Cool Antarctica: Resource Book by Teacher Superstore

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Special School Photocopy Master Edition

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Antarctica Resource Book

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Image courtesy of NOAA

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About Ready-Ed Publications Ready-Ed Publications was established in 1984 with the purpose of creating practical classroom blackline master activities. At the time, the role of the teacher was becoming ever more diverse with an increasing range of duties and responsibilities within the school and school community. Since then, the role of the teacher has continued to evolve with an escalating range of tasks and obligations, ensuring a reduction in time available to prepare work for the daily instructional program.

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Throughout these past 21 years, Ready-Ed Publications has built a reputation as publishers of Australian made, high quality, innovative, timesaving materials for teachers of primary and lower secondary levels. In addition, all materials are based on state or national curriculum guidelines or specific age-related interest areas and subjects.

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Ready-Ed Publications aims to assist busy professionals by making available contemporary classroom materials that contain relevant and stimulating work to support the requirements of the curriculum.

NOAA credits: Images courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce.

ii. AWI credits: Images courtesy of the Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany.

iii. CLIP ART: Clip art images have been obtained from Microsoft Design Gallery Live and are used under the terms of the End User License Agreement for Microsoft Word 2000. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/permission. iv. IMSI credits: Where credited the images used were obtained from IMSI’s Masterclips/MasterPhotos collection, 1895 Francisco Blvd, East San Rafael, CA 94901-5506 USA. www.imsisoft.com v. COREL credits: Where credited the images used were obtained from Corel Corporation collection, 1600 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 8R7.

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Ice shelter, tents, Scott Base buildings – © Seth White, www.sethwhite.org

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vi. Photos from individual sources have been acknowledged where applicable. While every attempt has been made to acknowledge the ownership of photos used herein, in some instances this has not been possible. If you know of the photographers for these images, please contact the publisher so that proper acknowledgement can be given.

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ii. Emperor penguins – Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce iii. South Pole Station “The Dome” – © United States Department of Defense iv. Mount Scott – © Stan Shebs

Published by: Ready-Ed Publications PO Box 276 Greenwood WA 6023 www.readyed.com.au info@readyed.com.au

ISBN: 1 86397 647 7 COPYRIGHT NOTICE FOR THIS SPECIAL SCHOOL LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY MASTER EDITION Permission is granted for the purchaser to photocopy sufficient copies for non-commercial educational purposes. However, this permission is not transferable and applies only to the purchasing individual or institution.

Cool Antarctica

Contents Cheeky Chinstraps........................ 31

Who Discovered Antarctica? ........... 5

Antarctic Birds of Prey .................. 32

Antarctic Claims and Bases ............ 6

Learning About Antarctica ........... 33

Antarctica’s Cold Hard Facts .......... 7

Research Stations ........................ 34

An Antarctic Adventurer ................. 8

Our Antarctica Bases ................... 35

The Amazing Race ......................... 9

Antarctica’s Land ......................... 36

A Difficult Journey ........................ 10

Protecting the Environment........... 37

Visit the South Pole ...................... 11

Cool Living! ................................. 38

The Antarctic Treaty ..................... 12

Getting About .............................. 39

Who Owns Antarctica? ................. 13

Is it an Ice Bus? ............................ 40

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Antarctica – The Last Land............. 4

© ReadyEdP ub l i cat i ons 41 Daily Life ..................................... Away from the Base ..................... Freezing• Flora .............................. f o rr evi ew15pur po se s on l y• 42 Very Cool Plants ........................... 14

Meet the Marine Species .............. 17

Snow School ................................ 44

Meet More Marine Species ........... 18

Living in a Remote Area ............... 45

Wonderful Whales ........................ 19

Antarctic Slang ............................ 46

Super Seals .................................. 20

An Antarctic Winter ...................... 47

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Beating the Cold .......................... 43

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Antarctica’s Animal Life ............... 16

o c . The Leopard Seal ......................... che 23 Aurora Australisr e ........................... 49 o r Playful Penguins ........................... 24 st su pe Firstr Light..................................... 50 Penguins on Parade ..................... 25 Penguins – Special Features ......... 26 Impressive Emperors .................... 27 Emperor Breeding Season ............ 28 Adorable Adelie Penguins ............ 30

Ice Crusher .................................. 48

A Travel Destination? ................... 51 Tourism in Antarctica ................... 52 An Antarctic Tragedy .................... 53 Antarctica Links Online ................ 54 A Guide to Antarctic Slang ........... 55 3

Cool Antarctica

Antarctica – The Last Land

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Did you know that Antarctica was the NAMING ANTARCTICA last of the Earth’s continents to be explored by humans? And did you know that people who lived a long time ago knew that Antarctica existed even though they had never ever seen it? Antarctica was named Around 2000 years ago, ancient hundreds of years philosophers referred to Antarctica as before it was actually Ter ra Australis Incognita which means erra discovered! “unknown southern land”. Australia and Thousands of years ago, ancient Greek New Zealand were also known by this philosophers talked name as they had not yet been © ReadyEdPubl i ca t i o ns about a land that was discovered. at the South Pole that •f or r evi ew pur posewould so nl ythe•land balance Many people thought the southern lands at the North Pole. The would be a place worth visiting. Arctic was named after However, in those days it was very the Greek word for bear (arktos). From the difficult to move around the planet as Arctic, the bear this was hundreds of years before the constellation was clear invention of ships and aeroplanes. Back in the sky – just as how then, exploring Antarctica was about as the Southern Cross constellation is only impossible an idea as travelling to Mars!

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visible from southern parts of the world, like Australia. Ant means opposite and so Antarctica means “opposite the arctic” – or opposite the bear!

The people who named Antarctica never even got to know if it even existed! 4

Cool Antarctica

In 1772, Captain James Cook set off from England in search of a great southern continent.

Some people believe that an American sealer, Captain John Davis, was the first person to walk on Antarctica’s shores at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. According to the history books, Davis wasn’t sure if he had reached an island or the actual continent.

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Captain James Cook

Who Discovered Antarctica?

In January 1774, Cook reached huge ice blocks that stopped him from travelling any further south. At this time, he Also in 1821, it is thought was yet© to R sight any land, that officer and ten men ead yEdPu ban l i c at i o ns however, shortly after he went under the leadership of Lord f or e vi ewand pur posesonl y• on to• arrive atr Australia Melville were forced to spend New Zealand. the entire winter on King

o c . che e Over 7000 tourists have r o t r s super visited Antarctica since 1990.

No one is really sure who the first person was to sight Antarctica.

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George Island after their ship was carried away in a storm. The men were rescued the following summer.

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Captain Cook decided that any land that was discovered in the Antarctic region would be too harsh to live or farm on, but he did note that he had seen many whales and seals on his voyage. This led to a lot of interest among whalers and sealers from America and Europe.

Cool Antarctica

Antarctic Claims and Bases Claim British

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Scotia Sea

Southern Ocean

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Mawson (Australia)

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Bellinghausen Sea

Amundsen Scott (U.S.)

Australian Claim

Shackleton Ice Shelf

Vostok (Russia)

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Dumont d’Urville (France)

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Ross Sea

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Southern Ocean

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Antarctica’s Cold Hard Facts!

