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Drift ice is the sea ice of the Southern Ocean. It extends far north in winter and retreats almost to the coastline each summer. Sea ice is frozen seawater that is usually less than a few meters thick. This is in contrast to ice shelves, which are formed by glaciers, float in the sea, and are up to a kilometer thick. There are two subdivisions of sea ice: fast ice, which is attached to land; and ice floes, which are not.

Sea ice in the Southern Ocean melts from the bottom instead of from the surface like Arctic ice because it is covered in snow. As a result, melt ponds are rarely observed. On average, Antarctic sea ice is younger, thinner, warmer, saltier, and more mobile than Arctic sea ice. Due to its inaccessibility, it is not as well-studied as Arctic ice.

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In the news

Sir Charles Ross

• 28 Oct - Icebreaker Akademik Tryoshnikov departs St. Petersburg on a Brazilian-Russian expedition.
• 03 Oct - Sir Charles Ross resigns as Foreign Minister.
• 02 Sep - The Scranton Times Leader publishes a major news article on the history of Westarctica.
• 12 Jun - Grand Duke Travis becomes engaged to Countess de Ferrero
• 06 Jun - Westarctica's Parachute Regiment conducts jumps in Normandy.
• 15 Mar - Viceroys are appointed to rule the colonies of Westarctica.

This month in history Richard E. Byrd with penguins 05 October - Official Holidays in Westarctica become codified by law. (2020) 13 October - Admiral George J. Dufek successfully lands a plane at the South Pole. (1956) 13 October - Dutch researchers determine the Weddell Sea to have the clearest water of any sea on earth. (1986) 14 October - Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson dies. (1958) 19 October - The Westarctican Royal Guards are created. (2017) 19 October - Westarctica receives 501c(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. (2018) 21 October - Peter I Island was first sighted by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. (1821) 21 - 25 October - Delegations from Westarctica and Molossia join the Kingdom of Shiloh for the Summit Upon the Seas. (2018) 25 October - Polar explorer and U.S. Navy officer, Rear Admiral Richard Byrd (pictured) is born. (1888) 25 October - In recognition of his part in ending the Siple War, Grand Duke Niels of Flandrensis is given the title Prince of Siple. (2012) 26 October - The Norwegian polar exploration vessel Fram is launched. (1892) 26 October - The Westarctica-Raphania War begins. (2022) 27 October - A story on Westarctica is published in Conde Nast Traveler. (2016) 29 October - A search party sets out to look for Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition. (1912) 29 October - New Zealand renames "Chinstrap Islet" to Chinstrap Island. (2015) 29 October - The Realm of Calsahara becomes a Colony of Westarctica after being liberated by the Westarctican Royal Guards. (2017) 30 October - Consul-General Travis writes the Claimant Letter declaring his intention to establish the Achaean Territory of Antarctica in Marie Byrd Land. (2001)

Featured image A micronation is an entity that claims to be an independent nation or state but is not generally recognized by world governments or major international organizations. Micronations are distinguished from imaginary countries and from other kinds of social groups (such as eco-villages, campuses, tribes, clans, and sects) by expressing a formal and persistent, even if unrecognized, claim of sovereignty over some physical territory. Micronations are also distinct from true secessionist movements; micronations' activities are almost always peaceful enough to be ignored rather than challenged by the established nations whose territory they claim. Photographer: Princess Edith of Homestead (More Images)

Featured Quote “We have chosen to craft a new country in the most inhospitable place on earth, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” - Grand Duke Travis

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