Features of the nature of Antarctica. Geography of Antarctica: geology, climate, inland waters, natural resources and ecology Natural areas: general information

Antarctica is the most mysterious and least explored continent on our planet. The honor of discovering Antarctica belongs to two brave explorers - F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev. It was their expedition through the waters of the southern seas that confirmed the presence of a huge continent in the south. And it happened only in 1820.

Until now, the southernmost continent of the Earth holds many mysteries. To date, it has been established that Antarctica is the highest continent. The height of the land surface above sea level is on average 2,000 meters, and in the center of the continent it reaches 4,000.

The Transarctic Mountains cross the mainland and divide Antarctica into two parts: western and eastern. Most of the mainland is covered by ice. And only in the western part about 40 thousand square meters. km are ice-free areas. These are sections of the Pacific coast, small dry plains and several mountain peaks, which are called nunataks. Nunataks rise above the ice sheet.

The Antarctic ice sheet is the most extensive on Earth. This is 30 million cubic meters of ice, which is almost 90% of all ice reserves on the planet. In addition, the ice of Antarctica contains the largest reserve fresh water.

The climate of Antarctica is the coldest on Earth. In 1983, an absolute minimum was registered here - minus 89.2ºC. In winter, the temperature in Antarctica is kept at around minus 60-75ºC, in summer the thermometer rises to minus 50ºC. And only on the coast a milder climate prevails with an average temperature of 0ºC to minus 20ºC.

Due to the fact that the air temperature never rises above 0 ºC, precipitation in Antarctica is possible only in the form of snow. The fallen snow is compressed under its own weight and forms more and more layers of ice. Rain is extremely rare for this region.

However, there are lakes and rivers in Antarctica. They appear in the summer, and in the winter they again dress in the ice crust. A total of 140 subglacial lakes have been discovered in Antarctica. And of this amount, only one lake is non-freezing - Lake Vostok.

Flora of Antarctica

The flora of Antarctica, due to special climatic conditions, is extremely poor. Most of all there are algae - about 700 species. The coast of the mainland and its plains, free from ice, are covered with mosses and lichens. But there are only two types of flowering plants. These are colobanthus kito and antarctic meadow grass.

(Colobanthus kito)

Colobanthus kito belongs to the clove family. It is a cushion-shaped herbaceous plant with small white and pale yellow flowers. The growth of an adult plant does not exceed 5 cm.

(Meadow Antarctic)

Meadow antarctic belongs to the grass family. It grows only in areas of land that are well lit by the sun. Meadow bushes can grow up to 20 cm. The plant itself tolerates frost very well. Frost does not harm the plant even during flowering.

All plants of Antarctica have successfully adapted to the eternal cold. Their cells contain little water, and all processes are very slow.

Animal world of Antarctica

The peculiarity of the fauna of Antarctica is directly related to its climate. All animals live only where there is vegetation. Despite the severity of climatic conditions, a person was even born in Antarctica (this happened in 1978). And excavations have shown that dinosaurs once lived on this mainland.

(Indigenous people of Antarctica)

Conventionally, all Antarctic animals can be divided into two groups: terrestrial and aquatic, and there are no completely terrestrial animals in Antarctica.

The waters around the mainland are rich in zooplankton, which is the main food for whales and seals, fur seals and penguins. Ice fish also live here - amazing creatures that have adapted to life in icy water.

(Blue whale)

Of the large animals, most often the shores of Antarctica are visited blue whales attracted by the abundance of shrimp.

Roundworms and blue-green algae inhabit the fresh waters of the lakes, as well as copepods and daphnia.

(penguins)

The world of birds is represented by penguins, arctic terns and skuas. There are 4 species of penguins in Antarctica. The largest population is the emperor penguins. Petrels also fly to the southern mainland.

(seals)

There are also few mammals. Basically, these are animals that can live on land and in water. Most of all in Antarctica seals. Leopard seals, elephant seals and Rossa also live on the coast. Of the dolphin family, there are only small groups of black-and-white or sand-colored dolphins, known among whalers under the name "sea cows".

(local beach)

There are a lot of people here - so it's invertebrate arthropods. In Antarctica, 67 species of ticks and 4 species of lice were found. There are fleas, lice and the ubiquitous mosquitoes. And wingless jingle-black mosquitoes live only in Antarctica. These are the only endemic insects that can be classified as completely land animals.

