#antarctica
Antarctica (September 21st, 2005). The terrain and cloud cover are taken from images in 2004 and 2002 respectively.
The Antarctic is in some ways the opposite of the Arctic. The Arctic is an ocean basin surrounded by land, whereas the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by water.
In the Northern Hemisphere, sea ice can extend southwards to a latitude of 45°N (along the north-east coasts of Asia and North America), but most of the ice is above 70°N. In the Southern Hemisphere, the ice doesn’t get that close to the South Pole. It fringes the continent, and extends northwards to 55°S at its greatest extent.
Because of this, Antarctic sea ice coverage is larger in winter than in the Arctic, but smaller in summer. Total Antarctic sea ice peaks in September (beginning of spring) to a historical extent of 17 – 20 million square kilometres. The minimum extent is in February (end of summer), at about 3 – 4 million square kilometres.
Antarctic sea ice is distributed around the entire fringe of the continent, a much broader area than in the Arctic. It is also exposed to a broader range of land, ocean and atmospheric influences. Because of this geographic and climate diversity, the Antarctic sea ice is more variable from year to year. Climate oscillations don’t affect all areas in the same way. Therefore, it is more difficult to make overall generalizations about the influence of climate patterns here.
The Antarctic Oscillation involves a large-scale “see-sawing” of atmospheric mass between the pole and mid-latitudes. This oscillation can intensify, weaken, or shift the location of low- and high-pressure weather systems. These changes influence wind speeds, temperature, and the track that storms tend to follow. Any of these things can influence sea ice extent.
During a “positive phase”, the westerly winds circling Antarctica strengthen and move southwards (inwards). This can change the way ice is distributed among the sectors. It also isolates much of the Antarctic atmosphere.
These stronger winds have an overall cooling effect, but also cause a dramatic warming on the Antarctic Peninsula. This is because warmer air above the oceans to the north is drawn southwards (inwards). In general, these winds can lessen sea ice in some areas and increase it in others, because it can drive the ice further away from the coast or closer towards it, depending on the region.
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natgeo Photo by @cristinamittermeier // Can you guess what is wrong with this penguin? We spent a month in Antarctica on assignment for @natgeo and it was not until the second week that I realized we had not seen snow once. Every day, however, we experienced several hours of incessant rain. As temperatures warm in Antarctica, the weather regime is changing from snow to rain. In the past, the penguin colony would be covered in snow but now, it is a large, muddy mess. Baby penguins are covered in fluffy down and they can easily preen themselves when it snows. When they get muddy and wet, their down loses its insulation ability and as temperatures drop at night, they become hypothermic and die.
As the debate on weather or not to protect the Antarctic Peninsula starts to play out, I hope that the members of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), who will be voting on this issue are inspired to protect it for all humanity.
#Followmeat@cristinamittermeier and follow the conversation at @Sea_legacy
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natgeo Photo by @cristinamittermeier // Can you guess what is wrong with this penguin? We spent a month in Antarctica on assignment for @natgeo and it was not until the second week that I realized we had not seen snow once. Every day, however, we experienced several hours of incessant rain. As temperatures warm in Antarctica, the weather regime is changing from snow to rain. In the past, the penguin colony would be covered in snow but now, it is a large, muddy mess. Baby penguins are covered in fluffy down and they can easily preen themselves when it snows. When they get muddy and wet, their down loses its insulation ability and as temperatures drop at night, they become hypothermic and die.
As the debate on weather or not to protect the Antarctic Peninsula starts to play out, I hope that the members of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), who will be voting on this issue are inspired to protect it for all humanity.
#Followmeat@cristinamittermeier and follow the conversation at @Sea_legacy
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ANTARCTICA: THE MELTING CONTINENT, written by Karen Romano Young and illustrated by me, is coming out in April 7, 2022. It’s my first book entirely illustrated by me, and I couldn’t be more excited for it to be out in the world!
Preorder from your local bookstore! Or from Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/antarctica-the-melting-continent/9781913750534
B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/antarctica-karen-romano-young/1140008631?ean=9781913750534
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Antarctica-Continent-Karen-Romano-Young/dp/1913750531
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A page from ANTARCTICA: THE MELTING CONTINENT that I think turned out quite well.
Preorder from your local bookstore, such as: https://www.eastcitybookshop.com/item/D7h4pqRO5STO_pOHTcQxNg
Or from Bookshop: https://lnkd.in/dhafUrAk
Amazon: https://lnkd.in/dyEY9TPW
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I got my copies of ANTARCTICA and I can tell you that they look so gorgeous in person! Plus I had the perfect model(s) to help display it. Official release date (US) is April 19!
Get it from your local bookstore|Bookshop|B&N
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ANTARCTICA: THE MELTING CONTINENT is coming out in April 19! Preorder from your local bookstore|Bookshop|B&N
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There will be penguins.
ANTARCTICA: THE MELTING CONTINENT is coming out in April! Preorder from your local bookstore | Bookshop | B&N
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Frank Hurley
Photos from The Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914–191,considered to be the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Conceived by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the expedition was an attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent
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The female ski team covered 1420km across Antarctica in 57 days, 1989
