Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 12/22/2008 - 07:31
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Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

hi,my question is what is the average precipatation a year in antartica? FROM, Kyle Watson at the chestnut hill elementary school in fifth grade. Liverpool,New York

Mon, 12/22/2008 - 10:09

Jeff Peneston

Kyle,
I like your question, but you have to remember that Antarctica is bigger than the USA.  There is a huge range in snowfall depending on what part of Antarctica you look at.  Even in New York State where you live, there is a big range.   The people in Liverpool are used to about 10 feet of total snow in the average year but parts of Oswego County get twice as much and 50 miles south of you they get half as much.  Much of the CNY snow is caused by winter air coming from Canada that crosses the water of Lake Ontario before it get to you.  This makes the air moist and lake-effect snow to fall.  Most of the continent of Antarctica is a polar desert.  Most of the year it is dominated by high pressure air masses that give dry air, clear skies and little snow.  The South Pole at the Admunsen-Scott research base averages only about 2 feet for the whole year partly because they are many hundreds of miles from open ocean water and so there is no source for the moisture needed to make snow.  The Oden has been exploring the Amundsen Sea about 100 miles off the coast of Antarctica and here there is quite a bit of snow.  The ice floes here are about 10 months old and they are carrying an average of 3 feet of snow.  Some has melted so it is safe to say that this area receives much more snow than the interior of Antarctica.  
I hope everyone in your family has a great holiday.  Remember to keep reading my journals over the break.  There are new videos coming!
Take care,
Jeff Peneston