Ice-Free Antarctica: Visualization (2012)

A 3-minute visualisation of the ice-free regions of Antarctica commissioned by the Australian Antarctic Division for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XXXV.

These regions are home to the terrestrial biodiversity of the Antarctic continent, but cover only 0.41% of the continental territory – the rest is ice. Of the 50850km2 that is ice-free, only 5970km2 lies within 5km of the coast – or 0.05%. As a proportion of land, spread across a vast continent, separated by impenetrable regions of ice, it is almost impossible for us to grasp in our imagination.

Understanding the extremely rarity of these regions is key to understanding the potential for adverse human impacts in these unique areas of the world and the importance of their continued study.

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