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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
Why is their so much ices in antarctic?
Ice cores reamed out of the Antarctic ice sheet reveal the contents of the atmosphere during the year that the layer was frozen into the sheet.
Scientists study slices of these cores to learn more about the history of the earth's climate.
Is military activity in Antarctica good?
This is a matter of personal opinion, and there has not been enough expression of such an opinion to alter the Antarctic Treaty, which forbids military activity south of 60 degrees S.
What is the population of penguins in Antarctica?
No penguin lives permanently on the continent: penguins are sea birds and live at sea. However, several tens of thousands of animals visit Antarctica's beaches to breed during that season, because there are no land predators there.
When was the claim or control of Antarctica determined?
The earth south of 60 degrees South Latitude is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, and this geography includes the continent of Antarctica.
The treaty negates all existing claims and prohibits future claims on Antarctic territory.
Do sting rays live in Antarctica?
According to Marinebio.org:
"Southern stingrays can be found in the western Atlantic from as far north as the coast of New Jersey, around the northern Gulf of Mexico and south to southern Brazil."
This means that they do not venture as far south as the Southern Ocean which surrounds the Antarctic continent.
Antarctica is a continent: stingrays are marine animals.
What Shots and precautions are needed in Antarctica?
No shots are required to work in Antarctica -- or to travel there as a tourist.
In order to qualify for a job there -- in support of science, one must pass rigorous physical and mental health exams. No exams are required of tourists.
Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, coldest and darkest continent on earth, so precautions may be preparations to accommodate the environment.
What does the Antarctica flag mean?
There is no official flag of Antarctica.
Many countries that claim territories in Antarctica -- none of which are acknowledged by The Antarctic Treaty which governs the continent -- produce stamps, money, and perhaps a flag.
All these objects work toward cementing such claims, and with zero effect.
Are there man made landmarks in Antarctica?
There are a few landmarks on the continent, notably the South Pole marker that is moved each year because the ice at 90 degrees S is shifting and moving, and there are a few busts and memorials installed in various research stations there.
There are no man-made landmarks that are visible from open water, so when sailing near Antarctica, one looks for natural landmarks to identify the continent.
How has Antarctica's wildlife been exploited?
Except that the sea birds that come to Antarctica's beaches to breed are subject to scientific examination, there is no exploitation of these animals.
PS: There is no wildlife on the Antarctic continent -- it's too cold to support life and there is no food chain.
How many days does it take to travel from Hobart to Casey station in Antarctica?
Your answer depends on the weather, the condition of the sea ice, the time of year and the speed of your vessel.
Do people live in or visit Antarctica?
The only people who visit or work on antarctica are scientists and people like that.
Actually, many people visit Antarctica to see and learn about the ecology of the continent. So many so, that there is a proposed revision to the International Treaty on Antarctica that would limit such visits, particularly by cruise ships. Such limits are proposed to be no ships with a capacity of more than 500 people, and no more than 100 people on the continent at one time from any given ship. a guide would be required to be with smaller groups of 20 people.
Another Answer
People visit Antarctica as tourists, and experience all their hospitality services aboard the tour boats. There are no commercial facilities anywhere on the continent.
People work in Antarctica for governments interested in answering questions about the scientific health of planet earth. All these jobs are temporary and assignments can last up to 12 months.
Is Antarctica the driest place on earth?
No. It is the driest continent. Average humidity is about five percent.
Antarctica is the coldest, highest and driest continent on the planet, it also occupies 10% of the earth's surface.
The dry valley region in Antarctica is one of the driest places on earth. The Attacama Desert is recognized as the driest place on earth. Parts of the Attacama Desert haven't received rainfall in over 400 years.
Answer 2:
No. Though certain portions of central Antarctica are very dry, The Atacama Desert in Chile is recognized as the driest place on Earth by NASA and many other agencies. I receives an average of 0.1 millimeters (0.04 inches) of rain a year. According to studies the Atacama desert has not received any significant rainfall since 1540 and some regions have not received significant rainfall in 120,000 years! The only significant moisture in this region comes from fog that sometimes rolls in from the Pacific Ocean and sustains some algaes at higher altitudes.
Environmental issues in Antarctica?
The biggest concern now is making sure that Antarctica remains the least-polluted place on Earth. Fortunately very few people go to Antarctica and there aren't any factories or other activities that cause pollution in most countries. But, more and more tourists are going to Antarctica every year and there is concern that this will eventually cause problems. There are also concerns about commercial fishing in the ocean around Antarctica.
Another Answer
Antarctica is protected -- as is all of planet earth south of 60 degrees S -- by the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty prohibits commerce of any kind, including commercial fishing.
Tourists who visit Antarctica -- thousands each year -- who visit with commercial tour operators, follow strict guidelines about animals, litter, and tourist behaviour on the continent.
