Antarctica –The
Frozen Continent
Group No:07
Group Member :
Course No: SOIL-206
1. Mst . Liza
Khatun(22606037)
Course Name : ELEMENTARY
2. Mst. Sumaiya Akter Soya
GEOGRAPHY (23606018)
3. Maisha
Fahmida(23606041)
Antarctica
continent
What is
Antarctica like?
Introduction:
Southernmost
continent ,surrounding the South
Pole.
The word Antarctica comes from
the Greek word Antarktikos , which
means "opposite to the Arctic" or
"opposite to the north“.
98% covered by ice. Coldest, driest,
and windiest continent on Earth.
Plays a critical role in global climate
regulation.
Location :
The continent of Antarctica is
located entirely in the Southern
Hemisphere. The continent is
surrounded by the southernmost
parts of the specific ocean, Atlantic
ocean and Indian ocean. Two ice
shelves, the Ross and Ronne.
Area: Fifth largest continent,
covering an area of 14 million
square kilometers.
Geographical
Features
Terrain:
Vast ice sheets.
Mountain ranges (e.g., Transantarctic
Mountains).
Dry Valleys – one of the driest places on Earth.
Subglacial lakes (e.g., Lake Vostok).
Coastline:
Surrounded by the Southern Ocean,
characterized by glaciers and massive
ice shelves.
Soil Of
Antarctica
1. Very cold and dry.
2. Low in nutrients and
organic matter.
3. Contains salts from
the environment.
4. Has few living
organisms like
microbes and moss.
5. Forms very slowly
due to the harsh
climate.
Coldest Place: Record low temperature of −89.2°C. Antarctica’s
average temperature ranges from about (-10°C to -60°C).
Climate
Desert-like Conditions: Average annual precipitation is less than
50 mm.
Winds: Strong katabatic winds, reaching speeds of 320 km/h .
Seasons: Polar summer (continuous daylight) and polar winter
(continuous darkness)
Why is it so cold and
dry?
• Both the Arctic (North Pole) and the Antarctic
(South Pole) are very cold because they get
very little direct sunlight. The Sun is always
low on the horizon, even in the middle of
summer. In winter, the Sun is so far below the
horizon that it doesn’t come up at all for
months at a time.
Flora and Fauna
Wildlife: Birds:
• Emperor penguins, Adelie penguins.
• Seabirds: Skuas and petrels.
Marine Life:
• Krill, a keystone species.
• Seals.
• Whales: Blue, humpback, and minke whales.
Adaptations: Specially adapted to
survive in extreme cold, reliance on
oceanic food sources.
Vegetation
1. Types of Vegetation:
Mosses: The most abundant plants, capable
of withstanding freezing temperatures and
low water availability.
Lichens: Symbiotic organisms made of fungi
and algae, often found growing on rocks.
Algae: Includes both terrestrial and aquatic
species, thriving in meltwater and snow.
Fungi: Play a role in nutrient recycling and
can be found in soil or symbiotic
relationships.
2. Flowering Plants: Only two species of
flowering plants exist: Antarctic hair grass,
Antarctic pearlwort.
Environmental
Significance
Climate Impact:
• Antarctica’s ice sheets hold 70% of Earth’s freshwater.
• Ice melt contributes to global sea-level rise.
• Melting ice is a clear indicator of global climate change.
Unique Ecosystem:
Essential for marine life and global biodiversity.
Krill population supports diverse marine life and influences
carbon cycling by consuming algae and transporting carbon
to ocean depths.
Preservation Efforts: International agreements to minimize
human impact.
Scientific Importance
The areas which are investigated in Antarctica can be grouped in
three broad catagories.
1. Geological Sciences : Use the Antarctic topography and
physical features to look deep into the history of the planet.
2. Life Sciences: Studies habits and habitats of Antarctic animal
such as krill, penguins, seals, whales etc.
3. Physical Sciences : Looks into the physics of our universe the
weather and the climate change.
Research Stations: Over 70 stations run by different countries. Such as
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station run by USA.
The South Pole Telescope(SPT) is observing the cosmic microwave background
radiation to learn about the split second after the Big Bang.
It also contribute to global projects like Event Horizon Telescope , which
captured the first image of a black hole named M87*.
Field of study
Climate change and global warming.
• Astronomy (clear skies and low light pollution).
• Glaciology: Ice cores reveal Earth’s climate
history.
• Biodiversity: Unique lifeforms adapted to
extreme environments
▪️International Collaboration: A hub for global
scientific cooperation.
Temporary Residents: Only scientists and staff at
research stations. Roughly 4000 scientists and
personnel during the summer season,1000 in winter
season.
Human
Presenc Governance:
Antarctic Treaty System (1959):
Ensures peaceful use and
Bans military activity and
e
resource exploitation.
scientific cooperation.
Tourism: Controlled eco-tourism to preserve its
pristine environment.
Midnight Sun and Polar
Night
Summer: Sun
doesn’t set for
months.
Winter:
Continuous
darkness.
Aurora
A colorful light show in
the night sky caused
by charged particles
from the sun
interacting with the
Earth's magnetic field
and atmosphere.
The Aurora in the
Southern hemisphere
is known as the aurora
australis, or the
southern lights.
Antarctica, a frozen desert, plays a
vital role in Earth's climate, holds
unparalleled scientific value, and
houses unique ecosystems. Its ice
regulates global temperatures and
Conclusion
sea levels.
Thanks To
All
