Mount Erebus

GS Paper I Geography

Context:

As per NASA’s Earth Observatory, Mount Erebus is ejecting gold along with other materials from deep within the Earth.

Tragic Incident associated with Mount Erebus

Mount Erebus gained notoriety due to the Mount Erebus disaster.
This tragedy occurred when an Air New Zealand plane crashed into the volcano, resulting in the loss of 257 lives.
The crash was attributed to a ‘whiteout’ phenomenon.
This optical illusion made the snow-covered volcano nearly invisible to the pilot, even though it was daylight and the plane was flying below the clouds.

- Mount Erebus is the highest active volcano in Antarctica.
  - Mount Erebus has an altitude of roughly 3,794 meters (12,448 feet).
  - This volcano is classified as a stratovolcano, featuring a cone-shaped structure formed by layers of solidified lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
- First Observation: Its eruption was first observed by Captain Sir James Clark Ross in 1841.
  - Mount Erebus has remained known for its frequent and violent eruptions.

Antarctica region

Antarctica is a cold and isolated region.
Location : Southern Hemisphere, encircled by the Antarctic Convergence.
- The Antarctic Convergence is a boundary where cold Antarctic waters meet warmer ocean waters, covering approximately 20% of the Southern Hemisphere.
Features:
- The dominant feature of Antarctica is the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
  - The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest single mass of ice on Earth.
- Extension of Ice sheet: This ice sheet extends beyond the continent, especially during extreme snow and ice conditions.
- Mountain Summits: Antarctica is home to various mountain peaks, including the Transantarctic Mountains, dividing the continent into eastern and western regions.
- Human Presence and Claims:
  - Antarctica lacks a native human population, and there are no countries within its territory.
  - Prior to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, seven countries made claims to Antarctic land, although the treaty doesn’t legally recognize these claims.
    - This treaty applies to the region from 60°S latitude to the South Pole.
  - Number of volcanoes: A total of 138 volcanoes have been identified in the region.
    - Out of these, 809 are classified as active.
    - The remaining volcanoes are considered dormant