Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean7,686,850 sq kmSlightly smaller than the USNote: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Islandworld's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer.
Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy.
The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at reasonably steady rates in recent years. In addition to high unemployment.
short-term economic problems include a balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the stimulation of exports to offset rising imports, especially given the economic crisis in AsiaMachinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum productsCoal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Arctic
The Arctic is named for the north polar constellation “Arktos”Greek for “bear.” It is 14.5 million square km (5.5 million square miles) most exactly the same size as Antarcticaand has been inhabited by humans for close to 20,000 years. It consists of the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and surrounding land, including all of Greenland and Spitsbergen, and the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia.
Its boundary is defined by either the northern limit of stands of trees on land (the treeline), the line of average July temperature of ~10°C (50°F), or the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line of latitude located at 66 degrees 33 minutes North. North of this line, the sun never sets on the summer solstice (June 21st).Some of the land parts of the Arctic, like Greenland, are covered with ice sheets; others, like Alaska, have lush tundra.
These areas have large mammals, such as caribou, bears, wolves and foxes, and a variety of plants. In summer, migratory birds and other wildlife come to the Arctic to raise their young. The size and shape of the Arctic Ocean Basins are roughly similar to those of the Antarctic continent, and is 1.5 times the size of the continental US. The Arctic Ocean seafloor is subdivided by three great parallel mountain ranges, or ridges, between Greenland and Siberia. The Nansen-Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Mid-Ocean It is also very deep, reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet or 2½ miles) in some areas. It is mostly covered by pack ice (frozen seawater) averaging 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) thick. The ice drifts around the polar basin under the influence of winds and currents. When the floes collide, the ice forms a jagged line of ice chunks known as a pressure ridge
Its boundary is defined by either the northern limit of stands of trees on land (the treeline), the line of average July temperature of ~10°C (50°F), or the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line of latitude located at 66 degrees 33 minutes North. North of this line, the sun never sets on the summer solstice (June 21st).Some of the land parts of the Arctic, like Greenland, are covered with ice sheets; others, like Alaska, have lush tundra.
These areas have large mammals, such as caribou, bears, wolves and foxes, and a variety of plants. In summer, migratory birds and other wildlife come to the Arctic to raise their young. The size and shape of the Arctic Ocean Basins are roughly similar to those of the Antarctic continent, and is 1.5 times the size of the continental US. The Arctic Ocean seafloor is subdivided by three great parallel mountain ranges, or ridges, between Greenland and Siberia. The Nansen-Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Mid-Ocean It is also very deep, reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet or 2½ miles) in some areas. It is mostly covered by pack ice (frozen seawater) averaging 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) thick. The ice drifts around the polar basin under the influence of winds and currents. When the floes collide, the ice forms a jagged line of ice chunks known as a pressure ridge
SEA SPIDER
Sea spiders" or pycnogonids, are members of Phylum Arthropoda, along with land spiders. Besides living underwater, sea spiders differ from their land cousins in other ways they don't spin webs, and may have from four to six pairs of long segmented legs, versus four pair for land spiders.
more species of sea spider most are very small, ranging from 1/100 inch to about 20 inches across. This one is small, only about 3/8 inch across. The largest sea spiders reside in the deep ocean. Deep-sea researcher Dr. Paul H.
Yancey notes large sea spiders are known to "stride over the abyssal mud with their long legs, using a proboscis to suck tissues from sessile prey..." and has photos of two such specimens on his deep sea pages web site.
At least one species of sea spider is known to feed on nudibranchs and other small gastropods, as noted in this archive page from one of my favorite online resources, the Australian Museum's Sea Slug Forum. Like their land-lubber cousins, sea spiders are carnivorous, some feeding on other invertebrates by sucking out the juices, while others tear their prey apart and pass it into a proboscis for feeding.
more species of sea spider most are very small, ranging from 1/100 inch to about 20 inches across. This one is small, only about 3/8 inch across. The largest sea spiders reside in the deep ocean. Deep-sea researcher Dr. Paul H.
Yancey notes large sea spiders are known to "stride over the abyssal mud with their long legs, using a proboscis to suck tissues from sessile prey..." and has photos of two such specimens on his deep sea pages web site.
