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to its elevation, higher latitude and distance from
the sea. Temperatures in the interior never really get
above -20 °C.
Winter: Coastal regions can range between -10 and
-30 ° C, the sea around the continent freezes adding
and increased land mass. The interior can fall below
-60 °C, with the coldest temperature recorded at the
Russian station Vostok in 1983 at -89.2 °C.
Antarctica has just two seasons. Because the Earth
in space is tilted which never changes, during the
summer the Antarctic is bathed in sunlight, however
in winter the reverse happens and it is in constant
darkness.
Did you know Antarctica is a desert?
Aurora australis lights up the winter sky
at the South Pole Station, Antarctica.
Image Source: http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/
Below: http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contenthandler.cfm?id=2504
Despite its bright white appearance there is very little
snowfall in Antarctica. What snow has fallen becomes
layered and forms ice sheets.
Snow mainly falls in the coastal regions with limited
snow in the interior However in recent years snow fall
has increased and this can be down to global warming
of the planet.
ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014