Ascension : Kids Klub
Submitted by The Islander (Sarah Coverdale) 18.01.2007 (Article Archived on 01.02.2007)

Today is the anniversary of Robert Scott reaching the South Pole in 1912.

The polar regions represent the harshest climate known to man especially that of the Antarctic, which surrounds the South Pole.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in nature was at Vostock in the Antarctic where an incredible –88°C (-126°F) was measured at a Soviet research station.

The harshness of the environment was tragically emphasised in 1912 when Captain Scott and his companions perished in those lonely polar wastes. Not surprisingly very little wildlife has chosen to make this bleak landscape its home. One animal that does survive there is the emperor penguin.  It experiences long, dark winters with no sun and long summers when it is transformed in the 'Land of the Midnight Sun' and the sun never sets.  A bit different to here on Ascension where the sun has a pretty regular 12 hour slot – can anyone work out why that might be? 

Snow and Ice quiz.

1.Water freezes from

a.      the top down

b.     the bottom up

c.     only on the surface

2.How many basic shapes of snow crystal are there?

a.      12

b.     7

c.     5

 3.Snowflakes are

a.      Never the same shape

b.     Sometimes the same shape

c.     Always the same shape

 4.Where do penguins live?

a.      The Artic

b.     The Antarctic

c.     Both

 5.Snow is white because

a.      It is formed in white clouds

b.     It’s the way it reflects light

c.     It picks up light from the stars.