The name Antarctica is a romanized version of the Greek word, meaning ‘opposite to the Arctic’ that means ‘opposite to the north’.Antarctica was named different things before actually being named Antarctica, like, terra Australia, Australia, even poetic names as ultima and antipode. Antarctica was nameless for 80 years until in the 1890s it got its name as Antarctica Continent.Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent and home to the South Pole, is a barren, ice and snow-covered wasteland. It has very low temperatures. The Antarctic Peninsula, which reaches toward South America, is visited by the majority of voyages to the continent through Drake’s Passage. It’s notable for the iceberg-flanked Lemaire Channel and Paradise Harbor, as well as Port Lockroy, a former British research station turned museum.Antarctica is the southernmost continent located at the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean; alternatively, it may be considered surrounded by the Southern Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, or by the southern waters (southern ocean) of the World Ocean. It is asymmetrically positioned around the South Pole and largely south of the Antarctic Circle. The peninsula’s isolated terrain also provides a haven for a diverse range of animals, including a large number of penguins.In 2010, the results of a sea life census conducted during the International Polar Year and involving over 500 researchers were published. The study is part of the global Census of Marine Life, and it has yielded some fascinating results. In the polar zones, there are over 235 marine creatures. Antarctica is the coldest continent on the planet(meaning it is the coldest place on Earth with cold air). It is also known as the windiest continent in the world.It was an ice-free landmass until around 34 million years ago when it was covered by ice or snow. In the interior, wind speeds are typically moderate. During clear days in summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than at the equator because of the 24 hours of sunlight each day at the Pole and makes it warmer because of the heat. Long periods of continual darkness or constant sunlight create an Antarctic climate that is foreign to humans in much of the rest of the world when given the latitude.In the winter months, the mean winter temperatures (the air temperatures) drop to −4 to −22 °F (−20 to −30 °C) on the coast and −40 to −94 °F (−40 to −70 °C) in the interior. During summers, temperatures range between 32 °F (0 °C) on the coast to between −4 and −31 °F (−20 and −35 °C) in the interior. In January 1982, the air temperature on Signy Island reached 19.8°C (67.64°F), the highest air temperature ever recorded in the Antarctic region (including non-continental islands). The Antarctic weather fronts rarely penetrate far, leaving the continent’s center freezing and dry. Despite the absence of precipitation in the middle part of the continent, ice remains there for long periods of time and so does snow.The West Antarctic Ice Sheet covers West Antarctica. Because of the slight chance of it collapsing, the sheet has recently been a source of concern. If the Antarctic ice sheet were to break, ocean levels would rise several meters in a relatively short geological time frame, perhaps centuries. Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac. Robertson Land, Wilkes Land, and Victoria Land are located on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains. Except for a minor fraction, the entire territory is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet covers most of East Antarctica.After reading facts about the average temperature in the polar regions and the impact of Antarctica’s climate on the polar ice sheet, also check out facts on do penguins live in Antarctica and the Antarctic Ocean facts.Antarctica Weather And ClimateAntarctica is the coldest continent on Earth with a surface area of 5.5 million sq mi (14.2 million sq km.)Antarctica is a desert. Yes, it is a frozen dessert with very little precipitation content.There is sometimes constant darkness or constant sunlight which makes its climate very uncertain to determine because of its lower latitude.There are sometimes constant days and constant nights in Antarctica because of its location on latitude.Antarctica is colder in its east part as compared to the west part because of its elevation. The center part of the region is more cold air and dry resulting in the ice lasting there for longer periods. Contrary to that, the coastal part experiences more heavy snowfall which has the record to last for 48 hours. In the coastal region, the wind blows stronger than in the interior part.Comparing the Antarctic’s climate to the arctic region, Antarctica is colder because of three reasons. The first is that much of Antarctica is above sea level and the temperature decreases with the elevation of the troposphere. Secondly, the arctic region covers the north zone of poles which transfers the ocean-related through ice packs to prevent the temperature from reaching the land surface of Antarctica. Third and the last one includes that the earth is at the Aphelion in July making the southern pole farthest from the sun in Antarctica winters, hence the coldest. The earth is at the perihelion in January hence making Antarctica summers being closest to the sun, resulting in the harsh summers. We can conclude here the reason behind Antarctica’s extreme climate conditions.Antarctica’s climate is dry because by the air masses passing the coastal region they have lost all the moisture causing the weather fronts to rarely penetrate the continent and leaving the center dry and cold.The lowest temperature ever recorded on earth was −128.6 °F (−89.2 °C), which was measured on the Vostok station of Russia in Antarctica on 21 July 1983.Antarctica only has two seasons, winter and summer. The weather in Antarctica is almost the opposite of what we experience near the equator. Summer in Antarctica starts in October and ends in March, and winter starts in March and lasts until October.Antarctic seasons change when the earth moves around the sun. In the summer there is often all day sun shining bright in the sky which is called Antarctica Day. The summers are warmer and sunburn is the health issue around this time as the snow reflects all the ultra violations falling on it. Constant darkness witnessed in Antarctica winters are called Antarctica nights where there will be complete darkness even at noon and the sun just peeping over the horizon.Rain In AntarcticaWinters are perceived as the main season of Antarctica but sometimes temperature rises enough to allow rain for enough parts in Antarctica.Antarctica is a desert, covered with ice sheets, icebergs, and glaciers. Usually, winters are the dominant season in the southern pole but sometimes when the earth is in the perihelion stage, i.e, nearest to the sun. It is considered the summer season of Antarctica. Snow and rain are difficult things to witness in that region because of the wind that causes the Antarctic climate to be the coldest and driest weather. The thick ice sheets that we see on google pictures of Antarctica are due to the non-melting snow deposition over years.The wind speed of Antarctica is 200 mph