Authors: Giulia Foscari
Publisher: Lars Müller
ISBN: 9783037786406
Binding: hardcover
Pages: 992
Format: 20 x 26.4 cm
English language
Antarctica, which accounts for about 10% of the Earth’s land mass, is a global commons that we collectively neglect. Far from being a pristine natural landscape, the continent is a contested territory hiding resources that could prove irresistible in a world with an ever-increasing population. The 26 trillion tons of ice accumulated on its bedrock – equivalent to about 70% of our planet’s fresh water – represent the most important repository of scientific data available. It provides crucial information for future environmental policies and, at the same time, is the greatest possible threat to global coastal settlements when sea levels rise due to global warming.
On the 200th anniversary of Antarctica’s discovery, Antarctic Resolution offers a high-resolution picture of this hyper-surveilled yet forgotten continent. In contrast to the fragmented view offered by Big Data companies, the book is a holistic study of the continent’s unique geography, unparalleled scientific potential, contemporary geopolitical significance, experimental governance system, and extreme habitability model. A transnational network of multidisciplinary polar experts—represented in the form of written texts, photo essays, and data-driven visual portfolios—reveals the intricate web of escalating economic and strategic interests, tensions, and international rivalries, which are normally shrouded in darkness as the continent is for six months of the year.
