Antarctica is such a vast continent, that it amounts to approximately 10% of the world's total land mass, and is far larger than either or Europe. Antarctica is both vast and forbidding with temperatures as low as minus 89 degrees and wind speeds up to 192 mph. The continent is fully surrounded by water, specifically the Southern Ocean.
The waters off Antarctica are nutrient rich and provide sustenance for innumerable penguins, whales, seals, dolphins, fish and various species of flying birds. Schools of micro forage, more commonly known as krill, grow in vast quantities beneath the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic. Krill is the main food source for whales, seals, penguins, and is also eaten by humans in Japan.
Because of the extreme cold, windy, and dry conditions, animals living in Antarctica must have special adaptations for the environment. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents, and it has an average precipitation of just 200mm a year on the coastline and much less further inland. The creatures that can survive here include mostly seals and penguins, while plant-life consists of tundra and algae.
Antarctica is vital to our existence because of a very unique natural phenomenon. The greenhouse effect is more prominent at the poles where the particles making up the atmosphere are the most intense. The sun's luminous energy is soaked up at the Earth's poles near the exterior, making things a little warmer.
The surrounding atmosphere is comprised of almost eighty percent nitrogen. Methane and carbon dioxide also contribute to the make-up of the atmosphere, but in minute quantities. These gasses trap the heat from the sun's rays and make the ground warmer. This process is called the greenhouse effect.
Because of the so-called "slingshot effect" at the equator, the regions around the poles build up methane and carbon dioxide faster than more temperate regions of the earth. Because the temperature increase from Greenhouse effects is 4-5 times greater in Antarctica, this region makes an ideal location for research, especially into the Greenhouse Effect.
The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep. It was created by the compaction of snow over millions of years. Scientists study core samples by analyzing ancient air bubbles and atomic isotopes to better understand conditions in prehistoric eras.
The well-known ozone layer breach is said to be the result of harmful CFC's ... an atmospheric imbalance caused by these toxic pollutants. They create detrimental consequences when reaching our ozone. As a result of the elevated heating occurrence, massive chunks of ice layers have been ripped away.
Once the ice pieces sever they float north and thaws. The resulting additional water greatly brings up the altitude of sea level. In addition, valuable amounts of the nutritious krill are destroyed.
If all of the ice in Antarctica were to thaw, this would bring up sea level about sixty yards. That is the equivalent of skyscrapers in New York being surrounded by water at the 20th floor as it is in Venice. Whole countries close enough to sea level may vanish, places like the archipelagos of the South Pacific and Bangladesh.
Many who have traveled to Antarctica are of one accord in that the region is a vast area full of captivating and stunning splendor. The animals don't always view people as a threat. With the astounding beauty of the nature and it's innocent wildlife, it is a stimulating sight.
Hope remains that current and future civilizations will value Antarctica enough to protect and conserve its perfect brilliance. However, the destruction of this continent has been ongoing for a very long time, and irrevocable damage is being done to it. Fortunately, many nations have joined forces and are now working together so some small steps toward conservation, preservation and preserving sustainability have already been taken. - 31515
The waters off Antarctica are nutrient rich and provide sustenance for innumerable penguins, whales, seals, dolphins, fish and various species of flying birds. Schools of micro forage, more commonly known as krill, grow in vast quantities beneath the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic. Krill is the main food source for whales, seals, penguins, and is also eaten by humans in Japan.
Because of the extreme cold, windy, and dry conditions, animals living in Antarctica must have special adaptations for the environment. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents, and it has an average precipitation of just 200mm a year on the coastline and much less further inland. The creatures that can survive here include mostly seals and penguins, while plant-life consists of tundra and algae.
Antarctica is vital to our existence because of a very unique natural phenomenon. The greenhouse effect is more prominent at the poles where the particles making up the atmosphere are the most intense. The sun's luminous energy is soaked up at the Earth's poles near the exterior, making things a little warmer.
The surrounding atmosphere is comprised of almost eighty percent nitrogen. Methane and carbon dioxide also contribute to the make-up of the atmosphere, but in minute quantities. These gasses trap the heat from the sun's rays and make the ground warmer. This process is called the greenhouse effect.
Because of the so-called "slingshot effect" at the equator, the regions around the poles build up methane and carbon dioxide faster than more temperate regions of the earth. Because the temperature increase from Greenhouse effects is 4-5 times greater in Antarctica, this region makes an ideal location for research, especially into the Greenhouse Effect.
The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep. It was created by the compaction of snow over millions of years. Scientists study core samples by analyzing ancient air bubbles and atomic isotopes to better understand conditions in prehistoric eras.
The well-known ozone layer breach is said to be the result of harmful CFC's ... an atmospheric imbalance caused by these toxic pollutants. They create detrimental consequences when reaching our ozone. As a result of the elevated heating occurrence, massive chunks of ice layers have been ripped away.
Once the ice pieces sever they float north and thaws. The resulting additional water greatly brings up the altitude of sea level. In addition, valuable amounts of the nutritious krill are destroyed.
If all of the ice in Antarctica were to thaw, this would bring up sea level about sixty yards. That is the equivalent of skyscrapers in New York being surrounded by water at the 20th floor as it is in Venice. Whole countries close enough to sea level may vanish, places like the archipelagos of the South Pacific and Bangladesh.
Many who have traveled to Antarctica are of one accord in that the region is a vast area full of captivating and stunning splendor. The animals don't always view people as a threat. With the astounding beauty of the nature and it's innocent wildlife, it is a stimulating sight.
Hope remains that current and future civilizations will value Antarctica enough to protect and conserve its perfect brilliance. However, the destruction of this continent has been ongoing for a very long time, and irrevocable damage is being done to it. Fortunately, many nations have joined forces and are now working together so some small steps toward conservation, preservation and preserving sustainability have already been taken. - 31515
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