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able to grow on Temperatures in Antarctica snow, rarely pass 0° Celsius. making the The world’s lowest snow temperature EVER in was appear pink recorded at Vostok station or green. on 21 July, 1983. It was Antarctica minus 89.2° Celsius on that covers 14 million square day. Brrrr! kilometres of the earth’s A thick layer of ice and surface. snow buries 98% of the The average height of Antarctic continent. This Antarctica’s land is about layer averages a thickness 2300 metres above sea level. of about metres. ©2200 Rea dyEdPu bl i cat i ons That’s over two kilometres! The icecap covers 13.72 • f o r r e v i e w p u r posesonl y• million square kilometres and The icecap makes up contains 90% of the world’s approximately 70% of the ice. earth’s fresh water. If this icecap melted, the ocean Winter involves six weeks of levels would rise and all complete darkness. coastal cities around the Summer has 24 hours of world would be flooded! sunlight each day. Some types of algae are The ice is four kilometres thick at the South Pole.

An Antarctic Adventurer Sir Douglas Mawson is remembered as Australia’s most famous Antarctic explorer. Mawson Base is named after him and was Australia’s first permanent Antarctic base.

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r o e t s B r e oo Mawson is usually remembered for his Australian p u k Antarctic expeditions between 1911 and 1914. S On one particular trip, Mawson set off with two

companions, Swiss scientist Dr Xavier Mertz, and British soldier Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis. Their AN ANTARCTIC aim was to map the Antarctic coastline, explore EXPLORER glaciers and to collect rock samples. They took Sir Douglas with them supplies on sleds which were pulled by Mawson believed a team of huskies. that its was very © ReadyEdPubl i cat i o n •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

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The two explorers started the sad journey back to their base, resorting to eating the huskies in order to survive, which made them quite ill. Mertz became very sick and died, leaving Mawson completely alone and very weak. Mawson kept going, falling through a couple of crevasses on the way, and managing to pull himself out safely each time. Amazingly, he reached camp after 30 days, almost unrecognisable.

marine species in his travels. He also recorded weather patterns, studied the geology of Antarctica and eventually mapped the coastline.

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Sir Douglas Mawson’s image appears on the Australian $100 note. 8

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However, their fateful trip soon turned into a important for disaster when after travelling more than 1000 people to find out kilometres, Ninnis fell into a crevasse that had about Antarctica. been covered with a thick layer of snow. Mawson He lead three and Mertz called out to Ninnis but he had Antarctic perished, and he had also taken the sled of food expeditions, supplies with him. discovering new

Because of Mawson, Australia owns and protects 42% of Antarctica.

Sir Douglas Mawson, Antarctica, 1911. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia

Cool Antarctica

The Amazing Race One of the most significant events in Antarctica’s history was the great race to be the first to the South Pole.

ROALD AMUNDSEN (1872 - 1928)

Robert F alcon Scott of the Falcon British Navy, and Roald Engelbrecht Gravning Amundsen Amundsen, an explorer from Norway. The two men never met.

Born in Borge, near Oslo in Norway. Amundsen had wanted to be the first to the North Pole but was beaten by Commander Robert E. Peary, an American explorer.

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok Who were the competitors? u Sbetween Captain The race was

He sent a telegram to Scott stating that he was travelling to Antarctica in search of the South Pole.

Amundsen and four crew members reached the Pole on 14 December, 1911. He went on to make a number of important discoveries in Antarctica. In 1926, Amundsen made history again by flying over the North Pole in an airship called the Norge.

Born in Devonport, England.

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On 30 December, 1902, Scott reached a point about 840 kilometres from the true South Pole.

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Scott arrived at the South Pole on 17 January, 1912, only to find that Roald Amundsen had beaten him to it.

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Two years later, Amundsen and his crew disappeared in the Arctic while on a search mission for a friend.

o c . che e r o Weak from the difficult r journey, t s super Scott and his assistants were forced to camp during a blizzard and it was here that they died. Their bodies were discovered inside their tents eight months later. They were only eleven kilometres from food and supplies.

Cool Antarctica

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY

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In 1902, explorer Robert F. Scott led the first expedition into the inland of the Antarctic continent. This is Scott’s Discover Discoveryy Hut which was also built in 1902. Scott made three expeditions in the Antarctic region.

The wooden hut was mainly used as The journey took 93 days and a storage shed as well as for there were many serious cooking. The explorers didn’t problems on the way, such as dealing with the extreme cold, actually live in it though, as they hunger and snow blindness. stayed aboard the ship Discovery Many of the men became sick which was© much more comfortable! Re ady EdPub l i cat i ons from scurvy (caused by a lack of Vitamin C from fresh fruit and vegies).

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On this first expedition, Scott’s group travelled about 1545 kilometres in very harsh conditions. 10

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Scott’s• expedition team explored ar f orr e vi e w pu posesonl y• lot of the land nearby with the aim of making it all the way to the South The men had to end up pulling Pole. On 25 November, 1902, Scott the sleds through the snow themselves as the dogs were and his men became the first very weak and tired. people to go past the 80th A “man haul” in 2002. parallel – A century on and it is still where noa hard way to get about! one had ever gone before!

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A Difficult Journey

Cool Antarctica

Visit the South Pole The station uses three generators running on jet fuel to receive power. The old In the background of the image South Pole station is now of the South Pole at the foot of deeply buried in snow! this page, you can see DID YOU KNOW Amundsen-Scott Base. This The actual South Pole marker base is usually just called The is replaced once a year as it Dome and is run by the United moves about nine metres each States. year from the exact geographic

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Take a virtual tour of the South Pole:

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The South Pole is the southernmost point on the planet.

location of the pole.

WHY ISi IT SO? © ReadyEdPu b l i c a t o ns This movement occurs because What• happens ati the theo ice sheet away, f orr ev e w pur p s esflows on l y•

Dome?

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The Dome was built in 1975 and is a research station. Scientists from all around the world carry out research here, studying things like weather patterns, glacier formation, astronomy, geology and biology.

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taking the marker with it. There is a line of old markers that demonstrates how the ice has moved slowly over time.

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astro.uchicago.edu/caravtour/pole/

each summer. Most of the workers leave by March before winter starts as the weather conditions make research very difficult.

South Pole © Department of Defense, USA

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Cool Antarctica

The Antarctic Treaty

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To promote international cooperation in scientific research.

o c . che e r The treaty also states that o t r s supe r will not have any Antarctica

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Russia, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the United States of America led the pack, while other countries joined in later years. On 1 December , 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed by all of the countries. It was written in English, French, Russian and Spanish. 12

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WHO JOINED?

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WHAT IS A TREATY? For over fifty years, countries around the world have been working together to help protect all aspects of the earth’s A treaty is an agreement between environment. Countries can sign two or more countries. Each country treaties with other countries to that has signed a treaty must respect make sure they agree on how we the rules of the treaty. should care for the environment. What does the Many treaties exist between treaty mean? countries and these treaties The main aims of the Antarctic concern all aspects of the environment – animals, plants, Treaty include: ©theRlands, ead yEdPTo ub l i cat i ons the oceans, the ensure that Antarctica is atmosphere and even moon. used fore peaceful purposes •f o rr evthe i ew pur pos sonl y• One of the earliest treaties drawn only. up was the Antarctic Treaty of To make sure that Antarctica 1959. A total of twelve countries does not become the scene initially joined. of international conflict.

military bases, military operations or weapons testing. Nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste are also forbidden.

Cool Antarctica

Who Owns Antarctica? Britis h

r o e t s This picture Bobelow was taken r e p at McMurdoo Station in u k Antarctica. People from seven S contintents united together to

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Countries Working Together

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South Pole

form a human peace sign on the ice.

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Many countries around the Antarctica, unlike any other world have a base or research region in the world, has been station on Antarctica. ©aR ad EdP ubl i cat i ons divided up bite like ay cake! Scientists and researchers Imagine that the South Polep is u from these countries •f or r e vi ew r po ses onl ywork • at the centre of the cake and together to share information the slices all start at that about what they have found. point. Look at this map to get Some countries focus on a an idea of the size of each particular area of research. country’s claim. Australia and New Zealand DID YOU KNOW? have been involved in Antarctic research since 1957. Only seven of the countries that Antarctica’s land.

