Antarctica: climate and fauna

Antarctica is the sixth continent, the last of the open continents. Due to extremely harsh conditions it is inaccessible to the majority. However, people here do not particularly strive. For a long time, only trained researchers can withstand this. Hurricane winds, low temperatures, endless expanses of ice and snow - that's what Antarctica is. The climate of the continent is primarily due to the geographic location of the continent.

Place on the Globe

The position of Antarctica is the reason that it has been so long hidden from the keen eyes of seafarers. The sixth continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere, in the polar region. In addition to distance, from other continents it is separated by drifting ice, which for the ships of the past centuries was an insurmountable obstacle.

At some distance from the center of the continent is the South Pole. The pole of relative inaccessibility and the absolute pole of cold are two more points that Antarctica can boast of. The climate of the continent in general terms becomes clear already from their names.

Temperature

The lowest mark, to which the thermometer column fell in Antarctica, is -89.2 ºС. This temperature was recorded in the area of the then Soviet station "Vostok". Here is the absolute pole of cold.

In the central zones of the continent, there are no positive temperatures even in the short summer months. From November to February, when the warm season comes to the Southern Hemisphere , air can warm up to -30 ºС or -20 ºС. On the coast, the situation is different. Here the temperature in the summer months rises to 0 ºС and sometimes even higher.

Sunny, but cold

Features of the climate of Antarctica are associated with a fairly large amount of energy coming from our luminary, and at the same time low temperatures. This discrepancy is due to the high reflectivity of ice. The sun in the short summer months shines from almost cloudless sky almost non-stop. However, the overwhelming part of the heat is reflected. In addition, during the polar night, lasting six months on the continent, Antarctica cools even more.

Hurricanes

The severity of the climate of Antarctica is explained also by its one more feature. Here blow the so-called kabatic, or stock, winds. They are formed as a result of the difference in surface and air temperatures. Also the reason for the formation of winds is the domed configuration of the continental ice shield. The surface air layer cools, its density increases and, under the action of gravity, it flows off toward the coast. The thickness of such a mass is on average 200-300 meters. It carries a large amount of snow dust, which greatly worsens the visibility in the vicinity of the wind.

The speed of movement of air masses depends on the degree of steepness of the slope. The strongest winds are gathered near the coast with a slope towards the sea. They blow for quite long periods. Arctic winter is the time of maximum wind power, raging from April to November almost without interruption. From November to March the situation improves somewhat. Winds occur only when the sun is low above the horizon, and at night. With the advent of summer due to rising surface temperatures on the coast it becomes quiet.

Antarctica, whose climate and in the summer months are quite severe, as a result of the intensification of hurricane winds for eight months is not available for aircraft and other aircraft. Polar explorers, hibernating at this time, actually remain cut off from the outside world.

"Native people"

Such a severe climate meanwhile did not make Antarctica completely uninhabitable. There are birds, insects, mammals and even plants. The latter are mainly represented by lichens and low-growing herbs (not higher than one centimeter). On the continent there are also mosses.

On Antarctica, there is not one completely land-based species of mammals. The reason for this lies in the meager vegetation: in the central zones of the continent, there is simply nothing to eat. The most famous animal of the continent is the penguin. Here several species nest. Some settle only on the islands, others choose the coast.

Antarctica, whose climate is destructive for many organisms, does not repel seals, as well as blue whales, sperm whales, killer whales, southern minke whales. Of birds, other than penguins, the icy expanses are native to skuas and petrels.

The severe Antarctic climate is unsuitable for people's lives. However, this does not prevent scientists from actively exploring the continent: there is already a large number of polar stations on its territory. Researchers annually strive to overcome the extreme conditions, to approach many secrets of the continent and nature in general.