QUESTION: How can Antarctica be called a desert? 
              
          Mrs. Schlacter's class
          Newington Forest ES
          Springfield, VA

ANSWER from Scott Borg 
            Mon, 10 Feb 1997 17:45:35 -0500 (EST)


Dear Ms. Schlachter's class,

Deserts are defined as regions with mean annual precipitation of less than
10 inches.

Only a few coastal regions, and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, get more
precipitation that this.  Remember that snowfall has to be converted to an
equivalent amount of water.  Because Antarctica is so cold, even a very
small amount of new precipitation stays around and accumulates in the ice sheet.

Scott B., Office of Polar Programs
Antarctic Geology and Geophysics Program