The Antarctic Region Flashcards
The Antarctic Region includes…
the area within the Antarctic Circle (66,5*S) as well as the islands south of 60*S. It is the only uninhabited region in the world. Antarctica has a diversity of mountains(highest being 4897moh) and glaciers.
Describe the climatology of Antarctica, and how it affects the size of the area.
It is the coldest place on Earth, with the coldest temperature ever recorded, -88*C. In wintertime, the continent can double in size as the sea around it freezes to pack ice.
How does the temperature affect the cover of snow?
Due to the extremely low temperatures, a large portion if Antarctica has little snow coverage. The low temperatures cause nearly all of the water vapor in the air to freeze soon after it comes off the sea. Some of the inner regions of the continent are so dry that they are considered as cold deserts.
What is
- The West Wind Drift
- the ACC?
- East wind drift?
- Antarctic Coastal Current
West Wind Drift: Due to the trend of pressure around Antarctica, The dominating winds are from the West, resulting in an eastern current called the West Wind Drift.
ACC: Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This is a deep ocean circulation that is a result of the West Wind Drift. The current was found to be barotropic down to 2500km. Situated south of the permanent thermocline, we expect little baroclinity, because usually its the tilt of the thermocline which give rise to the highest horisontal density differences.
Where is the Southern Ocean? What is special about this ocean?
The Southern Ocean: The ocean region south of the Subtropical Convergence, at about 40-50*S. Its the only zonal ocean in the world (aka has no meridional barriers). Since it has no barriers in the north, it is an important pathway for water exchange between the world’s oceans.
What and where is the Scottia Ridge? What and where is the Drake Passage?
Scotia Ridge: Connects Antarctica with the South-American Continent. (The ridges that separate the basins is important for the dynamics). The Drake Passage is the body of water between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean.
The Drake Passage has the roughest sea in the world, due to the high volume of transport. As the width of the passage is only 780km at depths of 500m.
Explain the main circulations pattern of Currents and Gyres around Antarctica:
There are 3 majoir gyres sorrunding Antarctica. These are found where there is some closed low-pressure systems. The name for theese are: Weddel Gyre, Kerguelen Plateau Gyre and Ross Gyre. The Antarctica Circumpolar Current is a eastern current around the whole Continent, (corresponding to the West Wind Drift, which is a result of the westerly winds).
Then you have 3 major deep outflows; the deep water westerns boundary currents (DWBC)