Human Peace Sign © Melanie Conner

o c . c e r have signed the h Antarctic e o t r s per Treaty have made a claim s onu

Cool Antarctica

Very Cool Plants Antarctica is mostly covered in ice, however some species of plants are able to grow on the coastal areas, particular on some of the islands.

very harsh centre of the continent. They are able to adapt to very extreme climates. These plants are possibly the coolest plants on the planet!

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u What typesS of plants are

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Cryptoendoliths (Crip-toeend-o-liths) are a combination Fungi, algae, lichens and of fungi and algae. They can mosses are about the only grow inside clear rock just a groups of plants that can few millimetres under the survive the cold conditions. surface. If enough light can These types of plants cover © ReadyEdP ub l i cat i othe ns shine through for some rocky areas near the cryptoendolith ton use, can f orr evi ew pu r poseso l yit• water’s• edge. survive for hundreds of years. Lichens (Like-enz) are found The plant creates a coloured all over Antarctica, even in the effect inside the rock. they?

ice. Some algae blooms in the summer months, giving whole snow banks a red orange, green or grey tinge. 14

Algae under the water. © AAD

o c . Algae (Al-gee) Snow che e r o algae has adaptedr to t s super growing in snow and even

Cool Antarctica

Freezing Flora MONSTER PLANTS

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Strangely enough, some people have sighted mushrooms growing on the regions around the ice edge. Mushrooms are a type of fungus and some of the ones that have been found on Antarctica are not found anywhere else in the world.

Well, these plants aren’t exactly monsters – in fact, The mosses, lichen and fungi they are very tiny – but that do manage to grow in check out their monster the area often give the names! Rae adyEdP ubl i cat i ons Antarctic© land reddish look.

f or evi ewcan pur po sesonl y• Some• types of r snow algae EXTREMOPHILE make the land look red, LIVERWORT yellow or green! LICHEN

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CRYPTOENDOLITH

Liverworts have been one of the first plants that was ever able to grow on land. They are very similar to mosses and are able to adapt to very dry conditions. The liverworts found on Antarctica can survive both freezing and drying! There are over 30 different types of liverworts found in the Antarctic region.

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Cool Antarctica

Antarctica’s Animal Life Animals that live on the land

the deaths of thousands of whales and seals in the Antarctic region. This meant that the whale and seal species in the area had numbers so low that they were in danger of becoming extinct. Today, international wildlife laws and the Antarctic Treaty protect the natural wildlife of Antarctica.

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largest animal that spends its entire life on the Antarctic continent. This animal is about the size of a fly.

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Well, it’s true! This is the Did you know that the largest land animal in Antarctica is the tiny wingless midge?

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The Antarctic Ocean is full of animal life. All of the marine animals have special adaptations that enable them to survive the icy cold temperatures and chilly winds.

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IT’S JUST TOO COLD! Most of Antarctica’s animal You won’t find any species are animals. ©notRland ead yEdPubl i cat i o ns land mammals Instead, they are known as lurking around o rr e vi ewaspur poseso nl y •the aquatic• marine orf animals icy slopes of they live near the water and Antarctica. spend a lot of their time in There are no land mammals or the water. reptiles that can survive Antarctica’s chilly environment. The animals that are found on the continent, such as sea

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birds and marine mammals, do not

spend their entire life on the land and are not known as land animals.

About 100 years ago, whaling was responsible for 16

Endangered Animals

Cool Antarctica

Meet the Marine Species Cool Krill

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Did you know that there are more krill than any other marine species in the Antarctic waters?

KILLER KRILL?

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Krill are tiny prawn-like creatures and are classified as cr ustaceans. crustaceans.

Krill play a very special role in the food chain. Most marine life in this region depend on krill as a staple food. Krill is also fished by several countries that market it as a protein-rich food.

Krill live on phytoplankton which are microscopic plants. During winter the Antarctic region is dark almost all of the time and low light conditions stop the plant process of photosynthesis where plants produce food and energy. This means that the amount of phytoplankton in the water is greatly reduced.

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The Food Chain Krill are found all over the world – not just in Antarctica waters. There are at least 85 species of krill swimming around Antarctica. Krill have a very important role in the food chain as they are a major food source for thousands of marine species. Many of the Antarctic marine animals depend on krill to survive.

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These unique sea animals are Re ady EdPubl i cat i ons thought © to use a range of special features to survive the •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• cold and lack of winter food.

SO WHAT DO KRILL EAT IN WINTER?

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Well, it is thought that the krill either shrink in size and use up their own bodies’ energy reserves, or become cannibalistic and eat other krill!

Cool Antarctica

Meet More Marine Species Squishy Squid

FISHY FEATURES There are thousands of fish species swimming around Antarctica. They usually have a number of special adaptations for cold temperatures.

centimetres to a whopping 18 metres! In fact, the largest invertebrate in the world is the giant squid. There are about 70 species of squid in the southern oceans. Animals such as the sperm whale and the albatross feast on squid – in fact, they rarely eat anything else!

The fish also have a reduced amount of haemoglobin (heema-glo-bin) in their blood compared to the fish of warmer waters. Haemaglobin is the substance that makes blood appear red. With a reduced amount, the blood is thinner and does not require as much of a fish’s energy to pump it around its body.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S These include:

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Squid also play a very important role in the Antarctic food chain. They are a very valuable food source for the larger marine life. They feed on krill and even phytoplankton. These animals are known as invertebrates which means they do not have a backbone. Krill are also invertebrates.

Building up supplies of special minerals in their bodies which work to decrease the temperature at which their bodies freeze.

Some fish have substances known as glycoproteins (gly-kopro-teens) which stop ice crystals forming.

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Squid, on the other hand, are able to eat about a third of their body weight almost every day. They eat mainly tiny fish and krill, and like the krill, they sometimes eat other squid!

Cool Antarctica

Wonderful Whales WHALES ON HOLIDAY! Many whale species migrate south to Antarctica for the summer. These include:

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Blue whales Minke whales Killer whales Fin whales Right whales Southern bottlenose whales Humpback whales Sei whales

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During summer, whales migrate to the cold waters of the Antarctic region, as the waters provide an excellent supply of plankton. During this time, they stock up on food and build up their blubber. Once the summer is over, whales return back to the warmer waters to breed, because in winter the Antarctic waters freeze over!

www .cybamuse.com/antarctica/whales.htm www.cybamuse.com/antarctica/whales.htm

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Minke Whale © AWI

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The Largest Mammal The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world and is though to be the largest animal to ever have existed, even including the dinosaurs. This whale can grow to a length of over 30 metres long and like most marine life of the region, it exists on a diet of krill. It has to eat a LOT of krill.

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©R ady Ed ubl i cat i ons It is because ofe whales that so P many ships travelled to the •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Antarctic region around 120 years ago, with several whalers being among the first to sight many of the islands off the Check out some amazing whale Antarctic mainland. pictures at this website:

Cool Antarctica

Super Seals There are simply thousands of seals swimming about in the oceans surrounding Antarctica. In fact, over half of the world’s seals live in this area.

