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Re: Antarctica vs. the Arctic
At 11:43 PM 2/16/1998 -0500, you wrote:
>
> Although this may seem mundane to group members here, and I may
>answer my own question....
> I have been wondering lately why so many meteorites are found in
>the Antarctic but relatively few in the Artic. Is it because of the heavy
>glaciation in the northern hemisphere during the last 50,000 yrs
>having removed many of the in situ meteorites. Whereas the lack of
>glaciation in the southern hemispere, having not removed many of the in
>situ meteorites, makes them more numerous?
> Or is there another reason that I am not thinking of?
>
>Thanks
>JM
>
>* Jamie McDougall Collector of: Native Artifacts & Baskets *
>* 109 Hickory St. W Taxidermy & Skulls *
>* Waterloo, Ontario Curiousities *
>* N2L 3K1 Fossils *
>* Meteorites *
>* Mortuary Items *
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Meteorites in the Antarctic are brought to the surface through a "conveyor"
of blue ice. Glaciation is on a very large continent. Many people forget
that the Arctic is largely an ocean with ice that is constantly recycled.
If one were to look for meteorites in the Arctic, it should be in
Greenland, Canada or the northern reaches of Siberia where a similar
"conveyor" of ice off a large terrestrial ice pack is possible. People tend
to think of both poles as equivalent..hence the Space Rocks CD uses a
walrus as the icon for Antarctic meteorites...a major zoological booboo.
Steve Ervin
*************************************
Dr. Stephen Ervin
Department of Biology
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, Ca. 93740-0073
servin@csufresno.edu
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