Most of the insects and invertebrates were brought to the shores of the southern continent by birds.

Antarctica is a continent with extremely low temperatures located in. Almost all of its territory is covered with ice, with the exception of the area in the west. The difficult living conditions annually attract researchers and tourists.

Read also:

Basic geographic information

The area of the mainland exceeds 14 million km². The territory is located in the subantarctic and Antarctic belt. Antarctica captures all longitudes, and cannot have a western and eastern extreme. There is only the northern extreme point, Cape Sifre.
The continent is washed by the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Amundsen, Ross, Weddell and Bellingshausen seas. The water in the Weddell Sea is the cleanest on the planet. Through it you can see representatives and at a depth of up to 70 m.

The coastline is slightly indented, its length exceeds 30 thousand km. The shores are most often high ice cliffs, ice shelves. The Arctic Peninsula is the largest on the mainland. It extends north of the southern border. Other large peninsulas include Hut Point, Mawson's Peninsula, and the Edward VII Peninsula. Alexander I Land, Deception and Clarence are the large islands of Antarctica.

There is no permanent population on the continent due to the harsh climate. The number of scientists and tourists fluctuates depending on the season. 16 countries of the world conduct research on the territory of Antarctica. The region is studied exclusively for peaceful purposes. States are prohibited from declaring part of the land as their territory. The mainland is not divided into time zones and time zones. Scientists are guided by the time of their country.

Relief

Antarctica is located on the plate of the same name. As a result of tectonic faults, most of it has risen. The surface is dissected due to dense ice cover. It is difficult for scientists to study the true relief: in some places, the thickness of the ice reaches several kilometers.

The average height of the continent reaches 2000 m above sea level. The highest site is Vinson Massif, highest point which reaches 4892 m above sea level. The Bentley Basin is the lowest point - 2540 m below sea level. The Transarctic Mountains divided the area into West and East Antarctica. In the western part it is more complex, the ridges break through the ice crust. In the east, mountain rises alternate with deep depressions. The Gamburtsev Mountains rest under a layer of ice. The length of the massif is 1300 km, and the highest point is 3390 m. They are comparable in size to the Alps.

Antarctica has both dormant and active volcanoes. Over the past 200 years, two of them have erupted. To the south of all is the active volcano Erebus. Lava ejection was recorded in 2011.

Inland waters

Ice shelves block the way inland. In Antarctica, you can find sheet and mountain glaciers. Their food comes from rainfall. About 2200 km³ is accumulated per year. Ice is consumed due to the breakaway of the coast. 140 lakes were found under the ice. The largest body of water is Lake Vostok, named after the Soviet scientific station. Its depth is 1200 m. Under-ice reservoirs formed a long time ago: melt water flowed into depressions and was covered with a crust of ice.

There are no permanently flowing rivers. The Onyx River, located in the Wright Oasis, stretches for 30 km. It flows for two months a year, and with the onset of frost, it is covered with ice and snow.

Climate

The continent has very cold winters and equally cold summers. Average annual temperature is -60 ° C. Most of the land is located in the Antarctic belt, the Antarctic Peninsula lies in the subantarctic belt. Due to location inside the Antarctic Circle in winter time there is a round-the-clock polar night, and in summer - a round-the-clock polar day.

The continent is distant from . It receives less heat due to the large tilt of the earth's axis. The ice surface reflects 80% of the light into space. The territory of Antarctica is an icy desert. The amount of snowfall does not exceed ten centimeters per year. They blow from high mountains strong winds. In some areas, their speed is 320 km / h.

Flora and fauna:

Vegetable world

There is no vegetation in the Antarctic desert; it covers the outskirts of the mainland. Mosses, lichens and fungi grow on ice-free land. Unpretentious undersized bushes are found on the Antarctic Peninsula. Their number includes several dozen species. The flowers are faintly colored, because pollination is carried out by the wind, and not by insects.

Animal world

The islands are inhabited by beetles, butterflies and spiders. Plovers, pipits and several species of ducks nest in South Georgia. Life depends on the seas, the waters of which are rich. Animals are represented by pinnipeds and whales: seals, sea leopards, humpback, blue minke. Adélie penguins, emperor penguins and Sclater penguins settle on the northern coast. Flying birds, cormorant, petrel and gull nest on the rocks.

