The Modern Age of Antarctic exploration (1950 to present)
Although an International Polar Year had been held in 1932-33 it wasn’t until 1950 that discussions began to implement another one. These discussion resulted in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58 which involved research in meteorology, geomagnetism, seismology and the physics of the upper atmosphere.
The co-operation between nations that occurred with the IGY eventually led to the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty, perhaps the best example of international co-operation that has existed in modern times. It set aside Antarctica as a place of science, co-operation and peace.
This was an era of major advances in Antarctic science and exploration as well as the setting up of Antarctic bases. It also saw the first traverse of the Antarctic continent using Sno-cat tractored vehicles, when Bunny Fuchs led the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1958
Today there are numerous Antarctic bases devoted to peace, science and co-operation between nations under the umbrella of the Antarctic Treaty.
The US landed their first aircraft at the South Pole in 1956 which was the first time that anyone had visited there since Scott’s expedition in 1912.
In 1957-58 the International Geophysical Year (IGY) was inaugurated and 12 nations established over 60 stations in Antarctica. The beginning of international cooperation in Antarctica and the start of the process by which Antarctica becomes “non-national”.
It was also the year of the first successful land crossing of Antarctica via the South Pole (the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition) led by British geologist Vivian Fuchs with New Zealander Edmund Hillary leading a party from the other half of the continent, dropping supplies for Fuch’s to use on his traverse. Shackleton had tried to do the same journey 40 years previously but it ended in a glorious failure with his ship trapped in ice and he never reached the mainland.
Signed in 1959 the Antarctic Treaty came into effect in 1961. All territorial claims were suspended and Antarctica was set aside for peaceful co-operation and science. It was and is an amazing example of international co-operation considering that it was agreed upon at the height of the cold war.
Thanks to the work of Jacques Cousteau, the famous explorer and conservationist, Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and French Prime Minister Michel Rocard, a convention on how to regulate mining and drilling among member nations of the Antarctic Treaty was proposed in 1991. This led to the the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, also known as the Madrid Protocol. which entered into force in 1998 and bans all mineral extraction in Antarctica for 50 years. It sets aside the Antarctic continent as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science
In 1964, a ski-equipped United States Navy LC130F Hercules departed Avalon airfield near Melbourne and landed at Byrd station in Antarctica. It was the first direct flight between Australia and Antarctica covering a distance of 7110 kilometres, and took 15 hours and 39 minutes.
On 28 November 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 (Flight TE-901) carrying 257 passengers and crew on a sightseeing trip, crashed into Mount Erebus on Ross Island, killing everyone on board.
Boerge Ousland of Norway in 1997 became the first person to cross Antarctica unsupported. Departing from Berkner Island and arriving at Scott Base 64 days later. He towed a 180kg (400lb) sled and used skis and a sail for propulsion.