Antarctica is larger than or Europe and encompasses 10 percent of the world’s land mass. Withstanding temperatures falling to minus 89 degrees Celsius coupled with wind speeds that can mount to upwards of 192 mph, Antarctica is an immense and inhospitable area. The Southern Ocean surrounds the continent of Antarctica.

The waters surrounding Antarctica sustain numerous dolphins, fish, flying birds, penguins, seals and whales with the most plentiful nutrient flows on Earth. Beneath the huge ice service are huge amounts of micro forage. The chief food of the seals, whales and penguins is krill, and it is also utilized by humans in Japan.

As Antarctica is the driest, most tempestuous and frigid region on the planet, the wildlife living there are acclimated to the harsh and brutal elements. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents, and it has an average precipitation of just 200mm a year on the coastline and much less further inland. Seals, penguins, tundra vegetation and many types of algae are examples of plants and animals that have adapted to the cold environment of Antarctica.

A unique natural condition makes Antarctica meaningful for all life on this planet. The greenhouse effect is more prevalent at the poles, as the heavier molecules in the atmosphere are clustered there. Likewise, the absorption of the sun’s radiant energy is more concentrated at the poles, warming the earth’s surface.

The atmosphere contains almost 79 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Additionally, in very small quantities, methane gases and carbon dioxide also exist. These gases, combined with water vapor, reflect radiation back toward the earth causing it to warm. This is essentially how the greenhouse effect works.

The polar regions and the equator collect methane and carbon dioxide quicker than the moderate regions because of a condition known as the “slingshot effect”. Because this tremendous heat generated by the Greenhouse effect is so much more extreme than that of other areas, Antartica is the subject of a great deal of scientific scrutiny.

The ice covering Antarctica is nearly three miles thick. Snow accumulated over millions of years and compacted to form an ice cap. Drilling in order to research core samples of prehistoric air bubbles and atomic isotopes is revealing vast amounts of information on prehistoric eras.

The infamous hole in the ozone layer is caused by fluorocarbons released from refrigerants into the atmosphere interacting with ozone. This reaction is quite destructive. As a result of the elevated heating occurrence, massive chunks of ice layers have been ripped away.

These ice shelves fall off from the continent and drift northward, melting along the way. The melting water adds more volume to the ocean’s level, slowing increasing it. As the icecap shrinks, so do the spawning grounds of the krill, which ultimately effects the food supply of the other Antarctic animals.

The seas will rise approximately 180 feet or more when the ice shelves from Antarctica all split off and thaw. In theory, buildings in New York would be overwhelmed and swallowed up by water like a vast geyser. Countries at a lower altitude, such as Bangladesh, could be completely swallowed up and destroyed.

Most people who have been to Antarctica will tell you of the breathtaking beauty of the continent. The animals don’t always view people as a threat. The purity of God’s creatures, coupled with the brilliant radiance of nature, is simply a remarkable sight to see.

We must remain optimistic that people in our era and future eras will care for and maintain Antarctica and its unspoiled beauty. In reality, this gradual deterioration has been going on for many years. Numerous countries have come together to work on preserving what remains of Antarctica.

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