Minerals

The continent has deposits of coal, copper and iron. According to scientists, the volume of oil exceeds the amount of oil in the Arabian Peninsula. Installation of special equipment and mining will cause irreparable damage. In 1991, a protocol was drawn up banning mining until 2048.

Ecological situation

The main problem of Antarctica are ozone holes. The thinning of the protective layer threatens with an excess of ultraviolet radiation. The sun melts polar ice. Because of global warming the air warms up slowly. Animals have to adapt to new conditions of existence.

Scientists leave a huge amount of waste that cannot be disposed of. Vehicles and generators running on gasoline and diesel emit soot into the atmosphere. Mass tourism is practically not controlled.

In 2015, the Antarctic Alliance, consisting of Greenpeace, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the World Fund wildlife put forward demands for the protection of Antarctica. It obliges states to protect the flora and fauna on the mainland. The last untouched territory on Earth has every chance to withstand the destructive actions of man.

General characteristics of the nature of the mainland

Remark 1

Today, everyone is well aware that the coldest continent on the planet is Antarctica, where during the long polar night the surface cools down. In summer, ice and snow reflect $90$% of solar radiation, so the average daily temperature stays at $30$ degrees. The lowest temperature is typical for Vostok station. Here is the cold pole of the Southern Hemisphere with a temperature of $89.2$ degrees. It is much warmer on the coast - about $0$ degrees in summer, and winter frosts quite moderate - $10$, - $25$ degrees. Cooling is associated with the formation of a baric maximum in the center of the continent. This is an area of high atmospheric pressure, from which constant katabatic winds blow towards the ocean. With distance from the coast in the band $600$-$800$ km they are especially strong. The average annual precipitation on the mainland is $200$ mm, and closer to the center of the mainland, their amount is reduced to a few tens of millimeters. In such climatic conditions, the Antarctic desert formed on the main part of Antarctica, devoid of flora and fauna. Oases can be regarded as centers of life on the icy continent.

Ready-made works on a similar topic

Coursework 420 rubles.
Essay Features of the nature of Antarctica 280 rub.
Test Features of the nature of Antarctica 230 rub.

The flora of Antarctica is represented by lower plants - $80$ species of mosses, $800$ species of lichens and microscopic algae. Bacteria were found in the snow near the Pole of Cold. Associated with the seas washing the mainland animal world, where dozens of species of birds nest on the coastal rocks in summer - albatrosses, skua gulls, petrels, penguins. The most characteristic of the mainland are Adélie penguins and large emperor penguins. They can make long transitions deep into the continent. Sperm whales, killer whales, seals, whales are inhabitants of coastal waters that are rich in plankton, especially small crustaceans (krill). Previously, the Antarctic waters were a prey area for cetaceans, pinnipeds, krill, and today, due to severe depletion, many species of animals are taken under protection.

Antarctica itself and parts of other continents adjacent to it stand out as a special floristic kingdom. In the Mesozoic era, there was a major center for the formation of flora. Changed climatic conditions led to its impoverishment and migration to more favorable northern regions.

Vegetable world

Features of the nature of Antarctica are explained by severe climatic conditions, and the flora of the continent is extremely poor. Numerous are algae, of which there are about 700 species. The plains and coast of the mainland are covered with mosses and lichens in summer.

But there are $2$ species of flowering plants in this harsh land - colobanthus kito, belonging to the clove family, and Antarctic meadow grass. Colobanthus kito is a herbaceous, low cushion-shaped plant. Its flowers are very small, pale yellow and white. An adult plant has a height of no more than $ 5 $ centimeters and belongs to the family of cereals. Both plants grow only in well-heated rocky soil, despite being adapted to harsh conditions and withstand frost. Their growing season is short.

Blue-green algae, together with bacteria and mosses, cover the bottom of fresh water bodies, forming a dense slimy crust. Algae are among the most ancient plants of Antarctica, the fossilized remains of which were found on the surfaces of minerals. The entire surface of water bodies is covered with these plants in summer, but they can settle even on melted snow. With a large accumulation, they form bright lawns. The illusion of red snowfall is associated with these microscopic algae, when strong gusts of wind tear them off the surface, lift them into the air and mix with snow grains.

