Ten Famous Antarcticans Quiz | People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Mario J. Molina, Paul J Crutzen and F. Sherwood (Sherry) Rowland were joint winners of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone". (Nobelprize.org). Of what nationality were these men respectively?

Answer: Mexican, Dutch, American

Using just a broad brush to explain, in 1974 Molina and Rowland demonstrated the breaking down of the stratosphere through the use of chlorofluorocarbons. They presented detailed hypotheses on how these complicated processes occurred. One of the outcomes of this was the worldwide ban of same.

Prior to that in 1970, Crutzen demonstrated that nitrogen oxides could affect the actual rate of ozone depletion formed during combustion processes. He also studied the formation of ozone in the lower atmosphere. Ozone is one ingredient of "smog," which is formed by the influence of solar radiation on air pollutants. Whereas stratospheric ozone is a prerequisite for life, tropospheric ozone is strongly toxic and harmful to most organisms, even in small quantities.

2. Caroline Mikkelsen was the first woman to set foot on Antarctica in 1935. As was the custom in those days various geographical features were named after prominent people e.g. Ross Ice Shelf, McMurdo Sound, Bellinghausen Sea, etc. To what geographical feature was Caroline Mikkelsen dedicated?

Answer: Mountain

Mt Caroline Mikkelsen, a 235m peak was named after her. Born in Denmark she accompanied her Norwegian husband Klarius, who was a whaling captain.

3. No Antarctic quiz would be complete without a 'Race to the Pole' question between Roald Amundsen (Norway) and Robert Scott (England). One reason that has been proffered for the demise of Scott's team is in the initial preparation and choice of supplies. These included 39 dogs (of which a few died), 19 Manchurian ponies (of which all died), three motor sledges (one of which was lost overboard and the other two conked out fairly early in the expedition), and 67 men to be used for man-hauling. Fridtjof Nansen from Norway who was one the eminent explorers of the times spoke to Scott and said to him that he should take what supplies?

Answer: dogs dogs and more dogs

Scott ignored Nansen's advice and the dogs that he did take were in another location due to a communication error. This may have saved their lives.
Amundsen on the other hand took 97 dogs, nine men, sledges and skis and when the dogs became weak they were systematically shot for food for the men and other dogs.
Scott supposedly also took 35,000 cigars but I am unable to verify this.

An incredible amount of detail although there are some small discrepancies about the exploration can be found at http://www.south-pole.com/p0000090.htm

4. What was Emilio Palma's claim to fame?

Answer: First baby born on mainland Antarctica

In 1978, Emilio Palma was born to Argentinian couple Captain Jorge Emilio Palma and S�lvia Morella de Palma on the Esperanza base of Argentine Antarctica. However, the point could also be argued that the first birth in Antarctica was that of Solveig Jacobsen in 1913 to Norwegian parents but that was on South Georgia Island and not the actual mainland itself.

NB: The photo is titled "Ice cased Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison." however it was mistitled from a previous low res image. The penguin chick is moulting or losing juvenile feathers. (Clicking over the picture will give you an enhanced image.)

5. Whilst there is speculation as to the veracity of the claim of being the first to fly over the North Pole, this American explorer was definitely the first person to fly over the South Pole on 28 November 1929. He also led many Antarctic expeditions including four for the US government and named part of Antarctica after his wife Marie.

Answer: Admiral Richard Byrd

The 'Floyd Bennett', was a modified Ford 4-AT Tri-Motor mono-plane that was used to fly over the South Pole. In addition to Byrd, the crew included Bernt Balchen (pilot), Harold June (co-pilot/radioman) and Ashley McKinley (photographer). In order to gain altitude to reach the Polar Plateau it was necessary to offload 300 lbs of food supplies and empty gas containers.

The 'Floyd Bennett' is currently on display in the Henry Ford Museum.

6. Vinson Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica measuring 4,892 metres (16,050 ft). Who first ascended this peak in 1966?

Answer: Nicholas Clinch et al supported by the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition

Nicholas Clinch and the expedition team was the result of a joint effort of the American Alpine Club and the National Science Foundation. Sir Edmund Hillary who climbed many mountains including being the first to scale Mt Everest did not ascend Vinson Massif, however his son Peter did in 2005 as a tribute to his father and he completed the seven peaks in seven continents. Carl G Vinson was the first United States Representative to serve for more than fifty years in office and for this the mountain was named.

7. Another predominant explorer of the Heroic Age was Ernest Shackleton. Although he made numerous trips to the Antarctic he is probably best remembered for his 800 mile trek across Antarctica by sea to South Georgia Island to rescue other crew members who were stranded on Elephant Island after the sinking of 'The Endurance'. He also met his death in the Antarctic in 1922. Under what circumstances?

Answer: Heart attack on his ship 'Quest'

In 1922 Shackleton attempted another Antarctic expedition with the aim of circumnavigating and finding some more islands.
In the course of transporting his body back to Ireland for burial a message was received from his wife asking that he be interned on South Georgia Island. She believed that it was a much more fitting place. Incidentally the methanol was ingested by Rodney Marks, an Australian astrophysicist in 2000.

8. An annual event held in Antarctica started in 2005 and the first winner was Richard Donovan. In what field was this event?

Answer: The Antarctic Marathon

Richard Donovan (Ireland) won the first South Pole Marathon in January 2002 and in April 2002 he completed the first marathon-length run at the North Pole. Between 30 January and 5 February 2009, he set a world record for running seven marathons, on seven different continents, in fewer than seven days.
Donovan has won the South Pole Marathon, the Inca Trail Marathon, the Everest Challenge Marathon, the Antarctic 100 km and the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race.
In January 2006 he instigated the Antarctic Ice Marathon as well as a 100km marathon. The Antarctic Ice Marathon is a different event to the Antarctic Marathon.

9. Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton were arguably the most famous Antarctic explorers however Sir Douglas Mawson (Australia) cannot be left out either. One of his achievements was the first Australasian Expedition to Antarctica where he mapped the previously unexplored territory from the west of Scott's 'Terra Nova Expedition' to the east of the 'Gauss Expedition', a distance of approximately 2000 miles. In addition to exploration in what other field was he very eminent?

Answer: Geology

His aim was to map and explore the coastal area of Antarctica closest to Australia. On that expedition three separate parties established huts, at Macquarie Island, Cape Denison (probably one of the windiest places on earth), and the Shackleton Ice Shelf.

The Antarctic coastline was described and all three parties undertook studies in various disciplines. They also established radio communications between the Antarctic and the north. When he wasn't partaking in explorations he was located in Adelaide working in the field of geology at the University of Adelaide. On his retirement in 1952 he was made an Emeritus Professor.

10. Although not particularly famous as individuals, in 1933 these Antarcticans were the first to set foot as part of Richard Byrd's second Antarctic expedition.

Answer: Cows

In 1933 Byrd decided to take three cows to the Antarctic because he thought it would be a good idea for his men to have fresh milk. One of the cows was in calf and it was hoped that she would calve on the ice however he was born on board the ship 275 miles north of the Antarctic circle. One of the cows got frostbite and had to be destroyed however the other three lived successfully on the continent until 1935 when they travelled back to the US, a total of 22,000 miles.

Source: Author Exit10

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Ten Famous Antarcticans Trivia Quiz

Antarctica is a fierce and unforgiving continent. Notwithstanding, there have been numerous people who have made their mark upon it. Please enjoy! Not all photos directly relate to the questions, I just liked them.

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