What type of environment is antarctica

Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, leaving the center cold and dry. Despite the lack of precipitation over the central portion of the continent, ice there lasts for extended time periods. Heavy snowfalls are not uncommon on the coastal portion of the continent, where snowfalls of up to 48 inches 1.

At the edge of the continent, strong katabatic winds off the polar plateau often blow at storm force. In the interior, however, wind speeds are typically moderate. During summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface during clear days at the South Pole than at the equator because of the 24 hours of sunlight each day at the Pole.

Sunburn is often a health issue as the snow surface reflects almost all of the ultraviolet light falling on it. Antarctica is colder than the Arctic for two reasons. First, much of the continent is more than 2 miles 3km above sea level and temperature decreases with elevation.

The flora of the Antarctic consists of around lichens, mosses, liverworts, around terrestrial and aquatic algal species, an unknown number of mostly microscopic fungi, and 2 flowering plants. The main factor that determines the distribution of terrestrial plant life in Antarctica is the availability of free water.

A lichen is a organism formed from the symbiotic association of certain fungi and usually green algae. Lichens occupy many different habitats, often in extreme environments. Three main types of lichens exist in Antarctica.

Crustose lichens, which form a thin crust on the surface of the substrate they grow on; foliose lichens, which form leaf like lobes; and fruticose lichens which have a shrubby growth habit.

Lichens have very slow growth rates. Lichens have a number of adaptations that enable them to survive in Antarctica. They are able to exhibit net photosynthesis while frozen at temperatures as low as -4F C. They can absorb water from a saturated atmosphere when covered by snow. Additionally, snow cover affords protection from the elements and most growth appears to occur when they are buried beneath at least a thin protective layer of snow.

They can survive long unfavourable periods of drought in a dry and inactive state. In continental Antarctica, many lichens are able to absorb water vapour from snow and ice. Few terrestrial vertebrates live in Antarctica. Invertebrate life includes microscopic mites, lice, nematodes, tardigrades, rotifers, krill and springtails. Recently ancient ecosystems consisting of several types of bacteria have been found living trapped deep beneath glaciers.

The flightless midge Belgica antarctica, up to 0. The snow petrel is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica. The wide variety of marine animals includes blue whales, orcas, colossal squids, fur seals, and several species of penguins. While searching for marine reptile bones, reasearchers came across unusual bones on the ocean bottom near James Ross Island.

The team eventually concluded that they had found a species of dinosaur never previously recorded. Antarctic Environment. The coldest, highest, windiest, driest continent on Earth Antarctica is a vast, unspoiled continent that challenged explorers and inspired dreamers through the centuries.

Size The Antarctic continent is a land mass covered with ice up to 13,ft 4km thick. Elevation Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth: average elevation is 8,ft m.

Precipitation Antarctica is the driest continent on earth. Geology More than million years ago, Antarctica, along with Africa, South America and peninsular India, was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Climate Antarctica is a frozen desert with little precipitation; the South Pole itself receives less than 4 inches 10cm per year, on average.

Furthermore, southwards of the Antarctic Circle At the South Pole itself there is low angle sunlight continuously between September 21st and March 21st, and darkness during the other half of the year.

During the dark period in the austral winter, there continues to be heat output to space, but there is no insolation input. This causes temperatures to drop to their lowest point of the year. The fact that the air is very dry also means that relatively little of the heat given off by the ground is retained by the atmosphere.

Due to the long day length of the austral summer, and the thin atmosphere over the high elevation ice sheet, a relatively high amount of insolation reaches the surface, despite the low angle of incidence. However, it imparts little heat to the surface because of the high reflectivity albedo of the snow and ice. The high elevation and high albedo of the East Antarctic Plateau limits heating so much that in this region there is little difference between summer and winter temperatures.

These additional factors are related to the vastly differing geography and topography of the two areas: the Arctic is mainly ocean surrounded by land masses, whereas the land mass of Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.

Given the different heat capacities of land and sea sea is much slower to both heat up and cool down , we would expect the coldest temperatures to occur at the pole that is dominated by land rather than sea. However this is only part of the story, and two other major effects need to be considered:. There is a high surface elevation across Antarctica because ice has built up on top of a large continental landmass.

By contrast, Arctic sea ice is floating and is only two or three metres thick. Temperature declines with elevation due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure that occurs as height above sea level increases this is the concept of adiabatic temperature decline.

Therefore, on the basis of altitude, it is expected that temperature averaged across Antarctica will be lower than temperature averaged across the Arctic. While the Arctic does have some high elevation areas e. Both polar regions are cold because of low angle sunlight along with periods of prolonged darkness coupled with a high surface albedo. In relation to the energy balance of the whole planet, the polar regions are areas of energy deficit while the low latitudes are areas of energy surplus; however, the poles are not getting steadily colder and low latitudes steadily warmer.

However, the differing geography of the north and south polar regions leads to large differences in how this heat transport occurs. One key difference lies in the nature of ocean circulation in the two hemispheres.

The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift Currents are the surface components of a much larger system the thermohaline circulation that includes deep water currents that flow back south along the ocean floor see The coast and adjacent seas for a discussion of deep water currents.

With the connection between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans between Greenland and Scandinavia, warmer seas and moist air masses have a stronger influence at high latitudes of the Arctic compared with the Antarctic. An important effect of moist air masses originating over the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific is that they release heat at high latitudes when the vapour they carry turns into ice crystals or liquid droplets in the atmosphere to form clouds and sometimes precipitation.

This process is referred to as the release of latent heat. It is interesting to note that the coldest recorded temperature in the Arctic The large temperature difference between cold Antarctic air masses and mild maritime air masses from the mid-latitudes creates a frontal boundary in the atmosphere over the Southern Ocean that causes frequent storms to develop which move east and south-east due to the prevailing winds.

