6. Weather Center
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest place on earth. Almost entirely covered in ice, the continent reflects most of the sun’s light and heat rather than absorbing it. To learn more about current weather conditions, click on the links to some of the research stations around Antarctica.
Making measurements - a weather station in Antarctica
What (not) to wear: What people wear and how they get around has changed so much since Antarctica’s ‘heroic age’ of the early 1900s. Technology has made a huge difference. Compared to the days of Shackleton and Scott modern fabrics and new designs make it much easier to cope with Antarctica’s extreme cold and wind.
Can you dress an Antarctic Scientist in the correct order?
Visit Discovering Antarctica – and get him ready for work in the extreme cold.
Current time:
Current weather conditions (webcams):
-
Australian antarctic division.
contiue to: Mawson Station
-
Britis antarctic division.
contiue to: Halley Station
-
Australian antarctic division.
contiue to: Davis Station
Weather forecast:
Facts
- The lowest temperature ever recorded was -129°F (-89.2°C) in July 1983, at the Russian station Vostok, inland of Australia's Casey station.
- Dome Argus is nearly 600 meters higher in elevation than Vostok it's is very possible that even colder temperatures will be recorded there!
- The warmest temperature ever recorded was in 1974 at the Vanda Station—a balmy +59°F (+15°C)!
- Because it's so cold in Antarctica, it rarely ever rains. It doesn't snow much either. In fact, the South Pole gets less than 2 inches of precipitation each year.
- Antarctica gets 6 months of 24/7 darkness followed by 6 months of 24/7 daylight.
Interesting Facts:
-
2½
the size, in inches, of the
average
krill -
Krill can go for up to
200
days
without eating
-
29
number of
nations
that send scientists to conduct experiments in Antarctica -
1,000
Average Antarctic human population
in
the winter
-
Krill is more than
twice
the total weight of all humans
on earth -
0
number of
govern-
mentsthat rule Antarctica
-
If
Antarctica
melted,
the sea level could rise
200 feet
worldwide -
10,000
number of
eggs
a female krill lays at one time -
70%
of world's fresh water
is
frozen -
10
Number of
human babies
born in Antarctica
-
2,000,000
estimated
tons of krill
in a swarm -
10
number of years krill can
live -
Antarctica
is the driest
continent
on Earth
(less than 2 inches of rain per year) -
Antarctica is
1.5 times the size
of the
United States -
There
are no native land
mammals
in
Antarctica -
2
inches of precipitation fall in Antarctica
each year
on average -
90%
the world's
ice
is in Antarctica -
Winter
temperature
can
drop
as low as
-20F -
0
Number of
permanent
residents
in Antarctica
-
47
number of
countries
who have signed the Antarctic Treaty -
4,000
Average Antarctic human population
in
summer
-
Summer
has
only
reached
maximum of 58F -
98%
of Antarctica is covered by fresh water ice