10 secrets about what summer is like in Antarctica
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Have you ever stopped to think about what summer is like in Antarctica?
When you hear the word summer, what's the first thing that comes to mind?
I bet one of your first thoughts involves things like sun, sea, swimming pool, a beer. But, above all, the first thought is heat.
After all, we always live with summers that are marked by high temperatures, right? But know that the concept of summer is very different in some places in the world. And one of them is Antarctica.
There is a lot of talk about the low temperatures and how the North Pole is a cold place, but few people know for sure about what is located at the opposite pole of the Earth: Antarctica!
What is summer like in Antarctica? What will the maximum temperature be in Antarctica during the season that, for the vast majority of countries around the world, is synonymous with sun and heat?
These and other curiosities will be answered throughout this content! Here, you will discover a little more about one of the coldest places on our planet!
What is Antarctica?
I know this question may seem obvious. After all, who doesn't know what Antarctica is?
But know that this is not such an obvious question.
But to clarify this issue, Antarctica – or Antarctica, as it is also known – is located at the South Pole of the planet. And, what many people don't know is that Antarctica is one of the world's continents, with an area of around 14 million km².
Ever since it was discovered, Antarctica has sparked a great deal of fascination and curiosity. Because it is so distant and inaccessible to the general public, it is as if Antarctica were part of another planet.
10 secrets about what summer is like in Antarctica
Just like any other place on our planet, Antarctica also experiences four seasons. The difference is that, due to the extremely low temperatures, there are some differences between our summer and what they consider summer.
Below, we have separated 10 secrets and curiosities about what summer is like in Antarctica and what it is like to spend a summer in one of the coldest places in the world.
Antarctica in summer
The average summer temperature on the continent is between -4ºC and 10ºC. In winter, the temperature can reach -60ºC. Recently, the temperature there reached almost -90ºC.
Antarctica or desert?
It may seem crazy, but did you know that, despite being covered in ice, Antarctica is as – or even drier – than the sandy deserts we know?
This happens because, due to constantly low temperatures, there is not enough heat for evaporation to occur and, consequently, the formation of clouds.
This means that the humidity in Antarctica is generally very low!
Antarctica temperatures
Much is said about the extremely low temperatures on the continent. In Antarctica, average temperatures tend to be between -30ºC and -65ºC in the central regions of the continent. In coastal areas – which are close to the sea – temperatures tend to be around -10ºC and -20ºC.
This difference in temperatures between the two regions is due to the influence of ocean currents. Even so, with temperatures like these, it's hard to feel like taking a dip in the sea, right?
Antarctica's two seasons
Unlike the rest of the world, it is often said that Antarctica does not have four seasons, but only two: winter and summer.
This is because, as there is no type of vegetation on the continent, and spring is a season represented by the blooming of flowers and autumn represents the falling of flowers, these two seasons are disregarded.
It's cold that never ends!
It may seem like a lie, but the cold in Antarctica has been getting worse as the years go by, causing its records for the lowest temperatures on the planet to be broken by itself!
Some recent studies have shown that the temperature there reached almost -90ºC. The data was obtained directly from the Vostok Station in Russia. It is no wonder that Antarctica is known as the 'icy continent'.
A continent that grows every year
As already mentioned in the text, Antarctica is about 14 million km². But that's in the 'summer'. In winter, when temperatures drop even further, the continent practically doubles in size!
This happens because, with the low temperatures, the surrounding frozen sea strip extends, making the continent even larger.
Who lives in Antarctica?
But can people be born and live there? And the answer is both no and yes.
There are no native people in Antarctica. As you might have guessed, despite being a very large continent, there are no native people in Antarctica.
But yes, there are people living there at this very moment. All the inhabitants who currently live there are researchers and scientists who participate in various types of projects and research on the most diverse topics.
Cold in the heights
In addition to being the coldest continent in the world, Antarctica also stands out for one other fact: it is the highest continent on the planet.
The heart of Antarctica is nothing more than a large plateau that is about 2,500m above sea level. This altitude directly contributes to the low temperatures.
A large reservoir of fresh water
This will come as a surprise to many people. The ice sheet – which is almost 3km thick – that covers Antarctica represents about 70% of all the fresh water available in the world. In other words: Antarctica is an extremely valuable water reservoir for the future of humanity.
Concern about global warming
Environmentalists around the world are already concerned about the melting of Antarctic glaciers, which could be caused by global warming. Since the continent is an important reserve of fresh water, this concern is quite justified.
A free continent
Unlike all other countries – which have been colonized at some point in their history – Antarctica has no 'owner'. Despite the dispute between several countries to have the continent become part of their territories, the continent remains without any owner.
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