antarctica - background

Question 1

where is the antarctic?

Answer 1

south of the antarctic circle

Question 2

what is it fringed by?

Answer 2

ice shelves

Question 3

what are the biggest ice shelves in antarctica?

Answer 3

ronne and ross

Question 4

how big is antarctica?

what is it bigger than?

Answer 4

14 million km2

europe

Question 5

what % of world ice does it hold

Answer 5

90%

Question 6

what % of world fresh water does it hold?

Answer 6

70%

Question 7

where is the boundary, e.g. where is it a global common till?

Answer 7

up to the antarctic convergence

Question 8

what seas/oceans is it surrounded by?

Answer 8

pacific, indian, atlantic oceans

southern sea

Question 9

what is significant about it as a continent?

Answer 9

highest continent

Question 10

on average how high is it above sea level?

Answer 10

2000m

Question 11

what is the average temperature?

Answer 11

-49 degrees

Question 12

what is it described as? (climate)

Answer 12

a polar desert

Question 13

what are the main characteristics of the weather?

Answer 13

dry, windy and cold

Question 14

what is the average wind speed?

Answer 14

50 mph

Question 15

what is the average yearly rain fall?

Answer 15

less than 50 mm

Question 16

why do phytoplankton come here?

Answer 16

there is an upwelling of nutrient rich water that occurs that the antarctic convergence that attracts them

Question 17

where does an upwelling of nutrient rich water occur?

Answer 17

at the antarctic convergence

Question 18

what is very fragile?

Answer 18

the marine ecosystem

Question 19

how many species of flowering plants are there?

Answer 19

only two

Question 20

what types of plants are common here?

Answer 20

lichens and moss