Giant algae are found in the Antarctic seas, ranging in length from $150$-$300$ m. common name maktotsitas, which means "large cell". Indeed, in comparison with other plants, algae have huge cell sizes. Colonies of these amazing plants form real underwater forests.

The second, most common representative of the flora of Antarctica after algae, are lichens. These plants, which are a symbiosis of fungi and algae, belong to the lowest class. Some representatives of this plant are more than $10$ thousand years old. Managing to grow among the rocks and, catching rare Sun rays plants carry out the process of photosynthesis.

The colors of lichens are surprisingly diverse - light green, orange, yellow, nondescript gray and even completely black. Lichens with black pigment are generally rare on the planet, but in Antarctica they are most common. This is explained by the fact that due to the dark color, the plant absorbs the maximum amount sunlight and warmth. The plant clings to the rocks so tightly that it is impossible to scrape it off with your hands, which is why they are called “scale lichens”. Lichens can also be deciduous, growing like miniature bushes. In the conditions of the Antarctic climate, the growth of lichens takes a very long time, because it is inhibited by low temperatures and strong winds.

Remark 2

Poor species composition flora of Antarctica, is characterized by endemicity, due to the long-term isolation of the development of the mainland, as a result of which a few plants have adapted to the eternal cold.

Animal world

The natural features of Antarctica left their mark on the fauna of the mainland, which can only live in those places where there is vegetation. The fauna of the mainland is conventionally divided into $2$ independent groups- aquatic and terrestrial, while it is important to note that there are no animals permanently living on land in Antarctica.

The terrestrial fauna is very poor, there are some worms, primitive crustaceans and wingless insects. In principle, insects do not need wings here - due to constantly blowing strong winds, they simply cannot rise into the air. On island land, scientists have found several species of beetles, spiders, one species of flightless butterfly. Of the birds living on land, the white plover, the pipit, one species of duck that nests on the island of South Georgia are known. The Adélie penguins are indigenous to Antarctica and spend most of their time in the ocean because the water temperature is higher. They come to the surface only for nesting. Males are very sensitive to the choice of a partner. Having chosen a female, the male brings her a pebble, chosen especially for her. By accepting this gift, the female becomes a companion for life. The chicks gather in the “crèche”, where they spend $2$ of a month, and after this period they already independently get their own food. The penguin's daily ration is $2$ kg of food. Penguins are not the only animals on the mainland.

The seas surrounding Antarctica are home to the most large mammals- cetaceans. They are divided into baleen and toothed whales. Baleen whales are especially well studied because they are the main object of whaling. In this subgroup, blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, real whales stand out. The largest of the whales blue whale(vomited) together with the fin whale is of the greatest commercial importance. They have an average length of $26m, but the longest whale killed in Antarctic waters was $35m.

Large whales typically weigh up to $160 tons and yield $20 tons of pure blubber. The food for these giants are small crustaceans that live in abundance in cold waters. Toothed whales include sperm whales, bottlenose whales, killer whales, which are very dangerous predators. With the help of a sharp dorsal fin, a killer whale can cause a dangerous injury even to a whale. Killer whales hunt in packs and do it successfully and sophisticatedly, attacking fur seals, seals, sperm whales, dolphins, sea lions.

Killer whales have their own approach to each “victim”, for example, when hunting for seals, they use the ledges of the seabed as an ambush. A group dives under an ice floe when hunting for penguins in order to immediately knock several individuals into the water. Large whales are hunted mainly by males, at the same time attacking the prey and preventing it from rising to the surface of the water. By attacking the sperm whale, killer whales, on the contrary, do not allow it to go into the depths of the sea. These animals are characterized by a developed social structure. They have so-called maternal groups, which include a mother with a cub, her adult sons and several more families headed by relatives of the main killer whale. Such a social grouping can include up to $20$ of individuals that are sufficiently attached to each other. Each flock has its own dialect.

It is interesting that killer whales take care of crippled or old relatives, and their relations within the flock are more than friendly.

The most common true seals include the Weddell seal, which can reach $3$ m in length. Its main habitat is a strip of immobile ice. Other species of seals are found on floating ice. These include the crabeater seal and the leopard seal, which has a peculiar spotted skin. Of the seals, the largest is the elephant seal, which has largely been exterminated. On the Antarctic outskirts, there is an eared seal, so named because of its well-defined mane.

