What Is Valuable About Antarctica's Exceptional Geographical Location?

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Larger than both and Europe, Antarctica contains 10% of the land mass in the world. With temperatures of -89 Celsius and sustained winds of over 190 miles per hour, Antactica, the landscape has a vast but forbidding beauty. The Southern Ocean envelopes Antarctica.

The waters off of Antarctica are some of the most nutrient rich in the world, and they support a plethora of wildlife including whales, dolphins, penguins, fish, flying birds and seals. Vast quantities of micro forage, or krill, thrive under the ice shelves. The chief food of the seals, whales and penguins is krill, and it is also utilized by humans in Japan.

As Antarctica is the driest, most tempestuous and frigid region on the planet, the wildlife living there are acclimated to the harsh and brutal elements. Despite the fact that the continent has the highest average elevation in the world, the annual precipitation in Antarctica is merely 200mm near the coast and the interior sees even less; The many different species of algea, vegetation, and animals that have evolved to stand the extreme cold.

However, Antarctica has a very special and unique natural feature that makes it important to each and every one of us. The greenhouse effect is more prevalent at the poles, as the heavier molecules in the atmosphere are clustered there. The sun produces radiant energy which is absorbed by the earth's surface, the earth has begun absorbing more heat at the poles and as a result both the Arctic and Antarctica are becoming warmer.

The Earth's atmosphere composition is approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Lesser amounts of methane and carbon dioxide are also there. The gases and water vapour are warmed by soaking up the earth back radiation. This is often referred to as the "greenhouse" effect.

With what is commonly referred to as the "slingshot effect" at the equator, the polar areas amass greater methane and carbon dioxide far quicker than warmer climates. The increase in temperature caused by the greenhouse effect is four or five times that of warmer places; therefore, Antarctica is very significant for scientific research, specifically on the greenhouse effect.

The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep. This tremendous thickness is a build up of snow accumulated over many centuries. Scientists study core samples by analyzing ancient air bubbles and atomic isotopes to better understand conditions in prehistoric eras.

The well-known ozone layer breach is said to be the result of harmful CFC's ... an atmospheric imbalance caused by these toxic pollutants. These negatively respond with the ozone. As such, it has created a warming effect in the area, destroying ice shelves.

These enormous ice sheets then float north and eventually melt. Sea levels then become higher as a result of the ice liquefying into water. Not to mention the krill loose their food source and habitat for reproduction.

If all of the ice in Antarctica melts, scientists estimate that the seas will rise at least 180 feet. That is the equivalent of skyscrapers in New York being surrounded by water at the 20th floor as it is in Venice. Countries that are more low lying, like Bangladesh and the archipelagos of the South Pacific, would disappear entirely.

Most people who have been to Antarctica will tell you of the breathtaking beauty of the continent. Animals are not shy about the presence of humans. It is an inspiring sight to view the mixture of animal innocence and nature's beauty.

Present and future generations need to bond together and work to preserve the pristine splendor of Antarctica. However, the destruction of this continent has been ongoing for a very long time, and irrevocable damage is being done to it. Many nations are joining together to work toward sustainable maintaining and preserving this beautiful landscape.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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