At least one species of sea spider is known to feed on nudibranchs and other small gastropods, as noted in this archive page from one of my favorite online resources, the Australian Museum's Sea Slug Forum. Like their land-lubber cousins, sea spiders are carnivorous, some feeding on other invertebrates by sucking out the juices, while others tear their prey apart and pass it into a proboscis for feeding.
TURTILES
The leatherback is the largest turtle and the largest living reptile in the world. Mature males and females can be as long as six and a half feet (2 m) and weigh almost 2000 lbs. (900 kg). The leatherback is the only sea turtle that lacks a hard, bony shell. A leatherback's carapace is approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) thick and consists of leathery, oil saturated connective tissue overlaying loosely interlocking dermal bones.
The carapace has seven longitudinal ridges and tapers to a blunt point. Adult leatherbacks are primarily black with a pinkish white mottled ventral surface and pale white and pink spotting on the top of the head. The front flippers lack claws and scales and are proportionally longer than in other sea turtles; back flippers are paddle-shaped.
The ridged carapace and large flippers are characteristics that make the leatherback uniquely equipped for long distance foraging migrations. Female leatherbacks lay clutches of approximately 100 eggs on sandy, tropical beaches. Females nest several times during a nesting season, typically at 8-12 day intervals. After 60-65 days, leatherback hatchlings with white striping along the ridges of their backs and on the margins of the flippers emerge from the nest. Leatherback hatchlings are approximately 50-77 cm (2-3 inches) in length, with fore flippers as long as their bodies, and weigh approximately 40-50 grams (1.4-1.8 ounces).
Female leatherbacks lay clutches of approximately 100 eggs on sandy, tropical beaches. Females nest several times during a nesting season, typically at 8-12 day intervals. After 60-65 days, leatherback hatchlings with white striping along the ridges of their backs and on the margins of the flippers emerge from the nest. Leatherback hatchlings are approximately 50-77 cm (2-3 inches) in length, with fore flippers as long as their bodies, and weigh approximately 40-50 grams (1.4-1.8 ounces).
The carapace has seven longitudinal ridges and tapers to a blunt point. Adult leatherbacks are primarily black with a pinkish white mottled ventral surface and pale white and pink spotting on the top of the head. The front flippers lack claws and scales and are proportionally longer than in other sea turtles; back flippers are paddle-shaped.
The ridged carapace and large flippers are characteristics that make the leatherback uniquely equipped for long distance foraging migrations. Female leatherbacks lay clutches of approximately 100 eggs on sandy, tropical beaches. Females nest several times during a nesting season, typically at 8-12 day intervals. After 60-65 days, leatherback hatchlings with white striping along the ridges of their backs and on the margins of the flippers emerge from the nest. Leatherback hatchlings are approximately 50-77 cm (2-3 inches) in length, with fore flippers as long as their bodies, and weigh approximately 40-50 grams (1.4-1.8 ounces).
Female leatherbacks lay clutches of approximately 100 eggs on sandy, tropical beaches. Females nest several times during a nesting season, typically at 8-12 day intervals. After 60-65 days, leatherback hatchlings with white striping along the ridges of their backs and on the margins of the flippers emerge from the nest. Leatherback hatchlings are approximately 50-77 cm (2-3 inches) in length, with fore flippers as long as their bodies, and weigh approximately 40-50 grams (1.4-1.8 ounces).