The bird world of Antarctica is peculiar. In summer, petrels, gulls, cormorants, albatrosses fly here, with a wingspan of up to $3.5 m.

Remark 3

In Antarctica, the thesis of evolution - "Survival of the fittest" is fully confirmed. For the inhabitants of the mainland, life is a daily struggle with low temperatures, a struggle for the most convenient place to get food. Strong and formidable to their enemies, the animals of Antarctica are caring and friendly in their pack or colony. The animal world of the continent is dangerous and harsh, but magnificent in its own way.

General characteristics of the nature of the mainland

Remark 1

Today, everyone is well aware that the coldest continent on the planet is Antarctica, where during the long polar night the surface cools down. In summer, ice and snow reflect $90$% of solar radiation, so the average daily temperature stays at $30$ degrees. The lowest temperature is typical for Vostok station. Here is the cold pole of the Southern Hemisphere with a temperature of $89.2$ degrees. It is much warmer on the coast - about $0$ degrees in summer, and winter frosts are rather moderate - $10$, - $25$ degrees. Cooling is associated with the formation of a baric maximum in the center of the continent. This is an area of high atmospheric pressure, from which constant katabatic winds blow towards the ocean. With distance from the coast in the band $600$-$800$ km they are especially strong. The average annual precipitation on the mainland is $200$ mm, and closer to the center of the mainland, their amount is reduced to a few tens of millimeters. In such climatic conditions, the Antarctic desert formed on the main part of Antarctica, devoid of flora and fauna. Oases can be regarded as centers of life on the icy continent.

Ready-made works on a similar topic

Coursework 460 rubles.
Essay Features of the nature of Antarctica 220 rub.
Test Features of the nature of Antarctica 200 rub.

The flora of Antarctica is represented by lower plants - $80$ species of mosses, $800$ species of lichens and microscopic algae. Bacteria were found in the snow near the Pole of Cold. The animal world is connected with the seas washing the mainland, where in summer dozens of bird species nest on the coastal rocks - albatrosses, skua gulls, petrels, penguins. The most characteristic of the mainland are Adélie penguins and large emperor penguins. They can make long transitions deep into the continent. Sperm whales, killer whales, seals, whales are inhabitants of coastal waters that are rich in plankton, especially small crustaceans (krill). Previously, the Antarctic waters were a prey area for cetaceans, pinnipeds, krill, and today, due to severe depletion, many species of animals are taken under protection.

Vegetable world

The natural features of Antarctica are explained by harsh climatic conditions, and the flora of the continent is extremely poor. Numerous are algae, of which there are about 700 species. The plains and coast of the mainland are covered with mosses and lichens in summer.

Giant algae are found in the Antarctic seas, having a length of $150$-$300$ m. They bear the common name of maktotsitas, which means "large-celled" in translation. Indeed, in comparison with other plants, algae have huge cell sizes. Colonies of these amazing plants form real underwater forests.

The second, most common representative of the flora of Antarctica after algae, are lichens. These plants, which are a symbiosis of fungi and algae, belong to the lowest class. Some representatives of this plant are more than $10$ thousand years old. Managing to grow among the rocks and catching the rare rays of the sun, plants carry out the process of photosynthesis.

The colors of lichens are surprisingly diverse - light green, orange, yellow, nondescript gray and even completely black. Lichens with black pigment are generally rare on the planet, but in Antarctica they are most common. This is explained by the fact that due to the dark color, the plant absorbs the maximum amount of sunlight and heat. The plant clings to the rocks so tightly that it is impossible to scrape it off with your hands, which is why they are called “scale lichens”. Lichens can also be deciduous, growing like miniature bushes. In the conditions of the Antarctic climate, the growth of lichens takes a very long time, because it is inhibited by low temperatures and strong winds.

Remark 2

The poor species composition of the flora of Antarctica is characterized by endemicity due to the long-term isolation of the development of the mainland, as a result of which a few plants have adapted to the eternal cold.

Animal world

The natural features of Antarctica left their mark on the fauna of the mainland, which can only live in those places where there is vegetation. The fauna of the mainland is conditionally divided into $2$ independent groups - aquatic and terrestrial, while it is important to note that there are no animals permanently living on land in Antarctica.

