Animal Life
Leopard seals have brown skin and are silver underneath it’s slippery body it has very sharp teeth and vary long teeth. It has a powerful jaw so it can rip off big pices of flesh. They are the second biggest animals in Antarctica. They can hunt down almost everything in Antarctica because they hunt in groups but will not eat its food if too small. It has strong eyesight and smell so it can track down its food easier but is earless. They are a very fast swimmer. Its main food is a penguin.
They have to try and keep their food away from the killer whales but some of the leopard seals do go because the leopard seals are the killer whales main food. Their breeding time is November to December.
Leopard seals can be very dangerous. So they can spot things.
Killer whales have black colored skin with white spots just after their very small eyes. It has big tail but has bad eyesight. They have around seventy centimeter long teeth and have a lot of teeth. It is
Almost the smallest whale but is so fierce that still hunts down a blue whale. It is the only whale in the dolphin family. It is not in danger so they live for a while. The males can grow to around seven meters long and the females can grow up to five meters. The calves can grow to around two and a half and weigh three hundred to four hundred pounds.
They hunt in groups of around a hundred. The father swims in the outside while the mothers swim in the centre with their calves. They mainly hunt seals but if they spot a penguin they will eat it to.
A Killer whale is dangerous to humans and is a very fierce so be careful.
Salmon sharks have smooth brown skin and silver colored smooth skin underneath the body. It grows up to ten feet long. It almost as nine pounds of strong muscle to make able to reach up to fifty miles per hour. It will die if it stopped moving so it has heat-giving muscles to help it stay alive from the icy cold water. It is deadly to Antarctica because it eats a lot of the most special food so the supplies go down for the animals that eat fish and squid witch is cold blooded so it is harder to stay alive with out freezing to death. Salmon sharks have no recorded strikes at humans that have been recorded so it doesn’t attack humans.
Salmon sharks have a lot of speed so it can hunt down its food easier then if it didn’t have another speed.
The animals are all dying because of us humans and if we don’t act fast all of the animals will go extinct. That’s why we need to stop the pollution going in the sea because all of the pollution is being carried.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
human impact
HUMAN IMPACT ON ANTARCTICA
Antarctica is often thought of as a pristine land untouched by human disturbance.
People in Antarctica let out sewerage and rubbish and these can poison the animals. If there is too much pollution, animals can die and if this continues the species will become extinct.
Hunting is another way that species can become extinct. Over hunting of whales and seals has caused these animals to become almost extinct in Antarctica.
There are also planet wide effects on Antarctica. Global warming has contributed to the melting of the ice shelves. The reduction of the ozone layer and global contamination has also effected the Antarctica environment causing effects on the ability of animals to survive.
Over fishing of the region can cause a large environmental impact. Over fishing can destroy forever, the fishing habitat and ruin the food chain of many of the animals. Excessive fishing will eventually lead to the extinction of fishing colonies and fish species.
Human visitors, scientists and tourists that travel to Antarctica all have an effect on the environment. They have the potential to harm the area if they leave waste and rubbish that is harmful to the flora and fauna of the region.
Long-line fishing can be very harmful. This technique of fishing often means that fish that are not targeted, are taken inadvertently and this can lead to the loss of non-target species.
Although human presence in Antarctica can have an impact, the environment is also able to tolerate some disturbances. It is when the disturbances become excessive that sometimes damage is done that can never be reversed. All environments can cope with some human impact.
It is necessary to carefully measure the impact to find out if the environment is being harmed in a way that it will be destroyed forever.
Waste that enters the waters off any country (such as Australia) that is close to Antarctica can have an effect. All countries should be careful of the wastes that are put into the oceans as these can all spread through the waters, anywhere around the world.
Globally, anything in the air or water can travel to Antarctica and it is up to all countries to make sure that globally environments are looked after and this will help preserve the land and environment of Antarctica.
Antarctica is often thought of as a pristine land untouched by human disturbance.
People in Antarctica let out sewerage and rubbish and these can poison the animals. If there is too much pollution, animals can die and if this continues the species will become extinct.
Hunting is another way that species can become extinct. Over hunting of whales and seals has caused these animals to become almost extinct in Antarctica.
There are also planet wide effects on Antarctica. Global warming has contributed to the melting of the ice shelves. The reduction of the ozone layer and global contamination has also effected the Antarctica environment causing effects on the ability of animals to survive.
Over fishing of the region can cause a large environmental impact. Over fishing can destroy forever, the fishing habitat and ruin the food chain of many of the animals. Excessive fishing will eventually lead to the extinction of fishing colonies and fish species.
Human visitors, scientists and tourists that travel to Antarctica all have an effect on the environment. They have the potential to harm the area if they leave waste and rubbish that is harmful to the flora and fauna of the region.
Long-line fishing can be very harmful. This technique of fishing often means that fish that are not targeted, are taken inadvertently and this can lead to the loss of non-target species.
Although human presence in Antarctica can have an impact, the environment is also able to tolerate some disturbances. It is when the disturbances become excessive that sometimes damage is done that can never be reversed. All environments can cope with some human impact.
It is necessary to carefully measure the impact to find out if the environment is being harmed in a way that it will be destroyed forever.
Waste that enters the waters off any country (such as Australia) that is close to Antarctica can have an effect. All countries should be careful of the wastes that are put into the oceans as these can all spread through the waters, anywhere around the world.
Globally, anything in the air or water can travel to Antarctica and it is up to all countries to make sure that globally environments are looked after and this will help preserve the land and environment of Antarctica.
Geographical feartures of antarctica
Geographical Features
In Antarctica their are major geographical features of icebergs,glaciers,iceshelfs megadunes,stations,and more geographical features of Antarctica.
