What would happen if there was no Antarctica?

What would happen if there was no Antarctica?

If all the ice covering Antarctica , Greenland, and in mountain glaciers around the world were to melt, sea level would rise about 70 meters (230 feet). The ocean would cover all the coastal cities. And land area would shrink significantly. But many cities, such as Denver, would survive.

Why do humans go to Antarctica?

One of the main reasons I think people go to Antarctica is for the wildlife and the continent does not disappoint. Within the first 30 minutes of setting sail out of Ushuaia, we had seen swimming penguins, a range of birds and even a couple of whales off in the distance – and we hadn’t even left the Beagle Channel yet!

Why is Antarctica so important to the world?

Antarctica is one of the world’s most important ‘natural laboratories’ – which is why so many scientists brave the cold to work there. As well as helping us understand global climate change now, the unique archive locked in Antarctica’s thick ice sheet tells us what our planet’s climate has been like over almost a million years.

Why is the water in Antarctica so cold?

Cold water is formed in Antarctica. Because freshwater ice at the surface freezes onto icebergs, this water is not only cold, it is salty. This cold, dense, salty water sinks to the sea floor, and drives the global ocean currents, being replaced with warmer surface waters from the equatorial regions.

Is it worth it to go to Antarctica?

Of course, you can travel to Antarctica! It is one of the most common questions people ask when they are thinking about visiting Antarctica. Taking a trip to Antarctica is like going to the last great wilderness which is one of the many reasons it has called out to us for years.

Why is it important to study the glaciers in Antarctica?

Water from melting glaciers in Antarctica also has the potential to raise global sea levels. How likely this is to happen, and at what rate, is an important research question that scientists are now trying to answer. The Antarctic continent is drained by numerous large ice streams.