The average wind speed is The annual average wind is about 10 knots. Temperature patterns vary so widely because the continent is covered in continuous darkness during the austral winter and continuous sunlight during the austral summer, with a few weeks of sunrises and sunsets in between seasons.
Plant life in Antarctica is limited, consisting of mostly algae, lichens, and mosses, and there are only a few known species of flowering plants. Because it's located in the southern hemisphere, Antarctica's summer is from October to February. During this time, the sun is almost always in the sky. Days rapidly get longer there in summer, until, eventually, the sun doesn't set at all. This phenomenon is called the Midnight Sun.
Although there are multiple places in the northern hemisphere that experience this perpetual sunlight during half of the year, Antarctica is the only southern location where it can be seen. January is the warmest month in Antarctica, during which average temperatures climb all the way up to 0 degrees in the Antarctic Peninsula. However, the average temperatures ranges from degrees celcius to degrees, depending on how far into the continent you travel.
If anyone is in Antarctica once winter comes, they're staying until summer returns. Flights and ships cease travel to and from Antarctica once the weather starts to turn, as conditions become too treacherous for travel.
Typically, researchers are the only people who brave the antarctic night. This is a valuable time for astronomers, who can use the complete darkness to get spectacular views of the universe. Climatologists are also busy during this time of year tracking and comparing the temperatures on and below the continent's surface.
If you choose to go on an Antarctica cruise in February or March , you will be seeing the continent during its late summer period. This provides a variety of benefits, including the ability to explore more thoroughly as the ice melts and breaks apart, allowing for a high chance of seeing whales on the Peninsula. Late summer is the best time to see whales in Antarctica. It is most common to see humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales, though it's possible to see many other species as well.
These can include blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, southern right whales and sperm whales. By March, those adorable penguin chicks are growing up. These conditions are dangerous and disruptive for outdoor activities. Sometimes blizzards last for days.
Whiteout is an optical phenomenon. Uniform light conditions can make it impossible to distinguish shadows, landmarks or the horizon. This can happen when the snow cover is unbroken and the sky is overcast. Whiteout is a serious hazard as it causes a loss of perspective and direction.
Why live in Antarctica? How many people? It's a bit breezy Video transcript Mawson research station is nestled on the coast of East Antarctica.
Where the ice cap falls steeply to the sea. The 19 Australians at Mawson have just endured an epic seven day blizzard. Visibility was zero for days on end. As conditions eased, expeditioners headed out to check for damage. While the force of the winds moved fully laden shipping containers, there were no major issues. Moving even a small distance in Antarctic storms is a feat of strength and endurance.
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