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I'm thinking the whole of Antartica would still be ice covered; the ice would flow to cover the warm regions and get replenished from the south. And the ice would cause a lot of local cooling.
Not even all of Greenland is completely ice covered and it's at a much further north latitude than Antarctica in my scenario. Why do you think all of antarctica would still be ice covered down to 43 latitude? That's close to the latitude where you are now!
Not even all of Greenland is completely ice covered and it's at a much further north latitude than Antarctica in my scenario. Why do you think all of antarctica would still be ice covered down to 43 latitude? That's close to the latitude where you are now!
Good point. Though, Greenland's ice sheet is only missing right near the coastal edges. Warmer ocean water is also nearby and it is more warmer air nearby.
I've changed my mind a bit, but it might be possible 43° could support a glacier under the right circumstances
Peninsula lush tree growth and a maritime climate similar to Buxton, but reversed. Glaciation would only be on the interior of the continent below 60 S (which is now 80 S). Heavy permanent population with large cities. It's likely over 50 million people would inhabit the continent. Coasts outside the peninsula between 46 and 51 S possibly a maritime climate, with subarctic on the interior to 55-57 S, tundra down to the low-mid 60s, and glaciation from there.
Peninsula lush tree growth and a maritime climate similar to Buxton, but reversed. Glaciation would only be on the interior of the continent below 60 S (which is now 80 S). Heavy permanent population with large cities. It's likely over 50 million people would inhabit the continent. Coasts outside the peninsula between 46 and 51 S possibly a maritime climate, with subarctic on the interior to 55-57 S, tundra down to the low-mid 60s, and glaciation from there.
Interesting... do you think Antarctica would be like the antipodean Canada climate wise with everyone huddled on the antarctic peninsula and around the coasts but the interior not populated at all due to glaciation?
Not even all of Greenland is completely ice covered and it's at a much further north latitude than Antarctica in my scenario. Why do you think all of antarctica would still be ice covered down to 43 latitude? That's close to the latitude where you are now!
Hmm. Though also, the position of ice sheets in Greenland doesn't seem affected by latitude; the whole island is ice covered except for spots immediately by the coast. The Antarctic ice sheet exerts a huge cooling influence on anything nearby, given the right configuration, I think it's possible for ice to survive at lower latitudes.
Hmm. Though also, the position of ice sheets in Greenland doesn't seem affected by latitude; the whole island is ice covered except for spots immediately by the coast. The Antarctic ice sheet exerts a huge cooling influence on anything nearby, given the right configuration, I think it's possible for ice to survive at lower latitudes.
It is possible but I think in this scenario, not likely I believe. It would probably be a Cfc/Dfc climate similar to Yakutat, AK at 43S due the still very cold ocean current present. I don't think it would be quite as warm as Buxton or the UK, more like the Alaskan panhandle due to the mountains on the Antarctic peninsula. It would be able to support forests.
I still think the Antarctic will have an ice sheet, but it will be considerably smaller and only extend to maybe 60S and leave the entirety of the peninsula and the edges around the continent completely ice free and habitable, similar to how Greenland is now but only warmer.
Antarctica isn't like Greenland - Greenland is a big landmass, but the Antarctic peninsula isn't quite as connected to the main landmass as the Ross Ice Shelf. So the northernmost tip would probably have a oceanic climate, not as cold as areas south because of it's latitude making it situated in the warmer temperate waters. A wild guess would probably be something like 4/14 (a cool Cfb). Certainly nothing like a Cfc/Dfc.
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