Fur Seals

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There are six types of seals found around Antarctica:

fights with other seals that try to muscle in on their territory. For more cool seal images please visit:

www .cybamuse.com/antarctica/photos www.cybamuse.com/antarctica/photos . teElephant Seals o Ross Seals c . c e he r Weddell Seals o t r s s per Crabeater Seals u Fur Seals

Leopard Seals

Image courtesy of Microsoft Design Gallery

SIX SORTS OF SEALS

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Some seals, such as the Antarctic fur seal, are found mainly on the islands and the outer regions of the Antarctic Peninsula – anywhere below The seals spend most of their this region is too cold for the lives in the water feasting on seals to exist. Fur seals are krill, fish or squid and then named for their thick brown nest on the coastal regions. fur. They rarely grow much Some of the seals even prey taller than a metre and like to on penguins! Let’s have a move around on their flippers © R e a d y E d P ub l i c at i o sair. closer look at the six types of with their noses in n the seals found around •f o rr evi ew pu r p ose salso on l y• Fur seals are territorial Antarctica. and are prone to starting

Elephant Seals These massive seals are the largest of the Antarctic seal species. The southern elephant seal can grow up to three metres long and weigh a huge 800 kilograms.

Ross Seals

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Ross Seals © Patrick Boss

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These seals take their name from James Clark Ross, a commander in the British Navy, who spent four years exploring the Antarctic region. Strangely, it is the females that are the larger of the species, growing to lengths of about 2.5 metres. While many of the other seal types are quite similar in appearance, Ross seals stand out with their Elephant seals love lying around small head, short snout and © ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons doing absolutely nothing and small mouth. Unlike other • f ortogether r evi e w pur po se sonl y •also usually huddle for seals of Antarctica, they warmth. They have a very bad have very short hair and a body odour and are more than distinct streaked pattern on happy to lounge around on ice the sides of their neck and floes making odd noises and not throat which sometimes looks very nice smells. They feed on like the seal is wearing a krill, squid, fish and even small mask. sharks.

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Elephant Seal © Dr Ross Cameron, National Marine Mammal Lab, USA.

Cool Antarctica

Cool Antarctica Crabeater Seals

These seals actually live under the ice that surrounds the Antarctic coast. This keeps them safe from predators such as killer whales and leopard seals that find the region too cold.

These streamlined seals stand out with their dog-like nose. They feed on krill and have a thick layer of blubber that allows them to exist in the very cool waters of the south. Their main enemy is the leopard seal and many crabeater seals have the battle scars to prove it!

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Weddell Seals

. te o c James Weddell who visited . c e h r the area in 1820 and wrote e o t r s uper about these ice loving seals. s

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Weddell seals are found in the most southern waters of the earth and are the only seals that live permanently on the The crabeater seals often ©Antarctic ReadyEdP ubthemselves l i cat i on edge of the beach ons the ice continent. These seals can floes when they need a rest. • f o r r e v i e w p u r posesonl y• grow to weigh up to 140 Their large bodies make it kilograms and love to feed on rather awkward to move on squid, krill and even large fish. land and while they are certainly not the most graceful of the seal species, it is often DID YOU KNOW? said that they are the most Weddell seals are named beautiful. after a sealer called Captain

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that they would Yes, this is the otherwise be seal you’ve been hunting! Leopard waiting for! There seals hunt smaller are only two seals, small sharks Antarctic animal and also love to species that are hunt penguins. described as predators and you These seals live on guessed it, the the pack ice and ice leopard seal is edges around one of them. Growing up to Antarctica. They are described three metres in length, these as loners and it is even Re ady EdP ubl i c t i o nsseals ferocious© seals possess along unusual toa see leopard reptile-like neck and are with their own pups. In• fact, it •f o rr e vi ew pur po se so nl y possibly the ugliest seals in the is fairly rare that the pups are region. With their gaping jaws even seen! Not much is known and bladed teeth, they are about the young leopard seals, known as one of the most however, it is thought that they vicious mammals around. weigh about 30 kilograms Their only enemy is the other when they are born. Antarctic predator, the killer WANT TO SEE MORE? whale.

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Leopard Seal © Sally Gillies, 2002.

An Antarctic Killer: The Leopard Seal

o c . che e r Want to see more Antarctic marine o Because of their size, leopard t r s s r upe life? seals are unable to move very quickly on land and do most of their hunting in the water. It is quite common to see leopard seals happily resting on an ice floe with animals

Then check out these websites: www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/seals antarctica_seals1.htm

aku-aku.com/stock/antarctica-main.html

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Playful Penguins What is the first thing you think of when you think about Antarctica?

WINGS OR FLIPPERS? Penguins are amazing animals that have gradually adapted their features over many millions of years. Since they can’t fly, it seems only logical that their wings have developed into flippers proving far more useful! Penguins are excellent swimmers and move much more easily in water than they do on land.

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Penguins are found in great supply in the cold icy environment of the Antarctic waters. They live in colonies rookeries which are© known as ookeries. Re ad yEdP ubl i c at i ons Habitat Extremes! Some penguin species live in Did you know that f orr evNew i ew pu r p os eso nsome l y• Africa,• Australia and species of penguin live as far Zealand and some even live north as the Galapagos up north in hot climates. Islands near the equator? This However, there are no region has a completely penguins in the Northern different Hemisphere. climate to DID YOU KNOW? that of Antarctica and so the There are seven different types of penguins in those penguin found in the Antarctic hot regions have region: slightly different Emperor Gentoo features which Adelie King are more suited Chinstrap Macaroni to that Rockhopper environment.

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Galapagos Penguin © IMSI

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these unique flightless birds.

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r o e t s Bo r Is it ice? Is it the cold?e Or is it p ok the fascinating penguins? u S all about Read on to learn

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Penguins on Parade

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Penguins waddle about in an PENGUIN SPECIES awkward fashion and so walking is not their preferred method of getting around. Instead, they like to spend most of their time in the water. When they do walk, it is rather funny and There are 17 species of clumsy and many penguins prefer to penguin in the world. move along the ice by tobogganing How many have you which is where they slide down on heard of? the ice belly first – a true sight to Adelie behold and it certainly looks like a lot African of fun! Using their flippers to push Chinstrap ©penguins Read yEdtravel Publ i ca t i ons them, the can easily Emperor distances of up to 100 kilometres in •f orr evi ew pur poses onl y• Erect-crested this manner. Fairy (little blue)

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Fjordland-crested Galapagos Gentoo

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Adelie Penguins © COREL

Rockhopper Royal Snares Island Yellow-eyed

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Penguins – Special Features Feet eet:: Shaped like paddles and allow speedy movement through the water.

r o e t s Bo r e p okof blubber Blubber Blubber:: A layer u keeps penguins warm in the S cool temperatures.

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Penguins are known as excellent swimmers and are able to stay under water for many minutes at a time. They have adaptations that are suited to their aquatic environment:

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Camouflage Camouflage:: Penguins are white on their fronts with a Flippers Flippers:: Approximately 30 black back, making them centimetres long and allow hard to spot when in the the penguins to travel as fast water. As they swim on their as 24 kilometres an © Re ahour. dyEdP ubl i ca t i o ns bellies, from the top, the Scaly feathers :r feathers: Help black iss difficult to •f or evthe i ew pu r po eso nsee l yagainst • penguins to move faster in the the dark blue of the sea. From water. Their feathers are also below, the light belly is water resistant, which plays a camouflaged against the key factor in their survival in brightness of the sky. This the freezing waters of the colouring allows them to hide Antarctic. The feathers are from possible marine tightly packed and have a predators. coating of oil over the top that stops the cold water coming into contact with their bodies.

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Streamlined body body:: Allows for graceful movement through the water.

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Impressive Emperors These are the largest of the penguin species, reaching sizes of up to nearly 1.5 metres tall. Their scientific name is Aptenodytes forsteri forsteri.

