What is antarctica? Antarctica is earths southernmost continent, containing the south pole.
Download ReportTranscript What is antarctica? Antarctica is earths southernmost continent, containing the south pole.
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What is antarctica?
Antarctica is earths southernmost continent,
containing the south pole. It is in the southern
hemisphere, entirely south of the Antarctic
circle, and its surrounded by the southern
ocean. It is the fifth largest continent,
Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia.
About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice and
on some places it can be up to 7 miles thick.
Slide 4
Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest
continent. It is considered a desert, the
temperature in Antarctica has been known to
reach -89 degrees Celsius. There are no
permanent human residents, but thousands of
people go to research stations across the
continent.
Only cold adapted organisms survive there,
which include, some types of algae, penguins,
seals, bacteria, fungi, plants...
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What is global warming?
Global warming is the rising temperature of the
earth’s atmosphere and oceans. The rise in
temperature is caused by greenhouse gases
produced by human activities like
deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.
An increase in global temperature will cause sea
levels to rise which will change weather
patterns and could cause catastrophic floods.
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But why is Antarctica in Danger?
It’s in danger because Antarctica is solid
ice, scientists worry that global warming
will cause the ice shelves to melt. This
will result in loss of habitats for some
creatures and the rising of sea levels.
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The Filcher – Ronne Ice shelf
The Filcher-Ronne ice shelf is predicted to have
dissapeared by the end of the century which will
accelerate rising sea levels by a big amount.
This ice shelf is on the eastern side of Antarctica and
hasn’t been so badly affected by global warming, but
new research says the 450,000 square kilometres ice
shelf is under threat.
Scientists predict the melting of the Filcher-Ronne shelf
could add up to 4.4mm per year to rising sea levels.
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What else can damage Antarctica?
Another greenhouse gas is methane, which also traps the
radiated heat from the earth and heats up the planet,
methane is a threat to Antarctica.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are given off by coal-fired
power stations and car exhausts. They cause acid rain, which
if blown near Antarctica can make waters ‘dead’.
Lead and heavy metals are found in vehicle exhausts and the
smoke released by factories. They can become trapped in the
polar ice sheets. In Antarctica there are traces of heavy metals
and organic toxins. Which have been carried from the
inhabited parts of the Earth. These could be returned to the
environment if the ice melts.
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The other big problems are CFCs and ozone. Ozone is a
poisonous substance which causes pollution at
ground level. But in the stratosphere, it is vital for
controlling the amount of incoming ultra-violet
radiation.
Gases like chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) break down this
protective shield. The effect is worse in areas of
intense cold. The destruction of ozone in the upper
atmosphere above Antarctica is one aspect of the
pollution.
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The hole in the Ozone layer
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The loss of ice shelves
In the ice sheets around antarctica, large cracks
have started to appear. Scientists are debating
over whether it is part of a natural process or
an effect of Global warming.
No one can predict what will happen but many
suggestions have been made:
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• Because the Ross and Ronne ice shelves
support the ice on the main part of antarctica,
if they melt the whole of the sheet will
become unstable
• If loads of cold water is suddenly released into
the oceans, it may affect the pattern of ocean
currents.
• If the ocean currents are affected, it could
mean that the currents can no longer transfer
heat from the equator to the poles to stop the
world from overheating.
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There are also other stresses on the
environment, such as tourism, Antarctica
cruises are being offered to tourists who want
to explore the wonders of this continent.
There is a risk that tourists will cause pressure
on the fragile environment and disturb the
breeding grounds of animals. The impact of
scientists is also causing stress, scientists can
leave rubbish or waste which is very expensive
to remove and in such cold temperatures, the
natural processes of decomposition are very
slow.
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Scientists in
Antarctica
Animals loose their habitats.
Slide 27
So what can we do?
To help do our bit for the preservation of
Antarctica there are various things we can do:
• Instead of using cars all the time, Walk! Or
ride a bike! Or use enviromentally friendly
measures of transport. Gases from our car
exhausts are one of the main reasons
Antarctica is in danger!
Slide 28
We need to reduce the burning of fossil
fuels. To do this we need to save our
electricity.
• Share car journeys
• Instead of using coal-burning factories
for our electricity, we should use
renewable energy sources such as solar
power of wind turbines!
• Recyclying!
Slide 29
We need to stop releasing harmful
gases into our precious
atmosphere…
Slide 30
Or antarctica could be gone sooner than we think!
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Slide 34
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What is antarctica?