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
JAPAN
Japan consists of several thousands of islands, of which HonsKyush and Shikokuare the four largest. Japan's closest neighbors are Korea, Russia and China. The Sea of Japan separates the Asian continent from the Japanese archipelago
Japan's area is comparable to that of Germany or California. Japan's northernmost islands are located on a similar geographical latitude as Milan or Portland, while her southernmost islands are on a similar latitude as the Bahamas. More than 50% of the country is mountainous and covered by forests. Japan is politically structured into 8 regions and 47 prefectures
Because Japan is located in a region, where several continental plates meet, the country experiences frequent earthquakes. Please visit the special page about earthquakes. For the same reason, there are many volcanos in Japan. Japan's most famous volcano and highest mountain is Mt.Fuji
Due to the large North South extension of the country, the climate varies strongly in different regions. The climate in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, is temperate to subtropic and consists of four seasons. The winter is mild and the summer is hot and humid. There is a rainyseasonin early summer, and typhoonshit parts of the country every year during late summer. The climate of the northern island of Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan coast is colder, and snow falls in large amounts. In Okinawa, on the other hand, the mean temperature of January is a warm 16 degrees Celsius
Japan's area is comparable to that of Germany or California. Japan's northernmost islands are located on a similar geographical latitude as Milan or Portland, while her southernmost islands are on a similar latitude as the Bahamas. More than 50% of the country is mountainous and covered by forests. Japan is politically structured into 8 regions and 47 prefectures
Because Japan is located in a region, where several continental plates meet, the country experiences frequent earthquakes. Please visit the special page about earthquakes. For the same reason, there are many volcanos in Japan. Japan's most famous volcano and highest mountain is Mt.Fuji
Due to the large North South extension of the country, the climate varies strongly in different regions. The climate in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, is temperate to subtropic and consists of four seasons. The winter is mild and the summer is hot and humid. There is a rainyseasonin early summer, and typhoonshit parts of the country every year during late summer. The climate of the northern island of Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan coast is colder, and snow falls in large amounts. In Okinawa, on the other hand, the mean temperature of January is a warm 16 degrees Celsius
Antarctic
Antarctic Treaty defers claims; sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land) and United Kingdom. The United States and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the U.S. reserves the right to do so). No formal claims have been made in the sector between 90° W and 150° W.
Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.
Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.
None presently exploited. Iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.
Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.
None presently exploited. Iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
medicaltranscription
Arctic
The Arctic is named for the north polar constellation “Arktos”—Greek for “bear.” It is 14.5 million square km (5.5 million square miles)—almost exactly the same size as Antarctica—and has been inhabited by humans for close to 20,000 years. It consists of the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and surrounding land, including all of Greenland and Spitsbergen, and the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia.
Its boundary is defined by either the northern limit of stands of trees on land (the treeline), the line of average July temperature of ~10°C (50°F), or the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line of latitude located at 66 degrees 33 minutes North. North of this line, the sun never sets on the summer solstice (June 21st).Some of the land parts of the Arctic, like Greenland, are covered with ice sheets; others, like Alaska, have lush tundra.
These areas have large mammals, such as caribou, bears, wolves and foxes, and a variety of plants. In summer, migratory birds and other wildlife come to the Arctic to raise their young. The size and shape of the Arctic Ocean Basins are roughly similar to those of the Antarctic continent, and is 1.5 times the size of the continental US. The Arctic Ocean seafloor is subdivided by three great parallel mountain ranges, or ridges, between Greenland and Siberia. The Nansen-Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Mid-Ocean It is also very deep, reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet or 2½ miles) in some areas. It is mostly covered by pack ice (frozen seawater) averaging 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) thick. The ice drifts around the polar basin under the influence of winds and currents. When the floes collide, the ice forms a jagged line of ice chunks known as a pressure ridge
The Arctic is named for the north polar constellation “Arktos”—Greek for “bear.” It is 14.5 million square km (5.5 million square miles)—almost exactly the same size as Antarctica—and has been inhabited by humans for close to 20,000 years. It consists of the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and surrounding land, including all of Greenland and Spitsbergen, and the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia.
Its boundary is defined by either the northern limit of stands of trees on land (the treeline), the line of average July temperature of ~10°C (50°F), or the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line of latitude located at 66 degrees 33 minutes North. North of this line, the sun never sets on the summer solstice (June 21st).Some of the land parts of the Arctic, like Greenland, are covered with ice sheets; others, like Alaska, have lush tundra.
These areas have large mammals, such as caribou, bears, wolves and foxes, and a variety of plants. In summer, migratory birds and other wildlife come to the Arctic to raise their young. The size and shape of the Arctic Ocean Basins are roughly similar to those of the Antarctic continent, and is 1.5 times the size of the continental US. The Arctic Ocean seafloor is subdivided by three great parallel mountain ranges, or ridges, between Greenland and Siberia. The Nansen-Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Mid-Ocean It is also very deep, reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet or 2½ miles) in some areas. It is mostly covered by pack ice (frozen seawater) averaging 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) thick. The ice drifts around the polar basin under the influence of winds and currents. When the floes collide, the ice forms a jagged line of ice chunks known as a pressure ridge
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