Portal:Antarctica/Selected article

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Portal:Antarctica/Selected article/1

The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, generally known as the Discovery Expedition, was an official British exploration mission to the Antarctic regions. The main objectives of the expedition were summarised in the joint committee's "Instructions to the Commander" in the following terms: "to determine, as far as possible, the nature, condition and extent of that portion of the south polar lands which is included in the scope of your expedition", and "to make a magnetic survey in the southern regions to the south of the 40th parallel and to carry out meteorological, oceanographic, geological, biological and physical investigations and researches". The expedition launched the Antarctic careers of many who would become leading figures in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including Robert Falcon Scott (who led the expedition), Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean, and William Lashly.

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Portal:Antarctica/Selected article/2

The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth. It lies on the continent of Antarctica. For most purposes, the Geographic South Pole is defined as the southern point of the two points where the earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface (the other being the Geographic North Pole). The Geographic South Pole is marked by a small sign and a stake in the ice pack, which are repositioned each year on New Year’s Day to compensate for the movement of the ice. The Ceremonial South Pole is an area set aside for photo opportunities at the South Pole Station. It is located a short distance from the Geographic South Pole, and consists of a metallic sphere on a plinth, surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty signatory states. The ceremonial marker is moved every two to three years to keep the walking distance to the Geographical South Pole minimal.

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Portal:Antarctica/Selected article/3

The climate of Antarctica is the coldest climate on Earth. It is colder than that of the Arctic regions because of the elevation, continental influence, and the fact that the Antarctic winter currently occurs when the Earth is just past its aphelion. The Antarctic climate is also extremely dry, with an average of only 166 mm (6.55 in.) of precipitation per year; however, on most parts of the continent, the snow never melts and is eventually compressed to become the glacial ice that makes up the Antarctic ice sheet. The lowest natural temperature recorded on the continent (and consequently on Earth) was −89.2°C (−128.6°F), recorded on Thursday, July 21, 1983, at Vostok Station. The highest recorded natural temperature on the continent was 14.6°C (58.3°F) in two places, Hope Bay and Vanda Station, on January 5, 1974. The mean annual temperature of the continental interior is −57°C (−70°F), but the coast is warmer on average. In fact, McMurdo Station on Ross Island experiences a summer daytime average temperature of −3°C (26.6°F). The continent's unique location and its ice sheet are of ongoing interest to science that is engaged in climatology and global warming studies.

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Portal:Antarctica/Selected article/4

The geodesic dome at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, under the aurora australis (the Southern Lights).

Polar night is a phenomenon resulting from the axial tilt of the Earth respective to the Sun, where the Sun does not rise above the horizon during any 24 hour period in the regions of the Earth in proximity to the poles. The length of this time when the sun is constantly below the horizon varies from 20 hours at locations on the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle to 179 days at the geographic poles. The period of polar night can trigger depression in some people. People who suffer from seasonal affective disorder are particularly susceptible.