TRAVELLING
EXHIBITION ON THE STORY OF POLES
(Open to all)
This exhibition is on display till 23rd March
2008
 
Earth's temperature is increasing! Climates are changing! Poles are warming!
Polar ice is melting! Ocean water levels may rise! Ozone hole is widening! …. Do you
come across such news frequently now days?
North and South Poles at the top and bottom of Earth respectively, are the extreme ends of
our planet. Earth's axis passes through them. The geographic location of north pole is
amid a clashing, grinding jumble of pack ice in the Arctic ocean, whereas the south pole
is on solid land of Antarctic continent covered with thick sheets of glacial ice.
Poles are the domains of extreme cold, harsh weather and frozen deserts. North and South
poles alternately experience six months of sunlight and six months of darkness each year.
Arctic and Antarctic circles at 66½º north and south latitudes respectively are marked
as Polar Regions. Arctic region experiences temperatures ranging between -35ºC and 10ºC.
On the Antarctic continent, the climate is still more severe with temperature rarely
rising above the freezing point. Such extremes make poles uninhabitable for life. Yet,
poles play a very crucial role in shaping and nourishing life on Earth.
The United Nations has decided to observe 2007-08 as the International Polar Year.
Several nations have been sending their expeditions to Antarctic for scientific study.
India also has set up a scientific base there. The Nobel Peace prize for 2007 and
International Polar Year have brought the issues of global warming, ozone depletion and
climate change on everyone's radar. The Story of Poles exhibition designed and developed
by National Council of Science Museums augments these worldwide efforts in creating
awareness.
|
