cover of episode Antarctica’s Dry Valleys (Encore)

Antarctica’s Dry Valleys (Encore)

2024/9/29
logo of podcast Everything Everywhere Daily

Everything Everywhere Daily
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
主
主持人
专注于电动车和能源领域的播客主持人和内容创作者。
Topics
主持人：南极洲麦克默多干谷是地球上气候最极端的地方之一，其干燥程度甚至超过阿塔卡马沙漠，近200万年来几乎没有降水。这种极端干燥的环境主要由低温、横贯南极山脉的阻挡作用以及强烈的下降风共同造成。然而，令人惊讶的是，研究人员在干谷中发现了各种各样的微生物生命，它们适应了极端的高盐度、缺氧等环境条件。这些微生物有的生活在岩石内部，有的则在短暂的夏季利用融化的冰川水进行新陈代谢。干谷中存在一些盐度极高的湖泊，例如维塔湖，其冰盖厚度达21米。这些发现表明，生命可以在地球上几乎任何环境中生存，也为寻找火星上的生命提供了新的线索，因为火星上也存在类似的极端环境，例如间歇性流动的盐水。麦克默多干谷的独特地质特征、极端气候条件以及生命迹象使其成为研究地球过去和地外生命潜力的重要场所。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Antarctica's Dry Valleys stand out as the driest place on Earth due to a combination of low temperatures, the trans-Antarctic mountains blocking precipitation, and katabatic winds. These winds, intensified by gravity, sublimate any ice or snow, preventing it from melting and contributing to the dryness.
  • The Dry Valleys haven't seen precipitation in 2 million years.
  • Katabatic winds can reach speeds of up to 320 kmph (200 mph).
  • The trans-Antarctic mountains block ice flow, creating ice-free valleys.

Shownotes Transcript

Many places on Earth have extreme climates. However, there is one place on Earth that has a climate so extreme that it is the closest thing to it might be on another planet. 

Despite having the most inhospitable and unforgiving climate on Earth, researchers have been shocked at what they’ve found there. Their discoveries might help pave the way to finding life outside our world.

Learn more about the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, how they came to be, and what makes them so unique on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

Sponsors

  • Plan your next trip to Spain at Spain.info)!

  • Sign up at butcherbox.com/daily) and use code daily to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in every order for a year plus $20 off your first order!

**Subscribe to the podcast! **

https://link.chtbl.com/EverythingEverywhere?sid=ShowNotes)

**Executive Producer: **Charles Daniel

**Associate Producers: **Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer

 

Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere)

Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com)

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/)

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip)

Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)