The continent's coastal regions experience what's known as katabatic winds, or winds that that flow down slopes to the areas below. The dramatic elevation differences throughout Antarctica lead to impressive and harrowing wind speeds. Anything that does fall gets accumulated until it's packed into ice. Even though there isn't much precipitation per year, the temperatures don't rise high enough for the snow to melt away. You might be wondering why the continent is covered in snow if it rarely falls. There's no precipitation without humidity, and there's no humidity without heat. This is because the cold air simply can't hold much water. Antarctica is technically a desert, and a particularly dry one at that. Snow doesn't fall fresh very often - the continent only gets an average of 2 inches of precipitation each year. While blizzards do happen in the south pole, they're few and far between, and they're typically due to winds blowing lose snow rather than new snow falling. If you think of the Antarctic continent as a constant mass of furious snow storms, think again. See all cruises to Antarctica with Hurtigruten.You will certainly see some wildlife, as well, and will get to know the untouched majesty of Antarctica in this particular form. As the polar ice melts, you'll have access to points much farther south than you would during other travel seasons. If you're an explorer who wants to see as much of Antarctica as possible, choose a late-summer cruise. They begin to fledge and grow into their adult feathers, while their parents may already have gone out to sea to begin to prepare for their own molting season. What about penguins?īy March, those adorable penguin chicks are growing up. These can include blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, southern right whales and sperm whales. It is most common to see humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales, though it's possible to see many other species as well. Late summer is the best time to see whales in Antarctica. 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. If you choose to go on an Antarctica cruise in February or March, you will be seeing the continent during its late summer period. LATE SUMMER CRUISING IN ANTARCTICA: February - March Polar packing: What to bring on your trip to Antarctica?.Climatologists are also busy during this time of year tracking and comparing the temperatures on and below the continent's surface. This is a valuable time for astronomers, who can use the complete darkness to get spectacular views of the universe. Typically, researchers are the only people who brave the antarctic night. Flights and ships cease travel to and from Antarctica once the weather starts to turn, as conditions become too treacherous for travel. If anyone is in Antarctica once winter comes, they're staying until summer returns. However, the average temperatures ranges from -10 degrees celcius to -60 degrees, depending on how far into the continent you travel. January is the warmest month in Antarctica, during which average temperatures climb all the way up to 0 degrees in the Antarctic Peninsula. 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. This phenomenon is called the Midnight Sun. Days rapidly get longer there in summer, until, eventually, the sun doesn't set at all. 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. Here's an overview of what weather conditions are like on Earth's southernmost destination: Seasons in AntarcticaĪntarctica only has two seasons: summer and winter. Of course, temperature is only one piece of the antarctic weather puzzle. The high elevation and large landmass makes the south pole significantly colder than the north. Even if you've spent time in the Arctic Circle, the Antarctic is an entirely different experience. If you've never visited a polar destination, you're probably wondering what you can expect weather-wise when you travel to Antarctica.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |