Antarctica

Antarctica

Antarctica is an ice covered land mass, a continent in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, home to the South Pole. Although Antarctica is mainly uninhabited by humans, besides a small amount of permanent residents and research station staff, its penguin population is 12 million. The effect of climate change on Antarctica is a large area of study.

What are the 10 coldest places on Earth?

You wouldn't want to live there, but bring a coat if you're going to visit these spots – they have recorded the lowest temperatures ever!
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Evidence of 2,000km-wide asteroid impact crater in Antarctica discovered

Scientists recovered extra-terrestrial particles on the summit of Walnumfjellet within the Sør Rondane Mountains in east Antarctica.
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How Antarctic ice can help us travel back in time

Cartographer and scientist at the British Antarctic Survey Peter Fretwell explains how ice contains history in this extract from Antarctic Atlas.
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Who really found the continent of Antarctica?

In this extract from Antarctic Atlas, cartographer Peter Fretwell reveals the four contenders for the fame of finding Antarctica.
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Satellite images taken from space reveal 11 new penguin colonies

The new emperor penguin colonies were found around the Antarctica coastline in areas 'highly vulnerable' to climate change.
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Rapid Ice Age retreat of Antarctic ice gives stark climate change warning

Antarctic ice surrounding the coastline is capable of retreating as much as 40 to 50 metres per day, researchers have discovered.
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Penguins help researchers identify the most vulnerable areas of the Antarctic

Scientists used tracking data from five types of penguin and 12 other species of marine predator to map the richest feeding grounds and the most fished waters in the Southern Ocean.
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Antarctica rainforest once basked in 19°C summer temperatures

The region had an average temperature of around 12°C and was covered in swampy rainforests, according to research.
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The Antarctic base preparing for human space colonies

At a remote outpost in Antarctica, scientists are growing vegetables.
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The remarkable life that survives the coldest continent

It's not just penguins living on the southernmost continent.
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Antarctic penguins' diet affected by climate change and human activity

New research looked at the impact of krill availability on the black and white birds.
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Extreme weather events could occur every year by 2050

Urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions will limit damage to oceans and frozen areas and the people and wildlife that rely on them, report says.
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Why are some icebergs green?

Some icebergs are a surprising emerald green hue instead of the usual bluish tint, currently attributed to the iron oxide minerals deposited in the ocean by glaciers.
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“I love it because it’s so remote. It used to take me three days to forget about the rest of the world”

Dame Jane Francis, director of the British Antarctic Survey, tells Helen Pilcher about the pleasures of polar research, and how not to make ice cream in Antarctica.
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Why is ozone depletion worse over Antarctica?

The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer is of great concern to environmentalists.
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Could global ice melt affect the Earth’s tilt?

Climate change is having a big impact on the Earth’s atmosphere, but we wouldn’t worry about a little wobble.
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Antarctica is “getting greener” due to climate change

Studies on moss have found an increase in Antarctica’s plant growth over the past 50 years, which scientists say is caused by climate change.
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Is Antarctica melting?

(No) ice ice baby, global temperature rise is affecting Antarctica's sea ice.
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How long has Antarctica been frozen?

Antartica hasn't always been covered in ice and snow, but over the millennia it has transformed from an icy forest to a frozen desert.
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Could we live on Antarctica and Greenland if all the ice melted?

As sea levels rise, much of the Earth will be put under water.
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Is Antarctica moving away from the South Pole?

Continental drift is causing Antarctica to slowly shift its position on Earth.
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Could we move polar bears to Antarctica to prevent their extinction?

And you thought your last move was a big one!
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