The seas surrounding Antarctica are home to the largest mammals - cetaceans. They are divided into baleen and toothed whales. Baleen whales are especially well studied because they are the main object of whaling. In this subgroup, blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, real whales stand out. The largest of the whales, the blue whale (vomited), together with the fin whale, is of the greatest commercial importance. They have an average length of $26m, but the longest whale killed in Antarctic waters was $35m.

It is interesting that killer whales take care of crippled or old relatives, and their relations within the flock are more than friendly.

The bird world of Antarctica is peculiar. In summer, petrels, gulls, cormorants, albatrosses fly here, with a wingspan of up to $3.5 m.

Remark 3

The uniqueness of the nature of Antarctica Antarctica is the only circumpolar continent. This is the area of the largest glaciation of the Earth. Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth (the temperature drops with height), therefore the coldest. Low temperatures are combined with constant winds. Antarctica is the poorest continent in terms of plant and animal species.

What makes Antarctica different from all other continents? Read in the textbook on what features does the ice cover of Antarctica have?

Ice cover 24 million km3 of ice (90% fresh water) Maximum ice thickness 4,500 m Average ice thickness 2,000 m Thickness measured at 10,000 points Ice age 30,000 to 1,000 years Including the ice sheet, this is the highest continent - average height 2040 m Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth. Its relief is divided into two sharply various types: ice and indigenous: the average height of the surface of the ice sheet is 2040 m, which is 2.8 times the average height of the surface of all other continents. The average height of the bedrock subglacial surface of Antarctica is 410 m. According to differences in relief, Antarctica is divided into East and West. The surface of the ice sheet of East Antarctica, rising steeply from the coast, becomes almost horizontal in the depths of the mainland; its central, highest part (in the area of the Sovetskoye Plateau) reaches 4000 m and is the main ice divide, or the center of glaciation in East Antarctica. In West Antarctica there are three centers of glaciation with a height of 2–2.5 thousand m. Vast low-lying plains of ice shelves often extend along the coast (usually to a height of 30–100 m above sea level), two of which are of enormous size (Ross - 538 thousand sq. km, Filchner - 483 thousand sq. km). Relief

The relief of the bedrock (subglacial) surface of East Antarctica is an alternation of high mountain uplifts with deep depressions. The deepest depression is located south of the Knox Coast. The main uplifts are the Gamburtsev and Vernadsky mountains, rising in the central part of East Antarctica to a height of 3390 m. The Transantarctic Mountains (Kerkpatrick, 4530 m) are partially covered with ice. The ridges of the Queen Maud Land, the Prince Charles Mountains, and others also rise above the glacial surface.

Subglacial relief of the Elworth Mountains Transantarctic Mountains. Gamburtseva Ross Barrier, ice cliff 70 m high

Relief What role does relief play in the movement of ice across a continent? Are there volcanoes on the mainland, are there frequent earthquakes? What minerals are there on the mainland? Why do Antarctica have these particular minerals? Who is mining them? Nikolaeva S. B. ®

. The organic world is poor because of extreme conditions a habitat. The usual wind speed is 50 - 60 m/s. average temperature in winter - 60°С, and in summer - 35°С. There are no trees and shrubs in Antarctica, there are almost no herbaceous flowering plants.

Climate The climate of Antarctica is polar continental. Despite the fact that the polar night continues for several months in Central Antarctica in winter, the annual total radiation approaches the annual total radiation. equatorial zone. However, 90% of the incoming heat is reflected by the snow surface back into space, and only 10% goes to heat it up. Therefore, the radiation balance of Antarctica is negative, and the air temperature is very low.

Winter Summer The cold pole of our planet is located in central Antarctica. At the Vostok station on August 24, 1960, a temperature of -89.2 °C was recorded. average temperature winter months from -60 OS to -70 OS, summer from -30 OS to -50 OS. Even in summer the temperature does not rise above -20 °C. On the coast, especially in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, in summer it reaches 10 -12 °C, and on average in the warmest month (January) it is 1 °C, 2 °C. In winter (July), on the coast, the average monthly temperature ranges from -8 on the Antarctic Peninsula to -35 °C near the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf. Cold air rolls down from the central regions of Antarctica, forming katabatic winds that reach high speeds near the coast, and when they merge with cyclonic air currents, they turn into hurricanes (up to 50 -60, and sometimes 90 m / s).