Antarctica is earths southernmost continent,
containing the south pole. It is in the southern
hemisphere, entirely south of the Antarctic
circle, and its surrounded by the southern
ocean. It is the fifth largest continent,
Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia.
About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice and
on some places it can be up to 7 miles thick.
Slide 4
Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest
continent. It is considered a desert, the
temperature in Antarctica has been known to
reach -89 degrees Celsius. There are no
permanent human residents, but thousands of
people go to research stations across the
continent.
Only cold adapted organisms survive there,
which include, some types of algae, penguins,
seals, bacteria, fungi, plants...
Slide 5
Slide 6
What is global warming?
Global warming is the rising temperature of the
earth’s atmosphere and oceans. The rise in
temperature is caused by greenhouse gases
produced by human activities like
deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.
An increase in global temperature will cause sea
levels to rise which will change weather
patterns and could cause catastrophic floods.
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
But why is Antarctica in Danger?
It’s in danger because Antarctica is solid
ice, scientists worry that global warming
will cause the ice shelves to melt. This
will result in loss of habitats for some
creatures and the rising of sea levels.
Slide 10
Slide 11
The Filcher – Ronne Ice shelf
The Filcher-Ronne ice shelf is predicted to have
dissapeared by the end of the century which will
accelerate rising sea levels by a big amount.
This ice shelf is on the eastern side of Antarctica and
hasn’t been so badly affected by global warming, but
new research says the 450,000 square kilometres ice
shelf is under threat.
Scientists predict the melting of the Filcher-Ronne shelf
could add up to 4.4mm per year to rising sea levels.
Slide 12
Slide 13
Slide 14
What else can damage Antarctica?
Another greenhouse gas is methane, which also traps the
radiated heat from the earth and heats up the planet,
methane is a threat to Antarctica.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are given off by coal-fired
power stations and car exhausts. They cause acid rain, which
if blown near Antarctica can make waters ‘dead’.
Lead and heavy metals are found in vehicle exhausts and the
smoke released by factories. They can become trapped in the
polar ice sheets. In Antarctica there are traces of heavy metals
and organic toxins. Which have been carried from the
inhabited parts of the Earth. These could be returned to the
environment if the ice melts.
Slide 15
Slide 16
Slide 17
The other big problems are CFCs and ozone. Ozone is a
poisonous substance which causes pollution at
ground level. But in the stratosphere, it is vital for
controlling the amount of incoming ultra-violet
radiation.
Gases like chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) break down this
protective shield. The effect is worse in areas of
intense cold. The destruction of ozone in the upper
atmosphere above Antarctica is one aspect of the
pollution.
Slide 18
The hole in the Ozone layer
Slide 19
The loss of ice shelves
In the ice sheets around antarctica, large cracks
have started to appear. Scientists are debating
over whether it is part of a natural process or
an effect of Global warming.
No one can predict what will happen but many
suggestions have been made:
Slide 20
• Because the Ross and Ronne ice shelves
support the ice on the main part of antarctica,
if they melt the whole of the sheet will
become unstable
• If loads of cold water is suddenly released into
the oceans, it may affect the pattern of ocean
currents.
• If the ocean currents are affected, it could
mean that the currents can no longer transfer
heat from the equator to the poles to stop the
world from overheating.
Slide 21
Slide 22
Slide 23
There are also other stresses on the
environment, such as tourism, Antarctica
cruises are being offered to tourists who want
to explore the wonders of this continent.
There is a risk that tourists will cause pressure
on the fragile environment and disturb the
breeding grounds of animals. The impact of
scientists is also causing stress, scientists can
leave rubbish or waste which is very expensive
to remove and in such cold temperatures, the
natural processes of decomposition are very
slow.
Slide 24
Slide 25
Slide 26
Scientists in
Antarctica
Animals loose their habitats.
Slide 27
So what can we do?
To help do our bit for the preservation of
Antarctica there are various things we can do:
• Instead of using cars all the time, Walk! Or
ride a bike! Or use enviromentally friendly
measures of transport. Gases from our car
exhausts are one of the main reasons
Antarctica is in danger!
Slide 28
We need to reduce the burning of fossil
fuels. To do this we need to save our
electricity.
• Share car journeys
• Instead of using coal-burning factories
for our electricity, we should use
renewable energy sources such as solar
power of wind turbines!
• Recyclying!
Slide 29
We need to stop releasing harmful
gases into our precious
atmosphere…
Slide 30
Or antarctica could be gone sooner than we think!
Slide 31
Slide 32
Slide 33
Slide 34