What
are the native land mammals of Antarctica? (Hint: that was a
trick question). Do you know what Nanatuks are? Being the coldest
place on Earth, who chooses to live there and why? Did you realize
that if you use rainfall as a measure, Antarctica is by definition
a desert? How in the world can a place virtually covered with
ice be considered a desert?
Did you know that
- whenever an aurora borealis (Northern Lights) occurs at
the North Pole, its mirror twin occurs as the aurora australis
at the South Pole?
- the ice is nearly 3 miles deep in some places?
- there really IS a pole at the South Pole and it's moving?
- it's actually possible to photograph a mirage in Antarctica?
- the name Antarctica means "opposite to the Arctic"?
Take this field trip and learn about Antarctica- the coldest,
driest, highest, windiest continent!
Objectives
- Students will learn about plate tectonics.
- Students will learn about the Antarctic climate and how
changes can affect planet Earth.
- Students will learn about glaciers and ice movement.
- Students will learn about how the variety of scientific
research efforts that are conducted in Antarctica.
- Students will learn about the flora and fauna of Antarctica
- Students will be introduced to the "government"
of Antarctica
Concepts
- How one distant continent can affect the global climate
- How the Antarctic environment provides for the species
it can support
- Antarctic ice contains much of the world's fresh water-
why could this be significant?
Terms
To Learn
altitude
Antarctic Treaty
aurora australis
biodiversity
biome
climate
conservation
continent
crevasse
expedition
exploitation
extinct
geology
glacier
global warming
habitat
iceburg
ice sheet
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International Geophysical Year
Katabatic winds
krill
native species
nunatak
ozone depletion
plankton
plate tectonics
polar
polar cap
precipitation
south pole
species
sustainable
threatened
treaty
tundra
viable
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