Have a look at some beautiful Emperor penguins online at:

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about 350,000 Emperor penguins living in Antarctica. They spend nearly three quarters of their life in the freezing cold water. Brrrrrrr!

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S It is thought that there are

www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ creature_feature/0101/penguins.html

©R eaad yEd ubl i cat i ons This picture shows colony of P When Emperors huddle together to Emperor penguins with some •f orr evi ew pur po ses nl y• keep warm, theyo take turns moving penguin chicks. to the inside of the group. In the

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middle, they are sheltered from the freezing temperature and chilling winds. Once they’re warmed up, they head back out into the circle edge and let another penguin have a go in the hot spot!

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Notice the colourful neck yellow markings of the adult Emperor penguins. During the mating season the penguins display very bright markings.

COOL AND COSY!

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This is what happens:

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Emperor penguins are the only penguins that breed in the winter. The nesting process of this penguin is rather unique, with the male penguin playing a big part.

Emperor Breeding Season

The female of the couple leaves © the ocean for the Rea dy EdPubl i cat i ons shore at the start of the The male is in charge of •f o rr evi ew pur p osesonl y• Antarctic autumn. keeping the egg warm until

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An Emperor chick on the ice. © Image courtesy of NOAA

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it is ready to hatch. He cleverly rolls the egg onto his feet and covers it with all the rolls of fat on his belly. Then, he moves over to a larger group with other males who are standing around keeping their eggs warm.

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After laying one egg on the bare ice, she moves back into the water.

Cool Antarctica Next, it is the males turn to go hunting and after about three weeks they return with a supply of food.

r o e t s Bo r e Around this time, all p o u k of the penguins are S manoeuvred into a group

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The male walks with the egg carefully balanced on his feet. Once in a group, the male penguins all huddle together to keep warm and interestingly, none of them eat anything at this time.

called a crèche.

young penguins and are ready for the big cold world!

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An Emperor chick on the ice. © Image courtesy of NOAA

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Once the egg is hatched into The adults form a circle a chick, the male feeds the around them for warmth new penguin a milky liquid and are able to recognise that is produced in his their own chick through the throat.© Soon after the chicks Re ad yEdPu bl i ca t i o ns sounds that they make, in have hatched, the females much the same way a • f o r r e v i e w p u r p osesonl y• return to the colony to care human recognises a certain for them, bringing food with voice. After six months, the them. chicks have developed into

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Adorable Adelie Penguins

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o c . c e he r Adelie penguins feed mainly o t r s super on krill and like the Emperor penguins, they breed on land. In winter they move to warmer areas off the Antarctic continent. When we say warm though, it’s still VERY cold. 30

Image courtesy of NOAA

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Adelie penguins are mainly PENGUIN PERFECT MATCH found on the Antarctic Many of the birds, including Peninsula and surrounding penguins, that live in the islands, nesting near the shore Antarctic region are known in rookeries of up to a million to pair up and stay together penguins. A rookery is like a forever. Scientists have community. It is a nesting carried out studies over a colony where penguins breed period of 30 years and have and raise their young. “tagged” penguin couples. Penguins are not the only In some species there is a birds to live in rookeries. Many 100% rate of penguins other species such as rooks (a staying with the same mate. © R e a d y E d P u b l i c a t i o n s type of bird), crows, seals, There are over 2.5 million walruses sea lions also •and f or r e vi e w pur po e sopenguins nl y•in pairs ofs Adelie nest in rookeries. Antarctica.

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Cheeky Chinstraps

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There are literally millions of BIRD WATCHING Chinstrap penguins to be Biologists tag birds of each found on the ice of Antarctica species to check their and the surrounding regions growth rate over a certain such as the Shetland Islands time. Some birds, including and Seal Island. In fact, there penguins, are kept in are more chinstrap penguins special enclosures while than any other type of scientists study their penguin in Antarctica. Some breeding patter ns and colonies of chinstraps even behaviour. These studies live on icebergs in the middle allow scientists to keep of the ocean. of the bird © ReadyEdPtrack ubl i c at i opopulation ns

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numbers. By tagging the Chinstrap penguins have a •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• birds, scientists can study clear, thin, curved line of them at a distance without black feathers running under disrupting their daily lives. their chin, giving this species its funny name. Reaching as tall as 72 centimetres, the chinstrap penguins are known as the boldest of the penguins on Antarctica and are more likely to fight other penguins for food.

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Antarctic Birds of Prey

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Skuas © AWI

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Penguins are not the only Antarctic Skua birds you’ll find in Antarctica. This bird has a wing span of More than 40 kinds of birds up to 140 centimetres. Its spend summer flying over Antarctic land. These include, neck is orange in colour and the skua is darker towards the petrels, albatrosses and prions. These birds are mainly end of its body. Skuas do not nest. Instead, they lay their classified as sea birds. Land eggs on the ground and birds include cormorants, watch over them. gulls, skuas and terns. Skuas and giant petrels are predatory birds that hunt fish, penguin eggs and even ©R ea dyEdPubl i cat i ons abandoned penguin chicks! f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Giant• Petrel This enormous bird is the largest of the flying Antarctic birds, and is so massive that if THE SKUA MENU there is no These birds will feed on anything breeze, it they can get their beaks on! cannot Favourites include: take off! Adelie penguin eggs These Adelie chicks birds are Fish becoming very rare around the Antarctic region. There Human waste are only about 300 couples in Fly over to this site to view Antarctica, though there are some fantastic bird images: still plenty of petrels in other www.antarcticatours.com/birds.shtml parts of the world.

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Cool Antarctica

Learning About Antarctica All around the world, scientists are fascinated with Antarctica, with people wanting to know everything they can about the last discovered continent.

What happens at the research stations? Scientists find out plenty of amazing facts about lots of different things. Different countries sometimes concentrate on different topics.

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r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S research In 1957, a special

program was set up that allowed scientists from all over For example: the planet the chance to share The thickness of the ice their ideas about Antarctica. The quality of the soil More than 50 scientific Earthquake activities Gravity research stations were set up © R e a d y E d P u bl i ca t i on s layer The hole in the ozone including Australian and New Magnetism Zealand bases. Many ofw these •f orr evi e pur p os esonl y• The oceans stations were located on nearby Solar activity islands and still function today. Did you know that by learning more about the Antarctic atmosphere, scientists can devise ways that we can reduce further damage to the ozone layer.

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OZONE ALERT!

Weather patterns Temperature Air pressure Wind Animal life Plant life Minerals under the ground

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conditions above the ice all Studies involving the wildlife of year round. Antarctica play a significant Scientists study the Antarctic part of the research carried food web and ecosystem, © ReadyEdP ubl i cat i ons animal populations, animal migration and habitats. In •f orr evi ew pu r pose so nl y• addition to studies on animals, research also explores environmental aspects that impact on the out at the research stations. wildlife, such as pollution and Biologists and zoologists are the hole in the ozone layer. very interested to learn about the special adaptations that Antarctic animals have developed. These unique adaptations have enabled these animal species to survive in extremely harsh conditions for millions of years. Very few lifeforms are able to survive the harsh

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Animal Research

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There are over 40 permanent scientific bases and over 100 research stations on Antarctica. Most of these stations are found on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Research Stations

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Our Antarctica Bases Australia

AN ICY QUESTION

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Antarctica has no shortage of ice! But could we ever use it? Well, ice can be melted down to pure fresh water and you may have even heard the suggestion that icebergs could be towed from Antarctica to areas in the world that are desperately in need of fresh water. Sounds like a good idea, however, this would cost a small fortune.