Climate ANTICYCLONE I -64 o. C I -32 about. C less than 50 mm STOCK WINDS UP TO 90 KM/H CYCLONE 400 -600 mm AND -32 o. C I 0 o. S. B. Nikolaeva ®

In Antarctica, air humidity is relatively low (60 -80%), near the coast and especially in the Antarctic oases it drops to 20 or even 5%. Relatively little cloud cover. Precipitation falls almost exclusively in the form of snow. Large areas of exposed rocks near the coast, which have specific natural conditions, are called Antarctic oases. The largest of them are: Bunger oasis, Vestfold, Grierson oasis, Schirmacher oasis, Wright Valley (Dry Valley).

Animals of Antarctica There are no land mammals in Antarctica. From plants there are: lichens, mosses, algae and some types of grasses. Near the coast in the water there is a large accumulation of plankton. The mainland is home to 10 species of birds and several species of seals.

Flora and fauna. Scientists have proven that Antarctica used to be a green continent. And under the ice are mountains, valleys, plains, channels of former rivers, bowls of former lakes. Millions of years ago there was no eternal winter on this earth. Here it was warm and the forests rustled green, tall grasses swayed under the warm winds, animals gathered on the banks of rivers and lakes to drink, birds fluttered in the sky. Now in Antarctica, a rather meager animal and vegetable world. The vegetation here is lichens, mosses and blue-green algae. There are no land mammals, winged insects and freshwater fish in Antarctica.

But, despite this, more than 100 thousand penguins nest near Mirny, many petrels, skuas, live in the waters different kinds seals and sea leopards. Also in Antarctica live such animal species as the elephant seal, southern seal, minke whale, Cape dove, white plover, marble notothenia, Antarctic toothfish, white-blooded pike, Antarctic lycod, Antarctic calanus, Antarctic krill, Antarctic starfish.

The main habitats of animals In addition to penguins, there are 15 more species of birds (gulls, petrels. .) There are many fish, shrimps, large whales in coastal waters

Oases - areas of the mainland, free from ice and snow Lichens Algae Mosses Mushrooms Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Modern research of Antarctica More than 130 years after the discovery of Antarctica, the efforts of researchers from a number of countries managed to almost completely complete the preliminary mapping of its coast and thereby create the prerequisites for a comprehensive study of the sixth continent, especially its interior regions. The implementation of this grandiose plan was initiated by the International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-58.

Twelve countries - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, UK, New Zealand and Norway Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the USSR and the USA Decided to jointly study the mainland and exchange information

in 1955 the USSR organized the First Integrated Antarctic Expedition under the leadership of M. M. Somov. On the ice-class transport ships "Ob" and "Lena" the expedition was delivered to the shores of Antarctica, where in February 1956 the first Soviet scientific station in Antarctica, the Mirny observatory, was opened.

For more than forty years, Russian scientists have been working in the south polar region. Every year ships of the Russian Antarctic Expedition go to the shores of Antarctica to continue an extensive range of scientific observations. At present, five Russian permanent stations operate in Antarctica: Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen, Vostok and Progress. To supply the intracontinental Vostok station, sledge-caterpillar trains are sent from the Mirny observatory deep into the continent every year.

Exploring Antarctica There are about 20 stations in Antarctica, and about 4,000 people live in summer; the largest are McMedro (USA) and Mirny (Russia). In accordance with the Antarctic Convention of December 1, 1959, Antarctica does not belong to any state, only scientific activity. Now the parties to the treaty are 28 states (with the right to vote) and dozens of observer countries.

Modern stage exploration of Antarctica 1958 - 1959 – International Geophysical Year 68 research stations 18 states Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Hundreds of new geographical names have appeared on the map of Antarctica. In 1968, a team of Russian scientists created a unique "Atlas of the Antarctic", which is used by researchers around the world.

Antarctica does not belong to any state. There is no permanent population on the mainland. Because of the harsh natural conditions researchers usually work for no more than one year. By international agreement It is prohibited to carry out any weapons tests and nuclear explosions on its territory. Antarctica is called the continent of science and peace. The protection of the nature of Antarctica is enshrined in law.

