Antarctica Flashcards
what ocean does it neighbour (location)
southern ocean
how much of ice on earth is found it Ant (location)
90%
how much of the land is exposed (location)
5%
what happens in winter (location)
the continent doubles
how much bigger than the UK (location)
60x
what is the surface area (location)
5 million km2
why is it a ‘polar desert’ (location)
because so little moisture falls from the sky
what is the temperature (climate)
average is -49 degrees with lows of -89 degrees
what are catabien winds (climate)
50mph, which create snowstorms
what is a micro climate and where has one (climate)
peninsula has one, means enough melting in summer to allow some land glacier free
what is precipitation like (climate)
mainly snow, 200m falling anually
what has happened due to climate change (climate)
air temperature has rose by 3 degrees
what is the average elevation (physical environment)
2,300km, making it the highest continent on earth
what is the west like (physical environment)
the land is lower than the east, in some places below sea level
what is the east like (physical environment)
platform of 448km above sea level, made of rock
what is the highest mountain (physical environment)
Mt Vinson at almost 5,000 m
what is the convergance zone
- a curve continuously encircling Antartica where cold water meets warmer waters
where is the convergence zone found
60 degrees south
how long is the convergence zone
approx. 32- 48 km wide
what is the divergence zone
high salinity water upwells to just below the surface and mixes with low salinity surface water
