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Home  Collectibles Garden and Outdoors The Amazing Geographical Significance Of Antartica And The Effect On The World
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The Amazing Geographical Significance Of Antartica And The Effect On The World |
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Written by AnthonyFlores
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 |
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Antarctica is larger than or Europe and encompasses 10 percent of the world's land mass. It is a mammoth and intimidating area with incredible gale force winds and lethal cold. Antarctica is bordered all around by the Southern Ocean.
by AnthonyFlores
Antarctica is bigger than or Europe and comprises roughly 10% of the Earth's land mass. This frozen land experiences winds of 192mph and temperatures that regularly fall below minus 89 degrees Celsius. This body of land is encircled by the Southern Ocean, which is comprised of the southernmost waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The waters off of Antarctica are some of the most nutrient rich in the world, and they support a plethora of wildlife including whales, dolphins, penguins, fish, flying birds and seals. Micro forage, also known as krill, grown under the vast ice shelves of the region. Krill is one of the main foods for whales, seals and penguins and is even eaten by humans in Japan.
Because of the extreme cold, windy, and dry conditions, animals living in Antarctica must have special adaptations for the environment. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents, and it has an average precipitation of just 200mm a year on the coastline and much less further inland. Seals, penguins, tundra vegetation and many types of algae are examples of plants and animals that have adapted to the cold environment of Antarctica.
One unique characteristic of Antarctica makes if quite important. A higher molecular density exists within the atmosphere at the poles. The greenhouse effect is more evident as a result of these intensified levels. The planet's surface heats more quickly at the poles as the sun's power is consumed more readily.
Our atmosphere is comprised of approximately 79 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Carbon dioxide and methane are also present in small amounts. The gases and water vapour are warmed by soaking up the earth back radiation. This process is called the greenhouse effect.
The poles acquire carbon dioxide and methane at a faster pace than more temperate areas, due to the "slingshot effect" at the equator. In the Antarctic, the rise in temperature resulting from the Greenhouse Effect is 4 times more than then the rising temperatures in temperate zones, making it the optimal place for further research on the Greenhouse Effect.
The ice covering Antarctica is almost 3 miles thick. It is the formulation of centuries upon centuries of accumulated and compressed snowfall. Scientists study core samples by analyzing ancient air bubbles and atomic isotopes to better understand conditions in prehistoric eras.
The well-known hole within our atmospheric layer has been caused by a refrigerant molecule known as CFC, which has a highly destructive effect on the composition of the ozone. Overtime, this molecule has stripped away layers of the ozone. As such, it has created a warming effect in the area, destroying ice shelves.
Once the ice pieces sever they float north and thaws. The resulting additional water greatly brings up the altitude of sea level. It also eliminates the protected spawning grounds of the krill.
The seas will rise approximately 180 feet or more when the ice shelves from Antarctica all split off and thaw. In theory, buildings in New York would be overwhelmed and swallowed up by water like a vast geyser. Countries at a lower altitude, such as Bangladesh, could be completely swallowed up and destroyed.
Many who have traveled to Antarctica are of one accord in that the region is a vast area full of captivating and stunning splendor. The wildlife is not even disturbed by the humans walking about. With the astounding beauty of the nature and it's innocent wildlife, it is a stimulating sight.
The fervent hope is that Antartica can be protected by future civilizations so that this goregeous area will survive intact. However, it may be too late to stop the destruction of the ecosystem. Many nations have joined together and made advancements toward increasing sustainability and preserving the natural environment.
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