WEST ANTARCTICA

(Redirected from Western Antarctica)
'West Antarctica', or 'Lesser Antarctica' (), is one of the two major regions of Antarctica, lying on the Pacific Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains and comprising Marie Byrd Land, Ellsworth Land, and Antarctic Peninsula. All of West Antarctica lies within the Western Hemisphere. It is separated from the main land mass of the continent by the Ross Sea and Weddell Sea, and resembles a giant peninsula that stretches roughly from the South Pole towards the southern tip of South America.
The name has existed for more than 90 years (Balch, 1902; Nordenskiöld, 1905), but its greatest use followed the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) and explorations disclosing that the Transantarctic Mountains provide a useful regional separation of West Antarctica and East Antarctica. The name was approved by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1962.
West Antarctica is basically one massive ice sheet referred to as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). This ice sheet has become increasingly unstable due to global warming and is sometimes referred to as the 'Awakened Giant'.^[1]
The parts of West Antarctica not covered with ice (mostly Antarctic Peninsula) constitute a tundra-type biodiversity region known as 'Marielandia' (after the Marie Byrd Land).

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1. Antarctic ice sheet is an 'awakened giant', ''New Scientist'' 02 February 2005

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★ Marielandia Antarctic tundra