Antarctica | MNN - Mother Nature Network

MNN.com > Antarctica

gloss_antarctica_0701

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. It is the coldest, driest, windiest, highest (on average) and most isolated continent, with very unique physical and biological characteristics. These fascinating qualities are what draw humans from all over the planet to visit and explore Antarctica, but tourism also contributes to the deterioration of its environment.

Antarctica is also a region very vulnerable to and threatened by climate change. Over the past half-century, there has been a marked warming trend in the Antarctic Peninsula. Much of the rest of Antarctica has cooled during the last 30 years, due to ozone depletion and other factors, but this trend is likely to reverse. Surface waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica have warmed and become less saline, and precipitation in this region has increased. A great deal of legislation has been passed all over the world to protect and preserve it. (Source: EPA, NY Times / Photo: Christian Revival Network)

Illustration of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica September 2017

Illustration of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica September 2017

Earth's ozone layer still in trouble, study finds

June 28, 2018, 12:25 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick

The hole over Antarctica is healing, but a new study finds the planet's ozone layer is thinning at lower latitudes.

A heavily crevassed outlet glacier in Western Palmer Land, Antarctica.

A heavily crevassed outlet glacier in Western Palmer Land, Antarctica.

Antarctic ice loss has tripled in the last 5 years, and here's why that matters

June 14, 2018, 1:50 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick

Antarctica ice loss was only contributing 0.2 millimeters per year to sea level rise, but that number has jumped to 0.6 millimeters since 2012.

An illustration of the Earth's ozone layers and atmosphere surrounded by smoke

An illustration of the Earth's ozone layers and atmosphere surrounded by smoke

Why we need to worry about ozone again

May 17, 2018, 2:36 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick

Remember how we kicked our CFC habit? Someone else picked it up.

German Aerospace Center scientist Paul Zabel takes a bite out of lettuce grown in the EDEN-ISS greenhouse

German Aerospace Center scientist Paul Zabel takes a bite out of lettuce grown in the EDEN-ISS greenhouse

Scientists harvest their first salad in Antarctica

April 6, 2018, 1:53 p.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick

You don't need soil or sunlight, but you do need patience.

penguin supercolony

penguin supercolony

Secret kingdom of 1.5 million penguins found hiding in Antarctica

March 4, 2018, 3:29 p.m. by Bryan Nelson

The supercolony of Adélie penguins is one of the largest in the world and was found using images from space.

iceberg

iceberg

Ecosystem hidden for thousands of years found underneath calved iceberg

February 15, 2018, 4:30 p.m. by Bryan Nelson

Biologists are scrambling to study these unseen waters and the life forms they may contain.

An edge of Iceberg A-68 as seen in November 2017

An edge of Iceberg A-68 as seen in November 2017

Scientists capture images of runaway iceberg, and it's bigger than Delaware

February 14, 2018, 10:36 a.m. by Noel Kirkpatrick

Iceberg A-68 is so large it looks like it's still part of the Larsen C ice shelf.

Ice Maidens

Ice Maidens

British Army 'Ice Maidens' crush coast-to-coast Antarctica crossing

January 23, 2018, 3:53 p.m. by Michael d'Estries

Women make history as the first all-female team to cross continent using only muscle power.

Pine Island Glacier as seen from a satellite image

Pine Island Glacier as seen from a satellite image

Iceberg more than 4 times the size of Manhattan breaks away from Antarctica

September 26, 2017, 3:16 p.m. by Christian Cotroneo

It's the second break from Pine Island Glacier in the last 2 years.

The subglacial terrain, hollowed out by volcanic steam from the looming Mount Erebus, is surprisingly warm and ideal for hosting life.

The subglacial terrain, hollowed out by volcanic steam from the looming Mount Erebus, is surprisingly warm and ideal for hosting life.

Antarctica's ice caves may harbor new species

September 13, 2017, 12:26 p.m. by Michael d'Estries

Cave systems under the glaciers are heated by geothermal forces and may play host to unique types of plants and animals.

Erebus

Erebus

Largest volcanic region on Earth found hidden underneath Antarctic ice

August 14, 2017, 10:37 p.m. by Bryan Nelson

If the volcanoes blow, it could be bad news for sea levels.

Fruitcake recovered from Antarctic

Fruitcake recovered from Antarctic

Fruitcake found in the Antarctic is 106 years old

August 11, 2017, 3:22 p.m. by Christian Cotroneo

Perfectly preserved, it may have been discarded by doomed members of a 1911 expedition.

The Ban Gioc–Detian Falls from China.

The 14 most amazing waterfalls in the world

Atlantic City, New Jersey, has one of America's most famous boardwalks

12 boardwalks that capture the essence of summer

These town names will make you do a double take