Arctic and Antarctica. Antarctica and Antarctica, Arctic

The Arctic and Antarctic are cold, dark, and we often think that these two places are almost the same. And they are completely different. The notable difference is that polar bears live only in the Arctic, and penguins live only in the Antarctic.

How does the Arctic differ from Antarctica?

The biggest Arctic Antarctic difference between the two regions is the differences sea ​​ice.

The sea ice of the Arctic and Antarctic is different due to their differences in geography. The Arctic is a semi-enclosed ocean, almost completely surrounded by land. Arctic sea ice is not as mobile as Antarctic sea ice. Although sea ice moves around the Arctic Basin, it remains in the cold Arctic waters. Icebergs are more prone to convergence - colliding with each other, accumulating in thick hummocks. These converging ice floes make the Arctic ice thicker.

The ice stays frozen longer during the summer melt—Arctic sea ice persists throughout the summer and continues to grow into the following fall. Of the 15 million square kilometers (5.8 million square miles) of sea ice that exists during the winter, an average of 7 million square kilometers (2.7 million square miles) remains at the end of the summer melt season.

Minimum and maximum sea ice cover in the Arctic and Antarctic
This satellite sea ice concentration data shows the average minimum and maximum sea ice extent in March and September for the Arctic and Antarctic from 1979 to 2000 seasons - opposite hemispheres - Southern and Northern; The Southern reaches its summer minimum in February, and the Northern reaches its summer minimum in September. (March is shown for both hemispheres for consistency.) The dark circles in the center of the Northern Hemisphere images are areas devoid of data due to satellite coverage limitations at the North Pole.

Antarctica is surrounded by ocean. The open ocean allows sea ice formations to move freely, with high drift speeds. Antarctic sea hummocks are much less common than in the Arctic. The absence of a land border in the north allows sea ice to float freely north into warmer waters, where it eventually melts. As a result, almost all of the sea ice formed during the Antarctic winter melts during the summer.

In winter, up to 18 million square kilometers (6.9 million square miles) of ocean is covered with sea ice, but by late summer, only 3 million square kilometers (1.1 million square miles) of sea ice remain.

Sea ice does not accumulate in Antarctica as it does in the Arctic, nor does it have the ability to grow like Arctic sea ice. Most of the Arctic is covered with sea ice up to 2 - 3 meters thick. The Arctic regions are covered with ice 4 - 5 meters thick.

Antarctic ice is collected approximately symmetrically around the pole, forming the circle of Antarctica. In contrast, the Arctic is asymmetrical. For example, sea ice off the east coast of Canada extends south of Newfoundland to 50 degrees northern latitude, And ice blocks off the east coast they extend to the Russian Bohai Gulf, about 38 degrees north latitude. On the contrary, in countries Western Europe, the northern coast of Norway at 70 degrees north latitude (2,000 kilometers, or 1,243 miles, further north than Newfoundland and Japan) remains generally ice-free. Ocean currents and wind directions may explain these differences.

The Arctic region north of the Atlantic Ocean is open to warmer waters from the south. These warm waters could flow into the Arctic and prevent sea ice from forming in the North Atlantic. The waters off the eastern coasts of Canada and Russia are affected by cold air moving off the land from the west. The coast of Eastern Canada is also fed by currents cold water, which facilitate the growth of sea ice.

Because the Arctic Ocean is mostly covered in ice, surrounded by land, precipitation is relatively rare. Antarctica, however, is completely surrounded by ocean, so moisture is more accessible. Antarctic sea ice is typically covered in thick snow - the weight of the snow pushes the ice below sea level, causing the snow to flood salty waters ocean.

Antarctic sea ice does not reach South Pole, expanding only over an area of ​​about 75 degrees south latitude (in the Ross and Weddell seas), due to Antarctica. However, Arctic sea ice reaches North Pole. Here, Arctic sea ice receives less solar energy on its surface because the sun's rays fall under more acute angle, compared to lower latitudes.

Water Pacific Ocean and several rivers in Russia and Canada are supplied with fresh, less dense water from the Arctic Ocean. So the Arctic Ocean has a layer of fresh cold water near the surface with warm salty water below. This cold, fresh layer of water allows ice to grow in the Arctic more than in Antarctica.

Where are the Arctic and Antarctic located? And how do these areas of the Earth differ from each other? This question puzzles many people, even if they diligently studied geography at school. Our article will help answer it.