In sum, Antarctica per se faces no problems, except that events all over the rest of planet earth do affect its ice. Antarctica's ice contains 70% of the earth's fresh water, about 90% of the earth's ice and covers 98% of the continent.
What part of the year is antarctica at its darkest?
It's never really dark in Antarctica.
However, for at least one 24-hour period south of the Antarctic Circle, the geography experiences no sunrise/ sunset each year. At the South Pole, there is one sunrise and one sunset per year. (This phenomenon is mirrored north of the Arctic Circle.)
Otherwise, the deepest part of the galaxy full of stars and the moon provide adequate light to safely walk out of doors in Antarctica, even with no sunlight.
How much snowfall does Antarctica get every year?
Because Antarctica is a "polar" region, there is no precipitation, it has no lakes or rivers and is in fact the driest continent. 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.
How many years can people live in Antarctica?
In a way, life expectancy in Antarctica is difficult to express, since nearly all people there are scientists or their assistants, who have gone there in good health for a limited time (months or a small number of years). I can't recollect people being born in Antartica, then growing up there and eventually dying there - if there have been any, the number would be too small to get reliable statistics. A few people have died there, but through accident or sudden incurable illness - again not producing reliable statistics. 'Life expectancy' in any country or region is collated from statistics relating to the mass of population that are born, grow up and die in that place.
Why does Antarctica have six months continuous sun light?
Both Antarctica and the Arctic have long periods of daylight followed by equally long periods of night. This is because they both lie at very high latitudes.
When the southern end of the Earth is pointing more towards the sun and giving the southern hemisphere its summer, the position of Antarctica means that the sun never actually sets below the horizon, but appears to circle around in the sky. No shadow is cast, which is all night actually is. At the same time, the arctic is having its long night, because the northern end is tilted so far away from the sun that the light does not reach it fully, or at all for a few weeks or months. The complete day and complete night do not last a full six months except at the absolute poles, but gradually the days lengthen a little - or shorten.
Sunsets beyond about 66 degrees S and 66 degrees N sets -- and rises -- over the course of six to eight weeks during spring and fall. Otherwise, the sun will either always be present or always be hidden.
Why is Antarctica a wasteland?
If by wasteland, you mean to infer that Antarctica is overgrown, become barren, is bleak, unattractive or a neglected urban area, you are best advised to choose another noun to describe the continent.
Antarctica has never been inhabited; the climate is too cold for growing anything, and is by some accounts the most gorgeous geography on earth.
You can also describe Antarctica is the highest, darkest, driest, coldest, windiest and iciest continent on earth.
It is protected -- as is planet earth south of 60 degrees S -- by the Antarctic Treaty, which dedicates this geography to science: the study of the health of planet earth.
How many countries are there in Antarctica?
There are none because nobody lives there except for a few scientists studying the ice.
Antarctica is a cold, desolate and windswept continent, where at the South Pole, you will see one sunrise and one sunset per year. It's beaches are dotted with small human scientific bases. A few marine mammals and sea birds breed on Antarctica's beaches, and are found nowhere else in the world.
Antarctica is the southern most continent of the world, It is larger than Europe. It is a difficult place to live in because of its low temperatures and strong winds.The word wilderness describes Antarctica well.
Antarctica has a very thick ice sheet.Antarctica is a very isolated place to be.Over 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice.It is the driest and coldest continent on earth.Antarctica is the fifth largest continent based on size.But is the smallest in population with a population of 0. Antarctica is the windiest place on earth.
Antarctica is the highest, darkest, windiest, coldest, driest, iciest continent on earth.
What seas are around Antarctica?
As of the year 2000, the International Hydrographic Organisation decided that the waters surrounding Antarctica would be known officially as the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica to the 60 degree South line of Latitude. What is now the Southern Ocean was previously the southern most portions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Southern Ocean incorporates the Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies.
The Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans all touch Antarctica
Why is it so cold in Antarctica?
Antarctica is cold, far colder (-60C) than the Arctic (-30C), for three reasons.
- Its altitude. Average height is 2800 metres, that's almost three kilometres. Every km higher cools the temperature by -6C. The Arctic is sea ice at sea level, floating on water that is much warmer than the Antarctic rock.
- Its atmosphere. This is very thin, with very few clouds to trap the sun's heat. Most heat is reflected off the ice and snow back into space.
- No surrounding land masses. There are no other continents near Antarctica. Land masses retain heat and warm the surrounding water. Antarctica's waters are very cold.
Do they have school in Antarctica?
No there aren't any schools in Antarctica as there are no children living there. Actually, at least three children have been born in Antarctica and several have lived at various reserach stations. Some live there currently and go to school at the research station where their parents are working. No one really lives in Antarctica year-round but researchers rotate in and out or arrive for short, one time projects. Sometimes they bring their family.
