Founded in 1978, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) is the only non-governmental organization working full time to preserve Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean. An Adélie penguin and its chick (Photo by John Weller).

The Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty, sometimes called the “Madrid Protocol”, became law in 1998 after legislation in each of the member countries. One of the ways in which this protects Antarctica is by only allowing visitors to Antarctica by member nations as long as they are given a permit to do so.

What You Can do to Prevent Climate Change Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

1. Don’t Fly – or at least cut down.
2. Dump the SUV or Pickup – get a less polluting and more economical car.
3. Get More Efficient Refrigeration.
4. Reduce Space Heating Requirements.
5. Reduce Water Heating Requirements.
6. Eat Less Meat.

Much of the sea ice that now surrounds the western coast during the winter months will be absent a hundred years from now, and many of West Antarctica’s ice shelves will be in danger of collapse; some may have already broken up, contributing to a rising global sea level.

Future conditions Though the environment of Antarctica is too harsh for permanent human settlement to be worthwhile, conditions may become better in the future. Even farming and crop growing could be possible in some of the most northerly areas of Antarctica.

It’s Antarctic summer now, when temperatures are often a balmy –20 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures plummet to about -100 degrees Fahrenheit, and that, combined with the world’s driest air, makes it a struggle to even climb a flight of stairs. The air causes instant pain to any exposed skin.

11 of the best warm weather places to retire in the United States

• Portland, Oregon.
• Hot Springs, Arkansas.
• Galveston, Texas.
• Vero Beach, Florida.
• Los Angeles, California.
• Key West, Florida.
• Hilo, Hawaii.
• Honolulu, Hawaii.