Antarctica – Virtual Field Trip

foreign hey there explorers today we're heading on a field trip well virtual field trip to a truly magical place it's the coldest driest and windiest continent home to unique animals and a range of research stations Laboratories and observatories used by scientists from all around the world have you figured out where we're going that's right we're heading to Antarctica so grab your thickest jacket warmest hat and comfiest waterproof boots because we're about to embark on a frosty adventure to the icy Wonderland of Antarctica to discover the secrets of this Frozen Paradise Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth located almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle this icy land mass is surrounded by the Southern Ocean which connects the Atlantic Pacific and Indian oceans Antarctica is a vast Frozen region characterized by its seemingly endless expanse of ice and snow much of the land is covered by thick ice sheets some reaching over two miles in depth this icy landscape is dotted with icebergs glaciers and Ice shelves that stretch out into the surrounding Southern Ocean the climate of Antarctica is extremely cold and dry making it the coldest driest and windiest continent on Earth the coastal regions experience milder conditions with average temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer however as you move further Inland temperatures can plummet with the interior of Antarctica experiencing average winter temperatures of minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit additionally Antarctica has very low humidity making it technically a desert albeit a very cold one precipitation is minimal with most falling as snow and strong winds are common often reaching hurricane Force speeds the climate and appearance of Antarctica create a unique and otherworldly environment unlike any other place on Earth [Music] now you might think that Antarctica is a lifeless Barren place but it's actually teeming with life in fact a great variety of animals have adapted to survive in this harsh environment one of the most iconic animals of Antarctica is the Penguin there are several species of penguins found here including the emperor a daily and chin strap penguins these flightless birds have developed special features that allow them to thrive in the extreme cold such as a thick layer of blubber for insulation and waterproof feathers but Penguins aren't the only animals that call Antarctica home other birds like the snow petrol and the Antarctic skua also Brave the frigid temperatures to breed and feed in the region in the waters surrounding Antarctica you'll find an abundance of marine life there are various species of seals such as the Weddle leopard and elephant seals whales like the humpback and the Orca also frequent the nutrient-rich waters to feed on the abundance of krill and other marine life the Southern Ocean is teeming with creatures like sharks and other fish there is also a wide array of invertebrates that thrive in the cold Waters like squid and crustaceans ha a common misconception is that polar bears also roam the Antarctic Ice Sheets however polar bears are native to the Arctic region which is located in the northern hemisphere around the North Pole now that we've explored the diverse Wildlife let's look at why Antarctica is so important for scientific research the continent's unique conditions and untouched environment make it an ideal place for scientists to study the Earth's climate geology and ecology one major area of research is climate change Antarctic Ice cores provide a valuable record of the Earth's atmosphere allowing scientists to analyze the composition of the air from thousands of years ago by studying these ice cores researchers can better understand the earth's climate history and predict future changes [Music] Antarctica also plays a crucial role in global climate systems the cold dense water that forms around the continent drives ocean currents that help regulate Earth's temperature by studying these processes scientists can gain insights into how our planet's climate is changing and what we can do to mitigate the impacts in addition to climate research Antarctica is home to several astronomical observatories the clear skies and low levels of light pollution make it an ideal location to observe the Stars galaxies and other celestial objects scientists can study everything from the formation of stars to the mysteries of dark matter in this unique environment [Music] our virtual field trip to Antarctica has shown us the remarkable environment diverse wildlife and importance of this continent for scientific research I hope you enjoyed this journey and gained a deeper appreciation for one of Earth's most remote and intriguing places worksheets relating to this short video can be downloaded by creating a free account at ngscience.com don't forget to subscribe to the NG science YouTube channel to never miss a video

Channel: Next Generation Science

Views: 13,819

Keywords: Antarctica, ice sheets, glaciers, ice shelves, Southern Ocean, climate, cold, dry, wind, penguins, Emperor penguins, Adélie penguins, Chinstrap penguins, birds, Snow Petrel, Antarctic Skua, seals, Leopard seals, Elephant seals, whales, Humpback whales, krill, marine life, scientific research, climate change, ice cores, ngscience, ngscience.com, next generation, science, scientific, kids, children, students, school, teacher, resource, elementary, primary, educational, learning, informative, classroom

Id: Hs1Tlxbm8PU

Length: 6min 55sec (415 seconds)

Published: Mon May 08 2023