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The Extreme Cold of Antarctica: Why is it one of the coldest places on Earth?
Antarctica, the most remote and mysterious corner of the earth, is the point where the earth's rotation axis intersects the surface. It is not only the southernmost point in the Southern Hemisphere, but also an extremely cold zone. Whenever we talk about Antarctica, we inevitably think of the biting cold wind and flying snowflakes there. Given these spectacular and harsh conditions, why is Antarctica one of the coldest places on Earth? This article explores the geographical features, climate and ecology of Antarctica, allowing us to uncover the mystery of this icy continent.
Geographical features
Antarctica is geographically located at the southernmost point of the Earth, with coordinates at 90°S. Here, all directions point north and longitude is almost undefined. Antarctica is located in a barren land with an altitude of 2,835 meters (about 9,301 feet), which makes its climate extremely cold.
Antarctica's ice sheet is estimated to be about 2,700 meters (about 8,900 feet) thick, meaning the land underneath is almost at sea level.
In this extremely cold environment, Antarctica's ice sheet exhibits a strange dynamic, moving about 10 meters (about 33 feet) southwest every year over time. This requires Antarctic stations to remark their locations every year during New Year's Eve celebrations to account for the shifting of the ice.
Climate characteristics
Antarctica's climate is one of the most extreme on Earth. In winter (May to August), the sun does not reach the land at all, and in summer (October to February), the sun hangs in the sky for a long time, but its angle is still low, not giving enough Calories.
The average temperature in Antarctica is around -60°C (-76°F) in winter, and only -25.9°C (-15°F) in summer.
This extremely low temperature, coupled with the high altitude of Antarctica, makes the climate here dry and cold, with almost no precipitation and almost zero air humidity. Some researchers even compare the Antarctic environment to a desert.
Biodiversity
In this extreme environment, Antarctica has almost no native plants or animals. However, there are occasional records of birds such as Antarctic puffins and snow penguins visiting. The existence of microorganisms was also confirmed in 2000, providing more room for exploration of Antarctic ecology.
History of Human Exploration
The history of Antarctic exploration can be traced back to the 19th century, when many explorers, such as Russia's Berlingshausen and Britain's Scott, left their footprints here. Norwegian explorer Amundsen first successfully reached the South Pole in 1911 and named his camp Polheim, paving the way for subsequent explorations.
Although Scott's expedition also reached Antarctica, he and his companions died of hunger and cold on the way back, which makes the history of Antarctica particularly painful.
In the mid-20th century, with the development of scientific exploration, the United States established the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which became a base for continuous scientific research. These studies reveal the impact of climate change in Antarctica on the entire Earth's ecology.
Conclusion: Thoughts and the Future
Antarctica is not only an extremely cold place on Earth, but also an important location for scientific research, climate change and ecological preservation. As the challenges of global climate change become increasingly severe, how will the future of Antarctica affect our planet?
