Because I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure...would be not to explore at all.
-Sir Ernest Shackleton
Quotes.nethttps://www.quotes.net › mquote
-Sir Ernest Shackleton
Quotes.nethttps://www.quotes.net › mquote
Arctic
In the northern polar region, the water and ice of the Arctic Ocean are surrounded by land. Depending on the season, much or all of the Arctic Ocean is covered by a layer of sea ice, ranging in thickness from a few inches to over six feet, which is always shifting as it floats on the ocean's surface. On the adjacent land, communities of native peoples have thrived for thousands of years by adapting to life along the edge of the ice.
Polar Bear Polar bears have two layers of fur, plus a layer of blubber to keep them warm in the coldest weather, and black skin to absorb the heat. They have hollow guard hairs that keep fur from matting when it gets wet. In fact, polar bears are more concerned about overheating than about getting cold. Because they are such strong swimmers, polar bears earned the species name of Ursus maritimus—bears of the sea. They can swim for miles and stay submerged for two minutes at a time.
|
WalrusA thick layer of blubber keeps walruses warm in the Arctic. Both male and female walruses have strong long tusks that they use to help pull themselves out of the water. They can also use their tusks to break through the ice to create breathing holes. Walruses forage on the seafloor, diving to depths up to 180 meters (590 feet) for clams, cockles, and mussels. They use highly sensitive whiskers on their snouts to locate food.
|
NarwhalA narwhal is a toothed whale and is closely related to dolphins, porpoises, and orcas. The famous tusk is actually a specialized tooth that protrudes out of the left lip, and in rare cases, a narwhal can have two. The longest tusks can reach over eight feet long (2.4 meters).
|
https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/poles/arctic-and-antarctic
AnTarctic
The southern polar region has the opposite geography, with the huge landmass of Antarctica surrounded by the turbulent Southern Ocean. All but one or two percent of Antarctic land is covered by glaciers, some of which are more than 15,000 feet (4,700 meters) thick. In the Antarctic, the only human residents are scientists and technicians at isolated research stations whose food must be shipped in by boat.
Emperor PenguinsEmperors are the largest of all penguins—about half the height of adult humans. Among the hardiest of the polar creatures, the male emperor penguin is the only animal that remains throughout the winter on the Antarctic continent. The female penguins leave the males to protect their one egg and cope with wind chill temperatures of -60°C (-76°F).
|
IcefishIn oxygen-rich Antarctic waters, ice fish can withstand temperatures that would freeze the cells of other fish. They have no hemoglobin—the oxygen-carrying protein that makes red blood cells red. In the absence of hemoglobin the gills of ice fish appear white. The ice fish instead have special blood that contains proteins that act like antifreeze.
|
Weddell SealsWeddell seals spend much of their time below the Antarctic ice. They have the southernmost range of any seal, but find the chilly waters rich with the prey they seek. These seals do not migrate often and are commonly found within a few miles of their birthplace.
|
https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/poles/arctic-and-antarctic
Shared Species
Arctic TernThe Arctic Tern could really be called the Arctic-Antarctic Tern. It has the longest migration of all birds, flying from breeding grounds near the North Pole to wintering grounds off Antarctica. That's a journey of about 40,000 km (25,000 miles), often made in less than four months.
|
OrcaThey are the largest of the dolphins, and powerful predators. Orcas travel in pods of up to 40 related individuals. These pods act like wolf packs - working together to take down prey, including seals and larger whales. Orcas communicate through a wide range of sounds, and each pod has an audio signature that members can recognize from far away.
|
Threats to the Poles
OVERFISHINgAround the world—including in the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica—humans are taking fish out of the water faster than fish can reproduce and be replaced. In the Barents Sea, a relatively undisturbed area north of Norway and Russia, overfishing has led to a decline of fish species and threatened the future of important fisheries such as cod.
|
CLIMATE CHANGEClimate change is already altering Arctic habitats. The region has warmed by nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900, and continues to warm two to three times faster than the average for the rest of the world. Summer ice cover is shrinking, permafrost is melting and coastlines have been exposed to erosion. Animals such as polar bears and walruses are losing habitat. Sea ice is also disappearing in Antarctica, where its loss threatens to wipe out the penguin species that live there.
|
POLLUTIONPollutants from human activities tend to make their way to polar regions, transported via ocean currents, migratory birds and other means. Marine debris, which can entangle wildlife, may stick around for long periods as the region’s extended, dark and cold winters inhibit the breakdown of chemicals. In addition, toxic contaminants become concentrated as they move up the food chain—a process called biomagnification—and are highest in top predators, such as polar bears. At the very top of the food chain, humans are also exposed to high levels of these toxins in traditional Arctic foods.
|
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENTThe Arctic holds some of the world’s largest untapped oil and gas reserves, but getting to those precious resources—whether on land or offshore—can have devastating environmental impacts. Infrastructure for these development projects can destroy habitat, fragment migration routes, and drain freshwater resources. And when something goes wrong and an oil spill occurs, Arctic wildlife can be killed and habitat contaminated for years.
|