Antarctic desert

It has low air temperatures in the winter months from −60 to −70 ° C. The air temperature in the summer months is −30 to −50 ° C. Even in summer, the temperature does not rise above −20 ° C. On the coast, in the region of the Antarctic Peninsula, the air temperature reaches 10-12 ° C in summer. It is formed not only due to the low temperatures of high latitudes, but also in view of the reflection of heat ( albedo ) in the daytime from snow and ice . Cold air rolls down from the central regions of Antarctica , forming stock winds, reaching high speeds off the coast. Relative humidity 60–80%, which is due to the predominance of downward flows. Off the coast and in Antarctic oases, relative air humidity drops to 20 and even 5%.

Precipitation is presented exclusively in the form of snow: their amount reaches from 30-50 mm to 600-700 mm per year and increases to 700-1000 mm on some ice shelves. Due to strong winds, snowstorms are very frequent.

The flora and fauna are very poor and peculiar. In Antarctic oases (ice-free areas) near the coast, sparse vegetation is represented by mosses , lichens , several species of flowering plants and algae in water bodies.

There are very few land animals: there are no flying insects , land mammals and freshwater fish . In small freshwater reservoirs on land, protozoa , rotifers , free-living nematodes , and lower crustaceans live.

In the Antarctic oases, among mosses and mosses, small mites and wingless insects live - tailed tails , as well as one species of flies with rudimentary wings.

Among the few land-related birds are three endemic species: a white plover , a large ridge ( Anthus antarcticus ), yellow-billed pintail , and several penguin species.

The waters of Antarctica are rich in plankton , which is a source of food for whales , seals , fish and birds. There are several species of cetaceans, among them the largest animals of our planet - blue whales , as well as sperm whales and killer whales. Pinnipeds are widespread.

• Antarctica
• Arctic desert