or 320 kph, Antarctica is the windiest place on earth!The coastal region does experience the rain of Antarctica. Because the little moisture and low-pressure systems do cause some clouds to form, mostly in the antarctic peninsula. The average annual precipitation of Antarctica is about 6.5 in (166 mm). The average annual value of the elevated plateau is less than 1.9 in (50mm) and in coastal regions, it exceeds 7.8 in (200mm).Antarctic IcebergsAntarctica experiences the coldest and windiest weather on earth and icebergs are a result of that.Icebergs are the big chunks of floating ice, separated from glaciers through a process called calving. They float in the ocean and are made of freshwater. Nearly the entire continent is covered with ice and it contains 90% of the world’s ice and 70% of the freshwater.Due to its position in the south pole, Antarctica experiences less solar radiation except in its summer season but causing the winters to be more harsh and cold. These harsh, cold winters result in lesser precipitation levels, almost in the form of snow that causes the formation of ice sheets covering Antarctica. Now, these ice sheets form moving glaciers that are called ice streams, and next to the continental shores are ice shelves that are sometimes also caused because of the low temperatures of seawater and forming into the sea ice.Antarctica is so cold that even with the rise in a few degrees, it still does not reach the melting point of ice.In antarctic winters, the temperatures drop so low in short periods that the sea freezes.Antarctica is positioned symmetrically on the southern pole of the earth. It is surrounded by the southern ocean and to be precise, the pacific ocean, Atlantic oceans, and Indian oceans or by the southern waters of the Indian ocean.The longest river of Antarctica is the Onyx.The largest lake of Antarctica is the Vostok.About 75% of the Antarctic coastline is covered with ice shelves. The majority of ice shelves consist of floating ice and fewer glaciers that move gradually from the landmass towards the sea. Glaciers break into icebergs due to calving or due to warmer temperatures of water under the ice.However this does not affect the global sea level but on a bigger picture if glaciers keep floating at a rate then that may accelerate the ice flows behind it, into the sea causing its global increase in sea levels. This increase in global sea levels is directly linked to global warming and the greenhouse house which is harmful to our environment and is evident to be more visible in the future.The picture that has been painted till now is not the case there. Those beautiful creations of nature are now changing. The climate is not what it used to be before, it has been depleting over the years and scientists have estimated that it will increase in the upcoming generation.Antarctica is the coldest continent with ice sheets and glaciers but it has been warming up, precisely on the Antarctic Peninsula. Studies have come up with the fact that the average surface temperature is slightly positive, increasing from 1957 - 2006. The Antarctic peninsula was the fastest-warming place on Earth and followed by West Antarctica. Followed by the east Antarctica that was barely warmed last century but temperatures shall increase three times the average record in the last three decades.Recently, the continent recorded its highest temperature as 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), which was an increase in the annual temperature from the previous record of 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17.5 degrees Celsius) in 2015.There is some evidence that suggests global warming and greenhouse gases are responsible for such acts mostly, the internal variability. Recently, the strengthened wind was faced in the summertime of Antarctica with some cooler and lower temperatures over the continent whose dominant reason was considered the depletion of the Ozone layer over the sky.Does Antarctica influence the climate and weather in the rest of the world?Antarctica is one of the seven continents of the earth and the most important one. It is located in the southern pole that makes it the most crucial to take care of. There are two seasons in Antarctica with the most variable conditions and weather.It is the only continent of earth where there are no permanent settlements but research stations of various countries are placed here and working staff are routinely changed in rotation. But that doesn’t mean we can leave this continent on its own. This continent influences the climate and weather in the rest of the world.Antarctic seasons affect the humans and wildlife there too. Fewer people live in wintertime for research purposes as the climate conditions there are rigid and harsh but life is more evident in the summer season due to the melting of sea ice and availability of more food for fish and penguins and seals.There is a large area of Antarctica that is under the ozone hole covering almost the whole continent. Due to the release of greenhouse gases and CFCs released from our random deodorant sprays and refrigerations the ozone hole has been expanded over the thirty years and has caused the melting of those ice sheets and glaciers on the continent’s surface.This depletion of the ozone layer plays a major role in climate change in Antarctica. A fact that should not be ignored is that this climate change in Antarctica is not only a matter of concern but of the whole wide world because it influences all continents’ weather and climate.Antarctica plays a major role in balancing and maintaining the entire Earth’s heat. The massive amount of the Antarctic Ice sheet helps in reflecting the solar radiation and creating a balance. Now as the ice sheet is decreasing, so is the reflectivity of the earth’s surface. This allowed in more absorption of the solar heat and increased global temperature causing the unequal heat balance linked to global warming.It has been concluded that it does not affect the weather and climate conditions in a vast range. Antarctic weather mostly keeps with itself and does not affect the world’s atmosphere. The ocean currents affect the global weather and climate more than the atmospheric effects. This is the reason that Antarctica is so frigid Because its weather is all in itself and does not transfer the cold to lower latitude.However, different forms of ice sheets and glaciers have been found by the researcher, probably due to the shift in climate change. It shows that the continent is adjusting itself according to the change. This is a positive sign of settlement but the fact that global warming exists and ozone depletion is a dangerous phenomenon that still exists in our world is a threat to our planet and humankind. This should not be ignored and should be worked upon.Some of the everyday measures that we can take to control this dangerous threat to humanity are stopping the use of CFC sprays, less plastic waste, and saving water.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Antarctica weather facts, then why not take a look at do polar bears live in Antarctica, or animals that live in Antarctica.
The name Antarctica is a romanized version of the Greek word, meaning ‘opposite to the Arctic’ that means ‘opposite to the north’.
