Geography of Antarctica (AQA A Level Geography)

Revision Note

Written by: Rhiannon Molyneux

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Antarctica is a vast and remote continent located at the South Pole
It remains largely untouched by human activity due to its harsh climate and extreme environmental conditions
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, as far north as the Antarctic Convergence are considered a global common

Climate and Biodiversity of Antarctica

Climate	Biodiversity
The average temperature of Antarctica is -49°C	The cold and dry climate in Antarctica and the limited availability of sunlight means that biological productivity is very low, with vegetation mostly limited to mosses and lichens
The coldest temperature recorded was -94°C	There is little energy to support other organisms and the largest animals supported by the ecosystem are midges
Precipitation is very low, less than 50mm per year in the interior	In contrast, the Southern Ocean has much higher rates of productivity, mainly from phytoplankton
Antarctica is known for its strong winds which can reach speeds of up to 200mph	This supports more complex food chains and larger animals such as penguins, seals and whales

The extreme climate and fragile ecosystems mean that any changes to the environment can have a significant impact on the delicate balance
Human activities are increasing in Antarctica, with research and tourism adding to the threat of waste and pollution
There is also growing interest in the mining of minerals due to:
- Technological advancements make it easier to explore and extract resources in extreme environments
- Population growth and economic development lead to higher demand and rising prices - this means that potential economic gains are greater
Antarctica is also one of the fastest warming regions on earth, causing ice shelves to melt, sea levels to rise and impacting the ecosystems in ways that could have global consequences
- For example, in January 2023, an iceberg nearly as big as Greater London broke off the Brunt Ice Shelf