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Antarctica Geography 1996
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
second-smallest continent (after Australia)
none, but see entry on International disputes
none, but see entry on International Disputes
Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below);
sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France
(Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and
UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of
other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right
to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees
west and 150 degrees west
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the
ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher
elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher
temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below
freezing
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average
elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897
meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land,
Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on
McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline,
and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum
and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small,
uncommercial quantities
100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the
Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to the
lowest level recorded over Antarctica since 1975 when measurements were
first taken
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior;
frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form
over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception
Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare
and weak
international agreements:
the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during summer more
solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at
the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable
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