One hundred years ago, on December 14, 1911, a Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen overcame fog, biting cold, and freezing winds to plant the Norwegian flag in Antarctica. Meanwhile, another expedition from England, led by Robert Falcon Scott, would permanently remain in the ice and snow of this harsh land.
The Story of 100 Years Ago
Both Amundsen and Scott were ambitious to win this race to the South Pole. However, each had different approaches and explorations, which ultimately determined their success or failure.
Serious and methodical, Amundsen meticulously studied previous documents and notes while combining his own experiences to devise a thorough plan for the journey to the coldest continent on Earth. The use of dog sleds was one of the key factors that later contributed to the success of Amundsen’s expedition.
In his book The South Pole, Amundsen stated that he needed to conquer Antarctica to secure funding for his planned Arctic trip.
On the other hand, Scott’s expedition utilized horse-drawn sledges and motorized sleds. During their journey, they also conducted some geological explorations of the polar region. On October 24, 1911, Scott’s team began their approach to Antarctica. However, they could not have anticipated that their plans would fail; the decision to use horses instead of dogs proved to be a critical mistake, as the horses died and the motors failed due to the extreme weather.
By the time Amundsen’s team completed their 2,000-mile journey and rested at Whale Bay, the British explorers finally reached Antarctica on January 17, 1912, five weeks behind their rivals. They had officially lost the race.
In his diary, Scott wrote upon seeing the Norwegian flag planted there: “Oh God! This is a dreadful place; we have endured so much suffering for no results.”
The photo of Amundsen’s expedition beside the Norwegian flag
after their successful journey to Antarctica 100 years ago.
Scott’s ambition to conquer Antarctica ended in utter failure. They ran out of food and strength for the return journey. A nine-day snowstorm claimed the lives of Scott and his team members at the end of March. However, Scott is remembered as a hero who bravely sacrificed himself for the cause of exploring new lands.
Scientific Discoveries that Followed
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the conquest of Antarctica, historian Edward J. Larson from Pepperdine University published the book An Empire of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science. According to Larson, for science, it is not important who reached Antarctica first, but rather who conducted the best on-site research along the way. By this measure, Scott is the true winner.
Thanks to the explorations of Scott and his rival, Ernest Shackleton, the measurement of glacier movements and mapping of coastlines and inland areas were carried out.
From the sediments beneath the ocean floor and the process of emerging onto the land, they concluded that Antarctica is a true continent, with a vast landmass lying beneath the thick ice (in contrast to the Arctic, which is a large ocean covered by thinner ice).
Advancements in aviation, icebreaker ships, and many other technologies after World War II opened a broader and more sustainable path for scientific research in Antarctica.
Today, numerous large-scale international laboratories are located in Antarctica, serving diverse explorations in astrophysics, climatology, geophysics, and oceanography.
In the near future, the National Academy of Sciences will publish a study titled Future Scientific Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The main recommendation of the report focuses on the role of this continent in global climate change.
“We are very aware of the importance of the polar regions in recent years regarding signs of change on a global scale,” said Raymond S. Bradley, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
“These areas are particularly sensitive to rising temperatures, leading to melting ice on the sea and glaciers. The retreating ice causes the Earth to reflect less sunlight, correlating with the warming process and increasing negative changes in the ocean and atmosphere,” Bradley added.
Professor Robin E. Bell at Columbia University also affirmed: “Antarctica plays a crucial role in providing insights into the global climate system and creating models that help predict future changes.”
Additionally, with the advent of satellite imagery in the 1970s, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have collected vast amounts of data that draw the world’s attention to this continent. “Glaciers have begun to flow faster, carrying more ice into the oceans, which could raise sea levels in the coming century,” warned Scott Borg, director of the Antarctic Sciences Division at NSF.
Previously, during the International Polar Year from 2007 to 2009, a team of scientists from seven countries investigated the mysteries of the Gamburtsev mountain range hidden beneath the massive ice sheet of East Antarctica.
In a report last month, the scientific team concluded that these are remnants from a continental collision that occurred a billion years ago.
In the field of biology, experts noted that the bodies of seals, whales, and penguins in Antarctica have developed certain physiological functions to adapt to the extreme environment, which may hold the key to preventing various diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
Most recently, for research purposes, China is developing a large-scale observatory located 700 miles east of Antarctica. They hope this will be an effective astronomical research facility in the coldest place on Earth.
