I found the following information about Antarctica to be insightful and helpful.
SOME ANTARCTIC BASICS
Antarctica
This continent is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest, and emptiest place on earth. An ice sheet covers more than 99% of Antarctica. At its thickest point, it is 4,776 m (nearly 3 mi.) deep. Antarctica holds approximately 90% of all the world’s ice (by volume) and 70% of all the world’s fresh water. There are many penguins and abundant sea life along the coast – but there is little life in the interior, and there are no indigenous people.
Temperatures
The mean annual temperature at South Pole Station is minus 49°C (-56°F). Temperatures at McMurdo Station may reach as high as 8°C (46°F) in summer, while at South Pole Station, the record high summer temperature of -l2.3°C. (9.9°F.) was recorded in December 2011. Palmer Station's summer temperatures will reach above 4°C (40°F).
Daylight and Darkness
The area above 66.5 degrees south latitude experiences one long day and one long night each year – with several weeks of sunrise and sunset in between. There are spectacular displays of aurora australis (southern lights) during the winter darkness.
Ownership
No nation owns Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty, which has been recognized by 53 countries, reserves the area south of 60 degrees south latitude as a zone for the peaceful conduct of research. Treaty nations coordinate and cooperate to maximize research results and minimize logistics requirements.
Size and Distance
The continent is roughly 14 million sq. km. (5.4 million sq. mi.). For comparison, the U.S. is 9.36 million sq. km. (3.6 million sq. mi.). The sea ice around Antarctica varies from 4 million sq. km. (1 million sq. mi.) in summer to 20 million sq. km. (7.7 million sq. mi.) in winter. The distance from Washington, D.C., to McMurdo Station is approximately 14,830 km. (9,920 mi.).
Science
Antarctica provides excellent conditions for scientific research on global climate change, ozone depletion, UV radiation, earth sciences, glaciology, astronomy, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, marine ecosystems, meteorite studies, and biology, among others.
History
This continent is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest, and emptiest place on earth. An ice sheet covers more than 99% of Antarctica. At its thickest point, it is 4,776 m (nearly 3 mi.) deep. Antarctica holds approximately 90% of all the world’s ice (by volume) and 70% of all the world’s fresh water. There are many penguins and abundant sea life along the coast – but there is little life in the interior, and there are no indigenous people.
Temperatures
The mean annual temperature at South Pole Station is minus 49°C (-56°F). Temperatures at McMurdo Station may reach as high as 8°C (46°F) in summer, while at South Pole Station, the record high summer temperature of -l2.3°C. (9.9°F.) was recorded in December 2011. Palmer Station's summer temperatures will reach above 4°C (40°F).
Daylight and Darkness
The area above 66.5 degrees south latitude experiences one long day and one long night each year – with several weeks of sunrise and sunset in between. There are spectacular displays of aurora australis (southern lights) during the winter darkness.
Ownership
No nation owns Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty, which has been recognized by 53 countries, reserves the area south of 60 degrees south latitude as a zone for the peaceful conduct of research. Treaty nations coordinate and cooperate to maximize research results and minimize logistics requirements.
Size and Distance
The continent is roughly 14 million sq. km. (5.4 million sq. mi.). For comparison, the U.S. is 9.36 million sq. km. (3.6 million sq. mi.). The sea ice around Antarctica varies from 4 million sq. km. (1 million sq. mi.) in summer to 20 million sq. km. (7.7 million sq. mi.) in winter. The distance from Washington, D.C., to McMurdo Station is approximately 14,830 km. (9,920 mi.).
Science
Antarctica provides excellent conditions for scientific research on global climate change, ozone depletion, UV radiation, earth sciences, glaciology, astronomy, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, marine ecosystems, meteorite studies, and biology, among others.
History
1 comment:
All of these facts and details are fascinating and helpful, Rex. Thank you! My favorite section was the one about "Ownership", explaining that Antarctica is dedicated to peace, science, and no one country can every claim it! The only place on Earth like that.
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