercontinent(Gondwana)- Six hundred and fifty million years ago a giant
southern supercontinent Gondwana did indeed exist. It centered roughly around present-day
Antarctica. Human beings hadn't arrived on the global scene. The climate at that time was much
warmer. It supported a huge variety of flora and fauna. When the dinosaurs became totally
extinct and the age of mammals began, the landmass was forced to separate into countries as
they exist today.
Study of Antarctica-The purpose of the visit was to know more about Antarctica. It is to
understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and
carbon; evolution and extinction. Ninety per cent of the earth's total ice volumes are stored in
Antarctica. Icebergs are as big as countries. Days go on and on in 24-hour austral summer light.
Human Impact- The most hotly contested debate of our time is whether West Antarctica Ice
sheet will melt entirely or no. If we want to study the earth's past, present and future, Antarctica
is the place (for us) to go. Antarctica has a simple eco-system and lacks of biodiversity. It is the
perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions (results).
Scientists warn that a further depletion of the ozone layer will affect the lives of the sea-animals
and birds of the region. It will also affect the global carbon cycle.
The burning of fossil fuels has polluted the atmosphere. It has created a blanket of carbon
dioxide around the world. It is increasing the global temperature which is visible at Antarctica
when we see ice bergs melting away. It shows how minor changes in the atmosphere can cause
huge effect. If the global temperature keeps on increasing the human race may be in peril.
“Students on ice” is a programme which provides the students an ample opportunity to
understand how global temperature can be a big threat to human existence. It inculcates a new
understanding in them. Geoff Green thinks that high school students are the future policy
makers. They can help in saving the earth from ecological dangers and the effects of global
warming.
Hope it is helpful
Answer:
JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH
Summary
The writer visited Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world, aboard the Russian research vessel, Akademik Shokalskiy.
The journey, beginning at Chennai, passed through many areas, geographical, legal, ecological and temporal.
The writer’s first reaction to the continent was of relief, followed by wonder at its vastness, seclusion and geological history.
Part of History
Before human evolution, Antarctica was part of a huge tropical landmass called the Gondwana land, which flourished 500 million years ago.
Biological (flora and fauna), geological (changing continents) and geographical (climatic)changes occurred and Antarctica separated and moved away evolving into what it is today.
A visit to Antarctica gave the writer a deeper understanding of fold mountains, the earth’s history, ecology and environment.
The writer felt unsettled in two weeks time not only because she came from a much hotter place, but also because all features of human civilization were absent from an already desolate landscape.
The long summers, the silence broken occasionally by cracking ice sheets and avalanches, the blue whales and ice bergs, all contribute to an ecological implication that the future for humans isn’t good.
Human Impact
Humans, who are known to have existed for a mere 12000 years, have caused tremendous impact and played havoc with nature.
Population explosion, putting a strain on available resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels and global warming have all resulted in climatic and ecological imbalances that have also affected Antarctica.
Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there are concerns for its half a million year old carbon records trapped under its ice sheets.
The ‘Students on Ice’ programme, an initiative of Canadian adventure educator, Geoff Green takes students on expeditions to Antarctica, to create awareness in them, the future policy makers.
The stark proof of global warming and environmental threats helps students attain an understanding of ecosystems and biodiversity of our planet.
An amazing display of the food chain of the Southern Ocean helps in the understanding that further depletion of the ozone layer, will set off a chain reaction that will affect the global carbon cycle.
The simple truth is, take care of the small things and the bigger ones will automatically be taken care of.
Walk on The Ocean
Before their return, the writer got an opportunity to walk on the ocean at 65.55 degrees south, which made her realize that she was walking on 180 meters of ocean water, a rich kaleidoscope of life.
Reaching home, she wondered whether Antarctica would ever be warm again, how much difference a million years can make and, that each day makes a difference.