Polar Seas

Test your knowledge… True or False??

Penguins make delicious polar bear food. FALSE: Penguins live South of the equator, polar bears live in the Arctic.

Most of the world’s fresh water is frozen in Antarctica’s ice. TRUE

Antarctica is the highest, driest, windiest, coldest, cleanest place on earth. TRUE

The Arctic is frozen land surrounded by water FALSE: The Arctic is frozen ocean surrounded by land.

The only direction you can go from the South Pole is North. TRUE

There are candy striped barber poles to mark both the North and South Poles. FALSE: Only at the South Pole at the Amundsen-Scott base.

There are only 6 sunrises and 6 sunsets each year at the Poles. FALSE: The sun rises and sets only once a year.

Polar Exploration 1909 – Robert Peary 1 st to reach North Pole 1909 – Robert Peary 1 st to reach North Pole Dec – Roald Amundsen, with 4 companions, is 1 st to reach South Pole Dec – Roald Amundsen, with 4 companions, is 1 st to reach South Pole Jan – Robert Scott, Edward Wilson, Birdie Bowers, Edgar Evans & Lawrence Oates reached South Pole; they did not survive the return journey Jan – Robert Scott, Edward Wilson, Birdie Bowers, Edgar Evans & Lawrence Oates reached South Pole; they did not survive the return journey

1929 – Richard Byrd 1 st to fly over the South Pole 1929 – Richard Byrd 1 st to fly over the South Pole 1920 – Amundsen dies in air ship rescue at North Pole 1920 – Amundsen dies in air ship rescue at North Pole 1955 – Admiral Byrd establishes 8 research stations at South Pole 1955 – Admiral Byrd establishes 8 research stations at South Pole 1958 – Captain Anderson sails under Arctic Ocean – Alaska to Greenland 1958 – Captain Anderson sails under Arctic Ocean – Alaska to Greenland

Comparing Polar Seas North Pole Huge mass of ice over Arctic ocean Huge mass of ice over Arctic ocean Average temps: Average temps: Winter: -30 o FWinter: -30 o F Summer: 32 o FSummer: 32 o F Record: -92 o F Record: -92 o F Polar bears, pinnipeds, no penguins Polar bears, pinnipeds, no penguins South Pole Land mass covered by ice – extends 100s of miles into ocean Land mass covered by ice – extends 100s of miles into ocean Average temps: Average temps: Winter: -78 o F Summer: 20 o F Record: -128 o F Record: -128 o F Penguins, pinnipeds (walruses) Penguins, pinnipeds (walruses)

Arctic

Antarctic

Polar Conditions High winds High winds Cold winters, cool summers Cold winters, cool summers Low precipitation Low precipitation Summer = 6 months of daylight Summer = 6 months of daylight Winter = 6 months of darkness Winter = 6 months of darkness

Water warmer than surrounding land Water warmer than surrounding land Upwelling Upwelling Ice may completely cover or float on sea Ice may completely cover or float on sea Provide resting spots for marine animalsProvide resting spots for marine animals Floes – polar bearsFloes – polar bears Ice bergs found at both polesIce bergs found at both poles

High Productivity In summer months, phytoplankton (diatoms) can go through unending photosynthesis In summer months, phytoplankton (diatoms) can go through unending photosynthesis 24 hours daylight24 hours daylight Upwelling provides nutrientsUpwelling provides nutrients With large amounts of phytoplankton With large amounts of phytoplankton Zooplankton growZooplankton grow Large animals migrate to feedLarge animals migrate to feed

Animal Adaptations BLUBBER BLUBBER InsulationInsulation BuoyancyBuoyancy Food reserveFood reserve Penguins Penguins The males keep the eggs balanced on his feet to avoid freezingThe males keep the eggs balanced on his feet to avoid freezing Huddle in masse, rotate during stormsHuddle in masse, rotate during storms

Pinnipeds Group of marine mammals Group of marine mammals Paddle-shaped flippers Paddle-shaped flippers Blubber Blubber Need to rest & breed on land Need to rest & breed on land

Seals Largest group of pinnipeds Largest group of pinnipeds Can’t rotate rear flippers forward Can’t rotate rear flippers forward Have short necks Have short necks No external ears No external ears

Sea Lions “Eared” seals “Eared” seals Front flippers rotate to support body weight Front flippers rotate to support body weight Rear flippers rotate forward to walk on land Rear flippers rotate forward to walk on land

Walruses Pair of protruding tusks Pair of protruding tusks Use to pull up on iceUse to pull up on ice Whiskers used to sense environment Whiskers used to sense environment Feed mainly on bottom invertebrates Feed mainly on bottom invertebrates

Antarctic Permafrost – soil that never thaws Permafrost – soil that never thaws Great Freeze Great Freeze MarchMarch Once temp hits -40 o C, ocean freezes at a rate of 5.75 km/minuteOnce temp hits -40 o C, ocean freezes at a rate of 5.75 km/minute