WHAT MAKES THE ANTARCTIC SO IMPORTANT?
The vast frozen landmass surrounding the South Pole is a difficult but interesting place to explore.
The massive frozen landmass at the planet’s core is more than just beautiful icing on the cake. It may also be necessary for our survival.
The ice in Antarctica deflects some of the sun’s rays away from the Earth, allowing for livable temperatures.
While complete melting of the vast Antarctic ice sheets is unlikely, even small-scale melting will lift global sea levels.
Flooding occurs all over the world as a result of this.
The oceans surrounding the continent are home to a diverse range of marine life, including 15 different whale and dolphin species, as well as five different penguin species. The nutrient-rich waters foster tiny plankton blooms, which are the foundation of the ocean food chain.
Antarctica is one of the world’s most valuable “natural laboratories,” which explains why so many scientists are willing to risk their lives there.
The rare archive trapped in Antarctica’s dense ice sheet not only helps us appreciate global climate change today but also shows us what our planet’s climate has been like for almost a million years.
Antarctica is a huge ice-covered continent surrounded by water (unlike the Arctic, which is an ice-covered ocean surrounded by land). It’s smaller than Europe, and it’s only 62 times the size of the United Kingdom in the summer!
The world’s largest, driest, windiest, and the coldest continent is Antarctica. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -94°C. However, it seldom snows in Antarctica, which is classified as a desert.
And it’s dark for a good part of the year. There are no trees, shrubs, or native flowering plants, and just two types of native flowering plants.
There are no permanent residents or natives in Antarctica, despite the presence of up to 5,000 scientists and researchers (including WWF-supported research teams studying Emperor and Adélie penguins). Approximately 30,000 visitors visit each year, necessitating the hiring of additional staff.
It should be well-managed in order to avoid causing harm to this pristine ecosystem
The Antarctic is one of the least disturbing places on the planet, but it is becoming increasingly vulnerable, especially as a result of global warming and climate change.