The ice shelf during the time of swells in the sea , rotates about this region. Such rotations are said to be responsible for the formation of cracks in the ice shelf as well as in the formation of small and big icebergs.
Climate: .
The climatic characteristics of the Antarctic continent are determined by its polar position and its isolation . The Amundsen-Scott station of the USA , located at the geographic pole at 90 degree S experiences a polar day & a polar night of six months each. The duration gradually reduces in the lower latitudes in coastal regions. Although the South Pole receives a continuos sunshine for six months it does not result into heating up the continent because most of the sunshine is reflected back into space by the snow-covered ice sheet.
Antarctica is the coldest continent. The world's lowest temperature of -89.6 degree Celsius was recorded in July 1983 at Vostok, which is the Russian Base in the interior in East Antarctica at the South Geomagnetic pole. It has a very short summer from November to February, and a very long winter from March to October . The temperature in the interior always remains much below the freezing point , whereas in the coastal region ,during peak summer , short spells of an hour or two of above 0 degree Celsius are also experienced. .
Antarctica is also the windiest continent. Cold, heavy air tends to drain the slopes of ice & snow surfaces, blowing coastward from the interior. Cyclonic storms form over the southern ocean and move clockwise around the continental coast. Because of the great strength of this circulation system , the ocean area from about 40 degrees to near the Antarctic circle at 66 degrees S has the strongest sustained winds found anywhere on the earth.
In the coastal areas of the continent , high velocity winds turn into severe blizzards which are frequent throughout the year especially during winter months.
