AntarcticaAntarctica

The bottom of the worldThe bottom of the world

Rock surface of Antarctica and sea Rock surface of Antarctica and sea ground without its ice-shield, from 60 ground without its ice-shield, from 60 to 90 degrees Southto 90 degrees South..

Antarctica is Antarctica is colder than the colder than the North PoleNorth Pole

Amundsen’s Discovery of Amundsen’s Discovery of

South PoleSouth Pole

DiscoveryDiscovery

1773 - Captain Cook - his 1773 - Captain Cook - his wooden ship could not wooden ship could not penetrate the ice ring.penetrate the ice ring.

1822 - James Weddell 1822 - James Weddell (Sealing)(Sealing)

1830 - Whalers came1830 - Whalers came1911 - Roald Amundsen 1911 - Roald Amundsen

reaches South Polereaches South Pole 1915 - Shackleton stuck in ice1915 - Shackleton stuck in ice

1959 – Antarctic Treaty1959 – Antarctic Treaty

Roald AmundsenRoald Amundsen• Race with ScottRace with Scott

• Dogs instead of Dogs instead of horses and motorized horses and motorized sledssleds

• Ate dogs as supply Ate dogs as supply sleds didn’t need sleds didn’t need themthem

• Reached Pole on Reached Pole on December 16, 1911December 16, 1911

• Placed the flag of Placed the flag of NorwayNorway

Robert ScottRobert ScottEntire expedition dies.Entire expedition dies.• Race with AmundsenRace with Amundsen• Took Siberian horsesTook Siberian horses• Motorized sleds Motorized sleds

quickly broke downquickly broke down• Refused to eat dogsRefused to eat dogs• Horses diedHorses died• Men had to pullMen had to pull• Pole January 17, 1912Pole January 17, 1912• All men died on All men died on

returnreturn

Sir Ernest ShackletonSir Ernest ShackletonStuck in Ice – Lost ShipStuck in Ice – Lost Ship

Sir Ernest ShackletonSir Ernest ShackletonStuck in Ice – Lost ShipStuck in Ice – Lost Ship

Antarctica is a Antarctica is a DesertDesert

• A desert is A desert is determined by determined by the amount of the amount of rain or snow. rain or snow. (Less than 10 (Less than 10 inches).inches).

• It snows very little It snows very little in Antarctica, but in Antarctica, but the snow never the snow never melts because it melts because it is so cold.is so cold.

Scientists have their huts on Scientists have their huts on frozen water instead of the land.frozen water instead of the land.

Why is Antarctica so Why is Antarctica so Cold?Cold?

• Several factors combine to making Several factors combine to making Antarctica one of the coldest and Antarctica one of the coldest and least hospitable places on the Earth:least hospitable places on the Earth:

• Unlike the Arctic region, Antarctica is Unlike the Arctic region, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by an ocean a continent surrounded by an ocean which means that interior areas do which means that interior areas do not benefit from the moderating not benefit from the moderating influence of water.influence of water.

With 98% of its area covered with With 98% of its area covered with snow and ice, the Antarctic snow and ice, the Antarctic continent reflects most of the continent reflects most of the sun's light rather than absorbing sun's light rather than absorbing it.it. The extreme dryness of the air The extreme dryness of the air causes any heat that is radiated causes any heat that is radiated back into the atmosphere to be back into the atmosphere to be lost instead of being absorbed by lost instead of being absorbed by the water vapor in the the water vapor in the atmosphere.atmosphere.

During the winter, the size of During the winter, the size of Antarctica doubles as the Antarctica doubles as the surrounding sea water freezes, surrounding sea water freezes, effectively blocking heat transfer effectively blocking heat transfer from the warmer surrounding ocean.from the warmer surrounding ocean.

Antarctica has a higher average Antarctica has a higher average elevation than any other continent elevation than any other continent on Earth which results in even colder on Earth which results in even colder temperatures.temperatures.

