explain what biome comprises most antarctica and why the continent is described as being o this biome
Most of Antarctica is comprised of the polar ice biome. The continent is described as being in this biome primarily because it is covered by an extensive ice sheet known as the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
The polar ice biome is typically characterized by extremely cold temperatures, high winds, and a lack of vegetation. In Antarctica specifically, the average temperature hovers around -49 degrees Celsius (-56 degrees Fahrenheit) during winter and -28 degrees Celsius (-18 degrees Fahrenheit) during summer. The continent experiences high winds called katabatic winds, which can reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour).
The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which extends over most of the continent, is the largest ice mass on Earth, covering an area of approximately 14 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles). This ice sheet averages a thickness of 2,160 meters (7,087 feet) and can reach depths of up to 4,776 meters (15,669 feet) in some areas. The ice sheet is formed primarily by the accumulation of snowfall over many thousands of years.
Due to these extreme conditions and the dominance of ice, very few plants and animals can survive in Antarctica. The only native terrestrial animals include a few species of mites, insects, and a type of wingless midge. Marine life, on the other hand, is abundant around Antarctica, with diverse populations of fish, whales, seals, and penguins that rely on the nutrient-rich waters of the Southern Ocean.
Overall, the ice-dominated landscape and harsh environmental conditions make Antarctica a prime example of the polar ice biome.