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The waters of the Southern Ocean freeze around the Antarctic shores during the extreme cold and sunless winter. As opposed to the permanent ice, glaciers, and ice shelves, this sea ice extends for miles into the ocean, covering an ocean area about twice the size of the Antarctic continent (14 million km2). This ice melts again during the summer.
The continent itself does not change in size, but the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent merges with the frozen sea ice, essentially doubling the size of the ice sheet.
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∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAntarctica, the continent, does not expand in the winter. The sea ice of the Southern Ocean, however, freezes, and essentially doubles the size of the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe size of the continent per se does not change. However, 98% of the continent is covered by an ice sheet. During winter, the Southern Ocean sea ice freezes and joins the continental ice sheet, which essentially doubles the size of the mass.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe continent per se does not change size seasonally. However, 98% of the continent is covered with an ice sheet. During the winter, the Southern Oceansea ice around the continent freezes, and attaches to the ice sheet -- essentially 'doubling the size of Antarctica'.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoNo, continents do not change size seasonally. Howver, the sea ice in the Southern Ocean does freeze, and joins with the ice sheet that covers the continent, essentially doubling the size of the ice sheet.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoAntarctica doubles in size, because the sea ice around the continent freezes to depths of from six to 10 feet, thick enough to support a landing aircraft.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoProbably because the ice, forms, making a larger land mass.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIn winter Antarctica doubles in size.
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Does antarctica double and shrink in size each year?
Antarctica, the continent, does not change in size, but the ice the surrounds the continent freezes in the winter, essentially doubling the size of the ice that covers 98% of the continent.
Why does Antarctica double in size each winter?
The continent itself is land, and land does not generally change in size -- except for volcanic lands. The sea ice that freezes around the continent freezes with and connects to the ice sheet that covers 98% of Antarctica during winter, and effectively the size of this ice mass, then, doubles the size of the ice sheet that covers the continent.
How are the seas of the Antarctic different in the winter than in the summer?
During winter, the sea ice of the Southern Ocean freezes to the extent that it appears to double the size of Antarctica.
When water around Antarctica freezes in its winter by how much does it increase the size of the continent in comparison to its summer?
The continent of Antarctica doubles in size, in winter when the sea ice surrounding it freezes.
When does antarcticas size increase?
Some say that Antarctica's size doubles in winter when the sea ice surrounding the continent freezes.
Why does the size of antarctica change throughout the year?
The size of the continent does not change. However, the sea ice of the Southern Ocean freezes during the winter months, and joins with the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent. Essentially, this combined ice is about twice the size of the Antarctic continent.
In winter the area of sea ice surrounding Antarctica reaches how many square kilometers?
The sea ice freezes to about double the size of the Antarctic continent, which is larger than 14 million square kilometers.
Why antarctica is bigger in winter and smaller in summer?
The size of the Antarctic continent just about doubles during winter, because the sea ice around it freezes.
How much does antarctica's ice sheets grow in winter?
Essentially the size of Antarctica -- about as large as USA and Mexico combined -- doubles during the winter when the sea ice freezes and joins with the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent.
When is Antarctica smaller and bigger?
The continent of Antarctica does not change size. However, the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent during summer merges with the sea ice that forms during the winter, effectively doubling the size of the continent.
How big is antarctica in winter?
The continent of Antarctica remains the same -- about 10% of the earth's surface. However, the ice sheet that covers 98% of the continent joins with the sea ice that freezes, and essentially doubles the size of the mass.
How much does the iceshelf in Antarctica expand?
The ice cap -- which includes the ice shelves -- doubles the size of the Antarctic continent in winter.