Blizzards:Blizzards:

• Blizzards are a typical Antarctic Blizzards are a typical Antarctic phenomenon in which very little, if phenomenon in which very little, if any, snow actually falls.  Instead any, snow actually falls.  Instead the snow is picked up and blown the snow is picked up and blown along the surface by the wind, along the surface by the wind, resulting in blinding conditions in resulting in blinding conditions in which objects less than a meter which objects less than a meter away may be invisible. away may be invisible.

Whiteouts:Whiteouts:

• Whiteouts are another peculiar Whiteouts are another peculiar Antarctica condition, in which there Antarctica condition, in which there are no shadows or contrasts are no shadows or contrasts between objects.  A uniformly grey between objects.  A uniformly grey or white sky over a snow-covered or white sky over a snow-covered surface can yield these whiteouts, surface can yield these whiteouts, which cause a loss of depth which cause a loss of depth perception -- for both humans and perception -- for both humans and wildlife. wildlife.

Remote sensing Remote sensing equipmentequipment

Solar Energy:Solar Energy:

• Because of the tilt of the earth's axis Because of the tilt of the earth's axis relative to its orbit around the sun, the relative to its orbit around the sun, the sun does not shine at the South Pole for sun does not shine at the South Pole for six months of the year. When the sun does six months of the year. When the sun does shine, much less solar energy actually shine, much less solar energy actually reaches the ground at the Pole because reaches the ground at the Pole because the sun's rays pass through a thicker layer the sun's rays pass through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the Equator. Also, of atmosphere than at the Equator. Also, due to the predominance of ice and snow due to the predominance of ice and snow covering Antarctica, most of the sun's covering Antarctica, most of the sun's rays that do reach the ground are rays that do reach the ground are reflected back into space. reflected back into space.

GeneralGeneral Antarctica and the Southern Antarctica and the Southern

Ocean are key elements in Ocean are key elements in the global weather system.  the global weather system.  This is a system which This is a system which creates and transfers energy creates and transfers energy as winds, clouds, rain and all as winds, clouds, rain and all other elements we call "the other elements we call "the weather". weather".

•This vehicle is used This vehicle is used in mars and in in mars and in AntarcticaAntarctica

CirculationCirculation::• The source of this energy is the sun, The source of this energy is the sun,

and because its heating effect is and because its heating effect is greater at the equator than at the greater at the equator than at the poles, it creates a circulation in the poles, it creates a circulation in the atmosphere.  Hot moist air rises over atmosphere.  Hot moist air rises over the equator and flows at a high level the equator and flows at a high level towards the poles, where it cools and towards the poles, where it cools and sinks.  The equator is therefore a sinks.  The equator is therefore a region of low pressure, and the poles region of low pressure, and the poles are regions of high pressure. are regions of high pressure.

InteractionInteraction::

• The atmosphere is not a closed The atmosphere is not a closed system. It interacts with the system. It interacts with the land, the ocean, and the ice; and land, the ocean, and the ice; and the ice in turn interacts with the the ice in turn interacts with the ocean. Winds create currents in ocean. Winds create currents in the ocean. The annual cycle of the ocean. The annual cycle of freezing and melting of the sea freezing and melting of the sea ice around Antarctica creates a ice around Antarctica creates a vertical circulation in the ocean. vertical circulation in the ocean. 

• "Antarctica is the coldest, "Antarctica is the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and highest, windiest, driest, and iciest continent on earth"iciest continent on earth"

• ““Only scientists stay in Only scientists stay in Antarctica. There are scientist Antarctica. There are scientist from every nation.from every nation.

• They never stay longer than 9 They never stay longer than 9 monthsmonths

A full moon and 25-second exposure allowed A full moon and 25-second exposure allowed sufficient light for this photo to be taken at sufficient light for this photo to be taken at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the long Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the long Antarctic night. The station can be seen at far left, Antarctic night. The station can be seen at far left, the power plant in the center and the mechanic's the power plant in the center and the mechanic's garage in the lower right. The green light in the garage in the lower right. The green light in the

background is the Aurora Australis.background is the Aurora Australis.

The main entrance to the dome ramps The main entrance to the dome ramps down from the surface level. The dome down from the surface level. The dome base was originally at the surface level base was originally at the surface level of the ice cap, but has been slowly of the ice cap, but has been slowly

buried in snowdrift.buried in snowdrift.

