It generally forms under otherwise clear or nearly clear skies, so people sometimes also refer to it as clear-sky precipitation. [citation needed], Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892 m (16,050 ft), is located in the Ellsworth Mountains. [39] One month later, the doomed Scott Expedition reached the pole. The areas shown as Australia's and New Zealand's claims were British territory until they were handed over following the countries' independence. Most of these meteorites have fallen onto the ice sheet in the last million years. [38] In addition, Shackleton and three other members of his expedition made several firsts in December 1908 – February 1909: they were the first humans to traverse the Ross Ice Shelf, the first to traverse the Transantarctic Mountains (via the Beardmore Glacier), and the first to set foot on the South Polar Plateau. Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, leaving the centre cold and dry. Antarctica is the least populated continent, with an estimated population of only 1,106 people. [105] Growth is restricted to a few weeks in the summer. [6] Most of Antarctica is a polar desert, with annual precipitation of 200 mm (7.9 in) along the coast and far less inland; there has been no rain there for almost 2 million years, yet 80% of the world freshwater reserves are stored there, enough to raise global sea levels by about 60 metres (200 ft) if all of it were to melt. [14], The long-imagined (but undiscovered) south polar continent was originally called Terra Australis, sometimes shortened to Australia as seen in a woodcut illustration titled "Sphere of the winds", contained in an astrological textbook published in Frankfurt in 1545. Among these are pieces blasted off the Moon, and probably Mars, by impacts. [10], Aristotle wrote in his book Meteorology about an Antarctic region in c. 350 BC. There are around 66 scientific bases in Antarctica, of which about 37 are occupied year round, the … [21] Cook came within about 120 km (75 mi) of the Antarctic coast before retreating in the face of field ice in January 1773.[22]. More than 170 million years ago, Antarctica was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Antarctica has no indigenous inhabitants, only permanent and summer-only staff at its many research stations. At the edge of the continent, strong katabatic winds off the polar plateau often blow at storm force. The illegal fishing of toothfish has been increasing, with estimates of 32,000 tonnes (35,000 short tons) in 2000. The cooling of Antarctica occurred stepwise, as the continental spread changed the oceanic currents from longitudinal equator-to-pole temperature-equalising currents to latitudinal currents that preserved and accentuated latitude temperature differences. In 1895, the first confirmed landing was conducted by a team of Norwegians. The Weddell seal, a "true seal", is named after Sir James Weddell, commander of British sealing expeditions in the Weddell Sea. Sea ice extent expands annually in the Antarctic winter and most of this ice melts in the summer. Other dormant volcanoes may potentially be active. The wildlife of Antarctica are extremophiles, having to adapt to the dryness, low temperatures, and high exposure common in Antarctica.The extreme weather of the interior contrasts to the relatively mild conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands, which have warmer temperatures and more liquid water.Much of the ocean around the mainland is covered by sea ice. The treaty was signed by twelve countries including the Soviet Union (and later Russia), the United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and the United States.

.

Square Root Of 1728 In Radical Form, Morning Star Veggie Burger Review, Super Monkey Ball 3, Costco Fruit Bars Frozen, Creamsicle Pudding Shots, Sunshine Village Weather Forecast 14 Day, Magnavox Micromatic Needle, Brinjal Tomato Curry, How To Make Pizza In Microwave Grill, How To Make Milk Foam Bubble Tea,