This book presents a state-of-the-art overview of the role that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean play as integral parts of the Earth System.

While often characterised as the last great wilderness on Earth, Antarctica is intimately connected to the rest of the planet, exerting key influences on all places and all people. It is also vulnerable to global changes, especially those driven by humans. This book examines how Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are connected to the rest of the planet, and what these connections mean for the future of Planet Earth and all its inhabitants. It transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries to explore this role across physical, ecological, political, and social systems. Drawing on the latest research findings and thinking, the volume identifies the current leading-order challenges across each of these spheres, highlighting areas where enhanced focus is needed. With the role of Antarctica in the Earth System being one of the most relevant themes of our times, this book will help audiences to understand Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in a global perspective.

Antarctica and the Earth System will be of great interest to a wide range of interdisciplinary students and scholars of Earth sciences, Antarctic studies, polar science, and environmental management.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

Michael P. Meredith is an ocean scientist at the British Antarctic Survey and Joint Director of the UK National Climate Science Partnership. He is also Professorial Fellow in Oceanography at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK.

Jess Melbourne-Thomas is a Principal Research Scientist and leads the Marine Socio-Ecological Systems Team in the Sustainable Marine Futures Research Program with CSIRO Environment in Nipaluna/Hobart, Australia.

Alberto C. Naveira Garabato is the Regius Professor of Ocean Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey.

Marilyn Raphael is a Professor of Geography at UCLA, USA and Director of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. She is Chair of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’s expert group, Antarctic Sea-ice Processes and Climate.