The Driest Continent
Antarctica is the driest continent in the world and is therefore described by scientists as a `cold desert' as it receives less than the equivalent of 50 mm of rain a year.
Why is Antarctica so dry? As moist air approaches Antarctica, it cools, becomes denser and cannot hold moisture. With decreasing temperatures, this process continues, until there is no moisture left. Once this air reaches the continent, it is forced upwards into the colder atmosphere, due to the topography of the land. Any moisture that does remain in the air at this stage generally falls on the coast and the interior remains cold and dry.
Dry Valleys - BAS
In one part of Antarctica known as the Dry Valleys in the Ross Dependency, it hasn’t rained or snowed for over 2 million years and it is the driest place on Earth!
Because the air in Antarctica is so dry and cold, organic things stay preserved. Huts and provisions belonging to explorers such as Scott and Shackleton are still pretty much as they left them and scientists have found the bodies of perfectly preserved seals that died hundreds of years ago after venturing too far inland.
BAS activities in Antarctica span a wide range of sciences. With its headquarters in Cambridge BAS runs two year-round and several summer-only stations, five aircraft, two ships and employs over 400 people to run and support the programme. In addition, the Royal Navy provides ship support with HMS ENDURANCE and her two helicopters.
435 landing - CPO `Rowly' Rowland watching
With an eye to the future, BAS makes topical and independent data and advice available to the UK Government from its research, long-term monitoring and survey activities. Planned on a five-year timetable, the latest BAS programme is described in the booklet “Global Science in the Antarctic Context, British Antarctic Survey Core Programme 2005 –2010” and can be downloaded from the BAS website.
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