Antarctica, a land of ice and mystery, has long fascinated scientists and explorers alike. Today, this vast frozen continent is at the center of global concern as significant changes are taking place due to climate shifts and intriguing discoveries. In this video, we uncover what is really happening in Antarctica—focusing on both the alarming environmental changes and the fascinating events unfolding on the southernmost part of our planet. From ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates to new scientific findings that are reshaping our understanding of this remote region, Antarctica is undergoing transformations that affect not just the local environment but the entire globe.
Melting Ice Sheets and Rising Sea Levels
One of the most critical issues facing Antarctica today is the rapid melting of its ice sheets. Due to rising global temperatures, the ice that has remained stable for millions of years is now melting at an accelerated rate. This has caused concern among scientists as the melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, which could lead to devastating consequences for coastal communities worldwide. In particular, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has shown signs of instability, and the Thwaites Glacier—dubbed the "Doomsday Glacier"—is melting faster than expected. If this glacier collapses, it could significantly raise sea levels, causing widespread flooding in low-lying areas.
Mysterious Discoveries and Scientific Research
Aside from the environmental concerns, Antarctica is also a hotbed of scientific research and discovery. Recent findings in the Antarctic ice have revealed ancient ecosystems preserved for millions of years, offering a glimpse into Earth's distant past. Scientists have also discovered massive subglacial lakes hidden beneath the ice, which may harbor unique microbial life forms never before seen on Earth. These findings have sparked excitement within the scientific community, as studying these organisms could provide clues about life’s adaptability in extreme environments, even on other planets like Mars.
The Impact of Climate Change
Antarctica is often considered a bellwether for climate change because of how dramatically it is affected by rising global temperatures. The shrinking ice sheets, warming oceans, and changing weather patterns in the region are all stark reminders of how interconnected Earth's systems are. While Antarctica itself is sparsely populated, the changes occurring there will have far-reaching impacts across the planet. The melting ice not only contributes to rising sea levels but also affects global ocean currents, which in turn influence climate patterns worldwide.
Antarctica’s Role in Global Climate Studies
As one of the least-explored places on Earth, Antarctica is a critical location for understanding climate change. Researchers from around the world have established scientific bases to study the region’s atmosphere, wildlife, and geology. These studies help scientists predict how the
Melting Ice Sheets and Rising Sea Levels
One of the most critical issues facing Antarctica today is the rapid melting of its ice sheets. Due to rising global temperatures, the ice that has remained stable for millions of years is now melting at an accelerated rate. This has caused concern among scientists as the melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, which could lead to devastating consequences for coastal communities worldwide. In particular, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has shown signs of instability, and the Thwaites Glacier—dubbed the "Doomsday Glacier"—is melting faster than expected. If this glacier collapses, it could significantly raise sea levels, causing widespread flooding in low-lying areas.
Mysterious Discoveries and Scientific Research
Aside from the environmental concerns, Antarctica is also a hotbed of scientific research and discovery. Recent findings in the Antarctic ice have revealed ancient ecosystems preserved for millions of years, offering a glimpse into Earth's distant past. Scientists have also discovered massive subglacial lakes hidden beneath the ice, which may harbor unique microbial life forms never before seen on Earth. These findings have sparked excitement within the scientific community, as studying these organisms could provide clues about life’s adaptability in extreme environments, even on other planets like Mars.
The Impact of Climate Change
Antarctica is often considered a bellwether for climate change because of how dramatically it is affected by rising global temperatures. The shrinking ice sheets, warming oceans, and changing weather patterns in the region are all stark reminders of how interconnected Earth's systems are. While Antarctica itself is sparsely populated, the changes occurring there will have far-reaching impacts across the planet. The melting ice not only contributes to rising sea levels but also affects global ocean currents, which in turn influence climate patterns worldwide.
Antarctica’s Role in Global Climate Studies
As one of the least-explored places on Earth, Antarctica is a critical location for understanding climate change. Researchers from around the world have established scientific bases to study the region’s atmosphere, wildlife, and geology. These studies help scientists predict how the
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LearningTranscript
00:00This is Antarctica, which has been a great mystery for humans for centuries, whether it is blood waterfalls, mysterious animals, underground lakes or a city hidden under the snow.
00:12There are many myths and mysteries about Antarctica that have not been solved even today.
00:17Antarctica is the only continent in the world where no human lives because the temperature here goes up to minus 90 degrees Celsius.
00:26In addition to this, snow storms also come here at a speed of 300 km per hour.
00:31Similarly, Antarctica is also the driest continent in the world.
00:34So dry that you may be surprised to know that it is also called a desert because it rains only 51 mm here.
00:43Despite all this, many countries have been trying to take control of Antarctica for the past 100 years.
00:49Look at this map of Antarctica.
00:50France claims this part, Norway claims this part, Australia claims all this right side.
00:56Similarly, Britain, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand also claim some parts of Antarctica.
01:02But what is the reason for this?
01:04What is it that the superpowers of the world want to take control of it under this snow?
01:09Today we are going to solve some mysteries of Antarctica and we will also find out who actually discovered Antarctica.
01:18And finally, we will also see what secrets are hidden under this snow that the superpowers of the world know and that's why they want to take control of Antarctica.
01:30Who discovered Antarctica?
01:32Depends on who you are asking.
01:33The British say that they discovered Antarctica, while the Russians say that they were the first to set foot here.
01:40But Antarctica was mentioned by the Greek philosopher Aristotle thousands of years ago when he said that the Earth is round and the North and South Poles are mirror images of each other.