The last section of the dome, The last section of the dome, which was dismantled during which was dismantled during the 2009-2010 summer seasonthe 2009-2010 summer season

• Coldest: -129° F at Vostox, July Coldest: -129° F at Vostox, July 21, 1983 (World low temperature 21, 1983 (World low temperature record.) record.) Highest: Average elevation 8200 Highest: Average elevation 8200 feet (2500 meters).feet (2500 meters).

•Windiest:Windiest: Gales reach Gales reach 200 mph on 200 mph on Commonwealth Bay, Commonwealth Bay, George V coastGeorge V coast

• Driest: Average precipitation is Driest: Average precipitation is less than 2 inches per year.less than 2 inches per year.

• Iciest: The thickest ice found is Iciest: The thickest ice found is in Wilkes Land, where it reaches in Wilkes Land, where it reaches a depth of 15,669 feet (4,776 a depth of 15,669 feet (4,776 meters ). meters ).

• Weather observations in Weather observations in Antarctica have been recorded Antarctica have been recorded only for the last 150 years. only for the last 150 years. Detailed climatic monitoring Detailed climatic monitoring began in the late 1950's. began in the late 1950's.

• Most Antarctic stations today are Most Antarctic stations today are equipped with sophisticated equipped with sophisticated weather monitoring technology weather monitoring technology and are manned by professional and are manned by professional meteorologists who perform meteorologists who perform observations around the clockobservations around the clock. .

TouristTourist

• Some tourist spend 2,200 Some tourist spend 2,200 Dollars' to go to Antarctica per Dollars' to go to Antarctica per person. They actually spends 2 person. They actually spends 2 week in a ship and when they week in a ship and when they arrive to Antarctica they only arrive to Antarctica they only stay a day. stay a day.

• Automated stations and remote Automated stations and remote sensing equipment provide a sensing equipment provide a wealth of previously wealth of previously unattainable data and help to unattainable data and help to paint a more accurate picture of paint a more accurate picture of Antarctic weather continent-Antarctic weather continent-wide. wide.

Satellite measurements and photographs of the continent continue to reveal valuable information concerning cloud cover, storm movement, ice formation and distribution patterns, and a variety of other environmental characteristics.

An iceberg dwarfs a ship in this An iceberg dwarfs a ship in this 1920s English magazine 1920s English magazine illustration of a whaler in the illustration of a whaler in the Antarctic. Antarctic.

Antarctic postal services.Antarctic postal services.

PlantsPlants

• 2 Flowering Plants2 Flowering Plants

• PearlwortPearlwort

• GrassGrass

• Only on Antarctic Only on Antarctic PeninsulaPeninsula

• There are also There are also bacteria, molds, bacteria, molds, yeast, algae and fungiyeast, algae and fungi

More than 200 species of More than 200 species of lichens are known to exist in lichens are known to exist in Antarctica.Antarctica.

Animals that live in the Animals that live in the AntarcticaAntarctica

Antarctic BirdsAntarctic Birds

• Snow PetrelsSnow Petrels

• TernsTerns

• FulmarsFulmars

• Cape PigeonsCape Pigeons

• SkuasSkuas

• TernsTerns

• PenguinsPenguins

Snow PetrelSnow Petrel

• Small as a robinSmall as a robin

• Dart over ocean Dart over ocean like large like large mosquitoesmosquitoes

SkuaSkua

• Has hooked billHas hooked bill

• Has sharp clawsHas sharp claws

• Feeds only Feeds only ashoreashore

• Eats penguin Eats penguin eggseggs

• Eats weak Eats weak penguin chickspenguin chicks

AlbatrossAlbatross

• These birds roam These birds roam the oceans at the the oceans at the bottom of the bottom of the world.world.