In 2000, about 15,000 tourists from more than 40 countries visited Antarctica. And in the next ten years, the sixth continent is facing a real tourist boom. Such a forecast was made at the 24th consultative meeting of representatives of 45 countries participating in the Antarctic Treaty, which was held in St. Petersburg.

Lake Vanda - an Antarctic resort Lake Vanda stretches for 5 kilometers, the depth is 69 meters. This lake is super-salty. Its mineralization is 10 times stronger than in average sea water and stronger than in the Dead Sea. Swimmers know Wanda very well and love to swim there in the summer when the lake is freed from ice. When the lake begins to overgrow with ice, "pools" are cut down in it.

Decepcion Island - the most popular cruise destination Decepcion Island is volcanic. Its large crater collapsed during the eruption and formed a caldera, which was flooded by the sea, and the island itself took on a horseshoe shape. The bottom of the caldera, even flooded with water, is restless; it warms the water in the bay so that you can swim. Decepcion is very visited: the island is almost on the edge of the earth, bears traces of recent eruptions, offering warm beaches and hot springs against the backdrop of the snowy slopes of a collapsed volcano.

The Ozone Hole The ozone hole was discovered in 1985. Its diameter is over 1000 km, its area is about 9 million km². Every year in August, a hole appears, terrifying humanity, and in December or January it disappears, as if it had never been ... Ozone layer absorbs the deadly rays of the Sun and therefore protects life on the planet.

Economic use mainland. The economic use of Antarctica lies in its study by scientists for knowledge overall picture universe. Of great importance are observations of the climate of this continent, which affects the entire climate of the planet as a whole. Geologists have established that the bowels of Antarctica contain significant minerals - iron ores, coal, traces of copper, nickel, lead, zinc, molybdenum ores have been found, rock crystal, mica, and graphite have been found. The industrial development of minerals in Antarctica is quite possible with the proper development of technology.

Homework: * There are many poles in Antarctica: the South Pole, the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility, the South Magnetic Pole, the Pole of Cold. Find in the additional literature what are these poles? Message penguins, sea leopards, lions, seals and so on. Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Apply to contour map the following objects: SEA: Weddell, Bellingshausen, Amundsen, Ross EARTH: Wilkes, Victoria, Mary Byrd, Alexander I, Queen Maud ISLANDS: South. Shetland, about. Scott, Antarctic Peninsula Ross Ice Shelf South Pole South Magnetic Pole S. B. Nikolaeva ®

Horizontally: 2. Foundation of Antarctica. 6. An English polar explorer who reached the South Pole with his expedition. 8. An active volcano on the islands in the Ross Sea (3,794 m). 9. Sea animal. 10. One of the Russian navigators, whose expedition first approached the shores of Antarctica. Vertical: 1. The navigator named after the strait that separates the islands of Tierra del Fuego from Antarctica. 2. A point on the mainland that many polar explorers aspired to. 3. Norwegian polar explorer of the XIX century. 4. Navigator, whose name is given to the sea off the coast of Antarctica. 5. The name of the Soviet polar stations in Antarctica. 7. Marine animal living off the coast of Antarctica.

Screening test 1. Antarctica - in terms of area of the mainland: a) the third; b) fourth; c) fifth; d) the sixth. 2. Population of Antarctica: a) permanent; b) unstable. 3. When it is summer in Russia, in Antarctica: a) spring; b) autumn; c) polar day; d) polar night. 4. Antarctica was discovered in 1820 by a Russian expedition led by: a) F. F. Bellingshausen; b) I. F. Kruzenshtern; c) M. P. Lazarev; d) Yu. F. Lisyansky. 5. The flora and fauna of Antarctica is represented by: a) mosses, lichens, algae. b) meadows and moss swamps. c) penguins sea lions, seals. d) cougar, nutria, condor.

Think and answer ... Give a description of the ice cover of Antarctica? What are the features of the subglacial relief of Antarctica? Describe the climate of Antarctica? Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Think well and answer ... In what months is the polar day and polar night in Antarctica? Why is Antarctica the most low temperatures on the ground? What changes will occur on Earth if strong volcanic eruptions occur in Antarctica? Why study Antarctica? Nikolaeva S. B. ®

Write the syncwine "Antarctica" reflect in it the most essential features of the mainland !!! Title 2 adjectives 3 verbs Sentence 1 noun Nikolaeva S. B. ®