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There are currently four Australian research stations. Mawson, Davis and Casey stations are found on the Antarctic mainland. Another base, Macquarie Island lies in the subAntarctic.

New Zealand © ReadyEdP ubl i cat i ons Scott named after •f orr evi ew pur poBase, ses onl y • • Australian Claim

Ross Ice Shelf

Scott Base

Ross Sea

New Zealand Claim (The Ross Dependency)

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You can have a look at exactly what is going on there by checking out this webcam.

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www.aad.gov.au/asset/webcams

Robert F. Scott, is the New Zealand base. It is located in an area of Antarctica called the Ross Dependency. The American base, McMurdo Station, is also in this area.

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Scientists at these bases are usually working on different projects and work with researchers from other bases. Most workers are only there for the summer period. At Scott Base, there are 30 staff in summer but only 10 stay on for the very cold and dark winter. 35

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Antarctica’s Land What do researchers know about Antarctica’s land?

cheaper for countries to buy their oil from other sources around the world.

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Natural Resources GEOLOGY Antarctica might look like a big Geology is the study of the earth and how giant ice block, but geologists it was formed. Geologists study minerals have often wondered about in the layers of the Earth’s crust. the possibility that there may Antarctic Minerals be supplies of coal and oil under all of that ice. Scientists have discovered that the layers of rock underneath Why? the ice could contain a Geologists have compared number of minerals. Antarctic land to similar These regions in© countries such Rea dyas EdP ubinclude: l i cat i ons New Zealand and Australia Copper Iron • f o r r e v i e w p u r p o s e s o nl y• and have also discovered some Nickel Cobalt coal deposits around the coast These minerals are likely to be of Antarctica. thousands of metres beneath There is not much chance that the ice and it would be very the area will ever be explored difficult to mine them! as it would be very expensive to set up a mine because the layers of ice are so thick. It is

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Protecting the Environment Mining

Wildlife

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Zealand, the introduction of many species has meant that some native species have now become endangered. Over 200 years ago, when early settlers brought rabbits, rats, cats and dogs to our shores, they did not know that many of these animals would become predators (hunters) of many of the native species. These “new” animals would also take the native animals’ food sources. Today, we know that taking other animals to Antarctica would mean trouble for the range of animal species that live there.

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In 1989, a special agreement The Madrid Protocol also says was signed by many countries that no species should ever be which meant that mining was taken to Antarctica other than not allowed in Antarctica. This humans. When the special agreement is known as agreement started, it meant the Madrid Protocol and was that all husky dogs had to be signed by the countries who removed. When animal or have signed the Antarctic plant species are ”introduced” Treaty. This agreement means to other lands, it can upset the that minerals can only be balance of the ecosystem and used for scientific research cause problems for native eadshould yEdP ubl i c at i ons and that© no R damage species. The native species be done to the Antarctic are thes animals and plants • f o r r e v i e w p u r p o e s o n l y • environment. that have always been found there, e.g. penguins, seals GOING, GOING ... GONE and sea birds. In Australia and New

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Cool Living! People usually r o e t s r fly to Bo e p ok Antarctica, u S however, supplies and

Image courtesy of NOAA

How does stuff get to Antarctica?

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It is very easy to get to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand and so most scientists generally spend a short time there only. Hardly any of the workers stay over during winter as it is extremely cold with no sunlight at all – the sky is pitch black even at lunchtime!

equipment usually get there by ship. The ships have to travel there in summer after the sea ice is all broken up.

In summer, however, the The Polar Bird is the main continent can be home to Australian supply ship. It is © R e a d y E d P u b l i c a t i o n s over 5000 people from all also used by other countries over the world. •f orr evi ew pu r p oses on l y• as a supply ship. Sometimes

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Some of the bases on Antarctica have buildings which are a lot like giant freezers except they are designed to keep the heat in and the cold out. They are made of steel and have a special foam casing, which acts as an insulator insulator. Many buildings are actually sitting off the ground, which allows the snow to blow underneath.

Navy planes, such as Hercules planes, are also used to bring supplies to Antarctica. They land on a sea ice runway.

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the ship can get trapped in the ice pack and needs rescuing by another cargo ship.

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Getting About HAGGLUND

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Would you believe at night, hagglunds and skidoos need © ReadyEdP u b l i c a t i o n s to be plugged into electric •f orr evi ew pur pos es otheir nl y • heaters to stop engines SKIDOO from freezing?

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Like hagglunds, these smaller vehicles are tracked, however, they can seat only two people. They can be used on snow or ice and most of the locals call them “tin dogs”. They are often used to tow sledges.

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These vehicles were designed in Sweden and have tracks similar to a bulldozer, which help them to move through the snow. They can carry up to 14 people.

After people arrive in Antarctica on the sea ice runway, they generally travel to their base in a four-wheel drive truck. Scientists travel by helicopter and fixed-wing planes when they need to reach remote locations such as the South Pole.

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Ivan the Terra Bus! travel about on hagglunds, ra bus No, it’s actually a ter terra bus. quads and skidoos. Quads “Terra” means land so this can only carry one person, bus can travel over the icy however, they can also take terrain. It has special tracks © R e a d y E d P ubl i cat i ons up to 90 kilograms of cargo on its monster-sized tyres. on the racks. f ocan rr e vi e u r p ocarry ses onl y• These • buses carry upw to p FIRE! 56 people and are a good We don’t normally think of fires way to transport people who when we talk about Antarctica, but have arrived by plane on the did you know that the American ice runway to the base at base, McMurdo Station has its own fire department? McMurdo Station. There are This is a picture of the official fire only a few of these unique vehicle which has already been put vehicles in the world.

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Is it an Ice Bus?

o c . e At the Australianc and New her r o t s super Zealand bases, most people

to good use putting out fires caused by furnace explosions.

QUAD

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Daily Life

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Some people find it difficult to sleep with the light, but their body soon warms to the idea. Most huts have curtains and shutters that can be pulled over to keep out most of the light. In winter, it’s the opposite and it’s like night time ALL day.

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Want to know what it is like to Frozen Food stay and work in Antar ctica? Antarctica? Because there Read on … are no market Sleeping in the Daylight gardens or Imagine that it is 10 o’clock at farms anywhere to be seen, all fresh night. You are finishing up after a hard day’s work in the produce has to be flown in from Australia and New freezing snow. You go to your Zealand. For long field trips, living quarters and get ready for bed, except it is bright and scientists usually eat dehydrated and freeze-dried sunny outside with absolutely foods. There are always plenty no sign of dark. You ©getting Rea dyEdP u bl i cthat at i on s to be of snacks are able feel like a midnight snack and stored easily, such as •out f othe rr evi ew ur pos eso nl y• looking window, youp chocolate bars, crackers and see it still looks like daylight. packets of soup. When you wake up in the morning, it looks just like it SCARY SUN! did at midnight! At the South Pole during summer the sun NEVER sets. The sun’s rays are so intense that you cannot go outside without wearing special UV protective sunglasses. Without these sunnies, you will sunburn your eyes or even suffer snow blindness. Ouch!

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Check out Live from Antarctica quest.arc.nasa.gov/antarctica2 41

Away from the Base People leave the base during the day to work at various spots around Antarctica and return to the base later to write up their findings.

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overnight away from the base. Some research sites have field ANTARCTICA IN THE OLD DAYS huts which keep the workers protected from the cold and If you think it sounds hard to live on Antarctica, think about what it snow. Many of the huts have would have been like before all of basic gas stoves for cooking today’s cons! © ReadyEdP ubmod l i c at i ons and keeping warm. However, There were no gas stoves or heaters people had to stay in l Antarctica sometimes there are no huts •f o rr ev i e w puand r p os es on y• for a long time as it was difficult to and so the workers must set get to and from the region. These up camp and sleep in tents. days people can jump on a plane and The tents are specifically be there in a couple of hours, if travelling from New Zealand. designed for these freezing temperatures, and with a thick foam mattress, what more could you want?

