Final answer:
The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 designated Antarctica as a scientific preserve, prohibiting military activities, mineral mining, and waste disposal, while suspending land claims. It encourages scientific research and protects the environment. Additional protocols have strengthened these protections, specifically the Madrid Protocol in 1998, which also bans economic activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Antarctic Treaty of 1959
The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 was a groundbreaking international agreement signed by 12 countries. Its primary goal was to make Antarctica a zone of peace and science, by essentially setting aside the continent as a scientific preserve where military activities, mineral mining, waste disposal, and all land claims would be suspended. The treaty has grown to include 46 countries, all committed to preserving Antarctica's delicate environment and promoting scientific cooperation. The original signatories to the treaty, including countries with territorial claims like Norway, New Zealand, France, Chile, Australia, and Argentina, agreed to put their claims on hold, though not to relinquish them entirely. This unique international accord ensures that the continent is not controlled by any one government, and emphasizes peaceful and scientific use over economic or military endeavors.In 1998, the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, commonly known as the Madrid Protocol, further strengthened the treaty by designating Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science, explicitly banning mining and other economic activities, which is critical given the presence of mineral resources and oil and natural gas in the region. Whaling and fishing are regulated under the treaty as well, although they continue to raise concerns about resource management and enforcement.The treaty also impacts global climate issues, as Antarctica holds a significant portion of the world's fresh water and any changes in this region potentially affect the Earth's climate patterns and ocean circulation, highlighted by phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña events.