How Antarctica Froze Over

Antarctica, once lush and warm, is now a frozen continent due to tectonic shifts, ocean currents, and CO2 fluctuations. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current and global cooling led to ice sheet formation. Plankton played a role in carbon sequestration, contributing to the climate shift. The ice sheets' high albedo created a positive feedback loop, further cooling the region.

What was Antarctica's environment like around 100 million years ago?

• A barren desert

• A tropical island

• A lush forest with diverse wildlife

• A frozen wasteland

What major ocean current is associated with Antarctica's cooling?

• The North Atlantic Drift

• The Kuroshio Current

• The Gulf Stream

• The Antarctic Circumpolar Current

What global event is referred to as the Big Chill?

• The Great Freeze

• The Big Chill

• The Little Ice Age

• The Ice Age

How did the uplift of the Himalayas contribute to Antarctica's cooling?

• By exposing rocks to chemical weathering

• By blocking warm air currents

• By redirecting ocean currents

• By increasing volcanic activity

What role do plankton play in the carbon cycle related to Antarctica's climate?

• They increase the temperature of ocean waters

• They have no impact on the carbon cycle

• They release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

• They consume carbon dioxide and store it in their shells

What is the effect of ice's high albedo on Antarctica's climate?

• It absorbs more sunlight, warming the region

• It causes more ice to melt

• It reflects sunlight, cooling the region

• It has no effect on the climate

What is a positive feedback loop in the context of ice formation?

• A cycle where more ice leads to further ice growth

• A system where ice prevents further cooling

• A process where ice melts faster

• A loop that decreases ice formation