ICY SCIENCE MAGAZINE WINTER 2014 Vol 2 | Page 67

67 Antarctica Antarctica is the earth’s most southerly continent. It is a cold, windy and a dry wilderness. Despite its remote and challenging conditions life has evolved here. The region is a fundamental part of our planets climate and eco system. Antarctica has some of the biggest seasonal changes on the planet. The coastal regions in summer can hover around freezing while the interior can drop to -20 ° C. Limited plant life will grow during the summer months; however winter brings harsh bitter cold. The coldest surface temperatures have been recorded here with a staggering -89.2 ° C. So how does Antarctica differ from the Arctic? The arctic is mostly frozen sea surrounded by land it is a semi enclosed sea. Antarctica is land surrounded by sea. Arctic Antarctica ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014