Florent Lefortier answered
Antarctica is really important to scientists for several reasons. I couldn't possibly list them all, but here are a few of the main ones:
A Vast, Uninhabited Area
Antarctica is a huge continent - it covers about 10% of the Earth’s surface. Due to the lack of human life, it’s also the least-polluted place on the planet.
History of the Earth
The freezing temperatures of the Antarctic make it an ideal place to find well-preserved prehistoric fossils. Unfortunately, gathering fossils from the Antarctic is a very difficult business!
The geology of Antarctica teaches us a lot about how the world used to be. In the Late Mesozoic period - about 65 million years ago - the Antarctic had a similar climate to today’s New Zealand. We’re able to know this thanks to fossilized plants that have been found in the area.
Antarctica and the Atmosphere
Due to the low levels of pollution, Antarctica is a great place for scientists to study the Earth’s atmosphere. When researching things like ozone damage and climate change, there isn’t a better place for scientists to go than Antarctica!
Animals and Ecosystems
We learn a lot from the wildlife in Antarctica, too - for example, the way that fish have adapted to the freezing water. This in turn teaches us about evolution, and how lifeforms adapt to their environments.
A Vast, Uninhabited Area
Antarctica is a huge continent - it covers about 10% of the Earth’s surface. Due to the lack of human life, it’s also the least-polluted place on the planet.
History of the Earth
The freezing temperatures of the Antarctic make it an ideal place to find well-preserved prehistoric fossils. Unfortunately, gathering fossils from the Antarctic is a very difficult business!
The geology of Antarctica teaches us a lot about how the world used to be. In the Late Mesozoic period - about 65 million years ago - the Antarctic had a similar climate to today’s New Zealand. We’re able to know this thanks to fossilized plants that have been found in the area.
Antarctica and the Atmosphere
Due to the low levels of pollution, Antarctica is a great place for scientists to study the Earth’s atmosphere. When researching things like ozone damage and climate change, there isn’t a better place for scientists to go than Antarctica!
Animals and Ecosystems
We learn a lot from the wildlife in Antarctica, too - for example, the way that fish have adapted to the freezing water. This in turn teaches us about evolution, and how lifeforms adapt to their environments.
