Why Is Antarctica So Windy?
There is a large high pressure system over Antarctica which means that air descends over the centre of the continent and flows outwards towards the coast. The centre of the Antarctic continent is about 3000metres above sea level. This provides a downslope all the way to the coast. Cold dense air flows down the slope to the coast gaining speed as it goes, This produces the famous katabatic wind that is responsible for the very strong winds and blizzards experienced in Antarctica. The windiest place from which records have been kept is Commonwealth Bay where Sir Douglas Mawson based the Australian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914.
