What would happen if polar bears were introduced to the Antarctic?
Penguins survived in the arctic for almost 18 years after they were introduced by the Norwegian royalty (introduced in 1936 -- last penguin sighting in 1954).Which is proof that they could find food and survive-- and if introduced in sufficienttly large quantities-- they would have reproduced and established viable colonies/breeding populations.In the antarctic, Polar bears would probably survive and flourish-- as there are penguins, many species of seals and sea-birds-- and also fish and small whales.Since polar bears are roughly similar in size to a walrus-- and when in water can occupy some of the same ecological niches walruses occupy (apart from other ecological niches that are occupied by polar bears but not walruses).Though they would also probably ruin/destroy the entire ecosystem of the antarctic.
Why is a polar bear not found in Antarctica?
Evolution is the culprit!Polar bears were created in the North Pole region and penguins were consigned to the South Pole.Worked out well for centuries until recently when the ice in the North Polar region began to melt at an unprecedented rate making it increasingly difficult for the Polar Bear to locate natural food sources.So the Polar Bear as a species is going to struggle to survive unless it can adapt to the changes and find new food supplies apart from seals and rubbish bins. Their savior may be to hope for a reversal of the current global warming trend and therefore increase their chances of an easier seal kill otherwise their future as a species looks bleak.Many believe that the answer is to locate small numbers of Polar Bears to Antarctica however they would decimate existing penguin colonies and apart from the odd lazy seal they would struggle in this environment. Rather than solve the Polar Bears situation it would most likely create environmental disasters as the biodiversity in Antarctica is finely balanced.
How do people live in Antarctica or Greenland?
The Antarctic has no indigenous residents. Every human down there has to be supplied externally: ships and planes fly all supplies, fuel, and food and other things necessary for survival. A number of people who study Antarctic fish eat a few of their catch. Water is melted from snow and ice using heat from fuel. US Antarctic internet was first provided on a consistent basis for a telescience experiment a friend started back about 1992–93 which she had people in the US drive a rover underwater. The friend who installed that send one of the first emails from the South Pole. This was also the same year as the notorious CMU DANTE robot which didn’t walk more than 20 feet (an expensive failure which got more publicity).Greenland has a native population. They fish and hunt walrus, seal, whale, etc. They get water runoff from the glaciers and ice sheets. Electricity has to be generated from external fuel sources brought in. The US base at Thule had one reactor (same model as one in the Antarctic at the US McMurdo base). Greenland now has its own government but is regarded as a colony of Denmark. They have their own domain independent of .dk. I’ve only flown over it (looks like flying over Antarctica when you get into the interior (only summer visitors and DEW line stations are here)), but I’ve turned down a couple of trip offers, but have potential options to help others in Alaska who get invited to do work in Greenland.A couple years ago while working in Alaska, we had a visit from the ColdCoastArchive. They are doing anthro work in the Arctic. They record life in Greenland. Do a web search, it’s not a .com. English is not their first language.
Why aren't we allowed in Antarctica to vacation, like we do in Alaska?
Expedition trips to Antarctica provide daily opportunities to get off of the ship and into the environment. While sailing the coastlines of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia, most voyages make landfall at least once, during which you can walk amongst penguins and seals, hike up to vantage points to take in the immensity of the wilderness, or just sit contemplatively in a cathedral of glaciers, icebergs, and wildlife. Additionally, you’ll go on daily Zodiac cruises (small, inflatable watercraft that hold just 12 people) to explore beautifully sculpted icebergs, marine life including seals, penguins, and whales, and infrequently visited areas that make us all feel small in this beautifully massive environment.My Blog - Geographer ThinkingFor those with a thirst for something extra, there are various add-on adventure options that allow travelers to personalize their journey. These include overnight camping trips on the ice, where the true meaning of “disconnecting” can be fully understood.
Is Siberia colder than Antarctica?
allmost the same
What is the origin and meaning of the term antarctic?
