Why Antarctica’s Interesting Geographical Position Is Important
If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Antarctica, larger than Europe or, makes up one-tenth of earth’s land mass.However, this continent is far from hospitable, with sustain winds reaching 192 mph and temperatures as low as negative 89 degrees Celsius.The continent is fully surrounded by water, specifically the Southern Ocean.
The waters off of Antarctica are some of the most nutrient rich in the world, and they support a plethora of wildlife including whales, dolphins, penguins, fish, flying birds and seals.Schools of micro forage, more commonly known as krill, grow in vast quantities beneath the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic.The chief food of the seals, whales and penguins is krill, and it is also utilized by humans in Japan.antarctica travel
The wildlife of Antarctica must be equipped to endure its harsh climate, since it is the most arid, bitterly freezing, and windiest continent.The average altitude is greater than any other area on Earth. Precipitation is merely 200 mm a year near the coastline, with much less further inland.Animals which have learned to survive and thrive in these brutal weather conditions include penguins and seals.
The Earth’s atmosphere composition is approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.Carbon dioxide and methane are also present in small amounts.These water vapors and gases absorb the radiation from the sun’s rays and warm the area below.This is often referred to as the “greenhouse” effect.antarctica trip
The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep.The ice layers have been building on the continent for millions of years.Studies regarding prehistoric areas are possible in this region by drilling through the ice and studying core samples, more specifically the atomic isotopes and air bubbles contained within.
The notorious gap in the ozone layer is a result of injecting many coolants into the surrounding atmospheric area with severe negative consequences.These refrigerants combine poorly with ozone.The increase in temperature has resulted in the melting of many ice shelves.
Those ice bergs then float north and slowly melt.The resulting additional water greatly brings up the altitude of sea level.In another adverse effect, the melting decreases the size of the krill’s breeding and feeding habitat.
If all the continent’s ice shelves were to disappear into the ocean, it is calculated that sea levels would increase by more than 180 feet.Essentially, this would make New York seem like Venice, with water reaching the 20th floor of the skyscrapers.Countries that are more low lying, like Bangladesh and the archipelagos of the South Pacific, would disappear entirely.
Antarctica is a breathtaking land of exquisite beauty that touches everyone who visits it. The animals don’t always view people as a threat.This is a pristine world of ice and snow, untouched by humans.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation