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Location: The Valley Of The Sun just east of Canberra
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Esperanza, it would be slightly snowier year round. A pretty moist climate for Antarctica, but not surprising given that it lies at the extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula. BTW, Esperanza just qualifies as a tundra (ET) climate as its mean temps in Dec-Feb are just above freezing.
I apologize, both of these climates are polar tundra. Esperanza base has a thawing period during the summer months,it is not an ice-capped climate like I said in previous post.
I choose Esperanza. Snowfall is likely higher there than on Barter Island. Winters are too cold for my taste on Barter Island, whereas Esperanza has winters that are about right. There isn't much difference to the quality of the summers in the two places, as both are warm enough to cause snowmelt. Esperanza probably also has its share of mild days suitable for summertime activities, or as close to summertime activities as you can get in a tundra. Both of them aren't bad by my standards, but Esperanza takes the prize. I'd gladly choose either of them over anywhere in the tropics or Florida.
Kaul, perhaps for your next climate battle, if you're so inclined, you could include McMurdo Station as the representative of moderate ice cap climates.
Esperanza Base, by a long shot. The temps aren't bad, it's just a year-round winter (with some early spring temps during the "summer" months), plus the Antarctic Peninsula has mountains and I just saw some awesome pictures of a skiing/snowboarding trip there. On the other hand, Barter island is on a flat, mosquitoey coastal plain, it's too cold (to me) during the winter for much outdoor fun, and then it warms up way too fast and the snow melts. That's winter done wrong, right there.
Esperanza Base is much better in pretty much every way. More snowfall, windchill isn't as bad, reasonable temperatures, more daylight in winter...no bugs whatsoever.
I was about 100 miles west of Barter Island in September and...um...yeah probably not the best time of year to go (no snow, VERY muddy, cold drizzle/snow flurries). No mosquitoes though which was a plus.
Esperanza has glaciers and mountains anyway...Barter island is ugly.
Esperanza for the more moderate temperatures and higher preciptiation.
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