Slide 1

Slide 2 Antarctica-An Introduction Where did Antarctica come from? 100 million years ago-attached to South America and Australia 50 million years ago-separated from Australia What evidence exists that leads scientists to propose this theory? Slide 3 Evidence to support this theory Antarctic fossils of dinosaurs and trees are the same as those found in South America and Australia. The geology of the Transantarctic Mountains and the Andes are the same. Slide 4 It is now time for. The Geography Awards Slide 5 World Geography Awards Slide 6 What world awards would Antarctica receive? Slide 7 Award #1 : Most Independent Continent No one owns Antarctica ! How do we keep the peace in this region if no one owns it? The Antarctic Treaty of 1961 Slide 8 What are the Four Promises of the Treaty Signers? 1. People will stay on Antarctica only to conduct scientific research 2. No military bases on Antarctica 3.No nuclear testing or waste dumping 4. No one owns the land or water surrounding Antarctica 5. Addition 1991- No mineral mining for fifty years What wont you hear on Antarctica? Slide 9 Award # 2 Most Icy Continent 98% of the continent is ice covered How thick is this iceimagine this if the Antarctic ice cap melted, it would raise the oceans water by 180 feetthe height of six telephone poles (one on top of each other) Slide 10 Award # 3 Most Changeable Ice Award During the winter the ice cap is 10 million square miles During the summer the ice cap is 5.4 million square miles What influences this change? The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is a clockwise swirl of water. It moves 200 ft per minute around Antarctica, warming and cooling the icecap. This swirl of water is 135X greater than all the river waters in the world! Slide 11 Award # 4 Fresh Water Champion 70% of the worlds FRESH water is found in Antarcticas icecap Slide 12 Award # 5-Highest and Most Arid Award Antarctica is the worlds highest and most arid continent Slide 13 Award # 6 Worlds Most Impressive Ice Shelf The Ross Ice Shelf is the size of France and twice the size of Delaware! Slide 14 Award # 7 - Worlds Largest Iceberg When a piece of the Antarctic glacier breaks from an ice shelf it forms an iceberg. This process is called calving There are approximately 300,000 icebergs in Southern Ocean. The largest iceberg was spottedit is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island. It is called Iceberg B-15 Slide 15 Amazing Videos Clips of Glaciers and Icebergs Glacier calving - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGsQdF2fE L0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGsQdF2fE L0 Watch Out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flIkDb-UDls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OooXSHfz WR8 Amazing Icebergs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OooXSHfz WR8 Slide 16 Do Icebergs Change? Icebergs continue to change in shape as they float in the Southern Ocean. B 15 broke apart. It became B15 A. It was the size of Connecticut in the year 2000in 2013 it has decreased in sizeit is only 1/3 its original size. http://youtu.be/lBfzFt_kgNU Slide 17 What is known about the worlds largest Iceberg? B15 A is The size of Jamaica The largest floating object in the world Contains enough fresh water to supply the Nile River for the next 80 years Blocks wind and water currents Keeps penguin parents from feeding their chicks Moves about one mile per day Slide 18 Icebergs come in many shapes and sizes Growler (the size of a small car) Bergy bit (the size of a house) Small, Medium, Large, Very Large Slide 19 Award # 8 - Worlds Windiest Continent Katabatic Winds form in Eastern Antarcticas high plateau Wind speeds may reach 200mph Slide 20 Award # 9 Busiest Seafood Restaurant Slide 21 The Antarctic Convergence has created this wealth of seafoodwhat causes the convergence? The fish filled warm water meets the cold bottom waters near Antarctica. The fish begin to swim closer to the waters surface where their predators are waiting Slide 22 Example of Endangered Fish Patagonian Toothfish How valuable is this fish?