Book 18, Question 25
Why Are Some Valleys in Antarctica Free of Ice and Snow?
Some valleys in Antarctica have no ice or snow because mountains block the glaciers and strong winds blow the snow away! They are called the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Let's visit.
More fun facts
- Only about 2 percent of Antarctica is free of ice.
- The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest ice free area on the continent, with about 2,000 square kilometers of bare ground.
- The Transantarctic Mountains act like a wall, blocking the giant East Antarctic Ice Sheet from flowing in and covering the valleys.
- Very little snow falls there, only about 3 to 50 millimeters of water's worth in a year.
- Much of the little snow that lands is lost to the dry air before it can ever melt into streams.
- Strong winds called katabatic winds rush down from the high polar plateau into the valleys.
- These winds can warm the air by 30 degrees Celsius in just a few hours.
- Because so little water stays on the ground, scientists call the Dry Valleys an extreme polar desert.
Sources: PDX
Questions kids ask
Where do the Dry Valleys get the most snow?
Snowfall is highest near the coast and gets smaller farther inland.