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Transcript of Antarctica .
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Antarctica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im4H71li3HE
Climate
Coldest and windiest continent
Lowest recorded temperature -89.2C or -128.6F (1983)
Wind speed of 320 km/h (200 mph)
Calm periods last a few hours
“katabatic winds” winds that flow downwards from the interior toward the coast driven largely by gravity
Climate
Three climate regions
1. Interior extremely cold with little snowfall
2. Coastal Areas milder temperatures and much higher precipitation rates
3. Antarctic Peninsula warmer and wetter climate, above-freezing temps in summer
Antarctic Landscape
More than 98% covered with ice
70% world’s fresh water
Two main areas 1. East Antarctica 2. West Antarctica- extended of Andes Mountains
Transantarctic Mountains- mostly covered under ice
Rigid, glaciers and ice sheets
Classified as a desert- snow piles up, Sahara desert gets more rain
Who lives there?
No native population or permanent residents
Whalers and sealers first people to set eyes on Antarctica
Research bases
Antarctic Treaty
1961 Antarctic Treaty claiming territory from many nations, peaceful scientific investigation
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
First arms control agreement during Cold War
Headquarters in Argentina since 2004