Antarctica – the lost green kingdom

Antarctica, now known as the land of eternal ice and extreme temperatures, holds many secrets. The name of this continent comes from the Greek word antarktikos, which means opposite the Arctic or opposite north. It was first used by Charles Wilkes in 1840, when he produced the first maps of its coasts. Since then, researchers have systematically explored the area’s icy mysteries. However, it was only recently discovered that Antarctica was not always a harsh, frozen desert.

The green kingdom of the South Pole

In June, in the pages of the journal Science Advances, an article presenting the results of samples taken in West Antarctica was published. The research, which was conducted during a polar expedition in 2017, revealed the existence of an impressive river system more than 1,500 kilometers long that once crisscrossed the continent. More than 40 million years ago, during the Eocene era, rivers flowed from the towering Transantarctic Mountains into the Amundsen Sea. Evidence of this was provided by sediments deposited in the coastal-estuarine marsh environment located at the mouth of these rivers.

The Eocene was a transitional period between a relatively quiet tectonic time and the reactivation of the West Antarctic rift system, associated with the initiation of volcanic activity. At that time, much of West Antarctica was above sea level, but ice sheet formation was limited by low relief and low elevation. Therefore, 34 million years ago there was a temperate climate, just before the onset of glaciation.

The existence of ancient rivers on the continent was learned about as early as last year, but the latest findings show their powerful scale. The sediments excavated from the Amundsen Sea come from the Transantarctic Mountains, 1,500. km from the sea. These rivers connected the eastern part of Antarctica with the western part. According to the scientists, these data have important practical significance. Studying the Earth’s history in the context of major climate change can provide valuable lessons in the face of modern climate change.

Antarctica and its ecosystem today

Antarctica today is an ice-covered continent, containing about 90 percent of the world’s ice. of the world’s ice and about 70 percent. freshwater resources. Winter is currently underway there, with temperatures dropping to the lowest recorded on Earth: -20 to -30°C on the coast and -40 to -70°C inland. The record for the lowest temperature was set in July 1983. at the Vostok research station, where -89.2°C was recorded. Summer temperatures are more moderate, ranging from 0°C on the coast to -20/-35°C inland.

Antarctica, due to its harsh climatic conditions, has never become a place for permanent human settlement. Currently, the continent is mainly inhabited by scientists working in research stations, which belong to about 30 countries. Despite the extreme climatic conditions, Antarctica is a habitat for many species of marine animals, including emperor penguins, Adela, masked and white-beaked penguins. Birds and mammals use the land to rest and breed, but their foraging is done exclusively in the water.

Antarctica is home to about 100 species of mosses, 25 species of liverworts, 700 species of algae, 1150 species of fungi and numerous bacteria. The extreme conditions make it difficult for vascular plants to thrive, resulting in the presence of only three species: the Antarctic hemlock(Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarcticcolobanthus (Colobanthus quitensis), which are native to the region, and the annual panicle(Poa annua). The latter species was accidentally introduced by humans and is now considered an invasive species on the continent.

When to go to Antarctica?

The best conditions for travel to Antarctica are during the summer there, from November to March. January is the warmest month, especially on the coasts, where average temperatures then oscillate between -5 and 10°C. Precipitation is sparse, and thanks to the presence of polar days, sunshine can be even more intense than at the equator.

Antarctica also offers unusual natural phenomena, such as auroras, which appear in the night sky around the south magnetic pole when solar wind plasma collides with the Earth’s magnetosphere. In addition, under the right atmospheric conditions, diamond dust – clouds of small ice crystals – can be observed, as well as red snow, which is colored by the colorful algae found on the coasts in summer.

Although there is no longer a trace of the green kingdom of yesteryear in Antarctica, the continent continues to fascinate with its rugged and impressive nature.

Photo. main: henrique setim/Unsplash