Why do scientists visit Antarctica in December?

Why do scientists visit Antarctica in December?

December is a popular month for Antarctic travel as the warmer temperatures and increasingly long days breathe life back into the region. Wildlife numbers are increasing and hungry humpback whales start arriving. Look out for the first penguin chicks which start to hatch.

Why is it that expeditions to Antarctica are held in December and January?

Antarctica’s two seasons Due to the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun, Antarctica has two distinct seasons – winter and summer. For six months of the year Antarctica is surrounded by sea ice, making it all but impossible to get there.

What time of year do researchers travel to Antarctica?

The best time to visit Antarctica is between November and March – the months when the sun rises above the horizon, the sea ice melts enough to allow access, and the temperatures nudge above freezing.

When did tourism start in Antarctica?

How did tourism in Antarctica begin? Tourism to Antarctic coastal areas began in the late 1950s with Chile and Argentina carrying a few hundred fare-paying passengers to the South Shetland Islands. The first expedition to Antarctica with travellers was in 1966 and was lead by Lars Eric Lindblad.

What is the best time of year to go to Antarctica?

December is arguably the best month to visit Antarctica, with temperatures approaching their warmest (by Antarctic standards), long hours of daylight and wildlife active everywhere.

How cold is Antarctica in January?

January is the warmest month in Antarctica, when average temperatures climb all the way up to 0ºC (32ºF) in the Antarctic Peninsula. However, average temperatures range from -10ºC to -60ºC (14ºF to -76ºF), depending on how far into the continent you travel.

What time of year is best to visit Antarctica?

summer
The best time to travel to Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when you’ll see Antarctica’s wildlife at its busiest and benefit from up to 24 hours of daylight.

What is it like in Antarctica in January?

When should I visit Antarctica?

The best time to visit Antarctica is from late spring to early fall, which in the southern hemisphere is from October to March. The first voyages of the season reach Antarctica in late spring (end of October or early November) when the sea ice opens up just enough to allow ships into the pristine glacial landscapes.

Can you go to Antarctica in July?

When to visit Antarctica & when not to Whales are still plentiful in March; however, temperatures will be returning to their normal below freezing levels, with treacherous winds and endless nights culminating in the ‘no go’ months of April, May, June, July, August and September.

When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

Antarctica is accessible only in the summer season from November to March wgeb sea ice melts enough to allow access. During this time, temperatures can get up to 57°F and there are twenty-four hours of daylight, as opposed to the twenty-four hours of darkness in the foreboding winter.

What to see in Antarctica in the month of February?

You’ll see enormous Blue Whales, packs of Orcas hunting, Minke Whales cruising through the waters and many more species too. Towards the end of February, the weather begins to get much colder, but for most of the month, it’s a great time to be in Antarctica.

What do you need to know about Antarctica?

Antarctic encompasses the whole area south of 60°, which is comprised of islands, sea and ice shelves. A journey to the South Pole promises a land of extremes only the most adaptive travelers can handle.

What’s the weather like in Antarctica in December?

The weather is much more pleasant in December than in November, but temperatures are still low, this is Antarctica, remember. Travel further south, to the Antarctic Peninsula and you can enjoy 24 hours of daylight and experience the midnight sun, while you’ll still have the opportunity to see big icebergs and huge ice sheets in the south.