The name Antarctica is a romanized version of the Greek compound word Αntarktiké (Aνταρκτική), meaning "Opposite of the Arctic"[The Arctic is the region around the Earth's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. The Arctic includes the Arctic Ocean (which overlies the North Pole) and parts of Canada, Greenland (a territory of Denmark), Russia, the United States (Alaska), Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The word Arctic comes from the Greek word arktos (άρκτος) , which means bear. This is due to the location of the constellation (a group of stars) Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", above the Arctic region]. Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Mikhail Lazarev and Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. However, the continent remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by twelve countries; to date, forty-six countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists of many nationalities and with different research interests.
Is Antarctica getting larger and colder now?
Some parts are growing but other larger parts are still shrinking. What you need to put into the calculation is a change in the weather, and as I understand it warmer climate all over the world increases the precipitation around the poles, some areas will even get a colder climate temporarily before it turns warmer. The precipitation being the reason why some parts of Antarctica is growing. Add snow to an already cold climate and it will melt slower even if the area is warmer than it usually is. A difference between -32 and -30 is still below freezing. That it is happening is not proof that there is no Global Warming happening it's the opposite, it's proof that scientists have been correct in their calculations. In the northern parts of the world close to the Arctic you'll have more rain that usually in the future and this has also started to happen. The Arctic area is already warmer because of ocean currents and other factors playing in so the glaciers there won't grow as they do in Antarctica. A warmer world will make more water vaporize and that water has to go somewhere, so warmer doesn't mean dryer, not at first. It will rain and snow more in some areas and that will make them temporarily colder even though the world over all is becoming warmer. Another interesting thing is that deserts such as Sahara might turn green again in the future because of this. All those who live in dry and barren areas might sit on the future of this world when it comes to growing crops and so on, if the global warming continues as it does now.
Can theropods tolerate the cold environments?
They certainly do today. Penguins live in Antarctica, pretty cold. And there are birds at the North pole too. Birds are theropod dinosaurs, so they count.Plenty of non avian theropods had feathers too, and we know some of them lives in colder climates. Even the makes ones would be able to tolerate the cold better than modern reptiles because they would have been warm blooded. Big ones like Tyrannosaurs would have enough body mass to stay warm throughout a cold spell as well.
It seems Antarctica is protected from exploration by humans because of environmental concerns (beyond 60th parallel). Should we not do the same protection for the arctics to preserve our environment and prevent global warming from human activities?
You think Antarctica hasn’t been explored?It’s COMPLETELY explored.There are over 60,000 scientists working there.People just don’t go there for other reasons, because they have no reason.As for the “arctics,” here’s a map of them:As you can see, all lands are nationally owned, and so they’re really not subject to being international wildlife preserves.I don’t think many Danish, Icelandic, Canadian, Alaskan, Swedish or other governments are going to appreciate being told what to do by a bunch of tree-huggers.
If you cry in Antarctica, would it stab/harm your eyes due to the tears instantaneously freezing?
In general, when the wind-chill is 32 degrees and above, it's safe to be outside. In temperatures 13 degrees to 31 degrees, indoor breaks should happen every 20-30 minutes. For wind-chills of 13 degrees and below it is too cold to remain outside for long at all.In Antarctica, the average annual temperature ranges from -76 degrees Fahrenheit at the most elevated parts of the interior to 14 degrees along the coast. In very cold areas like Antarctica where temperatures can easily go well below zero Fahrenheit skin is not exposed to atmospheric conditions but is completely covered because this is the only way people can get anything done outside under such cold conditions. For this reason, even in Alaska where temperatures do not get this cold people remain mostly indoors during the colder seasons. Only native Alaskans learned to endure and live in these freezing cold conditions year round. Only in recent years, with discoveries of oil and other resources along with the modern equipment and conveniences to exploit these resources has the Alaskan population significantly increased. Antarctica is colder and even more remote than Alaska.