antarctica - background Flashcards
where is the antarctic?
south of the antarctic circle
what is it fringed by?
ice shelves
what are the biggest ice shelves in antarctica?
ronne and ross
how big is antarctica?
what is it bigger than?
14 million km2
europe
what % of world ice does it hold
90%
what % of world fresh water does it hold?
70%
where is the boundary, e.g. where is it a global common till?
up to the antarctic convergence
what seas/oceans is it surrounded by?
pacific, indian, atlantic oceans
southern sea
what is significant about it as a continent?
highest continent
on average how high is it above sea level?
2000m
what is the average temperature?
-49 degrees
what is it described as? (climate)
a polar desert
what are the main characteristics of the weather?
dry, windy and cold
what is the average wind speed?
50 mph
what is the average yearly rain fall?
less than 50 mm
why do phytoplankton come here?
there is an upwelling of nutrient rich water that occurs that the antarctic convergence that attracts them
where does an upwelling of nutrient rich water occur?
at the antarctic convergence
what is very fragile?
the marine ecosystem
how many species of flowering plants are there?
only two
what types of plants are common here?
lichens and moss