Antarctica is completely covered in ice that can grow/shrink by 13% of its total mass due to ice melting and refreezing.Antarctica can have winters that last up to 6 months because the pole is affected by 22.2 and 24.5 degree tilt.So when the earth rotates it doesn't rotate out of its shadows.Antarctica is desolate and has little evidence of supporting plant life,the only things that have been found are moss and frozen algae.
The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of antarctica, (an area of roughly
478 000km2 and about 800km across, about the same size of spain). It is several meters thick.The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than 600km long, between 15 and 50 meters high above the waters surface.
In winter in Antarctica the waters surrounding it freezers over.A salty kind of ice called sea ice stretches out over the surface,so it is making the continent much much larger.
98% Percent of the land is covered with an ice sheet. 2% of the land is barren rock which is very hard.In Antarctica along with the barren rock their are huge volcanoes ,the only active volcanoe is called Mount Erebus on Ross Island ,it is a very large lava lake.
The Antarctic circle is an imaginary circle at 66 degrees south.On a midsummers day in the southern hemisphere,the sun does not set within the Antarctic circle. On a midwinters day the sun does not set at all.
To consider building locations ,lifestyles ,the distance between buildings and the topgraphical of settlements they stay.When the scientist go to Antarctica they stay at a base,this is where they store all information and studies.
Their are not alot of plants that can survive in Antarctica, due to it being so cold.
Some plants that can survive are, fungi, algae, liches and mosses. These plants cover some of the area near the waters edge on large rocks.
In Antarctica their are major geographical features of icebergs,glaciers,iceshelfs megadunes,stations,and more geographical features of Antarctica.
Antarctica is completely covered in ice that can grow/shrink by 13% of its total mass due to ice melting and refreezing.Antarctica can have winters that last up to 6 months because the pole is affected by 22.2 and 24.5 degree tilt.So when the earth rotates it doesn't rotate out of its shadows.Antarctica is desolate and has little evidence of supporting plant life,the only things that have been found are moss and frozen algae.
The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of antarctica, (an area of roughly
478 000km2 and about 800km across, about the same size of spain). It is several meters thick.The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than 600km long, between 15 and 50 meters high above the waters surface.
In winter in Antarctica the waters surrounding it freezers over.A salty kind of ice called sea ice stretches out over the surface,so it is making the continent much much larger.
98% Percent of the land is covered with an ice sheet. 2% of the land is barren rock which is very hard.In Antarctica along with the barren rock their are huge volcanoes ,the only active volcanoe is called Mount Erebus on Ross Island ,it is a very large lava lake.
The Antarctic circle is an imaginary circle at 66 degrees south.On a midsummers day in the southern hemisphere,the sun does not set within the Antarctic circle. On a midwinters day the sun does not set at all.
To consider building locations ,lifestyles ,the distance between buildings and the topgraphical of settlements they stay.When the scientist go to Antarctica they stay at a base,this is where they store all information and studies.
Their are not alot of plants that can survive in Antarctica, due to it being so cold.
Some plants that can survive are, fungi, algae, liches and mosses. These plants cover some of the area near the waters edge on large rocks.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Explorers Of History
Explorers and History
Over 7000 tourists have visited Antarctica since 1990.
The early explorers carried tinned, salted and dried food. They also ate fish, seals, penguins, huskies, even their horses.
Early buildings on Antarctica were made from timber and were very cold.
Early expeditions used pyramid tents, which were are suited for windy conditions.
In the early days, explores were unable to communicate with their support base or the out side world.
Until the late 50s there was little co-operation between nations exploring Antarctica and some conflict over territorial claims.
However most nations agreed that future scientific exploration of Antarctica required international co-operation.
In 1957-1958 12 nations built 50 research bases.
A timeline of what happened I Antarctica:
1773 cook first crossing Antarctic circle.
Carsten Borchgrevink was first to set foot on Antarctica.
1820 continent first sighted.
1821 first landing on continent
James Weddle discovered the Weddle Sea in 1841.
1898 Belgica expedition began.
1899 first winter over
1902 Discovery expedition.
Amundsen was first to make it back in 1911.
1928 first flight in Antarctica
1929 first flight over the South Pole
1957 first South Pole station completed
1978 first birth in Antarctica.
1979 dc-10 crash Mount Erebus
1998 new South Pole station started
1999 South Pole doctor rescued
Over 7000 tourists have visited Antarctica since 1990.
The early explorers carried tinned, salted and dried food. They also ate fish, seals, penguins, huskies, even their horses.
Early buildings on Antarctica were made from timber and were very cold.
Early expeditions used pyramid tents, which were are suited for windy conditions.
In the early days, explores were unable to communicate with their support base or the out side world.
Until the late 50s there was little co-operation between nations exploring Antarctica and some conflict over territorial claims.
However most nations agreed that future scientific exploration of Antarctica required international co-operation.
In 1957-1958 12 nations built 50 research bases.
A timeline of what happened I Antarctica:
1773 cook first crossing Antarctic circle.
Carsten Borchgrevink was first to set foot on Antarctica.
1820 continent first sighted.
1821 first landing on continent
James Weddle discovered the Weddle Sea in 1841.
1898 Belgica expedition began.
1899 first winter over
1902 Discovery expedition.
Amundsen was first to make it back in 1911.
1928 first flight in Antarctica
1929 first flight over the South Pole
1957 first South Pole station completed
1978 first birth in Antarctica.
1979 dc-10 crash Mount Erebus
1998 new South Pole station started
1999 South Pole doctor rescued
Monday, June 1, 2009
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