PenguinsPenguins• 18 species of 18 species of

penguinspenguins

• 4 live in Antarctica4 live in Antarctica

• EmperorEmperor

• AdelieAdelie

• Southern GentoosSouthern Gentoos

• ChinstrapChinstrap

EmperorEmperor• Largest of all Largest of all

penguinspenguins

• Hatch eggs during Hatch eggs during coldest winter coldest winter monthsmonths

• Female lays egg in Female lays egg in MayMay

• Male hatches egg Male hatches egg for 2 months and for 2 months and loses 40% of body loses 40% of body weightweight

• Female takes overFemale takes over

AdelieAdelie

• Most numerousMost numerous

• Named after Named after Captain Captain d’Urville’s wifed’Urville’s wife

• Very smallVery small

Southern GentoosSouthern Gentoos

• Live on Live on peninsulapeninsula

• 2-1/2 feet tall2-1/2 feet tall

• Gentle and timidGentle and timid

• White connected White connected patches above patches above eyeseyes

WhalesWhales

• BaleenBaleen

• ToothedToothed

Blue Whales - BaleenBlue Whales - Baleen

• Baleen whale – Baleen whale – strain food, mostly strain food, mostly krillkrill

• Largest animal in Largest animal in the worldthe world

• 200,00 pounds - 200,00 pounds - More than 5,700 More than 5,700 mid-sized cars!mid-sized cars!

• 100 feet long100 feet long

Humpback - BaleenHumpback - Baleen

• Filters foodFilters food

• Eats mainly krillEats mainly krill

• Is less Is less streamlinedstreamlined

• Has long flippersHas long flippers

Sperm Whale - ToothedSperm Whale - Toothed

• Uses echo Uses echo sounding to find sounding to find preyprey

• Can dive 3,000 Can dive 3,000 feetfeet

• Only males Only males migrate to migrate to AntarcticaAntarctica

Orcas – Toothed WhalesOrcas – Toothed Whales

• Resembles a Resembles a dolphindolphin

• Largest carnivoreLargest carnivore

• Eats seals and Eats seals and penguinspenguins

• Hunt in packsHunt in packs

• Will even bump Will even bump icebergs to knock icebergs to knock off penguinsoff penguins

SealsSeals

• CrabeatersCrabeaters

• LeopardLeopard

• RossRoss

• WeddellWeddell

• Southern ElephantSouthern Elephant

SealsSeals

• Live in groups Live in groups called podscalled pods

• Six species live Six species live in Antarcticain Antarctica

SealsSeals

Elephant – Crabeater - Elephant – Crabeater - LeopardLeopard• Elephant – Elephant –

largestlargest

• CrabeatersCrabeaters

• LeopardLeopard

Southern Elephant SealsSouthern Elephant Seals

• Weigh up to Weigh up to 8,000 lbs.8,000 lbs.

• Largest of the Largest of the world’s sealsworld’s seals

Southern Fur SealsSouthern Fur Seals

• Were nearly wiped Were nearly wiped out by seal hunters out by seal hunters in the nineteenth in the nineteenth centurycentury

• Live in groups - Live in groups - podspods

• Have paddle like Have paddle like flippers or finsflippers or fins

• Have a thick layer Have a thick layer of blubberof blubber

Southern Fur SealSouthern Fur Seal

Antarctica at nightAntarctica at night

Clips of AntarcticaClips of Antarctica

• Antarctica in 5 minutesAntarctica in 5 minutes

• Exploring AntarcticaExploring Antarctica

• Highlights from AntarcticaHighlights from Antarctica

• Whale hunting krill in AntarcticaWhale hunting krill in Antarctica

• Antarctica Time lapse A Year on iceAntarctica Time lapse A Year on ice

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plSfUXFqVx8v=plSfUXFqVx8

• THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN DONE BY THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN DONE BY JUDY FLORES.JUDY FLORES.

• THE PICTURES ARE FROM THE PICTURES ARE FROM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarcticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica

• http://espanol.images.search.yahoo.com/http://espanol.images.search.yahoo.com/imagesimages

• http://blog.hotelclub.com/wp-content/http://blog.hotelclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/antarctica.jpguploads/2009/04/antarctica.jpg

• THE INFORMATION WAS LOOKED UP IN THE INFORMATION WAS LOOKED UP IN ANTARCTICA GEOGRAPHIC AND OTHER ANTARCTICA GEOGRAPHIC AND OTHER RESOURCES www.neboRESOURCES www.nebo