Gytviken is now a research base for scientists, many of whom are focused on studying the hugely varied bird and seal life on the island. This biodiversity hotspot is home to penguins, albratross, fur seals and elephant seals. The British Antarctic Survey also use ships to deploy scientists into the field. These ships must break ice as they sail around the Antarctic Peninsula. They can only break ice that is less than one year old not multi-year sea ice , and this can be a significant barrier to scientific operations.
However, with their flat, sturdy hulls and thick steel, these ships are at the forefront of Antarctic cruising. Wildlife is often visible from the ships, and can include seals, penguins or wales. Beautiful icebergs drifting past entertain the scientists for hours.
Scientists in the field live in tents, and explore the surrounding territories by foot, quad bike or skidoo, depending on the territory. Check out the series of blog posts and fieldwork diaries from fieldwork to Alexander Island in Working deep field can mean lie-ups for days, where you hunker down to avoid the worst of the storm.
Scientists need to melt ice for drinking water and to cook their dehydrated food- and of course for endless cups of tea. This short video shows what an Antarctic blizzard can be like! Video by Sam Doyle , starring Iain Rudkin. For geologists, fieldwork normally comprises field mapping, taking rock samples, and logging sediments and ice exposures. Standard equipment includes a hammer and chisel, compass, clinometer, binoculars, pointing trowel, sample bags, tape measures, and so on.
It always falls as snow. The Antarctic desert is one of the driest deserts in the world. The Antarctic region has an important role in global climate processes. Ice is more reflective than land or water surfaces. Interestingly, NASA scientist s have found that climate change has actually caused more ice to form in some parts of Antarctica. They say this is happening because of new climate patterns caused by climate change. These patterns create a strong wind pattern called the " polar vortex.
This effect is not seen throughout the Antarctic, however, and some parts are experiencing ice melt. The cold waters surrounding Antarctica, known as the Antarctic Bottom Water , are so dense that they push against the ocean floor. The Antarctic Bottom Water causes warmer waters to rise, or upwell.
Antarctic upwelling is so strong that it helps move water around the entire planet. This movement is aided by strong winds that circumnavigate Antarctica. Flora and Fauna Lichen s, moss es, and terrestrial algae are among the few species of vegetation that grow in Antarctica. More of this vegetation grows in the northern and coastal regions of Antarctica, while the interior has little if any vegetation.
The ocean, however, teems with fish and other marine life. In fact, the waters surrounding Antarctica are among the most diverse on the planet. Upwelling allows phytoplankton and algae to flourish.
Thousands of species, such as krill , feed on the plankton. Fish and a large variety of marine mammal s thrive in the cold Antarctic waters. Blue, fin, humpback, right, minke, sei, and sperm whale s have healthy populations in Antarctica.
One of the apex, or top, predators in Antarctica is the leopard seal. The leopard seal is one of the most aggressive of all marine predators. This 3-meter 9-foot , kilogram pound animal has unusually long, sharp teeth, which it uses to tear into prey such as penguins and fish. The most familiar animal of Antarctica is probably the penguin. They have adapt ed to the cold, coastal waters. Their feathers retain a layer of air, helping them keep warm in the freezing water.
Cultural Geography A Culture of Science While the Antarctic does not have permanent residents, the region is a busy outpost for a variety of research scientists. These scientists work at government -supported research station s and come from dozens of different countries. The number of scientists conducting research varies throughout the year, from about 1, in winter to around 5, in summer.
Researchers from a variety of scientific backgrounds study the Antarctic not only as a unique environment , but also as an indicator of broader global processes. Marine biologist s study the behavior of whales, seals, and squid. In , a meteorite from Mars was found in Antarctica. The markings on this meteorite were similar to markings left by bacteria on Earth. If this meteorite, millions of years old, actually has the remains of Martian bacteria, it would be the only scientific evidence for life outside Earth.
McMurdo Station is a U. McMurdo is the largest station in Antarctica, capable of supporting 1, residents. Most of these residents are not scientists, but work to support station operations, construction , maintenance, and daily life. McMurdo has more than 80 buildings and operates like a small city. Like all Antarctic research stations, McMurdo has a specific method of receiving necessary supplies. Once a year, cargo ships bring more than 5 million kilograms 11 million pounds of equipment and supplies, ranging from trucks and tractors to dry and frozen food s, to scientific instruments.
Coast Guard icebreaker s. Additional supplies and personnel are flown in from Christchurch, New Zealand, when weather permits. Base Esperanza also houses the first Catholic chapel and first school built on the continent.
It is located in an ice-free area known as the Vestfold Hills. Like most research stations in Antarctica, food is very important at Davis Station. Residents live and work closely together in facilities and outdoor environments that are often very monotonous. As such, food plays an important role in providing variety to residents like those at Davis Station.
Food supplies are, however, very limited. The food supply for a year at Davis Station is ration ed, per person per year. Residents live mostly on frozen and canned food. The chef is often thought of as one of the most important people at Davis Station. They agreed to only use Antarctica for peaceful purposes research , banning all mining and military activity.
But the treaty is up for renegotiation in , and things may be a bit more heated at that time, both politically and literally. For now, Antarctic research is very important for climate change, with the continent heating up by more than three times the global average.
Andrei's background is in geophysics, and he's been fascinated by it ever since he was a child. Feeling that there is a gap between scientists and the general audience, he started ZME Science -- and the results are what you see today.
Home Other Feature Post. How many people live in Antarctica — and other things you wish you knew about the frozen continent Antarctica's a weird place.
It has a Burger King, a few coffee shops, but no real inhabitants. February 12, Reading Time: 6 mins read. Antarctica is extremely inhospitable. Antarctica is a continent located at the southernmost part of the world. You can find out more about Antarctica here: Antarctica Facts. As you might imagine, Antarctica has a very small population. At any time there may also be as many as 1, people on board ships in the Southern Ocean.
These are mainly support ships for the bases on Antarctica, and vessels undertaking scientific work. The Southern Ocean is the ocean that surrounds Antarctica.
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