Penguin News Blog by Pengey Penguin
Penguin News Blog by Pengey Penguin
Why is Antarctica so Cold?
Several factors combine to making Antarctica one of the coldest and least hospitable places on the Earth:
* Unlike the Arctic region, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by an ocean which means that interior areas do not benefit from the moderating influence of water.
* With 98% of its area covered with snow and ice, the Antarctic continent reflects most of the sun's light rather than absorbing it.
* The extreme dryness of the air causes any heat that is radiated back into the atmosphere to be lost instead of being absorbed by the water vapor in the atmosphere.
* During the winter, the size of Antarctica doubles as the surrounding sea water freezes, effectively blocking heat transfer from the warmer surrounding ocean.
* Antarctica has a higher average elevation than any other continent on Earth which results in even colder temperatures.
Pengey Penguin Reporting
Why is Antarctica So Cold?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Once you’ve been to Antarctica you really know what cold is.
Antarctic is the coldest and driest continent on the planet.
The coldest on record:
Coldest Temp:-129°F (-89°C) on July 21, 1983
Location: Vostok Station