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A raised base building at the South Pole Image courtesy of NOAA

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Beating the Cold People working in Antarctica have to overcome a number of big problems when they first arrive on the continent. The main issue is dealing with the cold!

Hypothermia

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Hypothermia (Hi-po-ther-meeuh) occurs when the body temperature drops to below normal. The normal body temperature is 37° Celsius. If A lot of the research being the body temperature drops to done by scientists is about around 34° C, there is a very trying to find out how the high risk of dying, as the body human body can deal with the is not able to survive at this freezing temperatures. temperature.

© ReadyEdP ubl i ca t i ons Arctic and Antarctic mammals have as layer to Antarctica is r ae continent •f or vi ewofpur po esofoblubber nl y• keep them warm. Humans, however, do not have dense fur coats or layers of insulation to keep them warm in freezing conditions. They must wear plenty of protective clothing to stop their bodies from losing heat.

. te o c EFFECTS OF HYPOTHERMIA . c e handr r Heat loss from heade neck o t s super Numbness Waxy feeling in fingers and toes Pale skin Non-stop shivering Weakness Tense muscles

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extremes. Despite being the coldest continent on earth, it is also the driest. As if this isn’t bad enough, it experiences days of 24 hours of sunlight in summer and 24 hours of darkness in winter!

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she must take a survival pack with them. This pack contains tents and even stoves. Workers are also shown how to dig out shelters to protect them from the winds and falling snow.

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People working in Antarctica usually take part in special training programs as soon as they arrive on the land. During this training, workers are taught how to survive on the continent and how to deal with emergency situations.

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During this time workers are shown how to use their survival pack. Each time a worker leaves the base, he or A temporary shelter from the wind. © Seth White

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One of the programs that American researchers at McMurdo Station are put through is a class that teaches ©R ea dyEdPubl i cat i ons snow survival skills. Basically, this class shows people how to •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• survive if they find they are caught in the snow SURVIVING THE SNOW unexpectedly.

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some research and then find that the snow can blow in and stop the helicopter from coming back to pick you up.

Or your vehicle might break down and bad weather may stop people being able to look for you. 44

Snow School

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Living in a Remote Area

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Have you ever wondered In the past, working in about how hard it would be to Antarctica could live thousands of kilometres be a very lonely from the nearest shop? In time and workers Antarctica, there are no had to stay there hospitals or even a flying for weeks on end with little doctor service to help in an communication with the outside world. emergency. In today’s world, the Internet, satellite Living in Isolation communication and other modern The people who are stationed technology is available and people can usually stay in touch with their loved in Antarctica for work are chosen by organisations such ones on a weekly or even daily basis. © Rea dyEdPubl i cat i ons as the Australian Antarctic THINGS YOU MIGHT SEE Division and the New Zealand •f orr evi ew pur po se nl y• AND DOs INo ANTARCTICA Antarctic Program. Antarctica is a long way from home and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) – An ever changing light these departments try to show in the sky. choose workers who they think will be able to cope with the Ice fishing – Studying how fish survive in supercold water and harsh physical and catching a few ugly Antarctic mental conditions. cod on the way! The workers that Seal songs – Sometimes you can are most likely to hear seals under the ice singing go to Antarctica their songs. are people who Rainbow clouds mark the are happy to beginning of the Antarctic work by spring. themselves.

Cool Antarctica

Antarctic Slang Check out these words and phrases and have a guess at what you think they might refer to. Then try and work out what the penguins below are talking about: A-factor Greenout Scradge City mice Winterover Helo Tin dog Boomerang Chinese landing Pit and pitroom

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Slang words usually develop when a community exists in isolation. We all know about Aussie slang and Kiwi slang, but did you know that there is also Antarctic slang?

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When people live in isolation, sooner or later they will come ©own Re adywords EdPubl i cat i ons up with their special to describe place •f oarthing, r evi ew ofpur posesonl y• feeling particular to the region they are living in.

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Check the back page of this book for a guide to Antarctic slang.

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I was on a boomerang the other day! When we finally arrived it was a Chinese landing. Am off to hang with the city mice for a winter over. The scradge is still terrible but at least my pit is warm, Can’t wait for the helo to pick me up.

Me too. I am going to miss hooning around on the tin dog. But I am looking forward to a total greenout!

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An Antarctic Winter After February, Antarctica settles in for an icy cold winter and temperatures can reach as low as minus 70° Celsius. That is extremely cold!

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A small ofv staff tough •number f orr e i ew pur posesonl y• it out in what is called a winterover. These brave researchers have to put up The only light comes from the with the cold and dark and moon and stars. The air outside is are virtually cut off from the so cold it can even hurt to outside world. Thanks to ebreathe. OUCH! mail, they are able to communicate with other bases and also with their families at home.

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There’s not a whole lot to do during this time and most workers remain on the continent just to keep the bases operating. It is almost impossible to go outside as Most workers leave the continent at this time. The last the temperatures are so cold. ship leaves around mid NEVER-ENDING NIGHT Once an Antarctic winter sets in February and planes are things become very dark. In the unable to land after this time. middle of winter there are at least six long weeks of total darkness – No ships or planes can return no sunlight at all. The first ray of to the region until at least doesn’t hit Antarctica again © ReadyEdPsunlight u b l i ca t i ons September. until around mid-August!

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Ice Crusher

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At the end of winter, around an hour. This can turn the sea late August, ships start to into a giant obstacle course bring new supplies to with enormous blocks of ice Antarctica. The water scattered about and surrounding Antarctica is still monstrous waves crashing to very icy and may even be really shake things up! frozen. An ice breaker ship STUCK! has a special “icestrengthened” hull which is able to crush the ice to clear a path for tankers and other cargo ships. The hull is designed to crush huge Inu November 2000, the Australian eacan dy E bl i ca t i o n s chunks of© ice R which be atdP Antarctic supply ship, the Polar least 2.5 metres thick. The •f orr evi ew pur po ses oninl y • Bird, became trapped Antarctic ship’s propellers turn the ice ice for a month. It was eventually into a slushy mush. able to break free after the icy winds died down and the ice pack Most ships stock up on drifted away leading the ship to supplies from either Tasmania clear water. or New Zealand. Then it’s on One of the most famous Antarctic to a difficult journey, where shipwrecks occurred in January, gusty winds can reach speeds 1915 when Antarctic explorer, of more than 100 kilometres Ernest Shackleton’s ship

o c . che e r Enduranceo was trapped in the ice t r s supe r of the Weddell Sea. The ship was

Image courtesy of NOAA

one day away from its destination when the temperature dropped dramatically. The loose ice that surrounded the ship froze around it like cement! The ship finally broke up and sank below the ice in November, 1915.

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Aurora Australis These are known as A urora Borealis and can be seen only in northern skies at the very north of Europe and also Northern Canada. Like the southern lights, they appear between 100 and 1000 kilometres in the sky.

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called the Southern Lights and Re adyEdPubl i cat i ons are most© clearly viewed from the South Pole, although some •f o rr evi ew pur p osesonl y• In Greenland, people thought parts of southern Australia and that they were the spirits of New Zealand can also children who had died at birth. experience the show. Auroras In Europe they were seen as an occur in Antarctica when bursts omen for disaster! of energy from the sun merge with gases in the earth’s atmosphere, creating rainbow streaks of beautiful colours. Once the sun returns to the sky, Antarctic residents are treated to another fantastic display. When the sunlight strikes ice crystals in the clouds the crystals act like prisms, breaking up the light into rainbows.

