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The main differences between the Arctic and Antarctica: the description and features

In order to better understand the differences between the Arctic and Antarctica, it is worth exploring these areas of our planet more deeply. Each of them has its own unique features.

Arctic

If you follow the arrow of the compass from anywhere on the Earth, you will end up at the North Pole. Here the sun goes for half a year beyond the horizon, and after that the same does not disappear. This is one of the most noticeable signs of the northernmost part of the planet. The name "Arctic" went from the Greek word, which used to be the constellation of the Great Bear. Bold seafarers and pioneers attracted mysterious land, covered with a shining ice shell, and the sea with an amazing fauna. Applying inhuman efforts and showing truly unlimited will, the researchers moved ever closer to the North Pole. Open territories, coasts and seas were applied to the map.

Differences between the Arctic and Antarctica are visible in the degree of remoteness from the borders of Russia. The northern lands and waters are rich in minerals, among them hydrocarbons, non-ferrous metals, diamonds, etc. However, mining is difficult due to difficult climatic conditions. Small peoples of the North have adapted to local nature for many centuries. They live, engaged in traditional craft - hunting, fishing and reindeer breeding.

Weather in the Arctic

A person closely follows the weather conditions of this area. The differences between the Arctic and Antarctica in this matter are almost invisible. Observations of the weather are key, because in these latitudes, atmospheric processes are formed that extend to the entire planet.

The Arctic climate differs severity: even in the warm season the air is practically not warmed to plus temperatures. Snow cover does not come off almost never. Continuous strong winds are recorded. The work of the Northern Sea Route is provided by existing polar stations distributed evenly along the shores and islands.

Borders of the Arctic

The search for an answer to the question of what makes the Arctic different from Antarctica made scientists study them carefully. The first includes the extreme polar regions of Eurasia and North America, as well as the Arctic Ocean with many islands. Excluded from this area are only lands in the ocean near Scandinavia.

The southern boundary of the Arctic region corresponds to that of the tundra zone. 27 million km 2 - its approximate area, which several times exceeds the European territory. If the Arctic boundary is drawn along the Arctic Circle (which scientists sometimes do), its area will be 6 million km 2 less.

Nature of the Arctic

The highest peak of the Arctic, McKinley, is located on the North American continent, its height exceeds 6 km. Glaciers in this natural zone are found not only on mountain peaks, but also on the surface of the seas. Their edges for different reasons are broken off, forming huge blocks - icebergs. They drift towards the equator, driven by winds and currents.

The ice chains of the Arctic islands are admiring: they have the shape of regular domes, the slopes of which are canopies. Part of the islands, free from the glacier, is occupied by the polar desert - endless boulders and rubble. A strip along the shore of the Arctic Ocean is occupied by the tundra. There are many marshes on this territory, since the permafrost is only a little thawing in the summer.

There are many lakes here, the largest of which are located on the peninsulas of Taimyr and Kola.

Flora and fauna of the Arctic

Vegetation on stone placers is scarce. The basis is the lichen. Occasionally one can also find flowering plants: buttercups, polar poppies and partridge grass. Among the trees there are willow and birch in dwarf forms. Their height does not exceed a few centimeters.

Kola Peninsula and Taimyr in summer inhabit colonies of ducks and geese. The animals of the Arctic climate are peculiar, since there are a large number of unique species. Walruses, polar bears, narwhal, seals, etc. live surrounded by ice of the Arctic Ocean.

The tundra is inhabited by polar wolves, Arctic foxes and ungulate lemmings. The steep cliffs of the islands were chosen by giant colonies of birds, the number of which is measured in hundreds of thousands. Each species occupies a strictly defined position among the rest. In Russia, the animals of the Arctic are protected by law.

Antarctica

The differences between the Arctic and Antarctica are explained by the fact that the last one is at the South Pole of the Earth, while the first one is on the North Pole. In addition to the homonymous continent, it includes the nearby parts of three oceans with islands: Indian, Atlantic and Pacific. The area of the continent is about 14 million km 2 , while Antarctica is almost 4 times higher than it is. There are no geographical elements of the relief: rivers, mountains, etc. The entire continent is covered with ice shell thickness of 4300 m. About 90% of all fresh water on the planet is frozen in this massif. Under this thickness there are mountain ranges and volcanoes.

Traveling in the Arctic and Antarctica requires the same equipment and training, since both poles are covered with ice. On the southern mainland there are areas without a glacier, on which there are lakes.

Flora and fauna of Antarctica

At different poles of the Earth are the Arctic and Antarctica, there are differences between them in the species composition of living beings. The diversity of animal and plant life is extremely meager. Conditions here are severe. On land without glacier, you can find only lichens and mosses, bacteria and microscopic algae.

In some places of the coast there live penguins - amazing birds of this severe edge. They are not capable of flying and are not very confident, but they are excellent swimmers.

Some species of mammals and fish live in the ocean surrounding the continent. Antarctica is deprived of state borders and has no permanent population. In the distant past, it was part of a single continent - Gondwana. With the passage of time, Antarctica separated, and it was surrounded by the cold ocean current that still exists. It affects the entire thickness of the oceanic waters, preventing the warm equatorial waters from penetrating to the southern continent.

This current does not allow to destroy the thickness of ice on the continent, which takes away a large amount of thermal energy from the Earth. Thanks to this phenomenon, different climatic zones appeared on our planet, which gave impetus to the flourishing of all forms of biological diversity.

What is the difference between Antarctica and Antarctica and the Arctic? The first term means a continent located at the South Pole of the Earth. The second is more extensive and includes, in addition to the mainland, also the adjacent waters of the three oceans. The third concept is the region of the world ocean around the North Pole of the Earth. Despite the consonance, these three terms mean different areas of our planet.

Arctic and Antarctica: differences and similarities

Between these areas there are certain similarities:

  • Covered with a thick layer of ice.
  • Approximately the same temperature conditions.
  • There are similar types of living organisms.
  • Mosses and lichens grow.

The differences between the Arctic and Antarctica can be expressed in the following theses:

  • The Arctic is a region of the world's ocean, and Antarctica is a continent.
  • The first area is almost twice as large as the latter.
  • The flora of the Arctic is richer, and the fauna is more peculiar (many endemics) than in Antarctica.

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