Not only do these storm systems take moist air towards Antarctica, but they also account for the notoriously rough seas encountered in the Southern Ocean. Cold air cannot hold as much water vapour as warm air: in fact the relationship between temperature and vapour holding capacity is an exponential one, so the ability of very cold Antarctic air to hold moisture is miniscule compared with the warmer air of lower latitudes.

This effect is not seen throughout the Antarctic, however, and some parts are experiencing ice melt. The cold waters surrounding Antarctica, known as the Antarctic Bottom Water , are so dense that they push against the ocean floor. The Antarctic Bottom Water causes warmer waters to rise, or upwell. Antarctic upwelling is so strong that it helps move water around the entire planet. This movement is aided by strong winds that circumnavigate Antarctica.

Flora and Fauna Lichen s, moss es, and terrestrial algae are among the few species of vegetation that grow in Antarctica. More of this vegetation grows in the northern and coastal regions of Antarctica, while the interior has little if any vegetation. The ocean, however, teems with fish and other marine life.

In fact, the waters surrounding Antarctica are among the most diverse on the planet. Upwelling allows phytoplankton and algae to flourish. Thousands of species, such as krill , feed on the plankton. Fish and a large variety of marine mammal s thrive in the cold Antarctic waters. Blue, fin, humpback, right, minke, sei, and sperm whale s have healthy populations in Antarctica.

One of the apex, or top, predators in Antarctica is the leopard seal. The leopard seal is one of the most aggressive of all marine predators. This 3-meter 9-foot , kilogram pound animal has unusually long, sharp teeth, which it uses to tear into prey such as penguins and fish. The most familiar animal of Antarctica is probably the penguin.

They have adapt ed to the cold, coastal waters. Their feathers retain a layer of air, helping them keep warm in the freezing water. Cultural Geography A Culture of Science While the Antarctic does not have permanent residents, the region is a busy outpost for a variety of research scientists. These scientists work at government -supported research station s and come from dozens of different countries. The number of scientists conducting research varies throughout the year, from about 1, in winter to around 5, in summer.

Researchers from a variety of scientific backgrounds study the Antarctic not only as a unique environment , but also as an indicator of broader global processes. Marine biologist s study the behavior of whales, seals, and squid. In , a meteorite from Mars was found in Antarctica. The markings on this meteorite were similar to markings left by bacteria on Earth. If this meteorite, millions of years old, actually has the remains of Martian bacteria, it would be the only scientific evidence for life outside Earth.

McMurdo Station is a U. McMurdo is the largest station in Antarctica, capable of supporting 1, residents. Most of these residents are not scientists, but work to support station operations, construction , maintenance, and daily life. McMurdo has more than 80 buildings and operates like a small city. Like all Antarctic research stations, McMurdo has a specific method of receiving necessary supplies.

Once a year, cargo ships bring more than 5 million kilograms 11 million pounds of equipment and supplies, ranging from trucks and tractors to dry and frozen food s, to scientific instruments. Coast Guard icebreaker s. Additional supplies and personnel are flown in from Christchurch, New Zealand, when weather permits.

Base Esperanza also houses the first Catholic chapel and first school built on the continent. It is located in an ice-free area known as the Vestfold Hills.

Like most research stations in Antarctica, food is very important at Davis Station. Residents live and work closely together in facilities and outdoor environments that are often very monotonous. As such, food plays an important role in providing variety to residents like those at Davis Station.

Food supplies are, however, very limited. The food supply for a year at Davis Station is ration ed, per person per year. Residents live mostly on frozen and canned food. The chef is often thought of as one of the most important people at Davis Station.

He or she must make sure to use all commodities in such a way that is both creative and sustainable. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants with water and nutrient s only. Hydroponics requires excellent gardener s because produce is grown without soil. Fresh produce adds variety and nutrition to Antarctic meals.

The greenhouse also serves as a sunroom for sunlight-deprived residents, especially during the long winter months. By the early 20th century, explorers started to traverse the interior of Antarctica. The aim of these expeditions was often more competitive than scientific. In , Amundsen, of Norway, and Scott, of the United Kingdom , began expeditions with the aim of becoming the first man to reach the South Pole.

Each team used different methods, with drastic ally different levels of success. The team was healthy, and successfully made the journey out of Antarctica. They all died on their journey home. Hoping to one-up his predecessors, Shackleton, of the United Kingdom, attempted the first transcontinental crossing of Antarctica in Shackleton planned the trip by using two ships, the Aurora and the Endurance , at opposite ends of the continent. Aurora would sail to the Ross Sea and deposit supplies.

On the opposite side, Endurance would sail through the Weddell Sea to reach the continent. Once there, the team would march to the pole with dog teams, dispose of extra baggage, and use supplies left by Aurora to reach the other end of the continent. The plan failed. The Endurance became frozen in the pack ice of the Weddell Sea. The pack ice crushed and sunk the ship. Their food sources were leopard seals, fish, and, ultimately, their sled dogs. Although some of the crew sustained injuries, they all survived.

The journey of the Endurance expedition symbolizes the Heroic Age, a time of extreme sacrifice and bravery in the name of exploration and discovery. Apsley George Benet Cherry-Garrard, a polar explorer, summed up the Heroic Age in his book The Worst Journey in the World : "For a joint scientific and geographical piece of organisation, give me Scott; for a Winter Journey, Wilson; for a dash to the Pole and nothing else, Amundsen: and if I am in the devil of a hole and want to get out of it, give me Shackleton every time.

This change was initially fueled by the Cold War , a period of time defined by the division between the United States and the Soviet Union , and the threat of nuclear war. The International Geophysical Year IGY of aimed to end Cold War divisions among the scientific community by promoting global scientific exchange.