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Antarctica

Antarctica is an uninhabited continent dedicated to science and governed by The Antarctic Treaty. As questions about the highest, driest, windiest, iciest, darkest continent on earth.

3,949 Questions

What percentage of ice in the Arctic and Antarctica is melting and making the seas raise?

In the Arctic, the main contribution to sea level rise is from the Greenland ice sheet. Sea ice is melting at an alarming rate, but because the sea ice already sits in the oceans, this does not contribute to sea level rise. Mountain glaciers are also trickling into the oceans quickly, but their mass is much less than that of Greenland, so we won't use them in this estimate - even though the worldwide melt rate of mountain glaciers is higher than that of Greenland. All the same, we'll approximate that all of the sea level rise in the Arctic is coming from Greenland.

Greenland is losing about 250 million tons of ice each year (267 +/- 38 Gton/yr to be exact), and has a total ice mass of 2.3 x 10^15 tons. Thus, the fraction of ice Greenland is losing each year is 1 x 10^(-7), or 100 billionths of its total mass. Note that this number is the *net* loss - it includes both the losses from calving icebergs and surface melt, and the gains from snowfall on the interior.

Antarctica is less clear because we have fewer measurements about the snowfall accumulation on the interior. Many different projections of the mass balance have come up with different values - the study I will use found that the mass balance is -5 to +85 million tons of ice per year. The total mass of Antarctica is 2.2 x 10^16 tons, so Antarctica is doing something in the range of losing 0.2 billionths of its mass to gaining 4 billionths of its mass each year. Again, these estimates are Antarctica's net mass balance - losses from calving and gains from snowfall.

We have observed about 3-4 millimeters per year of sea level rise, averaged over the entire twentieth century. Most of the observed sea level rise to date is actually due to thermal expansion of sea water - hotter water takes up more space. The colder water coming in from the melting ice sheets is insignificant compared to the huge volumes of warmer ocean water that already exist.

See the links below for the studies referred to.

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What is the normal temperature in Antarctica?

By night, one must assume that you mean during sun-less periods.

At the South Pole, the sun-less period is about six months and the temperature during that period averages between minus 65 and minus 75 degrees F.

Elsewhere on the continent, the sun-less periods vary as does the temperature, which is always extremely cold.

Would daylight savings be useful to Antarctica?

Scientific stations in Antarctica usually operate on the local time for the government that they serve.

There is no standard time in Antarctica. If the country headquarters is on daylight savings time, then so is the Antarctic base. However, when the sun is up 24 hours out of the day, there's not much value to the notion.

Antarctica's largest island?

The largest island in Antarctica is Alexander Island, which covers an area of approximately 4,195 square miles (10,865 square kilometers). It is located in the Bellingshausen Sea off the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

What percent of Antarctica isn't covered in ice?

Approximately 0.32% of Antarctica is not covered in ice, primarily made up of rock outcrops, mountain peaks, and small patches of bare ground. The vast majority of Antarctica is covered by ice, with some areas exceeding 2 miles thick.

Whats the weather at Antarctica?

Antarctica is a polar continent that is 30 degrees F colder than the Arctic. The wind is constant and temperatures are usually between -30 to -110+ all year. Either there is sun, no sun or blizzard, some of which are so intense that you are forced to remain indoors.

Antarctica is a polar desert, meaning that the humidity is about five percent, compared with the Sahara desert, where it's 25% to 30%.

Does most global warming take place in Antarctica?

Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change. It already suffers regular famines, and agriculture and food production are threatened by any future warming.

Other areas affected are the Arctic, small island nations, and the large flat river deltas of Asia.

Do the ocean waves in Antarctica freeze?

The Antarctic continent doubles in size during the austral winter, because the ocean around it freezes. This occurs because the sun sets and does not rise again until spring.

During the summer season when the sun is up, the ocean water is always warmer than the ambient air on the continent.

What is the name of the last volcano to erupt in Antarctica?

When is it thought the first volcano in Australia erupted? When is it thought the first volcano in Australia erupted?

Which is the drier continent- Australia or Antarctica?

Antarctica is the driest continent on Earth, as it is a polar desert with very little precipitation. Australia, while known for its arid regions, still receives more rainfall in comparison to Antarctica.

What is the latitude and longitude of Antarctica?

The latitude of Antarctica is approximately 66 to 90 degrees South. All lines of longitude converge at the South Pole, so all lines of longitude pass through Antarctica.

Antarctica is a continent covering 10% of the earth's surface -- about as large as USA and Mexico combined.

Latitude and longitude imply specific locations, not general geographies.

What is a list of the three main American stations located on antarctica?

The three main American research stations in Antarctica are McMurdo Station, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, and Palmer Station. Each station serves different research purposes and is managed by different U.S. government agencies.

What is the average temperature in Antarctica?

The average temperature of Antarctica is about -49 degrees Celsius or about -56.2 Fahrenheit.

