Antarctica
- Created by: Brad_ers_B
- Created on: 04-05-14 16:25
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- Antarctica
- Physical features
- Very large, nearly 60 times the size of the UK
- 98% covered by snow and ice up to 4.5km thick
- Coldest continent with average temp of -49°C near South Pole
- Little precipitation as snow mainly falls near coasts.
- Earth's biggest desert
- Average altitude is 2300m higer than any continent
- Life in Antartica
- Sea is warmer than land
- The upwelling of nutrient rich water supports a very rich food web
- Phytoplankton, krill, fish, penguins, seals, squid and whale
- Importance of Antartica
- The ice regulates sea levels by storing water on land
- The high albedo of ice reduces heating of the atmosphere by sunlight
- Threats
- Global climate change
- Water may act as a lubricant causing glaciers to move seaward more rapidly
- Glaciers break up becoming iceburgs
- Reduced krill population
- Ozone depletion
- Increased UV light levels may cause decline in populations affecting rest of food web
- Tourism
- Waste disposal, oil spills, disturbance of wildlife
- Disease spreading
- Overfishing
- Threatens whole food chain if one part of food chain is disturbed
- Global climate change
- Conservation
- Antarctic Treaty
- Only used for peaceful purposes
- Military only present to support research
- Free exchange of information
- Nuclear explosion or radioactive waste disposal banned
- Commercial exploitation of minerals is banned
- Conservation of living organisms include marine life
- Environmental impact of tourism monitored
- Antarctic Treaty
- Physical features
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