Difference between the Arctic and Antarctic

A fairly popular one goes like this: “Do polar bears eat penguins?” The brain of an adult immediately begins to build a logical chain of thoughts. Pictures from school textbooks come to mind, where both animals are depicted in the background eternal ice and harsh winter landscapes. A person reasons like this: polar bears are predators, and penguins are rather clumsy birds, easy prey. Therefore, the former should happily feast on the latter.

However, everything is not like that at all! Not everyone will guess that these animals are wildlife cannot meet at all, since they live in absolute different parts peace. One of them is the Arctic, and the other is the Antarctic. Therefore, they can only see each other in some zoo.

Where the Arctic and Antarctica are located - this will be discussed further. What are the features of nature, climate and organic world these areas?

Where is the Arctic? Brief description of the area

What is the difference between the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica? Let's try to understand this geographical issue.

Where is the Arctic located on the globe? In what part of the world should you look for it?

At the very beginning, we need to remember that our planet Earth has two poles that are diametrically opposed to each other - North and South. This will help you better navigate where the Arctic is and where the Antarctic is.

So, the Arctic is the polar region of the Earth, directly adjacent to its North Pole. Geographically, it covers the extremities of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Arctic also includes the outskirts of Eurasia and North America, as well as numerous islands.

Sometimes this physical-geographical macroregion is limited from the south. The area of ​​the region, depending on the location of its southern borders, ranges from 21 to 27 million square kilometers.

Now you know where the Arctic is. What was it like for man to master it? And when did it start?

The history of the conquest of the Arctic and the North Pole

The Arctic has been inhabited for a long time. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. Thus, man first appeared on the shores of the Arctic Ocean 30 thousand years ago. However, later he began to be pulled further north. There were also daredevils who wanted to conquer the Earth's pole.

Serious and systematic study of the area began in the second half of the 19th century. The most famous polar explorer of that time is the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. In particular, he went down in history by being the first to cross the ice shell of Greenland, the largest island on the planet. This happened in 1889.

Robert Peary is another important name in history. In 1908-1909, he organized an expedition that reached the North Pole for the first time. Interestingly, the goal of this campaign was only this record. None scientific research the expedition did not take place.

7 amazing facts about the Arctic

The Arctic is an amazing region that is full of secrets, mysteries and unusual natural phenomena. Below are the most interesting facts about him:

• The organic world of the Arctic, despite such a harsh climate, is quite rich. Huge expanses of ice are densely populated by polar bears, arctic foxes, lemmings, reindeer, dozens of species of birds and other animals. You can even meet an ordinary crow here!
• Five states at once claim their rights to the Arctic, including Russia;
• The Arctic shelf, according to rough estimates by scientists, hides over 100 billion tons of gas and oil;
• About 50 million years ago, the Arctic climate was significantly milder. The water in the Arctic Ocean in those days warmed up in the summer to +15...18 degrees!
• The Arctic is the region of the Earth that is most vulnerable to worldwide global warming;
• Deserts are found not only in tropical zone, but also in the Arctic. Only here they are called Arctic;
• The very first voyage through Arctic waters was made by the ancient Greek Pytheas back in the 4th century BC.

Antarctica and Antarctica - where are they?

Geographers call Antarctica the southern circumpolar region of the Earth, which is located on the opposite side of the planet from the Arctic. It includes a huge landmass - the continent of Antarctica, as well as the southern ends of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans (many foreign scientists also identify in this area the fifth ocean of the Earth - the Southern).

The northern border of Antarctica is quite arbitrary. Most often it is carried out along the edge of the zone floating ice(between 50-55 degrees south latitude). Thus, the total area of ​​Antarctica is significantly larger than the Arctic, and is about 60 million square kilometers.

Antarctica, as mentioned above, is the sixth continent of planet Earth - the southernmost and coldest.

History of the discovery and development of Antarctica

Already in the 18th century, people assumed that there was another continent in the south of our planet. James Cook was the first to search for it in 1775. During his circumnavigation, he came close to the mysterious “Southland”, discovering the South Sandwich Islands.

The discovery of the continent of Antarctica took place in 1820 during the expedition of Russian navigators F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev. After this, a series of discoveries and mapping of various seas, islands and lands in Antarctica began.