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Long ago in Canada, people thought these lights were the ghosts of warriors continuing their battles in the heavens.

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NORTHERN LIGHTS

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One highlight of an Antarctic winter, is the brilliant light ora display known as the Aur Aurora Australis Australis. These lights are also

Cool Antarctica

First Light It is about the time of the rainbow clouds that the first plane makes its way back to

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The first time the sun can be seen is always a highlight for winterovers who have been sitting out the cold and dark, Antarctica the © the Re adyEdP ubl i cfor at i osummer. ns looking after bases. The plane will carry basic •f orr evi ew pu r pose sonl y• supplies, packages from loved WINTER WORRIES ones, new equipment and The extreme cold is most of all, new people for the the biggest worry! summer season. The winter Workers have to put workers are very happy! on up to 20 kilograms

The First Plane

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Once the sun returns to the sky, Antarctic residents are treated to another fantastic display. When the sunlight strikes ice crystals in the clouds, the crystals act like prisms, breaking up the light into rainbows.

. t e o The air outside is so cold that c . sneezes and otherc things freeze e hyour r o in mid-air! In fact, have e ever t s su er snotsicle wondered what a “snotsicle snotsicle” is? p of clothing just to go outside.

And in winter, the air is so cold and dry that there is nothing to smell. Even if you are cooking it’s hard to smell the food.

Think about it ...

Cool Antarctica

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Antarctica’s amazing scenery, international air traffic control, colourful sunsets and it is a very risky flight. Many fascinating wildlife make it a pilots have been caught in fascinating tourist attraction. blizzards and whiteouts, However, only a few lucky which occur when the pilots people have been able to are unable to clearly experience wonders ofE distinguish between the snow©the Re adydP ubl i ca t i ons Antarctica as a holiday capped mountains and the •f orr evi ew pur pos essky. on l y• destination. snowy white When a Tour groups have been set up crash has taken place, it has been extremely difficult for by commercial companies any search and rescue who run cruises along the coasts. Some cruises are able missions to take place due to to provide excursions to some the hostile weather and conditions. of the research stations that are on the coast. Tourists have also been flying over the region in the last few decades, particularly over the Antarctic Peninsula. However, since there is no

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Antarctica: A Travel Destination?

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Tourism in Antarctica Many people believe that tourism could be a really good idea for Antarctica. They say that the beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife has so much to offer and that it is worthwhile developing the area for boatloads and planeloads of tourists each summer.

Effect on the Environment

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The best way to view Antarctica is by ship, which has little impact on the continent’s delicate ecosystem. Most tourists travel to Antarctica on cruise ships leaving from Chile or Argentina.

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the harsh environment. However, people have been warned that this is a very risky idea and that there is little chance of a rescue mission if there is an emergency. Many people have even arrived to tackle the icy slopes without bringing proper equipment or learning about the area they are going to explore.

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If Antarctica was turned into a travel destination, there would be a great effect on the land as well as the animal life. Already, penguin nesting has been shown to be affected by human contact. While some tourists do make their way to Antarctica, there is no real ANTARCTIC ADVENTURERS Many mountaineers system of government in place all-round to keep law and order. At © Rand e a d y E d P ubl i cat i ons adventurers from present the only people that over the world, live on are •f orall r e vi ew pu r p oAntarctica seson l ymainly • have travelled to scientists, researchers and Antarctica to test government officials. themselves against

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An Antarctic Tragedy WHITEOUT!

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The snow-capped volcano with the snow and glaciers behind it, made the mountain very difficult for the pilots to see.

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On the 28 November, 1979 a scenic return flight to Antarctica ended in tragedy when a plane crashed into Mt Erebus in Antarctica, killing 237 passengers and 20 crew members. A United States Navy plane later discovered the wreckage of Air New Zealand Flight 901.

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The plane had disappeared from radar screens and many people were still hopeful that it was just lost.

Image courtesy of NOAA.

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However, it soon became clear that the plane would In Antarctica, it can be have run out of fuel after a extremely difficult to © ReadyEdP ubl i cat i o sA certain amount ofn time. distinguish between the sky rescue mission found and the especially •mountains, f orr ev i ew pur pos esolater nl y • the wreckage site with no in bad weather conditions. survivors. The plane crashed into the side of Mt Erebus, which is an Shortly after, a 1.5 metre wooden cross was erected active volcano over 3790 near the crash site as a metres high. Flying through memorial to those who lost thick cloud-cover, the plane hit the mountain at more than their lives. 550 kilometres per hour, in what was described as a whiteout..

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Antarctica Online Antarctic Almanac www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/almanac.html

r o e t s Bo r e www.mawson.sa.gov.au/ie.htm p ok The Polar Bird u Supply Ship S www.newzeal.com/steve/Ships/polarbird.htm Shackleton’s Voyage of Endurance www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/ Images: Endurance Shipwreck

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In the Footsteps of Sir Douglas Mawson

www.shackleton-endurance.com/images.html

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/almanac.html

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Warnings From the Ice www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/

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Image courtesy of NOAA.

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www.coolantarctica.com

Cool Antarctica

A Guide to Antarctic Slang Big eye – Insomnia (unable to sleep) caused by changes in the length of daylight.

r o e t s Bo r e p Boomerango – A flight to u k Antarctica that turns back S

E.g. It will probably take us an hour to walk

before it gets there as a result of poor weather conditions at the landing site.

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A-F actor – Refers to the -Factor Antarctic Factor. This means that when you take into account the A-Factor, the task is going to be much more difficult than it would be in say Australia or New Zealand.

Bunny boots – Boots designed Airdrop – Cargo and personal for extremely cold weather. They are large, white and items are dropped from ©theRworkers. eady EdP ubbut l i c at i nsof real plain with ao layer planes for During rabbit fur insulation. a winter over (see below) •f or r ev i ewthispur pos efor so nl y• Sometimes called mukluks mukluks. can be a big highlight of the winter. Chinese landing – A play on the words “one wing low”. This term is used to describe the unusual aircraft angle when landing in stiff Antarctic cross winds.

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there with the A-factor.

o c . workers che e City mice –r Support o t r s supe r who only work at the main

stations.

Countr Countryy mice – Scientists and their assistants who get to travel to camps around Antarctica. 55

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Dingle – When Antarctica Mukluks – Canadian cold has good weather, e.g. on a weather boots issued by the dingle day it’s time to get your British and Australian boots on and go out in the governments. They are cream sunshine to play. in colour with a very thick sole and a wool felt liner. Dome slug slugs – People who live and work in the central Munch – Dried meat United States Dome base at granules. Sounds bad but this the South Pole station. is a common part of the winter diet when there is no Doo – Short for skidoo; the two-person vehicle for getting fresh meat available. about. Pit / pitroom – Bed / bedroom. Five hundred club – Those Sawdust – dehydrated workers who have been cabbage. © R e a d y E d P ubl i cat i ons staying in Antarctica for more Scradge – food (as in tucker). •f orr evi ew pu r p os saffectionate onl y• than 500 days. Tin dog –e An Freshies – Fresh fruit and name for a skidoo. vegetables brought in by air or Winterovers – Any one who ship. stays on an Antarctic base for Greenout – The emotion felt the whole of the winter. when people see “green” things again after a bleak winter, e.g. plants and fresh fruit. Helo – Helicopter. Ice, (the Ice) – A nickname for Antarctica. Manhaul – A sledging trip where the sledge is pulled by people rather than vehicles.