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Antarctica is a continent of ice. To the south of this dry
continent is the Antarctic Desert. The Antarctic Desert
is a desert because there has been no rainfall or snow
there for over 100 years, this makes the Antarctic
Desert the driest desert in the world. Antarctica is only
98% covered in ice the other 2 percent is rock. (Antarctic
desert http://web.hcsps.sa.edu.au/projects/deserts/projects/group24/index.htm)
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Antarctica is the best continent for natural beauty.
You might be surprised to see that the Antarctic
Peninsula actually has patches of moss. It grows very
slowly taking hundreds of years to get as large as seen
above(Antarctic Scenery ).
http://www.travelthewholeworld.com/antarcticascener
y.html
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This continent is consistently the coldest place on earth
and the holder of the record for the lowest temperature
ever recorded on the planet -89.2°C (-128.6°F) on July
21st 1983.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica
was -129ºF. The warmest temperature ever recorded in
Antarctica was 59ºF.
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Iceberg and rock climbing.
Mountaineering.
Camping in Antarctica.
Sea kayaking
Those not wishing to participate in the optional extra adventures
will have even more opportunity for photography, iceberg
cruising and wildlife observation.
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The easiest and most affordable Antarctica cruises are those that
visit the Antarctic Peninsula. Reachable in two days by expedition
ship, it is the most accessible part of Antarctica, and the
destination of the most popular Antarctica cruises.
Most flights last roughly 12 hours
First Class - $5,000
Business Class $3,400 - $4,200
Economy - $ 2,000
Moss- on the better drained, stony
slopes of the Antarctic Peninsula,
mosses build up to a deep peat - as
much as six and one half feet deep and
5,000 years old!
Lichen-more than 350
species of lichens are
known. They have
proliferated in
Antarctica because
there is little
competition from
mosses or flowering
plants which lack the
high tolerance of
draught and cold
seen in the lichens.
-Antarctic hair grass
and the Antarctic
Pearlwort. They are
the only two
flowering plants,
which grow south of
60° latitude.
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Don’t fish too much or only fish once a week. Because the
other wild animals need to eat the krill.
People should use bike more, grow the tree……… To keep
the ice in Antarctica not melted. The reason would be global
warming is caused by CO2.
People shouldn’t use solvents, refrigerants, or spray-can
propellants because it will make the ozone be smaller.
Antarctic Protection Act compliance.
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The Antarctic environment is very vulnerable to human impact.
Without controls, those who come to visit this wilderness as
tourists, scientists or in support roles, may damage the very values
that attract them.
There is only one Antarctica in whole big world.
Antarctica will be very important to humans life.
o
Meteorite studies are a significant part of space science because
the specimens include the oldest materials of the Solar System
available for research. They provide identifiable records of certain
solar and galactic effects, and they yield data that are otherwise
not obtainable--about the origin, evolution, and composition of the
Sun, the Earth, and other planets, satellites, and asteroids.
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The natural environment of Antarctica has unique values for us
human beings.
Antarctica is the only place on Earth that is not owned by anyone.
Because of its profound effect on the Earth's climate and ocean
systems.
Antarctica's clean air, water and ice of are of importance to
science for understanding how the Earth's environment is
changing both naturally and as a result of human activity.
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Antarctica is a very harsh and extreme
environment though is very rich in wildlife due to the
very high productivity of the Antarctic Ocean during
the summer months driven by long days providing
abundant light and copious nutrients brought to the
surface layers by the upwelling's at the Antarctic
Convergence.
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More than anything else, krill are the engine that
powers the Antarctic ecosystem. They are a small
semi-transparent crustacean like a shrimp, about 4-5
cm (2") in length when fully grown, they can live for up
to 6 years which is quite remarkable considering the
wide variety of animals that feed on them in huge
quantities.
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Males can grow to 4.5m long (15ft) and weigh up to 4
tones (8800lb). Like fur seals, they show a strong sexual
dimorphism (difference in size between the males and
females), females grow to about 2.8m (9ft) and 900kg
(2000lb).
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Emperor penguins are one of the "classic" penguin
species that people imagine when they hear the name.
Along with King Penguins and Adelie penguins, they
are representative of the whole group.
Emperor penguins have the upright and regal bearing
that their name suggests.
The bigger issue might be the growing ozone hole.
(Carbon dioxide raises the dead zone)
There is also the problem of human contamination.
Scientists working at the South Pole do their best to keep a
clean environment, but there is still waste generated that
cannot be taken away. Also, with a developing need for more
natural resources like oil, more people are looking to drill
under the ice cap. The Antarctic Treaty and Madrid Protocol
protect against this, but the danger still exists.
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Ozone is a compound of oxygen that contains three
atoms instead of the two found in the oxygen gas that
sustains life. It was discovered in 1839 by a Swiss
chemist, Christian Friedrich Schonbein.
In high concentration ozone is a bluish green gas, with
very strong oxidizing properties.
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harvesting some Antarctic species to the verge of extinction for
economic benefit.
killing and disturbing other species.
contaminating the soils
discharging sewage to the sea and leaving rubbish, cairns and
tracks in even the most remote parts.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im4H71li3HE&featur
e=channel_page&gclid=CM1wf3P26gCFcW5Kgod6DQKDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxVRjP63GI&NR=1&feature=fvwp
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“Human Impacts on Antarctica and Threats to the Environment
– Overview.” Cool Antarctica. 2001. Web. May 2011.
“Human impacts in Antarctica.” Australian Antarctica
Division : Leading Australia’s Antarctic Program. April 18,
2011. Web. May 2011.
“The Intrinsic Value of Antarctica.” The Natural Environment
of Antarctica. N.d. Web. May, 2011.
Na ( Anh ) Ngoc Nguyen.