The annual average temperature is -50°C (-58°F). Winter temperatures drop quickly, then level out. Summer is short, from mid-December to mid-January, however, temperatures can reach a balmy -30°C (-22°F)!

Antarctica covers 10% of the Earth's surface -- about as much land as USA and Mexico combined. It is the highest, driest, windiest, coldest, darkest continent. Averages don't mean much in Antarctica.

What were the first fossils found in Antarctica Where and when were they found?

The first fossils found in Antarctica were discovered in the Transantarctic Mountains in 1909 by geologist Griffith Taylor. These were plant fossils dating back to the Permian period, around 250 million years ago.

What are some nonliving things in Antarctica?

Snow, ice, wind, Southern Lights, water, sunshine, rocks.--southern lights, sunshine, and wind are NOT objects. You cant touch them

What is the climate of Antarctica?

Antarctica is a polar desert and is extremely cold, only getting above freezing on the coast.

Temperatures in the interior have been measured as low as −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K), which was measured at Vostok Research station in July of 1983. This remains the coldest temperature recorded anywhere on Earth.

Inland, there is very little precipitation, with average humidity of about five percent. There tends to be a strong, constant wind blowing from the South Pole, the polar plateau , called katabatic wind, which is wind as a result of the down-sloping of air from the high plateau elevation to sea level.

Antarctica is technically a desert.

Because Antarctica is a "polar" region, there is no precipitation, it has no lakes or rivers and is in fact the driest continent.

What equipment does a biologist use in Antarctica?

Biologists in Antarctica may use equipment such as binoculars, GPS devices, sampling tools for collecting specimens, cameras for documenting wildlife, and cold weather gear to protect themselves from the harsh conditions. They may also use specialized equipment for studying the physiology of animals, such as transmitters for tracking movements or sensors for monitoring environmental conditions.

Can you die in Antarctica?

You can certainly die in Antarctica. You could die from starvation if you don't eat enough food. You can also die from malnutrition which is when you don't eat the right food. You can die from hypothermia, which is where you are way too cold to survive. You can also die of frostbite. Frostbite is when the blood stops flowing to certain points in your body and they turn black.

What is the height of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica?

The South Pole sits on Antarctica's ice sheet, which covers 98% of the continent. The Ross Ice Shelf may be the closest to the South Pole, even though it is securely attached to the ice sheet and its connecting boundary is imprecise.

Are there any reefs in antarctica?

Yes, there are reefs in Antarctica, particularly in the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula. These reefs are known as cold-water coral reefs and support diverse ecosystems despite the extreme conditions. They are found at depths where sunlight can penetrate to support photosynthesis.

What types of trees grow in antarctica?

No trees naturally grow in Antarctica due to its harsh climate, with extremely low temperatures and minimal precipitation. The landscape is primarily covered by ice, snow, and lichens, mosses, and algae that can survive in these extreme conditions.

Who has claimed ownership of Antarctica?

There is no one country that owns Antarctica and no permanent human settlers or any evidence of and existing or pre-historic indigenous population. In 1961 a treaty was established on the ownership of Antarctica. 45 countries (¾ of the world population) have signed the treaty to agree on the claims and the treatment of Antarctica. This treaty is one of the only international 20th century agreements to have succeeded. The Antarctic treaty bans all military activity. Every decision that the treaty makes is made by consensus so that there are no disagreements and arguments. In the 1980's mining companies wanted to search for minerals in Antarctica. Some environmental groups such as green peace campaigned that mining should be banned forever in Antarctica. At first the treaty could not come to a decision, but eventually they agreed to put in place a new protocol on environment protection in 1998. The rules of the protocol are that wildlife and habitats must be conserved and pollution controlled. There are seven countries that have made claims: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK, though Australia has the biggest claim. Russia and the USA have tried to make claims but they have not yet been accepted.

What is Antarctica's usual temperature range?

The temperature in Antarctica ranges from about -50°C to 0°C (-58°F to 32°F) during the summer months, and from about -60°C to -80°C (-76°F to -112°F) during the winter months. Antarctica is known for being the coldest place on Earth.

What is the current temperature in Antarctica?

The current temperature in Antarctica can vary depending on the region, season, and time of day. Temperatures in Antarctica can range from -50°C to 0°C on average, with some locations experiencing even colder temperatures.

What is the largest amount of snowfall ever recorded in Antarctica?

Generally very little because it is so cold and dry. Most of Antarctica is far from any water as a source of moisture. Additionally, the poles tend to be far from the Polar Front, which is really the only thing to get air rising in these regions aside from orography. Therefore, it's hard to get any precipitation at all. Finally, because cold air can hold so little moisture, there isn't much moisture to squeeze out in the form of snow. This isn't quite true on the Antarctic Peninsula however, which juts out into lower latitudes and can be quite stormy (and not so cold).