Antarctic Hydrosphere
The Antarctic Hydrosphere is one of the key factors when considering Antarctica as a continent as it has major impacts on not only its own continent but the worlds hydrology.
Antarctica has ~95% of the worlds fresh water locked up in ice sheets, and on average is loosing 160 billion metric tons of ice each year from melting and ice calving. (11) The balance of the hydrosphere is very susceptible to change, especially from changes in the Atmosphere. A slight change in the atmosphere can cause a huge change in the Hydrosphere, not only in Antarctica but also the whole world. If the whole of the West Antarctic Ice sheet melted it would raise sea level world wide by about 5 m. (12)
The Hydrosphere In Antarctica doesn't have a lot of precipitation and when it does it comes in the form of snow. At Scott's Base they have ~41 days of precipitation, "when precipitation has surpassed 1 mm per day is defined as a day with precipitation. ((Weather statistics for Scott's Base Antarctica) (14)" However it is hard to measure the exact amount of precipitation that happens due to the wind, it is estimated that Antarctica as a continent receives 150 mm of precipitation per year. (15)
The Hydrosphere In Antarctica doesn't have a lot of precipitation and when it does it comes in the form of snow. At Scott's Base they have ~41 days of precipitation, "when precipitation has surpassed 1 mm per day is defined as a day with precipitation. ((Weather statistics for Scott's Base Antarctica) (14)" However it is hard to measure the exact amount of precipitation that happens due to the wind, it is estimated that Antarctica as a continent receives 150 mm of precipitation per year. (15)
Larsen Ice shelf
The Larsen Ice Sheet was a 3,250 square km, 200 m thick ice shelf that melted over one summer. The cause of this is considered to be warming air temperatures, about 3 degrees increase on the antarctic peninsular, which caused the ice shelf to become unstable and rapidly melt. This happened by melting ice gathering on the surface and pushing its way into cracks in the ice where it freezes and thaws creating cracks that split off into ice bergs. (13)
For more information about the Hydrosphere check out the article links in 'Test Your knowledge'
(32) Youtube Clip