In 1911, two expeditions at once (one led by Roald Amundsen, the other by Robert Scott) set off to conquer the South Pole of the Earth. But luck smiled on only one of the groups of desperate daredevils. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag at the pole point. Scott's group reached the goal of the expedition 27 days later, and all its members died on the way back.

The continent of Antarctica has significant mineral resource potential. However, the countries of the world signed an agreement on the “inviolability” of the continent’s subsoil until 2048.

7 Amazing Facts About Antarctica

We present to your attention 7 interesting facts about Antarctica and Antarctica:

• Antarctica is the most cold continent planets. In the 80s, the lowest temperature on Earth was recorded at the Soviet polar station “Vostok” (-89 degrees);
• Antarctica is also the highest continent on the planet (primarily due to its massive ice cap, which in some places reaches a thickness of 1-1.5 km);
• Antarctica is the windiest and driest place on Earth (and this despite the fact that it contains up to 70% of all the world's fresh water);
• Antarctica is the only continent without a permanent population;
• There are 6 species of penguins in Antarctica. Among them - emperor penguins, which are distinguished by their large size;
• Huge blocks of ice periodically break off from Antarctic ice shelves. One of these was formed in 2000 and set off to float freely. Its length reached 300 kilometers!
• There are no time zones in Antarctica. Scientists staying here live according to the time of their states.

Arctic and Antarctic Museum

Do you know where it is? Many people are not even aware of the existence of such an institution. It turns out that such a museum exists!

It is located in the city of St. Petersburg, in the building of the former St. Nicholas Edinoverie Church (Marata Street, 24a). In 1930, the temple was closed and this unusual museum was opened within its walls. It introduces visitors to the history of the development and study of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The museum exhibits include polar explorers' equipment, unique instruments, rare photographs, models of ships and icebreakers, as well as numerous paintings by artists depicting the wild and harsh nature of the Earth's circumpolar regions.

Finally

Where are the Arctic, Antarctic and Antarctica located? Now you can easily answer this question and show the above areas on the globe. Despite the distance of thousands of kilometers between the Arctic and Antarctic, there is much in common between them. Both parts of the planet are extremely cold, there is a lot of snow, icebergs and ice, and virtually no vegetation.

Incredible facts

Probably, most people who have graduated from school a long time ago will not be able to immediately answer the difference between the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica - where are they located and how do they differ?

Many doubt it mainly because of the similarity of names and almost identical climatic conditions.

We can only say with certainty that there is a lot of snow, ice and icebergs in both places.

How are the Arctic, Antarctic and Antarctica similar to each other?

To better understand how they are similar and how they differ, it’s worth starting with what these places have in common.

Name

To be more precise, this is not a similarity, but rather a contrast.

The word "Arctic" It has Greek origin. "Arktos" means "bear". This is connected with the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, which people use to navigate in search of the North Star, that is, the main northern landmark.

The word "Antarctica" was invented quite recently, or rather in the twentieth century. The history of its origin is not so interesting. The fact is that “Antarctica” is a combination of two words “anti” and “Arctic”, that is, the part opposite to the Arctic, or bear.

Climate

Perpetual snow and icebergs are the result of harsh climate conditions. This is the second similarity between the above territories.

However, it is worth noting that the similarity is not entirely complete, since the Arctic climate is still milder due to warm currents, extending quite far along the northern coast of the Eurasian continent. Here the minimum temperature exceeds the minimum temperature of Antarctica.

What is the difference between the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica?

Arctic

The northern polar region of our planet, which is adjacent to the North Pole.

The Arctic includes the outskirts of two continents - North America and Eurasia.

The Arctic includes almost the entire Arctic Ocean and many islands in it (except for the coastal islands of Norway).

The Arctic includes adjacent parts of two oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic.

The average temperature in the Arctic is -34 C.

Arctic (photo)

Antarctic

This is the south polar region of our planet. As already mentioned, its name can be translated as “opposite to the Arctic.”

Antarctica includes the mainland of Antarctica and the adjacent parts of three oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian, along with the islands.

Antarctica is the harshest climatic zone Earth. Both the mainland and nearby islands are covered with ice.

The average temperature in Antarctica is -49 C.

Antarctica on the map

Antarctica (photo)

Antarctica

The continent that is located in the southernmost part of the globe.

