Antarctic News - The Antarctic News site, 70South, so named for obvious reasons, is an independent news and information resource on the last continent. The site claims to be "Interactive", which is fair enough in the sense that it offers a bulletin board discussion area and there are various intriguing downloads, such as art, games, pc wallpapers and graphics. Among the chillware to be found here are daily updated news and information, lots of external links and plenty of reference and educational information. A "dynamic" events calendar with exhibit information is also available. Presumably, by dynamic the site's creator means he keeps it up to date. There are several lines of credits but the site appears to be the work of Belgain Brendon Grunewald There are some very interesting antarticles to be read here and you can also watch the weather. It was -46 Celsius at the time of writing. Brrrrr. Rating: 8 out of 10 (4 February 2003) DB
http://www.70south.com/home
The Antarctica Project - The Antarctica Project is an advocacy conservation organization working exclusively for Antarctica. Its primary aim is to maintain Antarctica's pristine wilderness and environment. As such, the site provides to pro forma letters regarding actions it wishes "citizens of the world" to take concerning the preservation of particular Antarctic regions, such as Lake Vostok, from what the organization sees as damaging human activities. The general information section carries the organization's annual reports dating back to 1997- 2001, so you can get the spin on what it has achieved so far. There are also several explanatory fact sheets that provide more details about the nature of Antarctica and its conservation. "In fact, Antarctica's greatest value might well be in the information it provides on the functioning and health of our planet," announces the latest fact sheet - Why protect Antarctica? A rather revealing poster showing the abundance of wildlife on the icy continent is available, which will boost the Project's coffers a little should you wish to lend support. The latest issue of the organization's newsletter listed is dated December 2001, so keeping up to date is not, it seems, a priority. Rating: 6 out of 10 (21 January 2003) DB
http://www.asoc.org/
NOAA Arctic Theme Page - In the words of this mega site from the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Arctic "remains one of the least explored, studied and understood places on earth". But it is also crucial in shaping our climate and one of the areas of the planet most vulnerable to climate change. It's timely, then, that this site provides a rich resource for those studying all aspects of Arctic science and for the rest of us, who will probably get no closer to the North Pole than clicking on the site's live webcam. With such a varied audience the site operates as a gateway point to other sites, many tapping into NOAA's vast databanks. If you're looking for the latest satellite and snow ice analysis, or for weather and sea surface heights in the Baring sea, you'll find it in the comprehensive 'Scientific' section. Equally, one click away, and you can explore the top Arctic education sites, marvel at spectacular views of the Northern Lights or find out about the region's native people. Under 'essays', experts give their views of the main scientific Arctic issues from pollution and polar bears to the chances of Arctic meltdown. The gallery section links straight to NOAA's excellent online photo library. As far as overall look goes, it is lists of links laid out plain and simple. So even the most novice web explorers will keep their bearings. Rating 8 out of 10. (12 December 2002) JS
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/
Antarctica: Terra Incognita - At once handsomely designed and filled with lively, thoughtful writing, this treatment of Antarctica features stark photographs of a most forbidding environment, which happens to hold 70% of the earth's freshwater. The courage of its first explorers is documented, along with attempts to keep the continent from exploitation through treaties, such as the Madrid Protocol. Despite the harshness of its climate, Antarctica still attracts those who would plunder its resources, harvesting the animals who make their homes here. This site serves to heighten awareness of the fragility of the region, which impacts the world's climate. Well-prepared adventurers also find it inviting, and an account of a kayaking trip in waters below 0 degrees C. is suitably chilling. Rating: 9 out of 10 (31 December 2001) AD
http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/focus/southpole/
North - an intuitive Arctic exploration - A quirky and somewhat unusual site, North covers a variety of subjects related to the Arctic region, including literary and historical themes. The brainchild of Paulus Veltman, a self confessed 'Internet freak', the site is divided into broad categories, each colour-coded in the navigation links: civilisation (red), geography (blue), living nature (green) and Arctic exploration (yellow). The site covers everything from reviews of novels on the Arctic and historical documentation on the region's many explorers to information on Arctic wildlife. The links take you on a meandering course through the site, which has been drawn up on the basis of a mind map there is no site map or index provided and visitors are left to explore the site intuitively. Overall, the concept is a refreshing change from the ubiquitous rigidly organised website. (25 June 2001) LH
http://www.xs4all.nl/~pal/
Wired Antarctica - Learn all about the frozen continent by visiting this educational site set up by scientists who work at the McMurdo Station, Antarctica's largest research station. The site explains how Antarctica - a polar region, which, in spite of holding 70% of the world's supply of fresh water, is a desert - remains one of the few global environments free from direct pollution and contamination and is therefore a unique environment allowing essential research into issues such as global pollution and climate change. Antarctica itself plays an important role in global cycles and in understanding its role, scientists can better predict the effects of the changes humans are causing on the planet. A series of engaging interactive lessons introduce students to a comprehensive body of facts and information on Antarctica through Astronomy, Geology, Glaciology, Oceanology and Atmospheric Science. The user is encouraged to seek information from the site and elsewhere on the WWW while being led though a series of logically arranged questions and information sessions. The site also offers a FAQ section where scientists living and working on the McMurdo station answer questions on what its like to live in Antarctica with its hostile climate, breathtaking landscapes and endless daylight hours. The aim of the site is not so much to preach an environmental agenda as to provide an interactive space in which to learn about this great continent and some of the crucial activities taking place in it. (21 June 2001) TA
http://www.geophys.washington.edu/People/Stud...
Secrets of the Ice - Hosted by the University of Boston, this site documents the United States component of the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE) known as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Initiative (WAISI). Five major disciplines are being studied: meteorology, remote sensing, geophysics, ice coring and surface glaciology and it is hoped this multi-disciplinary study will address important issues of rapid climate change and future sea level. There is a great section on ice core research such as ice formation and flow, the siting and drilling of core and interpreting ice core data. The scientists and technical staff keep a logbook and they will conduct experiments designed by you. Overall, this is a hugely informative and well-designed site. A must for the armchair polar explorer. (29 April 2001) NJF
http://www.secretsoftheice.org/
Polar Fine Arts - This site features artwork relating to the poles--at the moment, there are four different exhibitions to explore: Antarctic Palette (photography by Neelon Crawford), Ice Lights (oil paintings by David Rosenthal), Polar working people (photography by James H Barker) and a gallery of etchings, also by Crawford. The navigation, once you figure out how it works, functions sort of like a real gallery, so you can move to the artwork next to the right or left, and so on. It may not be highly scientific, but the images are amazing, particularly some of the photographs Crawford took during the Austral spring (ie August, to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere), where the sun fails to clear the horizon and bathes everything in an astonishing pink glow. And when you remember that this particular "everything" consists of large blocks of very white ice, well, you get the picture... (27 February 2001) KN
http://www.deeppool.com/htmlos/start.cgi/gall...
Antarctic Philatelic Home Page - You don't have to be a stamp collector to appreciate this site, which in addition to providing information on the postal historic of the Antarctic, also offers basic information about the exploration, both during the early "heroic" age and more recently. And of course, there are the extensive details of the postal history of the continent, from early postcards sent from exporers actually in the territory through commemorative covers marking various mid 20th century expeditions, through actual stamps issued in various Antarctic Territories. It's obviously a niche site, but let's face, those are sometimes the most fun, particularly when you're just out for a browse. (26 February 2001) KN
http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html
