assignment for icse school children on Antarctica
Answers
assignment on Antarctica
Antarctica is regarded as being the continent of Antarctica, islands and seas south of 60° latitude, it includes the the Antarctic circle, which is an imaginary mapping line at latitude 66° 32' south. It is the area around, and including, the South Pole.
Area:
The area of Antarctica is 14 million sq km.
The winter ice increases its area to 20 - 21 million sq km.
Temperature:
Inland temperature averages are lower than coastal temperatures.
In winter (May - August) inland temperatures range between -40 to -70 degrees Celsius.
Coastal temperatures range between -15 to -30 degrees Celsius.
In summer ((December - February) temperatures range between-15 to -35 degrees Celsius.
Sub-Antarctic islands may reach 10 degrees Celsius. These are islands which are within the Antarctic region.
Research Stations:
There are over 40 permanent scientific bases and 100 research stations on Antarctica.
The first permanent base to be built was Mawson base which was built by the Australians and opened 1954. Other countries which have built bases in Antarctica include USA, Russia, New Zealand, UK and Germany.
Researchers from different countries often work together on many research projects. Antarctica is a very harsh place, and they depend on each other for support and knowledge.
Research projects study a whole range of different things such as the wildlife, atmosphere, astronomy, glaciers and ice cover amongst others.
Animal Life
Land animals
The largest land animal in Antarctica is a tiny wingless midge. It is about 13mm long and looks a like a fly.
It is too cold for anything larger to live on Antarctica permanently. The birds and other marine animals that come to the Antarctic continent do not spend their whole life there and are not considered land animals.
Marine (sea) animals
Although there are not many animals on land, there are however plenty in the sea.
The animals which live in the sea have special adaptations that make them able to withstand the year round extremely cold temperatures of the Antarctic region.
Krill- this is probably the most important marine animal in Antarctica. They look like prawns. Krill form the basis of the Antarctic food chain because they are the main food source of many animals in Antarctica. Baleen whales, which are whales that have no teeth, especially depend on them for food.
Squid- are a food source for animals such as seals and birds.
Plant Life
There are only two flowering plants which exist in Antarctica. These are the Antarctic spearwort and Antarctic hair grass.
Other than these only bacteria, algae, fungi, mosses and lichens exist in Antarctica. Microscopic plants also exist under or even inside rocks, which offer some protection from the extreme temperatures.