Antarctica - the sixth continent, the last of the opening of the mainland.Due to the extremely harsh conditions, it is unavailable to most.However, people here is not particularly eager.Quite a long time kept here only trained researchers.Hurricane-force winds, low temperatures, vast expanses of snow and ice - that is Antarctica.The climate of the continent in the first place due to the geographical situation of the continent.
place on the globe
position of Antarctica - the reason why it took so long remained hidden from the keen eyes of seafarers.Sixth Continent is located in the southern hemisphere, in the polar region.Besides the distance from other continents, it is separated drifting ice, which for the past centuries ships insurmountable obstacle.
at some distance from the center of the continent is the South Pole.Pole of Inaccessibility and the absolute cold pole - two more points, which can boast of Antarctica.The climate of the continent in general, it is clear from their names.
temperature
The lowest mark, to which the thermometer fell in Antarctica - is -89.2 ° C.This temperature was recorded in the area of the then Soviet station "Vostok".There is an absolute and a cold pole.
In the central areas of the continent are no positive temperatures, even in the short summer months.From November to February, when the southern hemisphere comes the warm season, the air can warm up to -30 ° C or -20 ° C.The coast is not the case.Then the temperature in summer rises to 0 ° C and sometimes even higher.
sunny but cold
The climate of Antarctica are associated with quite a lot of energy, coming here from our luminary, while low temperatures.This discrepancy is explained by the high reflectivity of ice.Sun for a short summer shines with almost cloudless sky almost non-stop.However, the vast majority of the heat is reflected.In addition, during the polar night, which lasts six months on the continent, Antarctica is cooling down even more.
Hurricanes
harsh climate of Antarctica, and another is due to its design.Here the so-called blow kabaticheskie or stock winds.They are formed by the difference of surface temperature and air.It is also responsible for the formation of winds is a dome-shaped configuration of the continent's ice sheet.The surface layer of air is cooled and increases its density by gravity as it flows it to the coast.The thickness of such an average weight of 200-300 meters.She carries a large amount of snow dust, which seriously affects the visibility in the area of origin of the wind.
air velocity depends on the steepness of the slope.The biggest wind power off the coast of gain with a slope towards the sea.Blow them for quite long periods.Arctic winter - time of maximum wind force, raging from April to November, almost without interruption.From November to March, the situation has improved.Winds occur only when the sun is low on the horizon, and of the night.With the arrival of summer by increasing the surface temperature on the coast is quiet.
Antarctica, where the climate and in the summer months quite severe, resulting in activation of gale-force winds for eight months is not available for aircraft and other aircraft.Polar wintering at this time, in fact, remain cut off from the outside world.
«Natives»
Such harsh climate between Antarctica did not completely uninhabited.There are birds, insects, mammals and even plants.The latter are represented mainly undersized lichens and grasses (not exceeding one centimeter).On the continent there are also mosses.
In Antarctica there is no full land mammal species.The reason for this lies in the sparse vegetation: in the central regions of the continent have nothing to eat.The most famous animal of the continent - a penguin.Here nest some of his species.Some just settle on the islands, while others have chosen the coast.
Antarctica, the climate is fatal to many organisms, not deterred and seals and blue whales, sperm whales, killer whales, southern whales.Among the birds, except penguins, icy expanses are native to skuas and petrels.
harsh Antarctic climate is not suitable for people's lives.However, this does not prevent scientists actively explore the continent: its territory is already taken by a sufficiently large number of polar stations.Researchers seek here annually to overcoming extreme conditions closer to the many mysteries of the continent, and nature in general.
