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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.
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Satellite imagery showing photographs of the continent reflect the colour of the pure ice on the continent that has been compressed for millenia so that there are no minerals left in the ice.
The reflection makes the continent, which is covered by 98% by this ice, appear blue, because from a distance and in mass, this is the colour of pure ice.
Australasia is a general geographical region, but it is not a continent. It is part of the larger region known as Oceania (which is also not a continent).
Australasia encompasses the continent of Australia, together with the country of New Zealand. Some will define it as also including the island of New Guinea, but because it is not a specific area, New Guinea and neighbouring islands are not always included.
What is Antarctica's ocean like?
The South Pole is at 90 degrees S latitude and is located on the continent of Antarctica. Because Antarctica is a "polar" region, there is no precipitation, it has no lakes or rivers and is in fact the driest continent. Average temperatures in the Antarctic interior get down to -70 degrees Celsius during the winter months and -35 degrees Celsius in the warmer months. The coastal temperatures are much warmer with a range of -15 to -32 Celsius in Winter and -5 to +5 Celsius in Summer. The interior of Antarctica is considered the world's driest desert because the extreme cold freezes water vapour out of the air. Annual snowfall on the polar plateau is equivalent to less than 5 cm of rain. Antarctica has some of the strongest winds on earth, with some winds reaching 320 kph. Antarctica is the highest, driest, windiest, coldest, cleanest, most isolated and most peaceful continent on Earth.
Antarctica ice cap holds what percentage of the worlds fresh water?
At 14.0 million km2 (5.4 million sq mi), Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent in area and about 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which averages at least 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) in thickness. This means that the continent comprises 90% of the world's ice and consequently 70% of the world's fresh water.
If all of this ice were melted, sea levels would rise about 60 m (200 ft).
Why do people choose to live in Antarctica?
It has been said that people who live and work temporarily in Antarctica are either mercenaries or missionaries.
Mercenaries look for financial opportunities. Since there is no where to spend money on the continent, the salaries earned can simply build up in bank accounts.
Missionaries seek to understand the passion so that they can educate others about this marvelous, exotic, extreme place on planet earth.
How feathers keep penguins warm in Antarctica?
When the penguin goes into the water its outer feathers behave like fish scales and keep out the water away from the downy layer. To keep warm the penguin fluffs up its feathers so the air trapped among them will stay warm.
To learn more about a penguin's feathers see related link..
Where are the Trans-Antarctic Mountains?
The Trans-Antarctic mountains are on the continent of Antarctica.
From Wikipedia, we learn that the mountain range stretches between the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea the entire length of Antarctica, thence the name. With a total length of about 3,500 km, the Transantarctic Mountains are one of the longer mountain ranges on earth.
How much snow does the interior get every day in antarctica?
Zero. It's too cold and dry in the Antarctic interior to snow.
Where do people sleep in Antarctica?
You would sleep in a base (if you work there) or in a tent, which is cold.
Do you get any avalanches in antarctica?
It's too cold and dry for avalanches: in Antarctica the phenomenon is called iceberg calving on the beaches and crevasse formation on land.
How do penguins shelter themselves?
They dont actually. Gradually as they keep experiencing the weather and cold from when they are young they begin to know how to take care of themselves and what to do when a snow storm appears.
Why are there a very few people living in Antarctica?
Because it's really cold, of course. Further informationThe question is valid as, compared to the Arctic regions, the Antarctic does have considerably fewer plants and animals. One of the reasons for such little flora and fauna is the fact that the Antarctic is the driest continent on earth - drier, even, than Australia, with its large desert areas. Together with the persistent cold, it means that only the hardiest of organisms and creatures can survive on Antarctica - and even those must live in the warmer parts of the sea and along the coast of the continent, where the wildlife is more abundant.
What do scientific researchers do when they visit Antarctica?
Scientists in their off-hours spend time eating, sleeping and socializing with other people in the research facility where they are working. As well, they can read, or conduct investigations or discoveries of interest. They spend their leisure time in much the same way as anyone would, given the limitations of their location.
no Santa does not live in the south pole and i can tell you he lives in the north pole
Why do the penguins live in Antarctica?
Penguins do not live in the interior of the Antarctic continent as it is too cold and there is no food chain. There are some species that rely on the Antarctic waters for their food, and which breed along the edges and rocky coastlines of the Antarctic continent, living in penguin colonies on land whenever they are not hunting for food.
These species of penguins survive the cold of Antarctica with the help of some unique adaptations. They have a thick layer of fat underneath the skin which helps to store energy. This thick layer of fat also insulates them. In addition, penguin feathers are specially designed. They are short and have an under-layer of fine woolly down, and easily shed water - a useful characteristic given that penguins spend up to 75% of their time in the water. Penguin feathers are shaped to overlap, enabling better streamlining for penguins when they are in the water, and protection from the wind when they are on land.
Penguins have dark feathers on the broad expanse of their backs. These black feathers absorb the heat of the sun, helping to warm up the birds. Penguins have a specially designed circulatory system which can adjust to conserving or releasing heat to maintain a constant temperature. Antarctic species of penguins huddle together for warmth, and the eggs are incubated on the penguins' feet, where they get constant warmth.
In truth, penguins don't live in Antarctica.
Penguins come from the sea to breed in Antarctica. Usually, animals breed where there are no predators.
No penguin 'lives' in Antarctica. Penguins are sea birds -- aqua-dynamic animals. Their food chain is in the sea.
A few types of penguins do breed on Antarctica's beaches, but when the season is over, the animals return to their life at sea.
Which country has the smallest claim in Antarctica?
New Zealand has the smallest of the Antarctic territorial claims and includes part of Victoria Land, most of the Ross Ice Shelf, the Balleny Islands, and Sturge Island. The New Zealand claim has an area of about 420,000 sq km.
Why is the population density low in Antarctica?
Zero, as there are not any permanent human settlements on the continent of Antarctica. Apart from the science stations, which rotate staff.
According to World Population Statistics' Web site:
"The estimated population density of the continent ranges from about 0.00018 people per square mile to about 0.00091 people per square mile."
How did the Antarctic ice cap form?
All over the earth, icebergs are formed by glaciers that flow into the sea forming an ice tongue. Once the ocean water waves separate the tongue from the glacier, an iceberg is calved into the sea.
How thick is the icecap that covers Antarctica?
The Antarctic continent nearly doubles in size every winter, because the sea freezes around the continent.
At the beach, at McMurdo Station, for example, the ice is eight to 20 feet thick by the end of winter, based on the shape of the benthos under the ice. Ice tends to be thicker where the sea is more shallow.
What season is it in Antarctica in August?
August is typically the coldest month in Antarctica with temperatures reaching well below minus 90 degrees F.
Yes. Not only because of the fact that it is not only the last nature preserve, but also because in the mid 1900's, an agreement was made for nations not to go there. Also, because of us, the ice is melting and animals are being put in danger. Wouldn't you like for it to be restored?
Another Answer
Antarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which agreement nullified national claims on Antarctic lands. The treaty dedicates the continent to peace and science. Essentially, we are already 'leaving Antarctica alone'.
PS: There are no animals in Antarctica.
How many times can Australia fit into Antarctica?
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