Research on the EDGE LOUISE SPILSBURY POLAR REGIONS
4 The polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic are the coldest most remote places on Earth They are dangerous isolated and incredibly difficult environments for humans to live in In spite of this some researchers brave the elements and work at the Poles From North to South The Arctic is a huge frozen ocean The North Pole is here In summer the edges of the ocean melt but in winter the whole area is completely frozen Antarctica is Earth’s fifth-largest continent covering 5 4 million square miles 14 million km2 It has the coldest windiest climate on Earth The land is covered with an ice sheet more than 2 miles 3 km thick In winter the surface of the ocean around the land freezes over The South Pole is Antarctica WORKING IN AN ICE WORLD Polar bears are the largest and strongest land carnivores in the world The icy Poles are beautiful but they are tough and terrifying places to live in
5 Visiting Scientists Scientists from all over the world visit the Arctic and Antarctic to study the polar lands They examine wildlife and how animals survive life in this natural freezer and look at how climate change is affecting these regions This book looks at how scientists do their research who pays for it what researchers do with their results and some of the discoveries they have made DANGER Arctic researchers have to be on the lookout for polar bears Polar bears do not normally attack humans but a starving bear would catch and kill prey as big as a person in order to feed itself and its hungry cubs A polar bear can outrun a human and kill a person with one swipe of its powerful paws and massive claws Working with strangers in a barren harsh environment far from family and home is challenging but scientists come here because the Arctic and Antarctic are perfect places for them to carry out their research
