SCIENTIFIC AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MAPPING IN ANTARCTICA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02001878
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 17, 2025
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2024
• Case Number: F-2023-01655
• Publication Date: February 24, 1959

Approved for Release: 2-024/12/12 CO2001878
24 February 1959
TIFIC AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE CV PUFFING IN ANTARCTICA
pping of Antarctica has both political and scientific significance.
Scientific eignificancelong recognised by US (proposed by
National Academy 1949) and by Soviets;
1.
2.
Essential to long-range planning of activities;
Necessary for Plotting results of data (a) to determine
character of continent and ice sheet, (b) weather and
climate studies, (c) eventually 'for tracking of satellites
(US and Soviet polar orbit vehicles), and (d) for resource
exploration and charting;
Essential tool for long-range military preparedness.
r
� Field operations require yea4:to tecOMPlish. tanabt
be dons swiftly only when emeigeacies arise.
. 'Mapping basic in Soviet scientific activities. Essential to
their integrated and comprehensive earth science research in
the study of Earth as a whole.
1. Aggressively pursued from start of their IGY prcgrams i955-56;
2. Mapped and charted over 30000-mile coastal zone (40�E-160�E);
3. Large-and medium- scale mapping begun;
a. .Large scale topographic and geologic mapping of Hunger
Hills OAZIS) and Mirnyy area.
�
b. 14200,000 planned for overall area of their acgvity.
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REVIEWER: 372044
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 CO2001878
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 CO2001878
ing ba5::44emediate and pp:Lit
Provides evidence of sophisticated activ
and claims:
.� Needed to determine .rtr Antarc ica is ,contint-
merely ice plateau tied to islands. Eke direct bea
on sovereignty problem.
2. If Soviets map more than US, Soviet rights likely to-
,
outweigh US, particularly, in unclaimed sector where W.
rights now unchallenged.
Soviet leadersillp in international mapping would be
unequivoeal recorc. of J:.vr,3 ed ie:ceof Soviets in
Antarctica.
US vulnerable to Soviet propa6anda that despite many years of
US activitjr includin ..ari7e-ale Operation High-Junp only
small parts of cont'Inent ma .2�,y,, aerial photography-
reatly limited due to lack Lgcr.!,1 control) .
Approved for Release: 2024/12/12 CO2001878