Antarctica on the map

Simply put:

Antarctica and Antarctica

1. Antarctica is the mainland. The area of ​​this continent is 14.1 million square meters. km., which puts it in 5th place in area among all continents. It has surpassed only Australia in this parameter. Antarctica is a deserted continent discovered by the Lazarev-Bellingshausen expedition in 1820.

2. Antarctica is a territory that includes both the continent of Antarctica itself and all the islands adjacent to this continent and three waters oceans - Pacific, Atlantic and Indian. According to foreign scientists who call the Antarctic waters the Southern Ocean, the area of ​​Antarctica is about 86 million square meters. km.

3. Relief Antarctica is much more diverse than the topography of the continent that is part of it.

Parts of the earth are the knowledge that every person who graduates from school should have. However, not all adults can answer the question: how does Antarctica differ from the Arctic and Antarctic. These geographical objects are located at different poles of the earth, so they have little in common.

What does the Arctic include?

The Arctic territory includes part of the Arctic Ocean, some of its islands, as well as some territories of Asia, North America and Europe.

The Arctic is considered a cold climate zone. The average temperature there: -34 degrees Celsius. Almost its entire territory is covered with glaciers, so the adjacent Arctic Ocean is frozen.

The area of ​​the Arctic is 21 million square kilometers. Despite the fact that almost the entire Arctic territory is covered with ice, it has many mineral resources:

1. Diamonds.
2. Phosphorus.
3. Gold and silver.
4. Carbohydrate and mineral raw materials.
5. Chrome, etc.

Concerning flora, then because low temperatures, there are practically no plants in the Arctic. There are no trees here at all, but bushes grow from the southern part of the area. Some of them reach more than two meters in height.

• cereals;
• lichens and mosses;
• herbs;
• ordinary and dwarf shrubs;

Despite the fact that there really are not many plants in the Arctic, the situation with animals is different. Many representatives of the fauna are not afraid to live in cold climatic conditions. What animals can you find here?

• polar bears;
• bighorn sheep;
• musk oxen;
• wild reindeer.

Despite severe frosts, it lives in the Arctic a large number of animals

In these water resources very common valuable species fish

But do people live here? Yes, about 4 million people live in the Arctic. They live beyond the Arctic Circle. Moreover, there is even work in this cold place. There are radiometeorological centers, polar stations, as well as more than 10 international polar expeditions.

The Arctic territory even includes Russian cities such as Tromsk, Murmansk, Norilsk and Salekhard.

The cold here does not disappear even in summer, so lovers of ice and frost often come here.

The Arctic has large reserves of gold

Antarctic

Antarctica is the southern polar region of the Earth, which is located in the South. This continent is washed by three oceans: the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic. The territory of Antarctica is adjacent to the islands of each of these oceans.

This term also has Greek roots. "Antarctica" is translated as "the opposite of the Arctic." The Arctic and Antarctic are really not very similar, even in climate. Antarctica is colder than the Arctic. For comparison, average temperature here: -49 degrees Celsius. This territory is considered the harshest area on the planet.

A peculiarity of the Antarctic territory is that it is almost completely covered with ice. The area of ​​the continent is 52 square kilometers.

Here unique nature, which is why plant and animal world Antarctica is diverse. Not found here freshwater fish and mammals, but these territories are inhabited by harbor seals, walruses, whales, etc. On the coast of the mainland you can find a huge number of penguins and albatrosses.

As for Antarctic vegetation, we can highlight:

• mushrooms;
• lichens and mosses;
• seaweed;
• flowering plants, etc.

Since this continent is very cold, people do not live here. However, several research stations have been built here. Scientists working at these stations live research activities.

Research groups scientists in Antarctica

The Arctic and Antarctic differ not only in temperature, but also in the amount of ice.

Thus, based on these data, we can compare the Arctic and Antarctic, highlighting the following points:

1. These two regions are the extreme poles of the earth, the Arctic is the North pole, and the Antarctic is the South pole.
2. These two poles are washed by different oceans, since each of them is located at a great distance from each other.
3. The North Pole is warmer than the South Pole, so people can live there. As for Antarctica, only scientists engaged in research activities temporarily reside there.
4. Both the first and second regions have a unique climate, due to which various species of animals live there. There are also plants at each pole.
5. Part of the North Pole is divided between five states, while no one owns the territory of the South Pole.

Before determining how the Arctic differs from Antarctica, it is necessary to provide information about the second region.