01:51In 2021, a study by the Royal Society of New Zealand was published in which it was said that the Maori people living near Australia on the Polynesian Islands were probably the first people to reach Antarctica in the 7th century.
02:03Because in their old stories, such a snowy continent is mentioned which is on the southern side of the earth.
02:10Anyway, in recorded history, British officer James Cook was the first European to cross the Antarctic Circle and reach here near Antarctica.
02:18But he was still 130 km away from Antarctica that he turned his ship back because he could not see Antarctica, but he definitely saw floating icebergs in the water.
02:28And the attitude of the sea was such that it was very dangerous to take the ship ahead.
02:32That's why James Cook said that it is so dangerous to reach this southern continent that maybe someone will ever come here.
02:39After Captain Cook, many more people tried to discover Antarctica, but they could not succeed.
02:45Then, as soon as the 19th century came, a competition began between countries for economic dominance.
02:51The world was now moving towards a new world order, resources and new trade routes were being discovered.
02:56Industries were being built, every country wanted to become a superpower in the coming new century and that's why explorations were on the rise.
03:03In this way, in 1819, the Russian Empire gave the task to the Russian explorer Fabian von Bellingshausen to travel around the world and discover new countries and continents.
03:13In 1820, Fabian proved Captain Cook's prediction wrong and reached here in the Southern Ocean and saw Antarctica very closely.
03:21Although he had not set foot on Antarctica, but he is said to be the first person in modern history who had seen Antarctica.
03:29Then, between 1900 and 1920, many explorers headed for Antarctica.
03:34British explorer Robert Falcon Scott landed on Antarctica with his team in 1911 and went about 400 miles ahead.
03:42But then he had to turn back due to bad weather and hunger.
03:46But this return journey proved to be very dangerous.
03:49Scott and his team got stuck in a severe cold and snowstorm and all of them died.
03:56After World War I, many countries sent their teams here and tried to claim this continent.
04:01In 1949, at the behest of Hitler, the German Air Force also dropped Nazi flags here so that this area could be controlled by Nazi Germany.
04:09After World War II, many countries set up their research stations here and from here, mysterious discoveries about Antarctica began to happen.
04:18The first and most mysterious discovery is that at some time, Antarctica was not snow but dense forest.
04:25According to the scientists of the Imperial College of London, they found fossilized wood here.
04:29From which it is known that about 90 million years ago, Antarctica was a hot continent where dense forests existed.
04:36Apart from this, they also found some fossils of such insects here which are found only in hot areas.
04:41The second big and mysterious discovery about Antarctica was that there are 400 lakes under the snow of these 3 kilometers, which have their own ecosystem.
04:52There are such marine animals here that do not exist anywhere in the world.
04:56Like these big spiders and see-through jellyfish.
04:59This is a different world under the snow.
05:02Similarly, another thing on Antarctica that has puzzled many explorers for many years is these bloody springs.
05:09This waterfall in McMurdo Valley is as if blood is coming out of the snow.
05:14But recently, scientists have discovered that the red color of this waterfall is because
05:19this spring used to get water from a very salty lake.
05:23On which now several hundred feet of snow has fallen.
05:26And that lake is completely cut off from the atmosphere.
05:29There is a lot of iron in this water and that's why when this water comes into the spring,
05:33the iron present in the water is oxidized due to oxygen and sunlight.
05:37And its color becomes exactly like zinc.
05:40The third biggest mystery and conspiracy about Antarctica is that there is some ancient civilization under this snow.
05:48Many people have claimed that alien spaceships have also been seen here.
05:53In 2016, many unusual activities have been recorded on Google Earth in Antarctica.
05:58Conspiracy theorists called them alien UFOs,
06:01while many political experts say that these are the secret air operations of America and other countries.
06:08Which they are doing in Antarctica.
06:10And this is where Antarctica's hidden political front comes from which very few people are aware.
06:15Where the rest of the world is entangled in other geopolitical issues,
06:19America, China and the Soviet Union are aggressively sending expeditions to Antarctica.
06:24In fact, China has set up its multiple research stations there.
06:28According to the Antarctic Treaty of 1969, any country can conduct scientific investigations in Antarctica.
06:35It just has to share the results of these studies with all the countries.
06:40In 1992, a US Geological Survey found that Antarctica has reserves of 500 billion barrels of natural gas and oil.
06:49But China and other countries are not interested in Antarctica for this oil and gas.
06:54In fact, recently, a large quantity of rare earth minerals such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium have been discovered in Antarctica.
07:03These are the minerals that are used in all electronic devices.
07:07And because the focus of the world is now moving away from oil and gas towards energy resources that power electronic devices,
07:14the demand for these minerals is higher than oil and gas.
07:18Electric cars and iron batteries are now the future.
07:21And this race to control the future has brought these superpowers into the snow and storms of Antarctica.
07:28Antarctica's last mysterious discovery is the Southern Ocean.
07:32The name of the Southern Ocean is found in the world's most dangerous oceans.
07:37The climate and water supply of the world is controlled by the Southern Ocean.
07:41Because it is also found with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
07:44According to scientists, the world's 15% carbon emission is absorbed by the Southern Ocean.
07:50And with global warming, the importance of this ocean is increasing.
07:54Because frozen snow is melting here and many treasures are now coming out of the melting of the snow.
08:00The oceans in which humans could never even think of going, will soon become important trade routes.
08:06There are still many studies going on in Antarctica.
08:09And who knows what other mysterious things will be discovered about Antarctica in the coming time.
08:15These are all the sources from which we have consulted for this video.
08:19If you like such topics, then tell us in the comments below.
08:22See you in the next video with another interesting topic.
08:26Take care of yourself. Allah Hafiz.