Blue Life

By Rick Derrick

 Antarctica is larger than or Europe and encompasses 10 percent of the world’s land mass. Antarctica is both vast and forbidding with temperatures as low as minus 89 degrees and wind speeds up to 192 mph. The Southern Ocean surrounds the continent of Antarctica.

The waters off Antarctica are nutrient rich and provide sustenance for innumerable penguins, whales, seals, dolphins, fish and various species of flying birds. Trapped beneath the massive ice shelves, micro organisms, also more commonly known as krill, multiply. Krill is one of the main foods for whales, seals and penguins and is even eaten by humans in Japan.

The wildlife of Antarctica must be equipped to endure its harsh climate, since it is the most arid, bitterly freezing, and windiest continent. Antarctica holds the highest average elevation for any continent, and is perhaps the driest with only approximately 200mm of precipitation along the coast each year. Animals which have learned to survive and thrive in these brutal weather conditions include penguins and seals.

A quirk of mother nature has rendered Antartica critical to the survival of mankind. Antarctica has a high pressure atmosphere which means the molecules which compose the atmosphere are highly concentrated, thus the Greenhouse Effect over Antarctica is more pronounced. The sun’s luminous energy is soaked up at the Earth’s poles near the exterior, making things a little warmer.

The Earth’s atmosphere composition is approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Carbon dioxide and methane are also present in small amounts. These gasses trap the heat from the sun’s rays and make the ground warmer. The greenhouse effect is the name we give this phenomenon.

Because of the so-called “slingshot effect” at the equator, the regions around the poles build up methane and carbon dioxide faster than more temperate regions of the earth. In the Antarctic, the rise in temperature resulting from the Greenhouse Effect is 4 times more than then the rising temperatures in temperate zones, making it the optimal place for further research on the Greenhouse Effect.

The height of the ice on the continent is over 15,000 feet. It is the formulation of centuries upon centuries of accumulated and compressed snowfall. Drilling in order to research core samples of prehistoric air bubbles and atomic isotopes is revealing vast amounts of information on prehistoric eras.

The notorious gap in the ozone layer is a result of injecting many coolants into the surrounding atmospheric area with severe negative consequences. Such gases destroy the protective layer of ozone surrounding Earth’s atmosphere, and causes temperatures to rise. Large chunks of the ice layers have split or sever thanks to the warming effect.

Those ice bergs then float north and slowly melt. Sea levels then become higher as a result of the ice liquefying into water. In addition, valuable amounts of the nutritious krill are destroyed.

If all of the ice in Antarctica melts, scientists estimate that the seas will rise at least 180 feet. Essentially, this would make New York seem like Venice, with water reaching the 20th floor of the skyscrapers. Countries that are more low lying, like Bangladesh and the archipelagos of the South Pacific, would disappear entirely.

Antarctica is a breathtaking land of exquisite beauty that touches everyone who visits it. The wildlife is not even disturbed by the humans walking about. The combination of natural magnificence and the purity of the wildlife is something to treasure.

The fervent hope is that Antartica can be protected by future civilizations so that this goregeous area will survive intact. Sadly, we see that the continent’s deterioration has been put into motion many, many years ago. There is hope, though, in the relief efforts of many countries standing alongside one another to achieve and maintain a solidly supported foundation and lasting future for Antarctica.

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10 Important Travel Tips

By Roberto Garabell

 Going on vacation is always exciting and there is usually a fair amount of preparation that goes into it. When you are on vacation, you want to make sure you can make the most of it. Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Research Your Destination

You needn’t read a guide book cover to cover as some quick internet research will do. Find out what the local language is and if it isn’t English, learn a few phrases so that you can get by. Also, find out about local banking systems, if they accept foreign currencies, or where you can exchange your dollars for local currency. Ideally, you should also look up the exchange rates and find out from your travel agent the cost of bottled water or soft drinks. This is generally a good indicator of how expensive a destination is and will help you budget in terms of the spending money you should bring.

2. Don’t Pack the Kitchen Sink

Researching your destination will help you in deciding what to pack. Make sure you know what the luggage allowance is. In most destinations outside of the U.S., the flight allowance is one bag weighing no more than 20 kilograms. If you are going on a safari or trekking trip, often that allowance is reduced to 15 kilograms and only soft bags are allowed. Pack clothes that suit the activities you plan to partake in. Wear neutral colors if you will be wildlife viewing. Also, consider what season you will be travelling during and if the weather is very variable at that time of year. Find out if you will need a sun hat or rain jacket. Leave hairdryers at home. Most hotels from three stars upwards will have hairdryers in the rooms that you can use. Also, keep in mind that most countries operate on different voltages so if you do take your hair dryer, you won’t be able to use them anyway. Choose smaller travel bottles for items such as shampoo and conditioner. This will save you both space and weight.

3. Respect the Local Customs

It’s particularly important to read up on the dress code and local customs when visiting a foreign country. In many Middle Eastern, African, Asian and Far Eastern countries, people tend to dress more conservatively, especially women. Be aware of gestures that may be offensive such as pointing or even holding hands. Also, don’t assume people are less intelligent just because they don’t speak or understand what you are saying; most often it’s simply a language barrier. Remember, you are guest in their homeland and it’s therefore important to respect their traditions and customs. Always ask permission before photographing locals as some cultures are superstitious about cameras and will get upset if you take their photograph. Often, in poorer communities, a tip or gratuity is expected after you take a photo of someone.

4. Leave Your Valuables at Home

Items such as jewelry are best left at home. Ostentatious displays of wealth will make you are target for thieves in even the most civilized of countries. It also allows you to enjoy your holiday more if you are not worrying about losing your precious pendant or ring.

5. Always Keep an eye on Your Travel Bags

Get a small travel lock for your bags and make sure your bags are secure whenever travelling between destinations. Some airports offer bag wrapping which is probably one of the most effective ways of ensuring that your bag doesn’t get tampered with. Some countries have strict import and export customs, and they will often search bags at random. Make sure you are aware of import and export allowances. Don’t leave your bags unattended in airports, hotel lobbies and other public places.

6. Back up Your Memories

Take a spare memory card and use the hotel business center or local internet cafe to download your pictures. In this way, if your camera is damaged in any way or stolen, at least you have a backup of your photographs and memories of your travels. A camera can be replaced but your photographs cannot be replaced.

7. Always Plan to get to the Airport Early

Traffic in big cities is notoriously bad and public transport could be delayed. Get there a little early and know you are on your flight instead of rushing to try get there on time. If you miss your flight, you may end up having to buy a new ticket and that can be very expensive.

8. Don’t Keep all Your Money in one Place

Many people travel with safety pouches that can be kept around their waists. The best option is to have a pouch that fits under your clothes so that it can’t be seen. Take out just enough money for the day and put this in a small purse with one of your credit cards. You can then use this for purchases without having to dig in your pouch and show everyone where your money is.

9. Have a Travel Notebook

Before you leave, buy a small hardcover pocket notebook. This is handy to make notes on the various places you’ve visited, keep an account of travelling expenses, and take addresses of people you may meet along the way and want to keep in contact with.

10. Experience the Local Scene

Don’t remain tucked away in your hotel room or tour bus. The best way to experience a destination is to go to a local restaurant, visit a market or simply stroll down the street. Naturally, it’s a good idea to first check if the area is safe to do so.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. With the many playa del carmen hotels available today, how can you determine which is right for you? Visit online today and we’ll help you narrow down the selection.You can also stay up to date with bookit.com on FaceBook.

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