Scenes from Antarctica*_* 2

Nacreous clouds near McMurdo, Ross Island, Antarctica on August 28, 2004. These polar stratospheric clouds at 80,000 feet are the highest of all clouds. They only occur in the polar regions when the stratospheric temperature dips below 100 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. They are also the site of chemical reactions that break down ozone in the upper atmosphere and contribute to the creation of the ozone hole above Antarctica. (Zenobia Evans/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 560 ] - Click to view full image
The Commonwealth Glacier in the Transantarctic Mountains, seen on February 4, 2007. The glacier was named by the British Antarctic Expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott (1910-1913) after the Commonwealth of Australia. This glacier flows in a southeasterly direction, west of Mount Coleman, in Victoria Land. (Mike Embree/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 614 ] - Click to view full image
A balancing stone seen on the Dufek Massif in the Pensacola Mountains of Antarctica on January 18, 2007. (Bill Meurer/National Science Foundation)



Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 572 ] - Click to view full image
An aurora over the Elevated Station at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on July 16, 2008. (Keith Vanderlinde/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 576 ] - Click to view full image
The northern edge of the giant iceberg B-15A seen on January 29, 2001. (Josh Landis/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 618 ] - Click to view full image
A view of the Antarctic coast from the Research Vessel NATHANIEL B. PALMER in April of 2007. (Patrick Rowe/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 531 ] - Click to view full image
A person stands silhouetted by the South Pole sunset on April 6, 2008. The sun dipped below the horizon on March 20th and did not appear again until September 22nd. (Calee Allen/National Science Foundation)


Reduced: 64% of original size [ 990 x 582 ] - Click to view full image
A person stands underneath a natural arch in a glacier at Norsel Point, Anvers Island, Antarctica on July 30, 2006. (Glenn Grant/National Science Foundation)